As organizers and participants of the Killebrew-Thompson Memorial (KTM) celebrate its 50th anniversary, this year’s Cancer in Focus Forum will highlight the remarkable progress made in cancer research over the past five decades and the innovations shaping the future of treatment and care.

Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, a familiar face in Sun Valley and a passionate advocate in the fight against cancer, will moderate the panel.

The forum will take place Thursday, August 20, from 4–5 p.m. in the Continental Room at the Sun Valley Inn, bringing together physicians, a cancer survivor, and community supporters for a conversation about discovery, hope, and the impact of philanthropy. The event is free and open to the public.

KTM was founded in 1977 with a mission to help find a cure for leukemia following the death of baseball player Danny Thompson from the disease at age 29. At that time, leukemia carried a far different prognosis than it does today.

Fifty years later, Karen Bohn, KTM’s 2026 Patient Spotlight, represents the progress those founders, including MLB Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew and Idaho Congressman Ralph Harding, hoped to make possible. Diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), Karen benefited from decades of research that have transformed APL from one of the deadliest forms of leukemia into one that is now highly curable for many patients.

Karen’s story will anchor a discussion about how scientific breakthroughs change lives and what the future of cancer research may bring.

Featured speakers include:

• Karen Bohn, 2026 KTM Patient Spotlight, treated at the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.
• Jeffrey Miller, Director of the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, discussing advances in leukemia treatment and cellular immunotherapy
• Dan Zuckerman, Director of GI Oncology and Co-Director of Research at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute, highlighting innovation across cancer care, including precision medicine, immunotherapy, and early detection.

The discussion will also explore the vital role philanthropy plays in accelerating cancer research and helping move promising discoveries from the laboratory to patients. Since its inception, KTM has donated nearly $26 million to cancer research and patient care, fueling discoveries that continue to improve outcomes for people facing cancer.

Event Details

Cancer in Focus Forum
Thursday, August 20

Continental Room, Sun Valley Inn

Free and open to the public

4–4:50 p.m. — Cancer in Focus Forum

4:50–5:00 p.m. — Audience Q&A

The Cancer in Focus Forum is part of the annual Killebrew-Thompson Memorial, which supports cancer research and patient care at the St. Luke’s Cancer Institute in Idaho and the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

Photo above: Karen Bohn