Jim Omel, MD

Jim Omel, MD is a retired Family Practice physician who was diagnosed with myeloma in 1997. His cancer was initially treated with VAD and radiation. At relapse in 2000 he had an ASCT, retired from active medical practice, and began a new role as a cancer research advocate. Relapses in 2006 and 2010 were treated with local bone irradiation, the IMID Lenalidomide and Proteosome Inhibitor Bortezomide. His experience includes 14 months of ONJ with exposed mandible, caused by bisphosphonate therapy.

Dr. Omel’s advocacy has included the NCI Myeloma Steering Committee, peer review and the NCI Director’s Board of Scientific Advisors, FDA Patient Representative, Alliance Cooperative Group Myeloma and Transplant Committees, CIBMTR, ASCO (CancerLinQ, Platelet Task Force, Clinical Pathways Task Force, and Bisphosphonates in Myeloma Review Panel), NCCN Myeloma Guidelines reviewer, LLS First Connection, Takeda Oncology’s INSIGHT clinical trial Steering Committee and PLC (patient leadership council), Celgene’s Connect MM Steering Committee, and 20 years leading the Central Nebraska Myeloma Support Group. He has served as an external advisor to research projects at St. Louis Washington Univ, FHCRC in Seattle, Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and Blood Cancer Network Ireland.