ACE Meeting. Aug, 6, 2026. 1:00pm ET, 10:00am PT.
These experiences help you learn the ropes fast, and even encouraged me to pivot my career into the oncology space. I now work in the melanoma field, once again advocating for a population that I am not part of. But that’s ok, because once an advocate, always an advocate, and while certain details may vary from one diagnosis to another, your lived experience is the language that matters most.
In 2008, at age 38, Kristin McJunkins was diagnosed with Stage IIIa cutaneous melanoma. Surgical intervention, including lymph node removal, resulted in clear margins, but limited treatment options were available at the time. As clinical trials were reserved for later-stage patients, Kristin received the standard interferon protocol, which offered less than a 10% chance of preventing recurrence. The landscape of melanoma treatment has advanced significantly in the last 15 years, with numerous therapies now approved by the FDA, thanks to ongoing research and clinical trials. Motivated by her patient perspective, Kristin has contributed as a consumer reviewer on research panels for both the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), serving as a full voting member. These opportunities have enabled Kristin to advocate for patient-focused research, ensuring proposals address diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those living with melanoma. A cancer diagnosis brings unique challenges, particularly when treatment options are limited. Through advocacy, Kristin aims to give hope and voice to the cancer research community as a national priority.
