Location? Brookfield, CT via Maplewood, NJ and Memphis, TN but originally from Little Rock, AR
What’s the primary focus of your advocacy? I try to use all the skills I have honed over the years to help others – relationships with KOLs, insight into pharma and biotech companies, and my passion for beneficial change which I direct towards policy advocacy.
When and how did you get started? I became a patient two weeks after COVID put the world on lockdown, navigated that well enough and wondered how others managed without all the connections/knowledge I was privileged. Decided at that time to use all of that to help others and here I am.
Has the focus of your advocacy changed over time? It changes based on the need I find myself starring me in the face. I embrace change and the glorious evolution it entails.
What do you find most meaningful about your advocacy? Helping others or the effort overall.
What do you find most frustrating about your advocacy? My advocacy finds a place where it can but what I find most frustrating about advocacy overall is just understanding the world of advocacy and how resistant many are to new faces on the scene. In the thought leader world of clinicians and researchers they make room for new thoughts and fresh perspectives. I do think the advocacy world would benefit from more mentoring to raise the volume on the message being sent.
How and why did you get involved with ACE? I was invited to ACE when I met Stacey and Allison at my poster at AACR. It was on policy and a need for change. I wanted to help and its been a while trying to get involved but I just kept showing up and asking how I could help. I kept mentioning my background in strategic communications, in biology, in chemistry, research and working with pharma as well as healthcare education companies. Somehow they found a way to make it all fit which is why I asked to help by becoming the Program Director. It is a good fit for my background.
What would you like to tell us about your life outside of cancer advocacy? I love my partially paralyzed pittie named Augustus (Augie Doggie for short). I am very involved in my church and help run the cancer journey group there focusing on finding peace on your journey. I also manage the Greeters at church but have a horrible memory for names so I introduce myself over and over. Shameless I’m like the movie 50 first dates. I bought a camper van over the summer and use it to take Augie and I to Arkansas to see family and friends.
What else would you like us to know? I am a consultant and work in the necessary triangulation between physicians, patients, and pharma. They all need to communicate better between each other and seek to find ways to work to improve patient outcomes.
Why I joined the ACE leadership team. Because there is so much more to do than a few people can do, and together we can all achieve so much more.
