Advocate/Scientist Collaboration Breakfast
Saturday, September 25, 2010
7:00am – 8:15am / West Hall
Attendees will be able to join informal small group discussions led by advocates on critical topics and important gaps in breast cancer research.
Discussion Topics:
Advantages to Including Advocates in Basic Science Research
Sandra Walsh, California Breast Cancer Organizations
Sandy Walsh was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1984. She was a founder of the Y-ME Affiliate (now Network of Strength) in Northern California. Currently she is president of California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO) and represents them on the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) Board of Directors. Sandy has reviewed grants for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program, serves on the Scientific Advisory Task Force for the California Teachers Study, a prospective cohort of 133,000 teachers and is on the Scientific Advisory Committee for the Avon/Love Army of Women. Sandy serves as field director for Northern California for the NBCC, and has served on the advisory council for the California Breast Cancer Research Program.
Conducting Research that Drives Environmental Health Policy
Jeanne Rizzo, The Breast Cancer Fund
Cultural Considerations when Researching Access to Care
Debra Oto-Kent, Health Education Council
Debra Oto-Kent is executive director of the Health Education Council, which is dedicated to promoting healthy communities and preventing disease among at-risk populations. Oto-Kent founded the Council in 1991 after working for more than 13 years in the nonprofit health sector. She received her undergraduate degree in health science and safety studies from San Diego State University and her master’s degree in health education and behavioral science from UCLA’s School of Public Health. Oto-Kent’s primary area of interest and expertise is health education — with an emphasis on traditionally underserved populations, such as the socio-economically disadvantaged and diverse ethnic populations — about which she has written and spoken extensively. She has served on boards and committees of numerous local and statewide health promotion organizations including her current service as a founding board member of the Capitol Community Health Network and board member for CANFiT. Oto-Kent received the Outstanding Women of Achievement in Healthcare Award from the Downtown Capitol Chapter of Business and Professional Women and the Sacramento Women’s Council’s Leadership Award; 2010 Service and Advocacy Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee Greater Sacramento area and other recognitions. She is a past chair of the California Breast Cancer Research Program council and an 11 year breast cancer survivor.
Developing Community Research Collaborations
Carlina Hansen, San Francisco Women’s Community Clinic
Carlina Hansen has been the Executive Director of San Francisco's Women's Community Clinic since 2002. She started at the Clinic as a Health Education Volunteer while working as a Senior Project Coordinator at the Tides Center, a local non-profit incubator and fiscal sponsor. Carlina has worked in the non-profit sector in San Francisco for 13 years. She volunteers at San Francisco General Hospital as a health educator in the Women’s Clinic. She has also volunteered for Maitri (a local AIDS hospice), Healing Waters (which provides outdoor adventure opportunities for people with HIV and AIDS) and is on the Advisory Board of Garden for the Environment, where she recently completed a Master Gardener and Composter Training Program. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Women’s Health Advisory Committee of the Department of Public Health and currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Women’s Working Group on Universal Health Care. She is a graduate of the Women’s Foundation of California’s Women’s Policy Institute and of CompassPoint’s Executive Leadership Circles. She was recently voted 2007 Young Executive Director of the Year by Young Non Profit Professionals Network (YNPN).
Making Your Research Relevant – the Importance of Advocates
Michele Rakoff, Breast Cancer Care and Research Fund
A patient advocate for more than 20 years, Michele Rakoff is a breast cancer survivor and the Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Care & Research Fund. She is a founding Board member of the Los Angeles Breast Cancer Alliance (LABCA), Vice President of the California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO) and Board member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC). She took an advocate seat on the California Breast Cancer Research Program’s (CBCRP) Advisory Council and was the recipient of a community research collaborative (CRC) grant after she served her term. She also participated as a peer-reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (DoD BCRP) and is a NBCC Project Lead graduate. Currently, Ms Rakoff holds an advocate seat on the California Teachers Study Scientific Task Force; is a member of the Love/Avon Army of Women Scientific Advisory Committee; and a Data Safety Monitoring Board member of a CBCRP research study. Presently, she is collaborating with the Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center in Israel as they develop their comprehensive breast center. Ms Rakoff believes that the advocate voice is important and that well educated, trained advocates must be included in every aspect of research, clinical decision-making and public policy issues.
Socially Responsible Drug Development
Barbara Brenner, Breast Cancer Action
Barbara A. Brenner is a tireless activist who believes that everyone can-and is needed to-make a difference in ending the breast cancer epidemic. Her passion is contagious, and her effectiveness as a leader of the breast cancer movement is demonstrated in the growth and achievements of Breast Cancer Action since she took the helm as executive director in September 1995. Barbara joined the board of Breast Cancer Action (BCA) in September 1994, one year after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. In 1996, Barbara had a local recurrence of breast cancer, which resulted in a mastectomy.
Barbara is highly sought after by the national media, and has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, ABC News, and CBS Evening News. She is co-author of the chapter, "Cancers," in Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause (The Boston Women's Health Book Collective, 2006). She is also the author of the chapter, "Sister Support: Women Create a Breast Cancer Movement," in Breast Cancer: Society Shapes an Epidemic (Palgrave, 2000).
She holds a bachelor's degree in government from Smith College and a law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Barbara is an inspirational speaker about breast cancer and the movement and how people can get involved to steer the tide of the disease.
