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2019 Elevate Ambassadors
Learn how the inaugural 2019 group of Elevate Ambassadors are working to improve cancer care in their community.
Doris Cardwell | Whitefish, MT
Sarah Cohn | Philadelphia, PA
Erin Cummings | Boston, MA
Rachel Ferraris | Warner Robins, GA
Bradley Glassel | Lake Mills, WI
Loretta Herring | Birmingham, AL
Kimberly D. Richardson | Chicago, IL
Xenia Rybak | New York City, NY
Hillary Stires, PhD | Arlington, VA
Virgie Townsend | Birmingham, AL
Doris Cardwell
Spearfish, MT
Doris Cardwell received a life-changing diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer in 2007. While undergoing treatment, she co-founded a mentor program for the cancer center treating her. She also created community events to educate, encourage and empower people regarding cancer. Doris was the first Survivorship Community Outreach Liaison for her local cancer center. She is an advocate, educator and encourager on issues facing cancer survivors. Doris is a wife, mother, empty nester, survivor of life, and lover of all things coffee. An avid speaker and blogger, she co-manages a local health food store.
Sarah Cohn
Philadelphia, PA
Sarah Cohn is a healthcare communicator, cancer survivor, and self-proclaimed non-scientist science geek. She has spent most of her professional career working in healthcare, specifically in many facets of communications, including marketing, public affairs, event planning, corporate communications, patient communication, and public relations. Born and raised in South Jersey, Sarah graduated in the top ten percent of her high school class, and then attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a degree in sport and recreation management. After graduation, Sarah worked at Shriners Hospitals for Children as a public relations assistant where she coordinated the volunteer program and assisted with community outreach.
In February of 2014, Sarah was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a rare form of leukemia that required her to be hospitalized for over a month to undergo intense treatment. It was during this time, inspired by a caring, compassionate nurse, that she learned to educate herself, ask questions, and be her own advocate. Following an additional eight months of outpatient treatment, Sarah was in remission and ready to move on from her cancer experience. Shortly after treatment, she began to experience increasingly severs side effects like headaches and fatigue leading her to discover the discrepancies in cancer survivorship care. Oncologists focus on treatment, but not the long-term side effects of those treatments. Many primary care physicians, on the other hand, have the desire to help their cancer survivor patients with chronic health issues, but lack the necessary training to do so. This further drove her desire to be her own advocate. Continuing her healthcare work after cancer, she began a job at Cancer Treatment Centers of America, where she worked with patients, doctors and others on a variety of communications to help make the hospital and cancer experience better.
Now in a position with the American Association for Cancer Research, Sarah has taken her healthcare experience to the non-profit arena, working in media relations and public affairs to educate the public on cancer and cancer research. While continuing to grow in her professional career, she remains an advocate for all patients, empowering them to educate themselves, ask questions and advocate for their own health.
Erin Cummings
Boston, MA
Erin Geddis Cummings has been a cancer survivor for over 47 years. Diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma at age 15, Erin “beat the odds” and went on to pursue a college career as a pre-med student, obtain a Master’s degree in Social Work, marry and raise a family of four children- all after being told that she would probably die as a young adult. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of “Hodgkin’s International-” a non-profit organization that supports long-term Hodgkin’s survivors all over the world. Her personal and professional priority is to empower her fellow Hodgkin’s survivors through connection, education, and advocacy.
Erin exemplifies the concept of “thriving,” not just surviving. She is known for pouring her heart and soul into each and every day. Though battling numerous late effects of her earlier treatment, including heart and lung disease, Erin has (to date) completed 7 marathons and many smaller races. Five of those marathons were in New York City, where Erin ran with “Fred’s Team” at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to raise funds for Pediatric Cancer research. In those five marathons Erin raised over $100K for the hospital. Erin is also a writer with the “Visible Ink” program at Sloan-Kettering. She has had several of her stories appear in their written anthologies and two that were chosen for staged readings. A former competitive equestrian, Erin now volunteers and teaches at a therapeutic horseback riding center, working with physically and cognitively challenged students. Her current aspirations include trying to stay ON a horse when riding and going for a long walk without passing out. She enjoys painting as well as writing and finds these endeavors inspiring and less hazardous to her health.
Rachel Ferraris
Warner Robins, GA
Rachel Ferraris is a 12-year breast cancer survivor who was diagnosed when she was 35 years old. Being so young, her concerns were dismissed by her first doctor, but she knew something wasn’t right and sought a second opinion. What was “nothing” was diagnosed a few weeks later as stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma. While in treatment, Rachel told her story to others and encouraged them to be self-advocates and to not be afraid to ask questions concerning their own health and treatments.
After active treatment she attended her first lobby day with Susan G Komen for the Cure, where she quickly discovered her passion of being a voice for equal treatment and access to screening for all. Since 2007, Rachel has been actively involved in the cancer community on the local and national level. She created and served as Public Policy Chair for Susan G. Komen Central Georgia as well as co-chair and fundraising chair for Race for the Cure. She has been a consumer reviewer on several Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) panels and for Advocates in Science with Komen. In 2018, Rachel served as a Survivor Advocate for Coliseum Hospital in Macon, Ga on their Breast Program Leadership Committee. In 2016, Rachel joined the NCCS CPAT team and has been successful in reaching out to local media and community groups sharing the importance of cancer care planning.
As an experienced advocate for all cancer patients and their families, Rachel joined the staff at Central Georgia Cancer Care in Warner Robins, Ga as a Patient Navigator. In this role, she helps to guide patients through their cancer journey. She is by their side starting at diagnosis to celebrating end of active treatment. She provides comfort and compassion when assisting patients and their families with end of life decisions. “Rachel is always doing everything she can to do what is best for our patients, whether getting them supplies they need or just being a shoulder to cry on. Our team is so blessed to have her,” Bethany, RN, BSN, OCN. In this role, Rachel is an asset to the care team as she is able help bridge communication with the patient and medical staff, coordinates invaluable resources such as home health, nutritional services, transportation and other community resources, as well as helping patients find their voice to be an advocate for themselves. “One of the best additions to our practice,” Dr. Ahmad A-Hajj. Rachel lives in Warner Robins, Georgia with her husband Scott. She is a proud mother of two grown sons, Joseph and Jon David.
Bradley Glassel
Lake Mills, WI
Bradley Glassel is a prostate cancer survivor with a passion for supporting the community. He currently lives in Lake Mills WI with his wife of 27 years, Alicia, and his daughter Hope. He has worked with American Family Insurance for the past 18 years and plans on retiring in mid-2019. Bradley has a degree in culinary arts and has had varied career experiences including being a business owner. Along with his volunteer work, he enjoys travel and outdoor experiences like hiking and biking.
Loretta Herring
Birmingham, AL
Loretta Herring is an advocate who founded the Cancer Awareness Network for Children, Inc., a non-profit 501© 3 that was born out of the pain of her mother’s untimely transition to heaven due to cancer. For the past 22 years, Loretta has served as Co-founder, CEO, and Program Coordinator along with her four sisters hosting free workshop/luncheons at local churches and community centers throughout the Birmingham Metropolitan Area that touch over 250 lives annually. Their goal is to eliminate the fears associated with the diagnosis of cancer. This program offers assistance with transportation to treatment, house cleaning for those in treatment, one-on-one spiritual support upon request, and much more.
The workshops are designed to empower and honor cancer survivors, offering them a platform to tell their story, encourage caregivers of cancer patients and remember those who lost the battle to cancer. Loretta also serves as a diligent Sunday School Teacher and a group leader for Sorrow to Joy Ministry (a program offering hope for those who lost a loved one) for her church, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City. Also, Minister Herring teaches a Monday Night Bible Study at Cherry Ridge Senior Apartments for over 15 years, a substitute teacher at Parker High School since 2007, a volunteer for American Cancer Society for over 15 years serving as Survivorship Chair that honors over 100 cancer survivors each year allowing them to celebrate Another Birthday. She also volunteers with Sister Survivors, Susan Komen Foundation, FORGE, the VA Hospital, and a patient advocate for UAB. She also served as a Consumer Reviewer for Breast Cancer Research Program with Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), is a Graduate of Project LEAD with the National Breast Cancer Coalition.
Loretta has received numerous awards for her civic involvement which include, Making a Difference Award from NBC13 in 2010, Nominated for Best in Minority Business Award in 2011, and she was awarded a Life Time Membership in the Vietnam Veterans of America in 2012, The Brownie Award of the year with Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies in 2014, and in 2016 received the Breast Cancer Classic Pink Celebration Award for outstanding work in the community dealing with breast cancer patients from Alabama State Representative Juandalynn Givan. Her favorite scripture in the Word of God is Philippians 4:19 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Kimberly D. Richardson
Chicago, IL
Kimberly D. Richardson is a two-time cancer survivor of both ovarian and breast cancer and has been active as a patient advocate since her first diagnosis in 2013. As an Elevate Ambassador, she partnered with University of Illinois College of Medicine students to launch an educational program for scientists and cancer survivors called, “Survivors Advising Scientists Educational Program” (SASEP). The mission of SASEP is to create a bidirectional educational platform that connects young investigators with cancer patients, survivors, research advocates and allies to increase scientific literacy and engagement across the community.
Ms. Richardson is a member of several advisory groups on disparities in ovarian and breast cancer, serves on patient expert councils for global organizations striving for better patient outcomes in clinical trials, and advocates at the state and federal level for funding for cancer research. She is the co-Chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee of the Society of Integrative Oncology, where she sits on the Disparities committee. Her most recent appointments are to the NCI Moonshot IMPACT program, the American Board of Emergency Medicine, and the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance Industry Council on Disparities.
Ms. Richardson is Founder and Organizer of Chicago’s first researcher/survivor summit, including six major teaching hospitals and universities to bring key stakeholders together to discuss current gynecological research. She has written and spoken about her perspective on health inequity related to COVID-19 through blogs, webinars, and podcasts. Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Ms. Richardson had 30 years of urban planning and community economic development experience, serving as the Director of Planning and Development for the City of Harvey, Illinois and managing a community-based non-profit organization.
Xenia Rybak
New York City, NY
Xenia Rybak is an advocate focusing on the young adult cancer experience and mental health. She is in remission for uterine cancer after undergoing a radical hysterectomy in 2016 at the age of 34.
She is her district’s legislative representative for the American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network and an active volunteer with the Ulman Foundation based in Baltimore, Md.
In addition to advocacy Xenia is a practicing art therapist in New York City and co-hosts a mental health based podcast “Firefly and Phoenix.”
She is also training for her first marathon and managing her dog’s Instagram account @rupert_to_the_rescue.
Hillary Stires, PhD
Arlington, VA
Hillary Stires received her PhD in endocrinology and animal biosciences from Rutgers University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in tumor biology at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center where she was the recipient of a T32 Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award. Her research focused on tumor development and drug resistance in hormone dependent breast cancer.
While at Georgetown, Hillary had ample opportunities to interact with patient advocates, and grew an appreciation for how much this work has improved her research, and her life. Her best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28, and her brothers’ best friend was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the age of 30. Through helping her friends and family navigate these cancer diagnoses, she recognized the need for better relationships and dialogues between patients and researchers. She talked about this work in podcasts, webinars, and a TEDx.
During her time as an Elevate Ambassador, Hillary worked to build programs to achieve this goal and continues to advocate for including the patient perspective in cancer research. Dr. Stires now serves as a Science Policy Analyst at Friends of Cancer Research.
Virgie Townsend
Birmingham, AL
Virgie Townsend is the primary caregiver for her son, who is a cancer and bone marrow transplant survivor. Her son was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia called biphenotypic leukemia in March of 2011. Their journey has taken them through three and a half years of continuous chemotherapy, which resulted in her son having to have a hip replacement at the age of 23 due to the high-dose steroids that were a part of his chemotherapy regimen. In addition, in March of 2015, her son’s cancer recurred. They had to turn to an immunotherapy drug called blincyto to get back in remission. Their physician notified them that they must have a transplant. A donor was not available, so her son underwent a haploidentical stem cell transplant. She continues her journey with her son as survivors.
Ms. Townsend has a Bachelors of Science in Health Care Management. She has become an avid Patient and Research Advocate. She is a member of the AACR (working with their scientist survivor program) and the NCCS CPAT team. She is also a member of UAB Patient and Family Advisory Council and an advocate on The Community Outreach Joint Advisory Board for UAB, Morehouse and Tuskegee Institute. She also serves on UAB’s Palliative and Supportive Care Community Outreach Council and is the advocate on the REACH Study. In addition every year for the last 7 years, Ms. Townsend prepared and distributed over 250 Christmas gift bags to the patients and nurses at the Kirklin Clinic and the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.
Having also had a sister who died from pancreatic cancer, and one sister who has had 2 occurrences of breast cancer, Ms. Townsend advocates for all cancer patients. She advocates for the elimination of cancer health disparities and improved Quality of Life for all cancer patients.
Grant funding for the 2019 Elevating Survivorship program provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen Oncology, Pharmacyclics, Eisai and Takeda Oncology.
