The Virtual Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT) Symposium is an opportunity to expand your knowledge of cancer survivorship, develop advocacy skills, and learn about cancer policy issues in the comfort of your own home.
The 2024 Virtual Symposium featured a range of topics including:
We hope that you will come away inspired and empowered to make choices in survivorship that will improve your quality of life.
In this session, NCCS Elevate Ambassadors Gianna and Lauren discuss how they created survivorship programs in their hospital systems. They describe the needs of the survivors in their care, how they created the programs to meet their needs, and the challenges they continue to overcome. Finally, they share their advice for other health care providers looking to expand their survivorship care offerings.
NCCS Elevate Ambassadors Tamron, Lou, and Sandra discuss how they created survivorship programs in their local and virtual community. They describe the needs of the survivors and caregivers in their neighborhoods and how they created these programs to meet their needs so that no one feels alone in survivorship. Finally, they share their advice for other survivors looking to build supportive community programs.
Chasse Bailey-Dorton, MD
Medical Director, The After Cancer
Mariana Arnaut
CEO, The After Cancer
In this presentation, Dr. Bailey-Dorton dives into the critical aspects of cancer survivorship, focusing on the transition from active treatment to post-treatment life. Key topics include the role of integrative oncology in managing long-term side effects and improving quality of life. Dr. Bailey-Dorton also highlights the role of personalized care plans, mental health support, and lifestyle modifications in promoting holistic well-being for survivors. The session aims to equip survivors and health care providers with practical tools and knowledge to navigate the challenges of life after cancer, ensuring a healthier and more fulfilling future.
Following the presentation, Dr. Bailey-Dorton and Mariana Arnaut of The After Cancer answer questions about integrative oncology and the services the organization offers. The After Cancer provides a virtual platform for survivors to seek comprehensive cancer care needs.
Integrative Oncology Resources:
Keynote Address
Mark A. Lewis, MD
Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Intermountain Health
In this presentation, Dr. Lewis recounts his family’s history of cancer across multiple generations. Dr. Lewis was diagnosed with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN-1) during his medical fellowship—and was instrumental in tracking down his own diagnosis. He shares how his experience and expertise as a cancer survivor and oncologist fueled his passion for helping patients navigate the health care system and improving doctor-patient communication.
After his presentation, NCCS CEO Shelley Fuld Nasso conducts a Q&A with Dr. Lewis.
Download Session Slides (PDF)Deborah deMoulpied
Anticancer Lifestyle Program
Cleaning is not just about decluttering and organizing – it’s also about creating a healthier environment for you and your family. We all love a clean home, but you may be unaware that common household cleaners “dirty” our homes with chemicals of concern. In this session, Anticancer Lifestyle Program’s green living expert Deborah deMoulpied will teach you essential principles of healthy cleaning. You’ll also learn about:
Following the presentation, NCCS Advocacy and Program Manager Veronika Panagiotou conducted a Q&A with Deborah featuring questions from the audience.
Clean Cleaning Resources from Anticancer Lifestyle Program:
Click a speaker name to read more.
Mark A. Lewis, MD
Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Intermountain Health
Dr. Mark A. Lewis received his medical degree, completed his internal medicine residency, and served as chief resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. After completing a hematology/oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he served as chief fellow, he returned to Houston to work at the MD Anderson Cancer Center for four years, with a dual appointment in general & gastrointestinal medical oncology, before assuming the directorship of gastrointestinal oncology at Intermountain Health in 2016.
He serves on the Board of Directors of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation and as Vice President of American Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Support. He has chaired SWOG digital engagement since spring 2023. Dr. Lewis is active on social media (Twitter/X @marklewismd).
Chasse Bailey-Dorton MD
Medical Director
The After Cancer
Dr. Chasse Bailey-Dorton is a highly experienced Family Doctor with a fellowship in Integrative Medicine. She has played pivotal roles in survivorship care at both Levine Cancer Institute and AnMed Health, bringing a wealth of expertise to her work with cancer survivors. Dr. Bailey-Dorton is dedicated to improving the quality of life for survivors through comprehensive, personalized care that addresses the physical, emotional, and social aspects of recovery. Her integrative approach combines conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies, ensuring a holistic treatment plan tailored to each patient’s unique needs. With a strong commitment to advancing survivorship care, Dr. Bailey-Dorton continues to make significant contributions to the field, enhancing the support and resources available to those navigating life after cancer.
Sandra Calloway-Fields
2022 NCCS Elevate Ambassador – Birmingham, AL
Sandra has been with Cancer Awareness Network Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, for 13 years, and served as its President for 4 years. The organization aims to eliminate the fear associated with a cancer diagnosis for people of all ages. They collaborate closely with local oncologists to stay updated on clinical breakthroughs and research. Being a survivor herself, Sandra inspires others by giving survivors a voice with Colors of Cancer Survivor Stories. This monologue stage play educates the audience and helps eliminate the fears associated with a cancer diagnosis. Read more about Sandra’s advocacy work in a recent NCCS Advocate Spotlight.
Laurie Christensen, RN, OCN
2023 NCCS Elevate Ambassador – Vancouver, Washington
Laurie Christensen, RN, OCN, serves as an Oncology Nurse Navigator at Legacy Health in Vancouver, WA. She has more than 20 years of oncology experience between in-patient care, outpatient clinics, and has been a nurse navigator for 14 years. For the last 3 years, Laurie has also served as the coordinator for Legacy Cancer Institute’s Survivorship Program.
Laurie is passionate about advocating for cancer survivorship care, deeply rooted in oncology nursing and patient education. She is looking forward to continuing the work of breaking the silence by empowering cancer survivors to seek help when dealing with sexual health and intimacy issues resulting from cancer and/or treatment.
Laurie is a wife, mom of three kids ages 15, 14, and 11, a dog mom, and a nature lover. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, hike, bike, stand-up paddle board, and read.
Deborah deMoulpied
Anticancer Lifestyle Program
Deborah deMoulpied, a green living expert, created the Environment pillar of the Anticancer Lifestyle Program. Deborah was the founder of an environmental green goods store in New Hampshire. In order to choose the cleanest possible products for her store, she spent years researching and vetting companies and products so that her customers could be confident that the brands she carried were the safest ones available. Deborah is active in the environmental community and is a frequent guest lecturer for cancer support groups and organizations promoting a less toxic lifestyle.
Gianna Durocher, RN, MSN, OCN
2023 NCCS Elevate Ambassador – Fullerton, California
As a new grad nurse in 2005, Gianna discovered her calling: caring for cancer patients. She has remained dedicated to this calling ever since by spending her entire nursing career within various oncology care settings. She became OCN certified in 2008, graduated with her MSN in 2013, and has been recognized with the Nurse Yearling Award at St. Joseph Hospital in 2010, a Values in Action Finalist in Excellence at St. Jude Medical Center in 2014, and a Daisy Award in 2015.
Gianna is passionate about addressing survivorship in a cancer patient’s journey. She currently works at Providence St. Jude Medical Center at the Crosson Cancer Institute as the Survivorship Nurse Navigator and CoC Survivorship Coordinator, building and enhancing the survivorship program. Some of her projects and duties include establishing an integrative medicine program for cancer survivors, developing a couples’ seminar to support couples through a cancer diagnosis, and overseeing a peer-to-peer support network for breast cancer patients. She enjoys developing new programs and activities that enhance cancer patients’ quality of life and she also understands how complex the healthcare system can be due to her own health journey of being a kidney transplant patient for over 30 years.
Personally, Gianna appreciates traveling with her husband especially to Italy, enjoys spending time with her nieces, nephews, and godchildren, loves her Catholic faith, and likes sharing the vegetables from her garden with others.
Louis Lanza, Jr.
2023 NCCS Elevate Ambassador – Turnersville, New Jersey
Louis Lanza was diagnosed in January of 2005 with Large B Cell Stage IIA Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Lou received chemo and radiation treatments and after his treatment and survival, he became aware of his good fortune and wanted to give back. At a Celebration of Life at Jefferson Health he joined the Buddy Program. This program provides support to help cancer patients recently diagnosed. Lanza was involved with the NCQA as a patient consultant for Patient-Centered Oncology Care Pilot Practice Collaborative. He is involved in the Health Mentor Program at Jefferson. Lou counsels students currently enrolled at Jefferson.
In June of 2016 Lanza served as a committee member and speaker at the NCCS CPAT Symposium in Washington, DC. He has attended the CPAT Symposium every year since. Lanza has attended Bi-Yearly Pharma conferences in Philadelphia as an Advocate. Lou serves as a “Buddy” for the 4th Angel program conducted out of the Cleveland Clinic that was started by Scott Hamilton and the Cancer Hope Network.
Lanza volunteers for the AACR and Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia at their various fundraising events. He has attended numerous ASCO and AACR conventions, including two AACR Scientist-Survivor Programs. In honor of his late sister, Lou is a committee member of the Race for Hope for the National Brain Tumor Society and has attended their Head to the Hill in DC. Lou volunteers at Jefferson Infusion Centers in Philadelphia and South Jersey three times a week, talking to patients going through their ordeal.
Tamron Little, MAC
2023 NCCS Elevate Ambassador – Orange Park, Florida
Tamron Little, MAC, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at the age of 21. As a cancer survivor, writer, and speaker, more than a decade later she shares her unique story about this rare disease. It is her mission to inspire and spread hope to others, which is why she became an Asbestos.com contributing writer and partnered with Bristol Myers Squibb’s Survivorship Today, a series that aims to help advance our collective understanding of what it’s like to live with cancer today.
Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP
CEO
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Shelley is honored and humbled to serve NCCS and the millions of cancer survivors and their family members NCCS represents. She is a policy wonk and advocate and loves to empower cancer survivors to make their voices heard in Washington, DC and around the country. She joined NCCS in December 2012 and was named CEO in October 2013.
Prior to joining NCCS, Shelley served in leadership roles at Susan G. Komen, where she leveraged Komen’s grassroots network in Washington, DC and in state capitals. There she built relationships with policymakers and partner organizations and led a team of staff and volunteer leaders to influence state budgets and legislation. Shelley has also served as Director of Community Philanthropy at The Dallas Foundation and held management positions at communications and technology enterprises. She is a graduate of Rice University and holds a Master of Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Shelley’s commitment to the work of NCCS is strongly tied to the experiences in the cancer care system of her dear friend, Dr. Brent Whitworth, a beloved physician who was diagnosed with stage IV cancer days before his 42nd birthday and who passed away 19 months later. Through Brent’s experiences, Shelley witnessed the strengths and flaws of the cancer care system and embraces the notion that policy change can make cancer care better for patients and caregivers.
Veronika Panagiotou, PhD
Advocacy and Program Manager
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
Veronika Panagiotou, PhD, joined NCCS in the Summer of 2021 and serves as the Advocacy and Program Manager. Her responsibilities include managing the Cancer Policy and Advocacy Team (CPAT), Survivorship Champions and various advocacy initiatives.
Dr. Panagiotou’s passion for working in survivorship and advocacy emerged after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when she was 25 years old. As a young adult cancer survivor, she has witnessed firsthand the need for recognition of the financial toxicity of treatment, the creation of more supportive services, and the availability of survivorship care. Before joining NCCS as a staff member, Veronika was an active CPAT member. She has met with her representatives to share her story and to advocate for policies such as the Affordable Care Act that saved her life by giving her access to cancer treatment.
Dr. Panagiotou obtained her doctorate in Community Engagement at Point Park University in 2021. She defended her dissertation entitled, “Do Service-Learning Models Create an Opportunity to Cultivate Civic Engagement Outcomes at Point Park University? A Phenomenological Study of Students’ Perspectives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” Dr. Panagiotou was awarded the “Student Award for Excellence in Community Engagement” for the academic year of 2017-2018 after creating the Pioneer Pantry which serves college students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity on campus.
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Founder
Northeast Regional Cancer Institute
“Perhaps one of the most impactful collaborations in Dr. Brereton’s extraordinary career remains his early work and long friendship with Ellen Stovall. Through him, and in turn through the thousands of lives he has touched, Ellen’s work continues, and her mission lives on.”
—Karen M. Saunders
President, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute