2023 Elevate Ambassadors

Learn about how the 2023 NCCS Elevate Ambassadors are working to improve cancer care in their community.

Andrea Anampa-Guzmán, MD (c)

Buffalo, New York

Andrea Anampa-Guzmán is a Medical doctor and research assistant at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is a member of the #HemOnc Fellows Network team. She is interested in medical education, survivorship, global oncology, and lymphoma.

Laurie Christensen, RN, OCN

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.

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Gianna Durocher, RN, MSN, OCN

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.

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Louis Lanza, Jr.

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.

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Tamron Little, MAC

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.

Yvonne McLean Florence, M. Div.

Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Yvonne is a breast cancer survivor, independent patient advocate and the former President/Founder of Sisters R Us Circle of Survivors. She completed the Project LEAD program in 2018 and participated in the University of Pennsylvania Community Research Scholar Program. She is currently involved in research and public policy advocacy with emphasis on clinical trials, community driven research, DEI, quality of care/life and survivorship.

Yvonne represents Delaware County in the PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Traveling Exhibit “67 Counties, 67 Women Affected by Breast Cancer. She has served as a consumer reviewer for DOD Breast Cancer Research Program and an Advocate Stakeholder for the American Cancer Society Research Program Cell Structure and Metastasis Committee. She currently serves as a Mentor for GRASP, peer reviewer for NIH/NCI SPORE program, Patient advocate reviewer for PCORI Merit Review Program.

Yvonne is a member of CPAT and serves on the Ellen Stovall Awards Selection Committee.

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Erica Menefee, MS, BSN, RN, CPT, CES, BHCN

DeSoto, Texas

Erica Menefee, MS, BSN, RN, CPT, CES, BHCN has more than 12 years of oncology nursing experience. As a Breast Cancer Certified Navigator, she advocates for navigation, resources, and support services for women in underserved communities that addresses barriers to care. She began her advocacy work as a Susan G. Komen advocate in science (AIS) where participates in scientific research around emerging breast cancer treatment and clinical trials. Erica is passionate about preventing breast cancer among AYA (adult and young adult) women, especially women of color.

She graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. She also has a Master of Science degree in Lifestyle Health Sciences and Coaching from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. She holds a personal training certification (CPT) from the International Sports Science Association, and a cancer exercise specialist certification (CES) from the Cancer Exercise Training Institute.

Her purpose in life is to heal, and she desires to improve the burden of cancer within the community and prevent as many cancer incidences as possible. Erica prides herself in educating young women about health, wellness and lifestyle changes that can transform mindsets to support overall well-being. Having such a life changing experience with health and wellness personally, she vows to spread her passion to as many people as possible to increase awareness about breast cancer and provide access to tools of breast cancer prevention.

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Elizabeth Owens, MS

Lexington, North Carolina

Elizabeth Owens is a research project manager for Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina. Last year she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma that had spread to her lymph nodes. With surgery and radioactive iodine treatment, her doctor stated her last scan looked great! However, by going through treatment for the so called “good cancer”, she realized there is an enormous need for support for thyroid cancer patients like her. During treatment, she was in her final year of her master’s degree. She focused her graduate project on bringing awareness and creating support materials for thyroid cancer patients. She completed her master’s degree in Spring of 2023 in Clinical Research Management at the University of Wake Forest School of Medicine.

Elizabeth is a wife and mom to an energetic 5-year-old boy that keeps her very busy, however she still continues to inform others on the common misconception that surrounds thyroid cancer, and works to further research on the support needs of these patients.

Patricia Riffenburgh

Ventura, California

NCCS is deeply saddened to report that Patricia Riffenburgh passed away March 31, 2024. Tricia was a passionate advocate and had resounding resolve to serve others in her home of Ventura, CA. She wanted her fellow cancer survivors in her town to receive the types of survivorship supportive services that she had received in other hospital systems in CA. Tricia personally made a lasting impression on all of us at NCCS and we will miss her greatly. We will honor her legacy and continue to advocate and support the work that she started. Read Tricia’s Obituary »

In 2019, Tricia, a successful consultant and mother, faced a life-altering challenge. What she thought was a painful headache led her to urgent care, where CT scans revealed multiple lesions in her brain and lung, and after a biopsy, Tricia was diagnosed with Stage IV, aggressive metastasized melanoma throughout her body, predominantly in her brain. Tricia was shocked. At 52 she was vibrant and healthy. The doctors’ words advising her to put her affairs in order were terrifying, but within the fear, Tricia found an unwavering determination to survive.

Tricia assembled a health care team and embarked on aggressive treatments including targeted radiation, intense immunotherapy, multiple craniotomies, and other interventions. While knowing the potential of immunotherapies, Tricia knew she could do more, embracing mindfulness, nutrition, and holistic therapies. Most importantly she cultivated a positive mindset steadfastly believing in the capacity of her body to heal.

Cancer, she learned, doesn’t only affect the body but every aspect of one’s life and the lives of those around them. While hesitant to accept, Tricia needed the support of others when she was unable to care for herself, discovering the strength in accepting assistance. She could no longer sustain her high-paced independent contractor work, and as a single mother, she grappled with the challenge of “paying for cancer” and life’s expenses.

In June 2023, Tricia experienced a transformative moment as her third consecutive scan showed no evidence of disease, ending active treatment. Reinvigorated, she now works utilizing her skills to benefit cancer-related organizations. She is acquiring certification as a health and life coach to mentor and advocate for others.

Tricia is collaborating with NCCS as an ambassador, aiming to establish a comprehensive survivorship program in her community. Additionally, she serves as a mentor at AIM at Melanoma and was 2023’s honoree at AIM’s annual walk in Los Angeles.

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Monique Wilson, CPAR, BSHA, MA

Leesburg, Georgia

Monique Wilson is dedicated to educating young women in her community about early detection and sharing her journey with breast cancer. She strongly believes in promoting high-quality care for survivors. Monique uses her voice to support those newly diagnosed and those who have survived breast cancer.

Monique is a resident of Leesburg, Georgia, born and raised in Newark, NJ. She has been married to her husband Freddreck for 25 years, and they have a son, a daughter-in-law, and two lovely granddaughters aged 3 and 11. Monique holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and a Master of Arts in Ministry. Currently, she works as the Lung Watch & Survivorship Data Coordinator for Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA, where she has been employed for 18 years. For the past five years, she has been working in her role with the Cancer Center.

Meet Monique, a breast cancer survivor of 7 years, licensed minister, and proud National Breast Cancer Coalition member. She has been chosen to participate in the 2023-2024 Project Lead Institute. In addition, Monique leads the Young Survivor Coalition as the GA State Leader and serves as the President of the SWGA Chapter of Sisters Network, Inc. This chapter is dedicated to supporting women affected by breast cancer. Monique is passionate about educating, empowering, and motivating women to prioritize their health and advocate for themselves in breast cancer awareness.

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