Improving Cancer Survivorship Care Begins In Your Backyard
Elevate Ambassadors are advocates, leaders, and survivors who ensure quality cancer care is delivered. Ambassadors receive mentorship, support, networking opportunities, and in-person training to develop and execute a plan-of-action to improve survivorship care in their local community.
It may seem like no small task for Elevate Ambassadors to make a difference in cancer care in their communities — that’s because it isn’t. Yet, it’s their opportunity to get the training and mentorship they need to successfully achieve a rewarding result for local survivors who are their neighbors, colleagues, family friends, and more.
2022 – 2023 Elevate Ambassadors
The Elevate Ambassadors will receive support, mentorship, networking opportunities, and training from NCCS to help them successfully create and implement a project that will improve cancer survivorship care in their community. Some advocates will focus specifically on addressing health inequities highlighted in NCCS’s 2021 State of Cancer Survivorship Survey.
Lindenwold, NJ
Roxanne Berger is the Clinical Nurse Coordinator for the Wellness After Cancer Survivorship Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper in Camden, New Jersey. In her role as coordinator, she has helped develop a variety of programs to address survivors’ needs including a fitness and nutrition eight-week training program and a virtual monthly educational series.
Roxanne’s passion and dedication to cancer survivors comes from a deep desire to help them live their lives as best as possible. Watching her cousin struggle to navigate the system after having two cancer diagnoses was very troubling to Roxanne. Out of this concern grew the concept of HATS OFF: Healthcare Advocacy Throughout Survivorship, Ongoing Focused Follow-up; a faith-based program that focuses on regular consistent follow up care after completing active surveillance and transitioning to long term survivorship care. The focus is on physical and psychosocial educational programs at local churches, mosques and synagogues targeting men and women of color. Follow up care and appropriate cancer screening tests are vital to survivors’ wellness. Roxanne’s overall goal is for all cancer survivors to have access to equitable care, culturally competent education and awareness of the importance of living well throughout their survivorship journey.
Fairport, NY
A month before Nicole Drost turned 40, her world was flipped upside down when was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer. With aggressive treatment and brachytherapy, she is happy to say she is currently 3 and a half years cancer free. While going through her cancer journey, she realized she wanted to help other young women like her. She is thrilled to be a 2022 Elevate Ambassador.
Her hope is to inform others on the importance of women’s health care and educate others that gynecological cancers do not just happen to women over the age of 55. Nicole is a wife, mom of three kids ages 12, 11, and 8, a dog mom, and a prevention educator. When she has spare time, she loves to hang out with her family, read, and hike.
Jennifer Elliott
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Jennifer Elliott is a student of health policy, breast cancer survivor, and patient experience professional. Following her breast cancer diagnosis, she pursued advocacy training from the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC), National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), and the American Association of Cancer Researchers (AACR). Jennifer’s Project LEAD training led to work as a peer reviewer with the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). That program was a springboard for Ms. Elliott’s attendance at the Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy as a graduate student of health policy, with an anticipated graduation date in May 2022.
During her time at Rutgers, Ms. Elliott is serving as Patient Advocate and Policy Liaison in the Paul Duberstein Lab at the School of Public Health, and as Patient Advocate on the Palliative Care Research Group; both are multidisciplinary social science research groups.
Ms. Elliott is ecstatic to utilize the many domains of her experience as an ELEVATE Ambassador.
Alexandria, VA
In 2002, Alyssa graduated from American University, in Washington, DC, with a BA in Education and Communication. That same year, she was diagnosed with stage 4 tongue cancer and had more than half of her tongue removed. She underwent congruent chemotherapy and radiation treatments for six months. Following treatment, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Communications and wrote her thesis on “The Power of Hope.” She graduated with Honors in 2006.
In 2013, she joined Dr. Jatin P. Shah and actor Michael Douglas on a radio tour to increase awareness about Oral Head and Neck Cancers which was nominated for a SABER award. In 2019, she founded The HNC Fund (Head Neck Cancer Fund).
In 2020, she became a featured blogger for Cancer Be Glammed, raising awareness for Head and Neck Cancer. Dr. Peter Cordeior nominated Alyssa for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Patient of Courage Award for 2020; Alyssa won the distinguished title. In 2020, she became a Head Neck Cancer Alliance Ambassador dedicated to educating the community at large about HNC. She was asked to join the Advisory Board for Courage Unmasked 9114HNC Fund.
In October of 2020, Alyssa underwent an emergent Mandibulectomy Fibula Free Flap Jawbone Replacement surgery. In 2022, Alyssa became a Cancer Hope Network Support Volunteer and Elevate Ambassador for National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. She is happily married and has two phenomenal children.
New York, NY
Lorenzo Gallo is the Founder and CEO of NextWave Safety Solutions. He is an expert in safety and risk management and has developed safety regulations for the City of Philadelphia, the fracking industry, and fire and building codes for the City of New York. Leveraging his financial and occupational safety background, as well as his experience as a 9/11 First Responder, he has testified before Congress regarding the importance of improved safety training and workforce opportunities.
At NextWave’s helm, Lorenzo continues to revolutionize the safety tech industry, leading with real-time data analytics, mobile applications, geo-located wearables, and virtual reality safety training. Additionally, Lorenzo directs several probation and parole projects for at-risk and recent-release youths as well as veteran training, employment, and career development programs. Prior to founding NextWave, Lorenzo was the managing director of the London-based Global Equity Finance team at Lehman Brothers.
As a cancer survivor, Lorenzo volunteers and gives generously to the NYU Children’s Pediatric Center. Lorenzo holds an MBA from Wharton.
Tuscaloosa, AL
Jala Lockhart, MPH, CHES, DTR, is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia but has completed all her degrees at The University of Alabama. She has a B.S. in dietetics with a minor in biology, a Master’s of Public Health, and is currently completing her doctorate in health education and promotion from the capstone.
Jala’s research experience includes working on multiple projects with grant funding from the American Cancer Society, Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Louisiana, The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and Rockefeller Foundation. Jala has also worked for non-profit organizations and federally qualified health centers (FQHC’s) as a practitioner in community health education with a focus on nutrition. She also enjoys volunteering at her local cancer center, where she helps with projects related to operations.
Jala’s research interests include cancer survivorship/education, integrative medicine, and health disparities. It is her hope to one day help cancer centers implement programming and conduct operations that are culturally sensitive and tailored to minoritized survivors to improve their quality of life. Jala is not only a scholar of cancer research, but also an advocate due to a family history of cancer diagnosis. Losing those close to her due to prostate, colorectal cancer, and having a mother who was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL) in 2020, fuel her passion to enter the world of survivorship care.
Oakland, TN
Tori McCurdy, MSN, FNP-C, RN, OCN, is the Director of Oncology Nursing & System Lead for Navigation at Baptist Cancer Center in Memphis, TN. Tori has more than 15 years of oncology experience. As an Oncology Certified Nurse, she advocates for navigation and additional support services.
Tori is a Family Nurse Practitioner by trade, but her true calling is focused on oncology navigation and survivorship. Tori finds it rewarding to aid her team in removing barriers to patient care which in turn improves patients overall outcome.
Daria Ross
Flint Township, MI
Daria is passionate about educating her community and positively impacting others through her breast cancer experience. She believes building strong coalitions and understanding community needs can create real, positive change and strengthen survivorship.
She was diagnosed in 2018 with Stage 2, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Her perspective and life focus were forever changed. After a bilateral mastectomy, 15 rounds of chemo, and 30 rounds of radiation, she is cancer-free. Now thriving at the surveillance point, her daily affirmation is #faithoverfear.
Daria is keenly focused on advocacy, reducing health care disparities, and increasing survivorship. Her primary interests include non-profit leadership, grant development, and policy to create meaningful initiatives that support the most vulnerable populations and underserved women and provide resources for survivors, families, and caregivers.
Arti Varanasi, PhD, MPH, CPH
Clarksburg, MD
Dr. Arti Patel Varanasi is President and CEO of the social enterprise, Advancing Synergy, LLC and co-founder of the non-profit organization, Health Tech Alley. She has more than 25 years combined experience in cancer research, advocacy, capacity building, public health and project management ,and maintains close ties to the medical, public health and research community. Advancing Synergy served as the technology partner on a grant awarded to Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, MD from Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to provide virtual, personalized support to women undergoing breast cancer treatment through an innovative technology.
Arti is passionate about developing innovations that build stronger communities and enable all individuals to lead healthier and longer lives. Her focus has been on leveraging technology to address chronic disease and advance health equity. With the Health Tech Alley team, Arti works to fulfill its mission of improving health outcomes and equity and uplifting individuals and communities by enabling health technology solutions, workforce development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Arti is a proud graduate of Leadership Howard County and an active member of the health, entrepreneurial, and technology communities in the DC-Maryland-Virginia area. She currently serves as a Steering Committee Member of the Noncommunicable (NCD) Disease Roundtable, Chair of NCD Interest Group for the CORE Group, Co-Chair of the American Cancer Society National Navigation Roundtable Workforce Development Working Group, Chair of Maryland Innovation Center (MIC) Women in Technology-Central Maryland group, Co-Chair of the MIC Health Tech Innovators group, and Steering Committee Member of the Virginia-based Women in Technology group. From 2012-2016, Arti served on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) appointed by then-Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.
Arti enjoys her role as an educator. She is a lecturer in the Master’s in Biotechnology Program at The Johns Hopkins University and recently co-developed a continuing education course in Health Information Technology Fundamentals for Howard Community College. As an advocate for improving the training of postdoctoral fellows, she was one of the founders of the National Postdoctoral Association in 2003. Arti was a fellow in the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program from 2001-2005 where her research interests focused on nutrition, immunity and cancer prevention. She received her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and MPH from the Johns Hopkins University. Her doctoral research focused on understanding the genetic and epigenetic alterations that contribute to the development of lung tumors.
Arti is also a graduate of the National Science Foundation funded ACTiVATE® program for women technology entrepreneurs. This award-winning program launched her journey into entrepreneurship and planted the seeds for Advancing Synergy and Health Tech Alley.
McHenry, IL
Kaili Wegener is a seven-year childhood cancer survivor, student, advocate, and changemaker. Since her diagnosis, Kaili has used her voice as an advocate for cancer patients and survivors on the local, state, and national levels. She is passionate about putting otherwise intricate pieces of health care policy into perspective by framing their impact through the lens of a childhood cancer survivor and young advocate.
As an Elevate Ambassador, Kaili hopes to empower other young cancer patients and survivors to use their voices on the issues that affect their lives. Kaili has thrown herself into the national conversation about health care policy and will continue fighting until everyone can access the quality healthcare they deserve.
Natalie Zacharczyk
Sparks, NV
Natalie Zacharczyk is a co-founder of Cancer Community Clubhouse and a metastatic breast cancer survivor. With over 17 years of experience working with real estate investors and a leading financial security company as an investment & retirement specialist, Natalie is returning to her roots in human services.
Natalie holds a bachelor’s degree in human and family services, serves on the Nevada Cancer Coalition’s Survivorship Task Force, and is a Metavivor Peer-to-Peer program leader.
Originally diagnosed as a young, single mother, Natalie especially values and enjoys spending time with her son, practicing mindfulness techniques including meditation, yoga & QiGong, and she escapes to the natural retreats the region has to offer—especially Lake Tahoe!
As a survivor, she is committed to helping others find a renewed sense of happiness despite going through cancer as a life event. Above all, she aims to create a space for connection so others do not have to go through the journey alone. Read Natalie’s Survivor Story here.
Ambassadors said this about their Elevate experience:
“I would never have even attempted something like this without the support and encouragement of NCCS. It’s been a game changer and a life changer as well.”
“Not really knowing anything about NCCS before applying, I found the Elevating Survivorship program to be extremely supportive, inclusive, and enlightening. Meeting so many smart, talented, driven advocates was very inspiring.”
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Harmar Brereton, MD
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
Roxanne Berger, LPN
Nicole Drost
Jennifer Elliott
Alyssa Fischer-Reeder
Lorenzo Gallo
Jala Lockhart-Walker, MPH
Tori McCurdy, MSN, FNP-C, RN
Daria Ross
Arti Varanasi, PhD, MPH, CPH
Kaili Wegener
Natalie Zacharczyk
