INTERNATIONAL:
- Jackie Ramos-Calderon, Ralph Lauren Cancer Center, New York
With 25 years of experience in the cancer field, Jackie joined Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention in July 2009.
As a Social Worker, she has been invested as an advocate for women’s rights and empowerment. For 11 years she was the director of the YWCA Encore Plus Program in White Plains NY, a community education outreach program for poor immigrant women of color. She worked as an Education and Public Policy Coordinator consultant for the Greater NYC Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Psychosocial researcher for the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami School of Medicine and a Cancer Information Specialist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in NYC.
She is presently is the President of the Hispanic Women Leaders of Westchester. Volunteer Coordinator for the North East Region National Dia de la Mujer Latina. Since 2008 has been member of the New York State Cancer Consortium. Served in Congress Woman Nita Lowey Hispanic Advisory Committee. For two years served as Chair of Yonkers Mayor Philip A. Amicone Committee on Hispanic Affairs. From 2006-2008 served in the National Hispanic/Latina Advisory Council for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In 2007 was a US delegate to the “Ignite the Promise” Global Breast Cancer Advocate Summit, Budapest Hungary and in 2008 in the Mexican Partnership Initiative for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Jackie has been honoured with numerous awards as a result of her commitment and contribution to Women’s’ issues and development.
She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University with a specialization in Global Services and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Care Administration from St. John’s University.
- Nikia Hammonds-Blakely, Survivor, Singer,and Motivational speaker, Nikia Hammond Ministries, Dallas Texas
Having survived a life-altering bout with Breast Cancer at age 16 years old, Nikia Hammonds-Blakely is a singer, songwriter and motivational speaker who focuses her message on receiving physical and emotional healing with the help of God and family.
Today, at age 34, Nikia is conquering a life-long struggle with obesity, through a healthy diet and exercise, resulting in a 80lb weight-loss. She says surviving cancer has motivated her to take control of her total health, and she finds great joy in encourages others to do the same. Still, her greatest lies ahead of her. In December of 2011, after discovering pre-cancerous cells during a recent mammogram & biopsy, Nikia decided to take a very proactive step to prevent the likely reoccurrence of breast cancer by undergoing a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy.
Nikia serves as an ambassador for the Circle of Promise campaign, a breast cancer awareness movement geared specifically toward African-American women. Nikia also volunteers as an advocate for the American Association of Cancer Research the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the University of Chicago Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research Center.
Nikia’s story and work has been profiled in such media outlets as the Post Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, Glamour Magazine, The Yolanda Adams Morning Show, and interview documentaries on TVOne & BET.
Since going solo in 2000, Nikia has written, recorded & performed all over the globe, more convinced than ever that the mission of her music & ministry is to reach the needs of the broken-hearted through healing, deliverance and worship through song.
Nikia is also a licensed and ordained minister of the gospel.
- Linda Dias
Linda Dias is an advocate and a young survivor of color of breast cancer. Her passion lies in the service and empowerment of community and addressing disparities in health care. She has spent numerous years in the field of community development, cultural animation, health promotion, patient navigation and advocacy.
As a survivor, she has contributed to community, her experiences as a woman and survivor of color through the full participation in a theatrical breast cancer education project “Tomorrow’s Time” geared to immigrant, newcomer and marginalized communities about the importance of early breast cancer detection and self empowerment. She has also spearheaded a young women with breast cancer group in Toronto, Canada that is currently in the process of building a broader entity in partnership with YSC and local cancer organizations. In 2004, along with YSC, she hosted “Courage Night”, an event that both honored and celebrated the lives of young women with breast cancer. In 2006, she also hosted an international event on behalf of breast cancer survivors at the Club Crew World Dragon Boat Championship in Toronto, Canada in celebration of community and diversity.
As a patient advocate, she strives for better care and access to care for marginalized and neglected communities. She has journeyed with many women in their new and recurrent diagnoses with breast cancer and has helped navigate the health care system for them, asked relevant medical and scientific questions on their behalf and enabled them to empower themselves to be informed and active participants in their own care.
As an advocate and survivor, she is dedicated to equal and quality care for all, diversity and addressing disparities globally. Her area of interest lies in exploring disparities in science and health care and bridging those gaps through collaborative community partnerships and initiatives. She is also endeavoring to develop peer review of research and minority recruitment to clinical trials that is made up of meaningful participation. Ms. Dias states, “Navigating the medical, scientific and social aspects of having cancer, compelled me to address the barriers and gaps that exist in our healthcare system – nationally and internationally. Finding that treatment can have advantages and disadvantages with detrimental outcomes often neglected or cast aside such as chemically induced menopause and infertility became a matter of urgency for myself as a young woman along with others like myself. Making informed decisions and empowering women to do so, became survivorship”.
She is currently the only certified Patient Navigator in Canada from the distinguished H. P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute trained by the legendary Dr. Harold P. Freeman.
She served as a board member of CBCN (Canadian Breast Cancer Network) and is an Affiliate Member at AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) and MICR (Minorities in Cancer Research), a member of YSC (Young Survival Coalition) and NBCC (National Breast Cancer Coalition) and an active paddling member of Dragons Abreast – a breast cancer survivor’s dragon boat team. Linda has participated in previous SSP-AACR (Scientist Survivor Program at the American Association for Cancer Research) programs and presented at the centennial AACR Annual Meeting in Los Angeles in support of the AACR’s Special Program that aims to encourage education in science in the school system and is currently an Advocate Mentor at SSP-AACR. Linda also mentored at the MICR (Minorities in Cancer Research) AACR Roundtable for Professional Advancement for budding scientists and fellows in learning. One of the highlights of her research advocacy has been to proudly serve as a Consumer Reviewer at the Department of Defense CDMRP panel Breast Cancer Research Program.
In October 2007, Linda was selected as one of 25 global advocates from around the world to attend the Global Summit in Budapest, supported by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Following her representation of Canada and participation at the Global Breast Cancer Advocacy Summit, she was featured in TIME magazine that focused on Breast Cancer globally. In the spring of 2008, she was presented with an SSP-AACR award for advocacy.
- Mr Y.K. Sapru, Founder Chairman & CEO, Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), India
LOCAL:
- PROFESSOR FRANCIS ABAYOMI DUROSINMI-ETTI (OFR) MB.BS; DMRT(UK);FRSM; FICS; FWACS; FICA; FMCR.
Professor Francis Abayomi Durosinmi-Etti (OFR) graduated from the College of Medicine, University of Lagos in June 1972. He worked as a junior doctor at LUTH from where he proceeded to the Christie Hospital Manchester, (University of Manchester) England between 1975 and 1979 for his postgraduate training and qualifications in Clinical Radiation Therapy and Oncology.
He had additional working experience as Registrar and Senior Registrar at other major Cancer specialist hospitals in the UK such as the Cookridge Hospital Leeds and Clatterbridge Hospital, Liverpool, England before returning home in 1980 where he was soon appointed a Lecturer Grade One at the College of Medicine University of Lagos and Consultant in Clinical Radiation therapy and Oncology to LUTH.
Professor Durosinmi-Etti was appointed in 1988 by the United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria as a Radiotherapy Specialist charged with the overall worldwide activities of the IAEA in the field of Radiotherapy. His activities included training, research and clinical treatment of cancer patients. He held this position between 1988 and 1995 during which period he was largely instrumental to the development of the specialty in 45 developing countries of the world spanning Africa, Asia, Pacific, Eastern Europe and Latin America among several others.
He has several Academic publications to his credit in peer reviewed local and International journals. He was also involved in the design and development of the AMRA brachytherapy machine in France and the CERVIFIX machine in Italy.
He is currently the only black African on the Board of ICEDOC (an International cancer organisation), a foundation pillar behind the formation of the African Radiation Oncology Group (AFROG) which today receives support from the IAEA and WHO for the overall interest and benefit of Radiation Oncologists all over Africa.
On the home front, Professor Durosinmi-Etti is the first full Professor of Radiation therapy and Oncology appointed by the University of Lagos or by any other University in Nigeria.
He has served Nigeria at various other levels including his position as the pioneer Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of the prestigious National Hospital, Abuja.
He is the Chairman of the National Consultative Committee on Cancer Control charged with the formulation of a National Cancer management and control policy currently being implemented in Nigeria.
- Prof Ifeoma Okoye, Professor of Radiology, UNTH Enugu and Founder Breast without Spot
- Mrs. Omolara Fagbenle, Matron, UCH, Ibadan
- Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former first Lady and currently a Senator of Lagos State (Key note Address)
- Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, Founder, National President Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria
- Mrs Lilian Adesokan, MD Dichefitness, Ibadan
