Amplifying Lived Experiences and Meaningful Collaborations To Improve Health Outcomes; A Diversity in Oncology Initiative in Boston
05/10/2023
Diversity in Oncology is a first of its kind initiative to learn from and co-create solutions to address health inequities with three specific communities: the AAPI, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latin. Bristol Myers Squibb in partnership with Gryt Health have been listening to the local leaders in these three communities to learn the barriers to accessing quality healthcare. Delving into real world examples, we will hear from community health leaders in Boston, MA on how complex and unique obstacles to care affect their communities. Leave this session with a better understanding of language, stigma and screening challenges to be able to take active roles in creating more inclusive and responsive experience for underserved humans.
Moderator
Andrea Suarez V
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Andrea Suarez V
Cancer Survivorship Coach, Patient Advocate, ASV - Patient Centric Solutions
Committed to changing the patient experience.
For Andrea, transforming a company into a genuine patient-centricity organization means understanding the patient’s experience of his or her condition – what are the individual patient values, habits, attitudes, beliefs, needs, and what is most likely to result in a positive healthcare outcome. Originally from Colombia, she brings over twenty years of leadership experience in the Consumer Care and Pharmaceutical industry, to the LatAm market. Andrea focuses on Health Coaching offering tailored coaching-based solutions to patients, caregivers, and pharmaceutical companies in LatAm and the USA.
She has successfully launched innovative online coaching programs supporting patients and caregivers with cancer. She facilitates live webinars on stress reduction, emotional intelligence, and behavior change. As a commitment to diversity and inclusion, she facilitates an 8-week online program in Spanish on How to deal with the emotional rollercoaster of Cancer to Latino patients and caregivers in the USA. She is an advisor of the University of Miami Patient and Family Advisory Council at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami. She helps the organization to understand better the needs and preferences of Latino and Hispanic cancer patients.
She enjoys practicing yoga. When she isn’t working- you can find her on the beach in the headstand pose!
Speakers
Leslie Agyemfra
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Leslie Agyemfra
Community Health Educator, Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement at Dana-Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center
Leslie Agyemfra is an experienced health care professional with over 10 years of experience in both the Human Services and Public Health sectors. Leslie has worked as a Community Health Worker since 2014 and became certified Community Health Worker in 2020. Leslie's fierce, tireless commitment toward combatting both anti-Black racism and mental health inequities, sees her use intersectional liberation as her guiding principle.
Leslie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Worcester State University and is presently working toward a Master of Public Administration degree at UMass Boston, with a focus on Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy. Leslie now works as a Community Health Educator (CHE) in the Center for Cancer Equity and Engagement (CCEE) at Dana-Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center.
Chien-Chi Huang
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Chien-Chi Huang
Founder and former Executive Director, Asian Women for Health
Chien-Chi Huang is the founder of Asian Breast Cancer Project and the Executive Director of Asian Women for Health.
An immigrant from Taiwan and a breast cancer survivor turned advocate, Ms. Huang has spearheaded several health initiatives related to gambling addiction, mental health, and women’s health. The Workforce Development Initiative trains those who are under or un-employed as community health workers, providing an upstream solution to address the unique challenges facing the Asian community.
Motivated to lead through her cancer experience, Ms. Huang continues to participate in local, regional, and national efforts on health policy and research impacting the Asian community. Her remarkable passion for health equity and culturally responsive engagement has changed the healthcare landscape and created a pipeline of future Asian women leaders.