What brought you to the field of survivorship?
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer at 44, I thought that if I could just make it through a year of treatment, I could leave the diagnosis behind, pretend it never happened, and pick up my life as a wife and mom right where I left off. I quickly learned that adjusting to life after cancer can often be more challenging than the life-saving treatment itself.
Soon after my treatment ended, my oncologist noticed how much I was struggling with survivorship – fear of recurrence, anxiety, physical limitations, and loneliness – and suggested I join a local breast cancer survivorship group and connect with a peer mentor organization to help me navigate this phase of my cancer journey. Over time, connecting with other survivors not only helped me find my way back to myself, but it also uncovered my personal passion for mentoring fellow cancer survivors.
When I found OncoveryCare and learned about the team’s passion and commitment to rethinking how we care for cancer survivors, I knew I had to be part of the team!
What excites you most about the future of survivorship?
I’m most excited about the increasing focus on the needs of cancer survivors. More people are surviving cancer than ever before, and it’s thrilling to see the growing recognition that survivorship care is a crucial phase of the cancer journey. I’m eager to witness, and be part of, this shift in attention and care.
What’s the best part of being part of the Oncovery team?
That’s an easy question – the people! From the moment I joined the team, I’ve felt incredibly welcomed and honored to be surrounded by such smart, kind, and passionate individuals who are genuinely committed to building a survivorship care model that helps survivors thrive.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a TV news anchor. I loved watching the national evening news and thought it was so cool that anchors and reporters learned so much about the world and met so many interesting people. Determined to break into the news business, I earned a BA in Journalism. Soon after graduation, however, I realized I didn’t have the “get the story at any cost” drive so I pivoted toward a career initially focused on PR, finally landing in client-facing roles. I’m happy to say I still love learning all I can about current events and meeting new people!
What’s your favorite way to spend a Sunday morning?
I’m an early riser (much to my dismay sometimes), so on Sundays, I’m up early walking with my dog in the local town forest. It’s pure joy to watch him run through the trails and meet up with his puppy friends—such a great way to start the day. After our walk, I grab coffee with my husband. In the spring and summer, I also love sitting on my back deck under the awning, reading, or boating around Boston Harbor with my family.