by Share On Social!
Latinos with cancer face a challenging survivorship journey.
Explore these cancer survivorship challenges at UT Health San Antonio’s webinar, “How to Support Latino Cancer Survivors,” which occurred at 11 a.m. Central on Monday, July 15, 2024.
The webinar featured experts from the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, Genentech, as well as cancer survivors and safety-net organizations, who will explore cancer among Latinos and how to help them on the road to recovery.
Topics covered patient advocacy, support groups, clinical trials, referrals to resources through screening for social determinants of health, and more.
This is a part of a webinar series, “Let’s Address Health Equity Together.”
The series is a collaboration of the Salud America! program at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and Genentech.
Learn about the Speakers for this Webinar on Supporting Cancer Survivors
Here are the panelists for the webinar.
Panelist presentations and a discussion were moderated by Dr. Amelie Ramirez.
Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez (moderator) is an internationally recognized researcher in Latino health promotion. She is director of Salud America! and its home base, the Institute for Health Promotion Research in the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio. Ramirez has spent over 30 years directing research on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease and cancer health disparities affecting Latinos, including cancer risk factors, clinical trial recruitment, tobacco prevention, obesity prevention, and promotion of health equity. She also is associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Adolfo Diaz Duque is a hematologist-oncologist at the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, where he serves as an associate professor in the Department of Medicine with the Division of Hematology-Oncology. He completed his Hematology-Oncology Fellowship and received a master’s degree in clinical investigation and translational science degree from UT Health San Antonio. His research and clinical interest focus on improving outcomes in patients with lymphomas and on health care disparities and underrepresented minorities. At the Mays Cancer Center, he is developing a research program investigating novel therapies in Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He currently serves as the institutional leader for several investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored, and cooperative group studies, and serves as Hematology Clinical Disease Site Team (CDST) lead since mid-2018. In parallel, he also serves as an Ambassador for the American Society of Hematology (ASH) since 2016.
Marielle Santos McLeod is Director of Programs & Advocacy at Cancer Hope Network. She is a prominent figure in the realm of advocacy, particularly as a Latino Cancer Patient Advocate. Her extensive background encompasses roles in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, providing her with a multifaceted perspective that enhances her effectiveness in the field. Surviving Stage III colon cancer has not only fueled McLeod’s passion but also instilled in her a profound understanding of the vital role peer support plays in the cancer journey. Drawing upon her personal experience, she has dedicated over six years to serving as a Peer Support Program Manager and Certified Bilingual Patient & Family Support Navigator within the national non-profit sector. Through her role, McLeod tirelessly works to connect with and support cancer patients, caregivers, and volunteers across the nation, fostering a sense of community and understanding. Beyond her direct involvement in support programs, McLeod is a fervent advocate, utilizing her platforms to raise awareness about the critical need for proper medical access in underserved communities. Her commitment to amplifying the voices of those facing healthcare disparities is evident in her advocacy efforts, making a meaningful impact on the lives of those she serves.
Erin Ercoline is the leader of the ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, founded in 2007 in San Antonio, Texas. Thrivewell is dedicated to finding a cure for cancer by funding cancer research, providing patient support and offering programs to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. The organization runs a patient assistance program is focused on enabling cancer patients to comply with their prescribed treatment plan by providing transportation, financial and lodging assistance to those in need. The goal is to give patients the best possible chance of beating the disease while eliminating the added stressors that go hand-in-hand with cancer. Through the end of 2023, ThriveWell provided more than $11.5 million to patients, paying for their treatment costs, transportation and lodging since the inception of the program.
Angie Siecker Wilson is Senior Director of Patient Advocacy for Oncology, Immunology and Respiratory, Genentech. In this role, Angie leads the team that advances patient centricity through strategic partnerships with oncology patient advocacy organizations, driving measurable and positive impact to patients. Angie has two decades of experience in the advocacy space, and has been at Genentech for 12 years. Prior to her current role, she led the advocacy teams and strategies in immunology, respiratory, neuroscience and ophthalmology, where she headed a cross-functional team that created the first private and public registry partnership at Genentech. Angie had the opportunity to develop new strategies for patient engagement while working on a one-year special project with the late-stage clinical trials innovation team. Her unique experience with incorporating the patient voice in decision-making has led to novel strategies and tools in clinical development today. It was her frustration with the medical experiences of friends and family that led her to advocacy in healthcare. Angie acted as the patient navigator for her uncle who died from leukemia; he couldn’t participate in a clinical trial because his health insurance (as a municipal employee) would not cover it. A dear friend of Angie’s with triple-negative breast cancer died at 36, leaving behind two children. Had a clinical trial recruited faster, Angie’s friend would have been eligible and perhaps enjoyed a longer life. Among her accomplishments at Genentech, she is most proud of collaborating with the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation to create the first ever IPF Patient Registry, launching the Advancing Inclusive Research initiative with patient advocacy partners and working with the American Cancer Society on the Get Screened campaign. Before joining Genentech, Angie advised three presidential campaigns. She also led outreach for the late Elizabeth Edwards to the patient advocacy community during and after her breast cancer diagnosis. Angie led a team working with national nonprofits and patient advocates in Washington, D.C., at DDB, a worldwide marketing communications group. Angie, who received a Bachelor of Science from Elon University in political science and international studies, lives in northern Virginia with her husband, Scott, and daughter Ashley.
Behind the Webinar Series on Health Equity
The “Let’s Address Health Equity Together” webinar series is a collaboration of the Salud America! program at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio, the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio, and Genentech.
Three webinars are planned for 2024.
Four webinars occurred in 2023, and six occurred from 2021-2022.
Salud America! is a national Latino-focused organization that creates culturally relevant and research-based stories, videos, and tools to inspire people to start and support healthy changes to policies, systems, and environments where Latino children and families can equitably live, learn, work, and play.
The Mays Cancer Center, also known as the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, has a mission to decrease the burden of cancer in San Antonio, South Texas and beyond. We bring South Texas a level of exceptional care that is comparable with the nation’s most respected programs. More patients put their trust in our program because we have a unique understanding of our community’s cancer care needs. We excel in delivering advanced therapies.
Founded more than 40 years ago as the first biotechnology company, Genentech is dedicated to the rigorous pursuit of science and the development and delivery of life-changing medicines for people facing serious diseases. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California and a proud member of the Roche Group, our community is united by a common purpose and sense of urgency to transform the future of healthcare. Learn more at gene.com.
By The Numbers
142
Percent
Expected rise in Latino cancer cases in coming years
