About Me
Was I the only one?
I am a survivor of both breast cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma, two cancers that profoundly altered the course of my life. Initially, I was under the impression that I would be able to return to my life before the cancer diagnosis, but I later realized that this was not possible. I felt isolated and pressured to meet expectations that were no longer in line with who I had become after cancer treatment. Routine medical visits became something that I found to be intimidating. I sought support from a community, Was I the only one that felt this way? This motivated me to embark on a new path of Health Communications and Patient Advocacy by starting Lotus Seed.
Accomplishments
Writing and Publications:
1. Authored over 15 published stories for Memorial Sloan Kettering Visible Ink from over 200 submissions.
2. Wrote four articles for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Survivorship newsletter.
3. Co-authored two medical reviews published in prominent medical journals with 3,477 article views.
Public Speaking
4. Keynote speaker at the American Heart Association (AHA) EPI/Lifestyle Conference, addressing an audience of 831 attendees.
5. Provided insightful interviews for Bloomberg News, GRYT, and various healthcare organizations.
Medical Writing
6. Authored an article titled "Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Patient Involvement in Heart Failure Self-Care Programs and Post-Hospital Discharge Self-Care" in Research Involvement and Engagement, with a substantial reach and influence.
Communication and Leadership
7. Awarded the CDC Foundation COVID-19 Salute for managing COVID-19 communication and response, overseeing the development and implementation of printed and online publications, websites, presentations, and collateral materials.
8. Spearheaded cross-functional COVID-19 Information Teams to research, develop, and disseminate critical COVID-19 information to diverse stakeholders.
9. Facilitated cross-functional collaboration between school districts and healthcare facilities to enhance the coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Building
10. Founded and managed the operations of this site "https://cancersurvivorguide.org/," an online platform connecting and assisting cancer survivors, with a social media following of over 5,000 individuals.
11. Published author with a collection of over 15 short stories featured in "Visible Ink" at Memorial Sloan Kettering, including two stories chosen for performance by Broadway and TV actors.
12. Contributed four articles to "Bridges," Memorial Sloan Kettering's cancer survivor newsletter.
Social Media and Online Community Building
13. Managed project completion, ensuring on-time reporting to five branches of the Oklahoma government, including updates to CDC COVID-19 guidelines.
14. Conducted outreach and education by communicating with the public, collaborating with healthcare providers, school personnel, childcare providers, and other stakeholders, and utilizing the statewide immunization information system for tracking efforts.
15. Played a key role in designing and producing visual aids, enhancing comprehension for heart patients and benefiting 87,000 internal staff, leading to improved medical knowledge and communication.
16. Actively participated in a companion podcast for medical reviews, resulting in 3,000 downloads and broad accessibility for knowledge dissemination.
Philosophy
My Mission
Telehealth Services
Emotional Health
At cancersurvivorguide.org, I am dedicated to providing high-quality information to cancer survivors and their caregivers. My mission is to improve the health and well-being of our community through empowerment using knowledge.
Emotional Health
Telehealth Services
Emotional Health
Survivorship includes many emotional issues like scan anxiety. You are not alone.
Telehealth Services
Telehealth Services
Telehealth Services
There are no obstacles to getting support or information today, although it may feel that way. Reach out for help navigating this journey.