On Wednesday, February 17, and Thursday, February 18, 2021, WBCC presented a virtual symposium, Knowledge Is Power, with a focus on working to educate, empower and eliminate health disparities in breast cancer.
Wednesday programming began with morning breakout sessions and a oncologist panel discussion. Breakout session topics included breast cancer disparities in Wisconsin’s Hispanic communities and reaching underserved populations. A lunchtime keynote address, “Inequities in Breast Care — What You Need to Know,” was presented by Andrea Wolf, president and CEO of the Washington DC-based Brem Foundation. Thursday sessions began with a lunchtime keynote address, “Metastatic Breast Cancer in Communities of Color,” presented by Lubna Chaudhary, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Division of Hematology and Oncology. Breakout sessions on the topics of exercise and survivorship, breast cancer advocacy and essential screening for breast density followed in the afternoon. A survivor panel discussion and symposium wrap up concluded the programming.
WBCC recognized two leaders in the Milwaukee-area breast cancer community. Bonnie Anderson was honored with The Audre Lorde SHE LEADS Award for standing up and speaking out about critical breast cancer issues, and Dr. Alonzo Walker was honored with The Hattie McDaniel Voice of the Year Award in recognition of his partnership to advance awareness of early detection and screening and his work to advance breast cancer quality of care.
This educational symposium was intended for a wide audience, to include survivors and caregivers, healthcare workers, researchers and medical students, and community and social justice advocates.
Symposium presented with support from
2021 Symposium Schedule
Wednesday, February 17
9:00 – 10:00am
Breakout sessions
Introduction
Ann Martel, WBCC President
Session 1
Breast Cancer Disparities in Wisconsin’s Hispanic Communities
Ana Manriquez Prado, Research Program Coordinator, Medical College of Wisconsin
Session 2
Reaching Women All Too Often Left Behind
Dr. Sandra Millon-Underwood, FAAN, Professor, UW-Milwaukee College of Nursing
10:15 – 11:30am
Oncologist panel discussion
Moderator:
Debra Nevels, MSHCM, Program Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement, MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, and WBCC Symposium Planning Committee member
Participants:
Dr. Lubna Chaudhary, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Division of Hematology and Oncology
Dr. Magdalena Flejsierowicz, Medical Director, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Aurora Sinai Medical Center
11:45am – 12:00pm
Welcome and keynote speaker introduction
Ann Martel, WBCC President
12:00 – 1:30pm
Keynote address
Inequities in Breast Care — What You Need to Know
Andrea Wolf, President and CEO, Brem Foundation, Washington DC
Keynote address presented with support from
1:30pm
Wednesday session closing remarks
Debra Nevels, MSHCM, Program Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement, MCW Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, and WBCC Symposium Planning Committee member
Thursday, February 18
11:05-11:15am
Welcome
Ann Martel, WBCC President
11:15 – 11:45am
Award presentations
The Audre Lorde SHE LEADS Award
Bonnie Anderson, Nurses Affecting Change coordinator
The Hattie McDaniel Voice of the Year Award
Dr. Alonzo Walker, retired hematology/oncology surgeon affiliated with the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Community Memorial Hospital Campus and Froedtert Lutheran Memorial Hospital
11:45am – 12:00pm
Keynote speaker introduction
Janine Tucker, Community Outreach Coordinator, Cancer Center Patient Support Services, Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, and WBCC Symposium Planning Committee member
12:00 – 1:30pm
Keynote address
Metastatic Breast Cancer in Communities of Color
Lubna Chaudhary, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Division of Hematology and Oncology
1:45 – 2:45pm
Pink Table Talk survivor panel discussion and podcast
Moderator:
Dana Johnson, WBCC Policy Committee member and host of The Pink Table Talk podcast
Panelists:
Leslie Prusik
Keeshia T. Jones, President, Sisters Network SE Wisconsin
Stella Jones, Secretary, Sisters Network SE Wisconsin
Adelene Greene, Treasurer, Sisters Network SE Wisconsin
Gail Zeamer, WBCC Policy Committee member
3:00 – 4:00pm
Breakout sessions
Session 1
The Role of Exercise in Survivorship
Leslie J. Waltke, PT, DPT, Cancer Rehabilitation Coordinator, Aurora Health Care, Aurora Sinai Medical Center
Ilka Hoffins, Program Director, Team Phoenix Cancer Survivor Training Program, Advocate Aurora Research Institute, Advocate Aurora Health Care
Session 2
WBCC Advocacy 101
Linda Hansen, WBCC Policy Committee member
Session 3
Take Action! Improving Access to Essential Breast Screening for Women with Dense Breasts
Gail Zeamer, MA, breast cancer survivor, patient advocate and WBCC Policy Committee member, Neenah, Wisconsin
Andrea Wolf, President and CEO, Brem Foundation, Washington DC
Dr. Georgia Giakoumis Spear, MD, Chief of Department of Breast Imaging, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, Illinois
Phyllis Fulk, CFO/Practice Administrator, Imaging for Women, LLC, Kansas City, Missouri
Session 3 presented with support from
4:00 – 4:30pm
Symposium wrap-up