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Science of Cancer Health Disparities

September 18-21, 2025
Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor
Baltimore, Maryland

Cancer survivors and advocates are important members of the research community and valuable participants at the 18th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities. We were honored to welcome 16 patient advocates as speakers throughout the program, bringing a powerful collective voice that ensures patients remain at the heart of every conversation.

The following is a brief overview of the opportunities available to cancer survivors and patient advocates at the conference.

Welcome and Opening Session

Thursday, September 18 | 4pm – 6pm | Key Ballroom 7-12

Patient Advocate Keynote
Ysabel Duron, The Latino Cancer Institute, San Jose, California

ADVOCATE Posters

Patient advocates were invited to present posters on initiatives and programs implemented to help reduce cancer health disparities.

Breakfast networking roundtables

The Networking Roundtables at the AACR Conference on Cancer Health Disparities will bring together researchers, clinicians, advocates, and community leaders to share strategies for effective community outreach and engagement. Table will be hosted by a patient advocate

Patient Advocacy Lounge

The AACR Patient Advocacy Lounge provides an opportunity to connect with patient advocates who attended the meeting. This meeting space is open to all patient advocates who attend the conference.

Friday, September 19, 2025 | 10am – 5pm | Carroll A/B
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 10am – 5pm | Carroll A/B

Patient Advocate Roundtable: Trust and Truth: Building Bridges Between Science and Communities Affected by Cancer

Building trust in science and medicine is essential to improving cancer outcomes and ensuring that patients and communities feel heard, respected, and supported. This session will explore how to build and sustain trust within communities affected by cancer, with insights from patient advocates and key stakeholders on effective approaches to engagement and health communication. Lunch will be served. Invitation only.

Friday, September 19, 2025 | 12:30pm – 2:30pm | Carroll A/B

MODERATOR
Ysabel Duron, Founder and Executive Director, The Latino Cancer Institute

PANELISTS
Carmen White, MBA, US & Global Health Equity Lead, Pfizer
Alfred (Lacks) Carter Jr., Patient Advocate, Henrietta Lacks House of Healing (HeLa House)
Alejandra Hurtado De Mendoza, PhD, Associate Professor, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center

Patient Advocate Roundtable: Redefining the Patient Advocate Patient Advocate Speakers

Join us for a dynamic discussion on how the role of patient advocates is evolving in cancer research, policy, and community leadership. Lunch will be served. Invitation only.

Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 12pm – 2pm | Carroll A/B

CO-MODERATORS
Ysabel Duron, Founder and Executive Director, The Latino Cancer Institute
Yamilé Molina, MS, MPH, PhD, Associate Director for Community Outreach, Engagement and Health Equity, University of Illinois Cancer Center

Patient Engagement from Design to Dissemination

Friday, September 19, 2025 | 2:30pm – 3:30pm | Holiday Ballroom 1-3

Session Chair: Lisa Goldman Rosas, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California

The Science of Community Engagement: Fostering Resilience and Sustaining Impact

Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 11am – 12 pm | Key Ballroom 7-12

Session Chair: Laura Crandon, TOUCH4LIFE, INC., Clarksville, Maryland and Mya Roberson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nashville, Tennessee

Patient Advocate Speakers

Ysabel Duron, The Latino Cancer Institute, San Jose, California
Alia Graham, Patient Advocate, Chicago, Illinois
Ricki Fairley, TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, Annapolis, Maryland
Sylvia S. Molina, Patient Advocate, Tucson, Arizona
Marielle McLeod, Cancer Hope Network, Chester, New Jersey
Laura Crandon, TOUCH4LIFE, INC., Clarksville, Maryland and Mya Robers
Kimberly Richardson, Black Cancer Collaborative, Chicago, Illinois, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nashville, Tennessee
Keith Parker, Ebenezer AME Church, Fort Washington, Maryland
Ivis C. Febus-Sampayo, Disrupt Project, Winter Garden, Florida
Joanne W. Elena, American Cancer Society, Kennesaw, Georgia
Catherine L. Higgins, Stand Up To Cancer, Los Angeles, California
Saranne Rothberg, The Comedy Cures Foundation, Tenafly, New Jersey
Vernal H. Branch, Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, Mooresville, North Carolina
Paula Chambers Raney, Fight Colorectal Cancer, Springfield, Missouri
Andrea Downing, Light Collective, Eugene, Oregon
Desiree A. H. Walker, Young Survival Coalition, New York, New York

CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES ADVOCACY SUPPORTER

The AACR gratefully acknowledges the following supporter.