Metastatic
Breast Cancer
Devastated by a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis shortly after giving birth to her third child, Katie Strobel worried she wouldn’t be able to see her kids grow up. Thanks to a new treatment, she’s free of that anxiety and expecting to be a mom for the long haul.
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CONTENTS
Health Monitor Living
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Keep looking forward!
A metastatic breast cancer diagnosis no longer means you have to stop planning for a happy, active tomorrow. Read on to learn more.
How is metastatic breast cancer treated? These days you have more options than ever. Find out about the different methods, then discuss with your cancer care team to zero in on the best choice for you.
“We’re making every moment matter!”
Katie, Deb and Loriana are moving forward with optimism—despite being diagnosed with breast cancer. Read on to learn if their strategies can help you, too.
Q&A
Oncologist Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, answers your questions about metastatic breast cancer.
Break down breast cancer myths
Are you up-to-date on the latest facts and research? Take this quiz to find out.
Outsmart symptoms and side effects
Is breast cancer or its treatment sapping your energy, stealing your joy and making every day, well, a pain? Try these methods to get back to feeling your best.
Keep looking forward!
Treatment breakthroughs for metastatic breast cancer mean you have every reason to keep planning for a happy, active tomorrow.
_________
Metastatic, or stage IV, breast cancer occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor in the breast and nearby lymph nodes and travel through blood or lymph vessels to organs or tissues in other parts of the body, such as the bones, lungs, liver, brain or distant lymph nodes. Generally, people who are diagnosed with stage IV disease have finished treatment for earlier stage breast cancer—in some cases, years earlier—only to learn that their cancer can now be found in another part of their body. About 5% of people with breast cancer have metastatic disease when they are first diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Spotting the signs
Not everyone experiences signs that breast cancer has spread. For those who do, general symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. Additional symptoms depend on the extent to which cancer has spread and where.
Location of breast cancer metastasis |
Signs or symptoms |
|
---|---|---|
Bones |
Bone pain (particularly in the skull, spine, ribs or hips) and fractures |
|
Liver |
Abdominal swelling or pain; yellow, itchy skin; nausea; swollen hands and feet caused by fluid retention |
|
Lungs |
Shortness of breath, chronic cough, bloody cough, pain in the chest wall |
|
Brain or spinal cord |
Severe headache, confusion, memory loss, vision changes, trouble speaking or moving, seizures |
|
Lymph nodes |
Lumps or thickened areas of skin over lymph nodes |
Getting a diagnosis
To determine if you have metastatic breast cancer, your doctor may order the following tests:
Blood tests: can check for certain tumors outside the breast, such as in the liver.
Imaging tests: can check for cancer that has spread to the chest, lungs, liver and abdomen. X-rays, CT scans, PET scans and MRIs are commonly performed.
Biopsies: can look more in-depth at cancer cells that were surgically removed in order to identify details about them (e.g., how aggressive the cancer may be, how fast it grows, and whether they are hormone receptor-positive [HR+], human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive [HER2+] or triple negative—learn more about these subtypes here.
Bone scans: can detect whether cancer has spread to the bone.
Keep a file! Ask for copies of all your test results. They will come in handy should you choose to seek another opinion.
HR+, HER2, triple negative—what does your diagnosis mean?
When cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be performed. A medical professional called a pathologist will look at the biopsy cells and produce what is known as a pathology report, which will include descriptions of how aggressive the cancer cells appear to be, how fast they are reproducing and how likely they are to invade other parts of your body (metastatic cancer has already spread elsewhere in the body).
Pathologists also look for specific proteins and genes contained within the cancer, and this is where all those acronyms and positives and negatives come into play.
What is HR-positive or negative? Hormone receptors [HR] are proteins that can be found in both normal and cancerous breast cells. If found in sufficient amounts in cancerous cells, they can use hormones (estrogen and/or progesterone) to induce cancer cells to grow and reproduce more rapidly. In that case, your cancer will be labeled hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and you will likely receive some type of hormone therapy as part of your treatment.
What is HER2? Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 is a protein whose main job is to promote cellular growth. If enough HER2 proteins are found in your cancer cells, your cancer is considered HER2+, and you may be treated using a HER2-directed medication. If very few or no HER2 proteins are seen in your biopsy, your cancer is considered HER2-negative. If just a small number are found, your cancer may be considered HER2-low. Research is currently underway to see if HER2-low cancers can be treated similarly to HER2+ ones.
What is triple negative? Triple-negative means that the cancer has tested negative for both estrogen and progesterone receptors, as well as HER2. While these cancers can’t be treated with hormone therapy or HER2-directed therapies, they can still be treated using other methods, including certain antibody-drug conjugates, which can direct anti-cancer medications to cells with alternate proteins, including trop-2, nectin-4 and EGFR.
How is metastatic breast cancer treated?
When deciding which treatment is best for you, your healthcare team will consider factors such as your age, general health, the type of breast cancer you have and how far it has spread. Here is a look at the treatment options.
Chemotherapy is typically given via infusion or orally, and can shrink tumors, slow the spread of cancer and control symptoms. While chemotherapy normally kills all fast-growing cells in your body (both cancerous and healthy ones), in some cases it can work in conjunction with other medications to more directly impact cancer cells and leave healthy cells intact.
Hormone therapy may be used if your cancer is HR+. Therapies include medications that stop cancer cells from receiving hormones, or ones that stop or inhibit hormone production.
Radiation therapy can target tumors, treat bone pain and spinal compression, relieve pain and swelling, or be used to induce menopause for those with HR+ cancer.
Surgery might be used to remove a tumor or to treat or prevent a bone fracture or spinal compression but is typically not used to treat metastatic breast cancer itself.
Targeted therapy may be used if your cancer has an excess of a special receptor on its surface.
Antibody-drug conjugates. These medications take a different approach than other treatments: They help deliver anti-cancer drugs directly to cells that have certain proteins, such as trop-2, nectin-4 and EGFR, on their surface. ADCs can sometimes be a good option for people with metastatic breast cancer because the proteins they seek out can be found on most breast cancer cells.
“We’re making every moment matter!”
Thanks to today’s advanced treatment options for metastatic breast cancer, Katie, Deb and Loriana are moving forward with optimism! Read on to learn if their strategies can help you, too.
“Now I can focus on being a mom again!”
____________________
KATIE STROBEL
Just this past July, Katie Strobel and her family: husband Sam, and kids Bo, Maggie and Claire, packed up their car and headed to the beach, completely on a whim.
“That’s something we’d never have done before my diagnosis,” says the 28-year-old North Carolina resident. “Sam and I are usually big planners; now we’re focused on just being present, not sweating the small stuff and making memories together and with the kids.”
That’s because, since November of 2022, Katie has been battling stage IV breast cancer.
“I’m not even 30!”
Katie’s shocking diagnosis came almost a year after giving birth to her son, Bo. Symptoms started with a lump, but since she’d had trouble breastfeeding with all three of her kids—including multiple blocked milk ducts and infections—both she and her doctor assumed it was something minor, and she went home with a prescription for antibiotics.
A few weeks later, however, when the antibiotics failed to help—in fact, the lump seemed to be getting worse—Katie went back to the doctor and requested a scan.
Still not expecting anything dramatic, Katie was troubled when she was asked to return for a biopsy.
“In less than a week, I returned to the doctor’s office and learned that I had a rare, aggressive type of breast cancer known as ‘inflammatory,’ which has initial symptoms that often mimic breastfeeding infection,” Katie explains. “I love true crime, but being told the killer was calling from inside the house was not the thriller I was expecting.”
Katie’s initial pathology report found her cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes, and she was diagnosed as stage III.
“I wasn’t even 30, I had three kids under age six and my husband was just a year shy from finishing his seven-year journey of becoming a doctor. I also had no personal or family history of cancer, so for me, the news was simply incomprehensible.”
“I found new confidence!”
Katie’s treatment started with four months of chemotherapy to try to shrink the tumor before having a double mastectomy and her lymph nodes removed. By that time, she had processed her diagnosis and actually felt relieved to be free of her breasts.
“I even had a ‘ta-ta to my tatas!’ party to celebrate,” she laughs. Both the chemotherapy and surgery recovery were tough, she admits, but thanks to her youth and otherwise good health, she managed to bounce back quickly.
To help keep her spirits up, Katie also started documenting her journey on social media and on her blog, MomsDontGetSick.com.
“That helped me more than I can say. I felt connected with other patients going through what I am, and it really gave me perspective. Plus, I feel I can do and say whatever I want now—who is going to pick on a bald, flat-chested woman? I just feel so confident!”
“I’m ready to continue the fight!”
Unfortunately, two months after her surgery, tests showed the cancer had metastasized and spread to her brain. To treat the new tumor, she had stereotactic radiosurgery, a minimally invasive procedure in which a laser targets tumors via a three-dimensional coordinate system.
“Basically, they did three little blasts on my brain in 45 seconds. It was easier to have brain surgery than to have a child!” she quips.
And to help prevent further cancer progression, she was started on a new antibody-drug conjugate. This medication works by directing anti-cancer medication to a protein found in cells, and particularly in breast cancer cells—and so far, scans are showing the new regimen is working.
Even better, unlike her previous rounds of chemo, this treatment hasn’t come with the harsh side effects she’d previously experienced.
“My doctor explained that everyone can have a very individualized experience with side effects, and they can happen with ADCs, so if that changes for me, we have methods to help that. Right now I feel amazing and am so thankful I can be present for my husband and kids. The fight is nowhere close to being over, but I will take whatever steps I need to in order to live as long as I can for my children. I will be the miracle case that people talk about. I will be the one to say I am in remission. I will go on to watch my babies grow and have so many more years with Sam. I will tell my story and help others fight for theirs. I will not let this cancer get the best of me—I’m too big-headed for that!”
Katie’s top cancer-fighting tips…
Find the right healthcare team. Katie believes it’s important that every cancer patient “be extremely comfortable with their healthcare team. Knowing I have these experts behind me who really care and who will listen to me when I need them to, that gets me through so much. If you need to do a little trial and error to find the right mix, don’t feel bad about it. Your life is in their hands—trust is key!”
Seek support that’s a good fit. For Katie, big support forums were overwhelming, as she felt like she was getting “an overflow of everyone’s cancer and issues,” she explains. However, connecting with a handful of friends who were also going through treatment was the perfect fit for her. That way, she had people to reach out to and share experiences with, without a rush of information.
Lean into positivity when you can. “Cancer makes you feel like your life is over the minute you hear your diagnosis,” says Katie, “so it’s important to choose to see possibility. I tell myself, I’m going to live until I am no longer living. People with stage four cancer are living so much longer now. The research and treatments that are coming out to support us and keep us alive are unreal. So it’s okay not to focus on the worst case!”
“I feel surrounded by love!”
____________________
DEB ONTIVEROS
As a single mom and longtime activist supporting women of color, unsheltered neighborhoods and undocumented residents, Deb Ontiveros remembers her pre-breast cancer life as one “always on the go.”
“I was quite the independent single mom at the time. I showed up to rallies with my then 4-year-old daughter, Estelar, and rallied the community with a megaphone in my hand,” she says.
So when she discovered a lump the size of a marble while doing a self-exam, Deb admitted she was as annoyed as she was scared. “I thought, I don’t have time for breast cancer,” she recalls. Still, she scheduled time to get the lump checked.
“I had a physical exam, followed by a mammogram and biopsy the next day,” she recalls. “By the end of the week, as I was boarding the train to go to my daughter’s preschool parent-teacher conference, I got the call I had breast cancer. It was invasive ductal carcinoma with lobular features.”
Two weeks later, after a series of additional scans including a PET scan and bronchoscopy, Deb was told that the breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, sternum and the tissue between her lungs.
“My oncologist said it was rare for it to spread to those areas. He recommended chemo followed by surgery and radiation. I was terrified at the idea of doing chemo, but once I knew it had metastasized, I knew I had to do the recommended treatment. I have a child and I had to give myself the best possible chance of survival.”
“I learned the importance of community”
In June 2018, Deb started her treatment. “It was rough. I’ve always taken care of myself and I felt like I was letting my daughter and my community down because I couldn’t be present for them,” she says.
But Deb underestimated the love and power of her community. Once she called her older brother, Eddie, who lived in New Mexico, his wife, Jenny, immediately quit her retail job and drove to Salt Lake City to help take care of Deb and her daughter.
Deb’s friends from her days as an activist also showed up and took turns bringing her food. “I was just enveloped with love by the people around me,” she says with gratitude. “It only proved to me more the importance of community and for standing up for each other.”
“I’m staying focused on the future”
Deb ended up receiving 16 chemo infusions over the course of four months and then was started on an antibody drug conjugate, a treatment that directs anti-cancer medication to a protein found in breast cancer cells, which she’s still on today.
“It’s incredible. I started off as a single mom, feeling alone with a dire diagnosis. Five years later, I’m surrounded by people who love me, and I’m still here living with metastatic breast cancer. Even though I’ll be taking medicine for the rest of my life and I’m probably never going to ring the bell and be cancer free, I am just happy to be here! Beautiful moments can happen when you allow yourself to be loved and taken care of,” she says.
Deb’s tips for keeping your spirits high…
Allow yourself to mourn your past self. “Losing my hair took a toll on my mental health. My hair was down to my waist and as a Latina, it was a part of my identity. I had to cut it off. I didn’t want to be vain, but I let myself grieve my old self. After that, I made an effort to look good whenever I went in the chemo ward. Even though sometimes I was having a bad day, the chemo care staff would say, ‘You look so pretty!’ And that would cheer me up.”
Talk it out. “I’ve been doing talk therapy for 18 years—way before I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. My therapist has helped me learn coping skills. I talk to her about all my emotions and my concerns about my worth and place in the world. She’s helped me feel seen and heard and get my mind into a better place.”
Table strong emotions. “I’ve had times when I feel like I would burst into tears and cry in public. So my therapist taught me to how to ‘table’ extreme feelings. For example, I say to myself, ‘This is upsetting me, but I can’t cry about this right now. I will deal with this later.’ Usually by then you’re in a better frame of mind to deal with the issue logically, rather than letting it overwhelm you in the moment.”
“I’m fighting for patients’ rights!”
____________________
LORIANA HERNÁNDEZ-ALDAMA
In 2019, Loriana was celebrating the fifth anniversary of beating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) when she received a devastating call: She had breast cancer.
Most people would be paralyzed by a second cancer diagnosis, but the Emmy award-winning journalist instead felt calm and optimistic: She was well-versed in cancer, and not only had she survived it once but she already knew she had what it takes to beat it again.
Loriana’s experience fighting AML had also directed her to a life of patient advocacy, including starting her organization ArmorUp for LIFE, which focuses on helping underserved communities gain better access to healthcare.
“There are disparities in our healthcare system, and I want to fight to change that—and I want to empower people to take their health into their own hands,” she emphasizes.
Loriana hadn’t forgotten the toll leukemia had taken on her body, including neuropathy, bone pain, muscle atrophy, cognitive issues and a compromised immune system. What she also hadn’t forgotten? How to dig in and go through treatment, including a double mastectomy, and how to make her body strong through lifestyle habits like juicing, yoga, walking and journaling.
Today, her focus is on spreading awareness through her book, Becoming the Story: The Power of PREhab, her speaking engagements and her advocacy work with ArmorUp for LIFE.
“The thing that keeps me going is that I know I can use my voice, my platform and my ability to speak to save lives.”
Loriana’s tips for staying strong…
Find your outlet. Even before Loriana started taking on speaking engagements about her cancer journey, she found a hobby that helped her cope: journaling. “My writing is my therapy,” she explains. But, she insists, if writing isn’t for you, you can simply find a release that is, like walking or yoga.
Keep the focus on strength—not blame. “When I was at Johns Hopkins being treated for the leukemia, I said to my oncologist, ‘What do I tell people following my story from all over the world?’ He said, ‘That they shouldn’t focus on “what they did” to make this happen—bad things can just happen to good people—but focus on what they need to do to move forward.’ ” That’s why Loriana’s biggest message is about empowerment. “We all have to prepare our bodies to fight illness someday,” she adds. “So start building a strong foundation now, today, through healthy lifestyle choices and give your body the tools it needs to win the battle.”
Stay in-the-know. Since cancer patients can have large care teams, Loriana advocates for patients to educate themselves about their diagnosis and treatment, so they can communicate with and answer questions from any new doctors they need to meet with—and this includes for patients when they’re done with treatment, as well. “I call this ‘phase two survivorship,’ ” she says. “Make sure you know what type and strength of radiation you had, how many rounds of chemo you went through, etc. Some cancer treatments can put you at risk for other health issues down the line, and the more you know, the better you can prepare and fill in future care providers so there are no delays.”
Q&A
Answers to your questions about
metastatic breast cancer
WHAT IS TROP-2?
Q: My doctor mentioned the possibility of treating my triple negative breast cancer using an antibody-drug conjugate that’s directed to the trop-2 protein. I’ve never even heard of such a thing—what is this treatment, why does that protein matter and can this really help me fight my cancer?
A: The trop-2 protein is expressed in many cells, and in particular many breast cancer cells, where it helps signal the tumor cells to grow and divide. In triple negative breast cancer, using hormone-based treatments or treatments that target the HER2 protein won’t be effective, so chemotherapy is typically the first-line treatment. However, targeting trop-2 using antibody-drug conjugate therapy has been shown to be more effective than traditional chemotherapy. And because the drug is so effective, even low levels of trop-2 are enough for drug efficacy, so unlike with hormone receptors and HER2, there is no need to check trop-2 levels in your tumor to qualify for the treatment.
RELAPSE FEARS
Q: I have been “NED”—no evidence of disease—for a while now, and my oncologist said I only need scans every year for the foreseeable future. I know I should be thrilled, but that actually makes me nervous. What if my cancer comes back between scans?
A: First, congratulations on the good news—if your oncologist says you can schedule fewer scans, that means your cancer is being well-controlled by your treatment. It’s great that you are doing so well! It can be helpful at this point to schedule some fun activities—like a trip or party—to celebrate your success. Now is a great time to reframe your thought process—you likely spent a lot of your time the past few months or years focused on your cancer and its treatment; now is when you can start really focusing on the future again.
However, if you still think you can’t move past your anxiety, discuss it with your oncologist. Scan frequency can be tailored to what patient preferences are, as well, and if you’d rather stay on a 6-month or quarterly schedule, that can likely be arranged.
SECOND OPINION
Q: I feel overwhelmed by my diagnosis and the range of treatment options and would prefer getting a second opinion just to ease my anxiety. But is that insulting to my oncologist?
A: Second opinions are absolutely your right, and I can promise you that your oncologist will not be insulted. We want you to feel the most comfortable with your treatment plan—our goal as doctors is to do everything we can to ensure you get well, which often means consulting with other experts. In fact, in some cancer centers, a team of medical professionals may review your case as standard practice.
MY TREATMENT STOPPED WORKING
Q: My metastatic breast cancer is HR+/HER2-negative and recently stopped responding as well as it had been to the hormone therapy I’m on. I’m worried that means I’m out of options—where can I go from here?
A: Don’t fear, today we have several different types of treatments we can use to manage your cancer. If you have had only endocrine therapy so far, that means you still have several chemotherapy options to try. Antibody-drug conjugates and possibly even immunotherapy are additional options. These treatments have shown great success in both clinical trials and widespread use and are helping many people with metastatic breast cancer live much longer than in years past. Talk to your oncologist about your next steps—together you can work on a plan to stop your cancer’s progression.
DIETARY ESTROGEN
Q: Is it safe to eat foods that contain phytoestrogens—like edamame and flax seeds—while undergoing treatment for HR+ breast cancer?
A: Yes, absolutely! Phytoestrogens are actually healthy plant-based sources of protein and safe to eat. There are myths surrounding this, so you may hear different opinions, but the most evidence-based opinion is that they are actually good for you and should not be restricted.
OUR EXPERT:
Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH,
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine; Director, Center for Breast Cancer; Chief, Breast Medical Oncology.
Quiz
Outsmart symptoms and side effects
If breast cancer or its treatment is sapping your energy, stealing your joy and making every day, well, a pain, tell your healthcare team. Sometimes a medication or treatment adjustment can make all the difference. You can also ask if the following self-help strategies make sense for you.
FATIGUED
GET MOVING.
The number-one energy booster for cancer patients is exercise, according to the National Cancer Research Institute—but that doesn’t mean you need to start training for a marathon. A 15-minute walk led to a marked reduction in fatigue levels for patients, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
Ask: “Can I safely do [a particular] exercise?” If cancer or its treatment has affected your bones or lung capacity, you may benefit from a stationary form of exercise, like chair yoga.
WORRIED ABOUT INFECTION?
KEEP GERMS AT BAY!
Treatment can impact your immune system, which means it can lower your ability to fight infection. Because of that, it’s important to avoid getting sick. The Centers for Disease Control devotes an entire website to helping cancer patients avoid infection (visit it at PreventCancerInfections.org), but here’s the main takeaway: Wash your hands and stay away from crowds. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice fever, sore throat or skin redness or swelling.
Ask: “Should I get the flu shot?” Generally speaking, yes—and other vaccinations, too—but your healthcare provider may advise you to wait depending on where you are with your treatment and if you have a scan scheduled, as some vaccines can cause lymph nodes to swell, impacting the scan results.
BATTLING NAUSEA?
STICK TO MINI MEALS.
Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help offset the risk of nausea, advises Tiffany Barrett, RD, of the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. The reason? If your stomach gets too empty, your stomach creates more acid that can lead to stomach upset. And if it gets too full, it makes it more difficult for your digestive system to work.
Ask: “Can I eat before an infusion?” Some have found that nausea is reduced when they receive their treatment on a fuller stomach.
PROBLEM WITH PAIN?
REPORT SYMPTOMS CLEARLY!
Everyone’s pain threshold (the point at which you feel discomfort) is unique, and no two people experience pain in the same way—plus pain related to cancer can have many different causes. Because of that, it’s important to communicate to your care provider how your pain is affecting you and exactly what it feels like. That way, they will be better equipped to treat the symptom. Rate your pain on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the worst) and let them know where you’re feeling it. You can also describe your pain as: constant, intermittent, growing, stabbing, burning, dull, achy, hot, tender, sharp, shooting, throbbing or cramping.
Ask: “When can I take my pain meds?” Most pain medications work best if taken as soon as symptoms crop up, and some must be taken regularly to prevent pain. It may also help to ask what situations may require you to increase your dose, how much is safe and for how long.
Are you a person of color?
Get the pain management you need!
Black patients are significantly less likely to be prescribed pain medication and, when they are, they generally receive lower doses, according to a study published by the National Institutes of Health. In fact, a study examining pain management among patients with metastatic or recurrent cancer found that only 35% of racial minority patients received the appropriate pain prescriptions compared with 50% of nonminority patients. If you feel your pain is being inadequately managed, don’t be afraid to speak up or seek a second opinion.
Special thanks to our medical reviewer:
Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine; Director, Center for Breast Cancer; Chief, Breast Medical Oncology.
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Health Monitor Medical Advisory Board
Michael J. Blaha, MD, Director of Clinical Research, Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease; Professor of Medicine; Johns Hopkins
Leslie S. Eldeiry, MD, FACE, Clinical Assistant Professor, Part-time, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Department of Endocrinology, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates/Atrius Health, Boston, MA; Chair, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and Board Member, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
Angela Golden, DNP, FAANP, Family Nurse Practitoner, former president of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
Mark W. Green, MD, FAAN, Emeritus Director of the Center for Headache and Pain Medicine and Professor of Neurology, Anesthesiology, and Rehabilitation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, Dean for Clinical Therapeutics, professor and chairman emeritus at Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York
William A. McCann, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer, Allergy Partners, Asheville, NC
Mary Jane Minkin, MD, FACOG, Clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the Yale University School of Medicine
Rachel Pessah-Pollack, MD, FACE, Clinical Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health
Julius M. Wilder, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine; Chair, Duke Dept of Medicine Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-racism Committee; Vice Chair, Duke Dept of Medicine Minority Retention and Recruitment Committee; Co-Director for the Duke CTSI - Community Engaged Research Initiative