WASHINGTON, DC – (Friday, January 22, 2021) As seen on ABC News and other major media outlets, Kim Thiboldeaux, Executive Chair of the Cancer Support Community (CSC), joined First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Whitman-Walker Health CEO Naseema Shafi for a tour of the federally-qualified health center’s 14th Street location. The visit underscored the importance of Americans getting cancer screenings and personalized patient navigation as the country’s health system grapples with the pandemic.

“Dr. Biden is a longstanding leader and advocate for families affected by cancer, and it was an honor to join her today to focus on the need for cancer screenings and community-based patient navigation services as our health system faces an unprecedented pandemic,” said Thiboldeaux, whose organization provides $50 million annually in free support and navigation services to individuals affected by cancer. “This visit to a health center focused on providing care to under-served communities comes on the second full day of this new administration and thus underscores Dr. Biden’s commitment to the issues of health equity, access, and affordability. We look forward to working with Dr. Biden to enact positive changes on behalf of the millions of our fellow citizens experiencing a cancer diagnosis and ending the systemic inequities that plague our system.” 

In 2015, Whitman-Walker Health, which offers affirming community-based health and wellness services to all with special expertise in LGBTQ and HIV care, became the first federally-qualified health center to integrate CSC’s evidence-based care model into its services. These services include psychosocial distress screening, treatment decision-making support, problem-solving skill development, care coordination and navigation, and self-advocacy training.

“Community health centers like Whitman-Walker are integral for removing barriers to accessing care and ensuring positive health outcomes for any person who walks through the doors. At Whitman-Walker, we center our care delivery around a dignifying, respectful experience,” said Shafi.  “In offering whole-person health services with an expertise in HIV and LGBTQ care, Whitman-Walker is uniquely positioned to deliver affirming care that accounts for all parts of a person’s identity. From offering chest and cervical screenings to members of the transgender and gender expansive communities, to setting up regular preventative screenings for breast and chest cancer, prostate cancer and more, we work to ensure that a person’s full self is prioritized in their care plan.”

The focus on health screening comes as recent studies show screening for cancers of the breast, colon, and cervix down between 86 percent and 94 percent in March of 2020 alone. By July 2020, rates of these cancer screenings were still between 29 percent and 35 percent lower than their pre-COVID-19 levels. In addition, CSC’s comprehensive study regarding the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients revealed the significant need for patients to receive personalized support and navigation:

• 52 percent of respondents indicated that COVID-19 has very or somewhat negatively affected their ability to obtain needed health care
•  40 percent of respondents have experienced a disruption to their cancer-related health care because of COVID-19
•  46 percent of respondents are somewhat, very, or extremely concerned about diagnostic tests being delayed or canceled
• 85 percent of respondents are somewhat, very, or extremely concerned about others’ lack of adherence to COVID-19 related safety recommendations, like wearing masks in public

CSC also has published a series of policy recommendations for the Biden-Harris administration.

Three New Board Members Bring Unique Experience to Growing Organization

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 3, 2020 – The Cancer Support Community (CSC), a global nonprofit that provides $50 million in free support and navigation services to cancer patients and their loved ones, welcomed three new members to its Board of Directors: Craig Cole, MD; Robert Defrantz, PharmD; and Dennis Serrette. The Board of Directors provides guidance on carrying out CSC’s mission that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community.

The new members join CSC as the organization is experiencing an increase in the demand for its programs as patients and their caregivers navigate the dual challenges of a cancer diagnosis amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CSC’s Helpline, which is staffed by licensed health-care professionals and community navigators, has seen an 80 percent increase in calls, with a 248 percent increase in those related to financial advising compared to last year.

Traffic on CSC’s website is up 40 percent and participation in its online discussion boards 20 percent. Downloads of the Coping with the Cost of Care booklet have increased by 33 percent.

“Craig, Robert, and Dennis all bring unmatched insight on the cancer and health-care experience from different perspectives,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community.  “They are joining our innovative, committed board at a time when equitable access to affordable comprehensive health-care is on the forefront of our minds. Together, they will advance our mission to provide the gold standard in support care for patients and their loved ones.”

Craig Cole, MD

Dr. Craig Cole is a board-certified Hematologist and serves as the Director of Clinical Research in Hematology/Oncology and Multiple Myeloma at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine at Breslin Cancer Center. Dr. Cole has been the onsite primary investigator for over 30 clinical trials and participated in over 50 clinical trials in Multiple Myeloma and Malignant Hematology. He has been published in national journals and presented his research at the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Apheresis national meetings. Indicative of his commitment to equity of cancer care, patient empowerment, and community education, Dr. Cole has won awards for his work in teaching, Multiple Myeloma research, and patient advocacy.

Dr. Cole received his Bachelor of Science degree in physiology at Michigan State University and the College of Lyman Briggs, East Lansing Michigan and earned a doctoral degree at the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio.

Robert Defrantz, PharmD

Dr. DeFrantz has been in the pharmaceutical industry for 22 years and has cultivated a successful career focused on ensuring that patients around the world have access to innovative medicines. He currently serves as Senior Director, Global Market Access, and Pricing at AbbVie. AbbVie combines advanced science, expertise, and passion to solve the world’s most serious health issues and have a remarkable impact on people’s lives

Prior to Abbvie, Dr. DeFrantz spent 19 years at Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. At Lilly, he was instrumental in driving novel enterprise-wide initiatives with across the board results through bold, inspirational leadership of high performing teams across multiple therapeutic areas. The last position he held at Lilly was Senior Director, Global Pricing, Reimbursement and Access.

Dr. DeFrantz earned his PharmD from Xavier University College of Pharmacy in New Orleans, LA. In addition to serving on the board of Cancer Support Community, he is also on the board of Little Red Door Cancer agency, a non-profit committed to ensuring cancer patients have transportation to treatment, receive emotional support, and have the nutrition they need.

Dennis Serrette

Dennis Serrette serves as Senior Vice President & Chief Partnerships Officer at the National Urban League (NUL). Mr. Serrette brings more than 30 years of success in board and fund development, business development, strategic planning, and sales management. 

During his tenure, the NUL completed the most successful single fundraising campaign in the history of African American lead institutions raising $278 million. Prior to joining the League, Mr. Serrette served as Vice President, Corporate Development at United Way of New York City where he was responsible for overall management and growth of their $65 million annual campaign and played a pivotal role in the fundraising administration and donor relations for the September 11th Fund.

Mr. Serrette attended Pace University for undergraduate studies and has recently completed his MBA, Finance at Stetson University.

About the Cancer Support Community

The Cancer Support Community (CSC) is a global non-profit network of 196 locations, including CSC and Gilda's Club centers, hospital and clinic partnerships, and satellite locations that deliver more than $50 million in free support services to patients and families.  The in-person locations alone record 500,000 visits each year.  In addition, CSC administers a toll-free helpline and produces award-winning educational resources that, together with the locations, reach more than one million people each year. Formed in 2009 by the merger of The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club, CSC also conducts cutting-edge research on the emotional, psychological, and financial journey of cancer patients.  In addition, CSC advocates at all levels of government for policies to help individuals whose lives have been disrupted by cancer. In January 2018, CSC welcomed Denver-based nonprofit MyLifeLine.org, a digital community that includes 35,000 patients, caregivers, and their supporters that will enable CSC to scale its digital services in an innovative, groundbreaking way.

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