WASHINGTON, DC — The Cancer Support Community (CSC), an international nonprofit, announced the addition of Kevin Stein, Ph.D., FAPOS to serve as Executive Director of its Research and Training Institute and spearhead the advancement of the organization’s expanding patient-centered initiatives and research.

Dr. Stein is Associate Professor in the Behavioral Sciences and Health Education Department of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. He worked for the American Cancer Society (ACS) for 17 years, serving as the Director of the Behavioral Research Center and Vice President of Behavioral Research. During his career at ACS, Dr. Stein also oversaw the ACS Study of Cancer Survivors (SCS), a large-scale, population-based, national longitudinal study of quality of life among cancer survivors.

Stein’s work has appeared in more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and scientific journals. The National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute have all funded his research.

“Kevin is a renowned leader whose innovative approach to research will continue to enable us to elevate the voices of cancer patients among the most rigorous, influential forums, publications, and conferences,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of CSC. “We are an organization that is growing on multiple fronts, including in digital services and policy, and Kevin brings a track record of capturing unique patient-centered data that will enables us to improve the lives of individuals affected by cancer.”

Dr. Stein will take the reins of CSC’s Philadelphia-based Research and Training Institute in July. It is the first Institute dedicated to cancer related psychosocial, behavioral and survivorship research and training. The Institute seeks to examine the critical role of emotional and social support, financial burden, and patient navigation in improving the lives of people facing cancer, and to share its findings with the broader cancer community.

“I am thrilled to join the Cancer Support Community and build upon the amazing work the team at the Research and Training Institute has done over the past 10 years,” said Dr. Stein. “Social and emotional factors play an outsized critical role in a cancer patient’s quality of life and we have a responsibility to ensure those factors are not only understood, but also comprehensively addressed as part of a patient’s treatment, care, and survivorship planning.”

Dr. Stein received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of South Florida. He completed a three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Psychosocial Oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Stein is an active member of the International Psychosocial Oncology Society, American Psychosocial Oncology Society, The International Society of Quality of Life Research, and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. He was elected as a Fellow of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society in 2015.

Cancer Support Community Announces Three New Board Members

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Cancer Support Community (CSC), an international nonprofit organization, is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Headquarters Board of Directors: Bjoern Albrecht, Jing Liang, and Lynne O’Brien. The Board provides leadership and guidance for carrying out CSC’s mission to ensure that no one faces cancer alone.

“Bjoern, Jing, and Lynne bring such a diverse set of experiences and insights from the policy world and the private sector,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “They’re joining our stellar Board, which is committed to advancing innovative ways to help us serve more patients and their loved ones.”

Bjorn Albrecht

Bjoern Albrecht is a partner at McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm. He works with pharmaceutical and biotech companies, health systems, and providers on cancer-related topics. He leads the McKinsey Cancer Center, coordinating all of McKinsey’s work on cancer-related topics globally, and is also a leader in the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Products Practice in Europe. Albrecht manages the annual “McKinsey Cancer Congress Series” Satellite Symposium at the American Society of Clinical Oncology. He holds a Ph.D. in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and a BS in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Hamburg.

Jing Liang

Jing Liang is an entrepreneur and management consultant. He is the co-founder and managing partner of Umbrex, a global community of independent, top-tier management consultants. He also founded and serves as the CEO of Attenua, a biotech developing non-narcotic prescription treatments for chronic cough. He was a co-founder of Storelli Sports, the only brand devoted exclusively to the design and manufacture of head-to-toe soccer protection at every position. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry from Penn State University.
 

Lynne O'Brien

Lynne O’Brien worked as a Policy Analyst with the White House Cancer Moonshot office under former Vice President Joe Biden. Previously, she worked as director of the Washington Government Affairs Office of DuPont Merck and DuPont Pharmaceuticals, working with members of Congress on issues involving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tax legislation, and health care reform. She started her career in DC with Williams and Jensen, a lobbying/law firm in Washington, DC, focusing on health care clients. O’Brien is also on the national board of the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society (LLS) and is a trustee of The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. O'Brien graduated cum laude from Princeton with an A.B. in political science and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. She is also a blood cancer survivor who finished treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2016.

BANFF, CANADA – (Thursday, September 26, 2019) – At a global conference featuring health experts and thought leaders, the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) presented Cancer Support Community CEO Kim Thiboldeaux with its President’s Community Award for Distinguished Contributions to IPOS.

Presented during a plenary session at the IPOS World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy, the President’s Community Award for Distinguished Contributions is an award that is made to an individual, group or organization in the community that, in the opinion of the organization’s board of directors, has made an outstanding contribution of great significance to the Society.

Founded in 1984, IPOS was created to foster international multidisciplinary communication about clinical, educational, and research issues that relate to the subspecialty of psycho-oncology and two primary psychosocial dimensions of cancer: response of patients, families, and staff to cancer and its treatment at all stages; and psychological, social, and behavioral factors that influence tumor progression and survival.

“It is truly an honor to receive this recognition from the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS), and I accept on behalf of patients and families who are the inspiration for our work,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “IPOS is an inspiring organization that brings together leaders from all corners of the world to advance ideas and policies that benefit individuals affected by cancer. I look forward to continuing to exchange ideas and share experience with fellow IPOS members to ensure that we have a global approach to addressing the needs of patients.”

“Kim Thiboldeaux represents the essence of this prestigious award,” said Maria Die Trill, Ph.D., President, IPOS Board of Directors. “Kim believes the patient’s voice must be at the center of the global conversation about cancer, and she works tirelessly to ensure that conversation is inclusive, robust, and results-oriented. Among her many contributions to our sector, Kim has brought new voices to our convenings and fostered a collaborative spirit that benefits all of us.”

As CEO of CSC, Thiboldeaux oversees all aspects of the organization, including the growing Cancer Policy Institute and Philadelphia-based Research & Training Institute—both of which were part of the IPOS convening’s program.

Elizabeth Franklin, LGSW, ACSW, Executive Director of CSC’s Policy Institute, delivered remarks at the IPOS convening regarding the organization’s CancerSupportSource®, which is a validated, flexible distress-screening program that, when fully implemented, automatically generates reports for clinicians and respondents that include tailored information based on respondents’ identified concerns.

In addition to Franklin’s remarks, CSC presented findings from a study in which its researchers surveyed 3,318 individuals diagnosed with cancer who are enrolled in CSC’s Cancer Experience Registry®. Participants provided demographic, clinical, and cost of care information, and completed the CancerSupportSource’s 25-item distress screening tool that includes 2-item depression risk and 2-item anxiety risk subscales. The study produced the following key findings:

• Higher out-of-pocket costs predict increased concern about health insurance and money worries, which in turn predicts odds of anxiety risk and depression risk
• Postponing psychological counseling to reduce cost of care predicts anxiety and depression risk odds
• The need for doctor-patient cost of care communication and financial counseling to mitigate the impact of financial burden on quality-of-life, treatment, and health outcomes

A full summary of the study is available here.

In collaboration with the cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical, the gift is made in memory of Broadway Star Marin Mazzie and in honor of fellow cast member Jason Danieley

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - (June 7, 2019) – As announced on Broadway.com, the Cancer Support Community (CSC) has been awarded a grant in the amount of $25,000 by Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS in collaboration with the cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical. The gift is in memory of three-time Tony nominee and 2017 American Theatre Hall of Fame Inductee Marin Mazzie and in honor of her husband, Broadway star Jason Danieley, both Cancer Support Community Champions.

Mazzie and Danieley, whose final performance in Pretty Woman was on Sunday, June 9, are longtime champions of CSC, a global nonprofit that provides more than $50 million in free support services to people living with cancer and their loved ones. Mazzie was honored posthumously this year with a Special Tony Award recognizing her legacy of advocacy and her leadership within the theatre community for women’s health issues and support of organizations such as CSC.

“I am so happy for Broadway Cares to make this special gift in collaboration with all at Pretty Woman: The Musical from resources raised during our spring fundraising campaign,” said Tom Viola, Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. “I know that the support, counsel and care that Marin and Jason received from Cancer Support Community was an invaluable assist and embrace to them both. What has made this experience even more resonant – and I imagine something that Marin would especially love - is that through their experience, the Broadway community has been introduced to this organization, augmenting the assistance offered by The Actors Fund to those facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis in our theatrical family.”

“We are truly humbled to have been selected by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the cast of Pretty Woman: The Musical,” said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of the Cancer Support Community. “All of us at CSC have tremendous admiration and gratitude for all that Marin and Jason have done for us—and that Jason continues to do—on behalf of cancer patients and their loved ones. We deeply appreciate this incredibly generous gift that will advance CSC’s mission to provide free support services to and advocate for individuals affected by cancer.”

For more information about the Cancer Support Community, please visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org.

Cancer Support Community Welcomes New Senior Leaders

Hildy Dillon and Ted Miller bring diverse set of experiences to organization focused on empowering people affected by cancer

WASHINGTON, DC — The Cancer Support Community (CSC), an international nonprofit, is pleased to announce the addition of a national public health leader and a former Obama administration official to its leadership team.

Hildy Dillon, MPH, will serve as Vice President, Education and Support Programs, and Ted Miller will assume the post of Vice President, Development and External Affairs.

Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of CSC, a nationally recognized thought leader, author, and advocate for cancer patients, said Dillon and Miller would be a critical part of the organization’s mission to keep the patient experience at the forefront in the conversation on cancer.

“I am thrilled to welcome Hildy and Ted to our team,” said Thiboldeaux, who was recently named to the board of directors of the Biden Cancer Initiative. “They both bring considerable expertise and track records of accomplishment. Working with our already strong and growing staff and affiliate network, they will further enhance the resources we provide patients and expand the number of supporters engaged in advocating for people affected by cancer.”

Vice President, Education & Support Programs

Hildy Dillon, MPH, joins CSC as the Vice President, Education and Support Programs. In this role she oversees CSC programs and services for people living with cancer, their caregivers and loved ones, including education and outreach, the Cancer Support Helpline, online virtual support services, programmatic professional training and program development and dissemination across CSC’s affiliate network and beyond.

Prior to joining CSC, Dillon was Vice President for Mark Krueger & Associates (MK&A), a global healthcare stakeholder relations firm. Before MK&A, Dillon spent nearly 15 years at the national headquarters of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, most recently as the senior vice president of patient & professional programs. Prior to LLS, Dillon was the manager of smoking or health programs at the national office of the American Lung Association and began her career at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in the Clinical Chemistry Research Department and in the MSKCC Office of Cancer Communications.

Dillon serves as the patient advocate on the Lymphoma Committee of the National Clinical Trial Network’s Southwest Oncology Group and for the National Cancer Institute’s Lymphoma Steering Committee and has served as an advisor for industry and many non-profit organizations, including CSC’s CML and Myeloma Cancer Experience Registries.

Dillon holds a B.S. in Biology from the SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry and an MPH from CUNY Hunter College Graduate School of Health Sciences.

Vice President, Development and External Affairs.

Ted Miller joins CSC as the Vice President, Development and External Affairs. He oversees the CSC’s individual fundraising efforts, special events, and communications. He is also charged with elevating CSC's patient-focused mission through partnerships and cause marketing efforts.

Before joining CSC, Miller served in the Obama administration as the Chief of External Affairs at the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and provides $600 million in funding to more than 3,000 nonprofits.

In 2014, Miller directed the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, which culminated in a White House event with Presidents Obama and Clinton, simultaneous ceremonies in all 50 states, and digital engagement that reached 52 million social media users in 24 hours. Miller also served as a strategic advisor for partnerships with corporations and foundations whose financial contributions enabled thousands of additional individuals to participate in AmeriCorps.

The University of Kansas graduate’s previous experience includes senior-level roles with former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and then-Rep. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Miller also worked with multiple campaigns and at NARAL Pro-Choice America, where he secured funding for groundbreaking programs focused on Latino and millennial voters.

WASHINGTON, DC – (Thursday, October 17, 2019) - On Saturday, November 9, Sally Werner, M.S.H.A., B.S.N., RN, Senior Vice President, Affiliate Relations, Cancer Support Community, will lead the “Support Groups” session at CURE®’s Patient Focused Sessions during the Physicians’ Education Resource® 14th Annual New York Lung Cancers Symposium®. Werner will also take part in the “Psychosocial” panel discussion. The Symposium is being held in New York City at the New York Marriott.

“I am pleased to be able to participate in this important patient focused meeting,” stated Werner. “At CSC, we know all too well the distress, anxiety, and feeling of loss of control that often accompanies a cancer diagnosis. I look forward to highlighting the positive impact that joining support groups can have and the importance of psychosocial care as part of a patient’s comprehensive cancer care.”

CURE® is partnering with CancerCare, the Cancer Support Community, LUNGevity, the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer and the American Lung Association to present the 2019 New York Lung Patient Sessions, a full-day, patient-focused event hosted in tandem with the 14th Annual New York Lung Cancers Symposium®. This educational and interactive program will provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and multidisciplinary treatment of lung cancer. For 14 years, the meeting has brought together experts to discuss lung cancer and increase attendees’ understanding of lung cancer therapy.

For more information about CSC’s lung cancer education resources, click here.

To learn more and to register for the patient-focused sessions, click here.

For more information and to register for the 14th Annual New York Lung Cancers Symposium®, click here.

About CURE Media Group

CURE Media Group is the leading resource for cancer updates, research and education. It combines a full suite of media products, including its industry-leading website, CUREtoday.com; innovative video programs, such as “CURE Connections®”; a series of widely attended live events; and CURE® magazine, which reaches over 1 million readers, as well as the dynamic website for oncology nurses, OncNursingNews.com, and its companion publication, Oncology Nursing News® journal. CURE Media Group is a brand of MJH Life Sciences™, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in the U.S. dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels.

About Physicians’ Education Resource® (PER®)

Since 1995, PER® has been dedicated to advancing cancer care through professional education and now advances patient care and treatment strategies on a wide variety of chronic illnesses and diseases. In 2016, PER® initiated continuing medical education (CME) programming in the cardiovascular and endocrinology areas. While expanding into topics outside of oncology, PER® stands as the leading provider of live, online and print CME activities related to oncology and hematology. The high-quality, evidence-based activities feature leading distinguished experts who focus on the application of practice-changing advances. PER® is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education and the California Board of Registered Nursing. PER® is a brand of MJH Life Sciences™, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in the U.S. dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels.