Patient Advocate
New York, NY
At the age of 38, Desirée was diagnosed with breast cancer, which recurred at age 47. For many who have had to fight breast cancer, Desirée serves as an advocate for patients by openly speaking about her diagnosis to audiences nationally. The core of her message is to encourage patients to truly know their body and feel empowered to steward self, mind, body and soul. Through SHARE’s Side by Side Program, Desirée trains medical students and doctors on how to deliver disappointing news and vehemently supports the importance of patient/doctor communication. She volunteers with the Witness Project® of Harlem (WPH), Survivors In Spirit (SiS), SHARE Dedicated experienced support for women facing breast and ovarian cancers and Young Survival Coalition (YSC) as a board member. She is also, a member of the Tisch Cancer Institute Advocacy Group, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women (ACBCYW) and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship’s CPAT Steering Committee (NCCS). She is featured in Survivors In Spirit’s DVD titled Living, Loving & Learning – The facts about African American women and breast cancer survivorship. Desirée has also served as a panelist on The Double XX Files hosted by The Norman Lear Center/Hollywood, Health & Society/Writers Guild of America East. Desiree is featured in Yahoo Beauty’s Bald & Beautiful story. Desirée was a moderator at YSC Summit’s For Women of Color panel.
She serves as a lobbyist, is a member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) and a graduate of Project LEAD. Desirée is a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (DoD CDMRP) and a patient/stakeholder reviewer for Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).
SHARE, Sisters’ Journey, The Keep A Breast Foundation and YSC have honored Desirée for her outstanding work as a volunteer, community leader and educator. Desirée and her daughter, Shayna, appear in SHAPE magazine’s article, “Breast Cancer: A Family Affair”. Desirée is the recipient of NBCC’s Grassroots Advocacy Award, African Women Cancer Awareness Association’s Torch Bearer Award and the NAACP Parkchester Branch’s Woman of the Year Award. She has been a guest blogger for ASCO’s Cancer.Net and the Department of Defense’s Breast Cancer Research Program.
Desirée’s diagnosis has created many opportunities as a breast cancer victor to share her talents and aid diverse communities. It has provided her with a platform to be a voice for the voiceless through advocacy and pay forward by educating and empowering people nationally. Most importantly, she makes time to “smell the roses”, enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking gourmet bread pudding, traveling, attending concerts, cultural programs and sporting events.