Alan Astrow, MD, FACP
Alan Astrow is Chief of the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology at New York–Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he focuses on the care and medical treatment of breast and gynecological cancers. He is also Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Prior to taking the position at NY–PBMH, Dr. Astrow served as Division Director for Hematology/Medical Oncology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Dr. Astrow has a long-standing interest in improving communication between doctor and patient. At NY–PBMH he is working with the medical center leadership to develop a clinical cancer center in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine and to make available the full range of Weill Cornell cancer program clinical trials.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University, Dr. Astrow obtained his MD from the Yale School of Medicine. He did his internal residency at Boston City Hospital and his fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at NYU Medical Center.
Dr. Astrow has received several awards and is included in New York Magazine’s list of Best Doctors in New York and the Castle Connolly Guide to Top Doctors New York Metro Region.
Dorra Blacker, CRC, LMHC
With 40 years of experience in the field of vocational rehabilitation, Dorra Blacker is a graduate of Hunter College with a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is both a certified vocational rehabilitation counselor and a licensed mental health counselor.
For the past 33 years she has been at Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Langone Health, where she is the Clinical Supervisor in the Vocational Rehab Department.
Dorra has worked with both adults and pediatrics with physical, orthopedic, neurological and psychiatric disabilities, with the primary goal of helping people return to the workforce. She is the liaison vocational counselor to the NYU Clinical Cancer Center, addressing the specific needs and concerns of individuals with cancer.
She has lectured to professional organizations, medical staff, graduate students, and specific disability groups on topics regarding vocational and placement issues.
Additionally, Dorra has been featured in an employment educational video, participated on radio talk shows for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, NYU’s Dr. Radio and podcasts discussing a variety of vocational topics.
Victoria Blinder, MD, MSc
Victoria Blinder, MD, MSc, is a board-certified medical oncologist, dedicated to the treatment of patients with breast cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Her research focuses on employment disparities during and after treatment for breast cancer, as well as the financial and quality-of-life sequelae of these disparities. Dr. Blinder has conducted qualitative and quantitative research on barriers to return to work among ethnically and socioeconomically diverse breast cancer survivors in NYC and California. She is the PI of Breast Cancer and the Workforce, a large multi-center, prospective, longitudinal study of disparities in employment outcomes among African American, Chinese, Korean, Latina, and non-Latina white NYC breast cancer survivors, funded by the American Cancer Society. Preliminary data from the nearly completed study led to the development of an NCI-funded intervention, currently in pilot testing, to improve job retention.
Dr. Blinder also serves the larger oncology community through committee work with the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. In addition, she has partnered with other nonprofit and business groups to develop a free, publicly available, employer-targeted intervention to help supervisors in corporations accommodate employees who are cancer survivors (http://workplacetransitions.org/).
Sage Bolte, PhD, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C, CST
Sage Bolte received her bachelor’s degree in both psychology and social work at Hope College, in Holland, MI, and later continued her studies at the University of Michigan, where she received her master’s degree in social work. She received the American Cancer Society’s Doctoral Training Grant in 2008 and obtained her PhD in social work from The National School of Social Services at the Catholic University of America in 2010.
Dr. Bolte also has her certificate in sexual health from the University of Michigan. She is a certified sex therapist, known nationally for her work in sexual health and cancer, and respected as a leader in the field of oncology social work.
Sage joined the Inova Life with Cancer family nearly 15 years ago, as an oncology counselor. She served as Program Coordinator at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital and is now the Executive Director of Life with Cancer and Patient Experience at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute. Dr. Bolte has grown the young adult support program at Inova and the annual young adult survivorship conference.
She has written or contributed to several peer-reviewed articles and books, including three chapters in the Oxford textbook The Handbook for Oncology Social Work.
Monica Fawzy Bryant, Esq.
Monica Fawzy Bryant is a cancer rights attorney, speaker and author. She is dedicated to improving access to and availability of quality information on the practical, insurance and financial issues surrounding a cancer diagnosis. Monica is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer for Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization connecting people to cancer survivorship information through a national speakers bureau, educational events and online tools.
Throughout her career, Monica has provided numerous educational seminars, written articles and blogs, and appeared on community television and radio shows discussing healthcare-related legal issues. Previously, Monica worked as Midwest Regional Director for a national disability rights organization, as Legislative Counsel for U.S. Congresswoman Linda T. Sanchez and as Law Clerk for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. During her time in Congress, she focused on health, justice, civil rights and women’s issues.
Additionally, Monica is an adjunct law professor at John Marshall School of Law, in Chicago, teaching a class on cancer rights, the Vice Chair for the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Breast Cancer Initiatives Executive Committee, and sits on the ABA’s Affordable Care Act Task Force and the Coalition to Protect Parenthood After Cancer.
Jenny B. Fine
Jenny B. Fine has been Executive Editor, Beauty, for WWD since November 2017. She joined the company in November 2001 as Editor-in-Chief of Beauty Inc. Prior to joining Beauty Inc, Jenny was Editor of Luckymag.com, where she was responsible for overseeing its launch and editorial content. She was previously Director of iVillage.com’s Beauty Channel and Beauty Director at SELF. She began her career in magazine publishing at Fairchild, where she served as Senior Associate Editor of Salon News and Beauty News Editor of Women’s Wear. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Ms. Fine received a BA in art history and an MA in journalism from New York University.
Kathleen M. Flora, MA, NCCC
Kathy Flora is a nationally certified career counselor, executive coach and HR blogger who is actively pursuing her life’s passion, helping others find and fulfill theirs. Known as a positive change agent, she has assisted hundreds of individuals understand and capitalize on their strengths while working through life and career transitions.
Her experience spans over 25 years in executive management and leadership, career development, facilitation, and consulting in private firms, universities and federal agencies. She has served six years in state elected office in New Hampshire and is an active children’s advocate and volunteer in her Florida community.
Kathy, a joyful breast cancer survivor of 15 years and counting, is one of the original career coaches for Cancerandcareers.org, a role she highly cherishes among all others.
Julie Jansen
Julie Jansen — author, executive and career coach, motivational speaker, and resume and LinkedIn-profile writer — empowers professionals to find success, satisfaction and fulfillment at work. She works with clients of every age and across all functions and industries to develop and enhance skills and competencies.
A fully revised, third edition of her book I Don’t Know What I Want, But I Know It’s Not This: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work was published by Penguin in 2016. The book has also been published in the U.K., Germany, Austria, Romania, the Czech Republic and Indonesia.
Julie is the author of You Want Me to Work With Who? Eleven Keys to a Stress-Free, Satisfying and Successful Work Life…No Matter Who You Work With as well as of a workplace coach e-booklet series. She is consistently interviewed on TV and radio and quoted in numerous national publications as a career and workplace expert.
Julie Larson, LCSW
Julie Larson is a psychotherapist in private practice, working primarily with people under the age of 40 around issues of wellness, loss and life transitions. She is a frequent speaker and educator to both survivors and professionals on the impact of serious illness at a young age. Throughout her career in young adult oncology, Julie has collaborated with countless national organizations creating support and educational resources for young people facing a profound medical diagnosis.
She has been featured in various publications, including SELF Magazine, Coping with Cancer, Cure Magazine, Crazy, Sexy, Cancer Survivor: More Rebellion for Your Healing Journey, and a number of wellness and oncology support blogs. Prior to establishing her private practice, Julie was the Young Adult Program Director at CancerCare. In that capacity she developed a national program inclusive of both age-specific support services and educational materials focused on the distinct issues faced by young adults impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
Gabrielle Miskovitz, OTR/L, CHT, CLT
Gabrielle Miskovitz is an occupational therapist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, working with patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses who present with both physical and cognitive impairments impacting the performance of daily activities. In her clinical practice, she works with patients to improve movement, strength, and coordination as well as to understand and integrate compensatory strategies for areas of persistent challenge, with the overall goal of improving functional performance of and independence with a variety of daily work tasks and leisure activities.
Gabrielle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University and a Master of Science degree from Columbia University, and is a registered and licensed occupational therapist. She was first employed at Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, joining Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Rehabilitation team in 2007. She holds certificates in Advanced Rehabilitation of the Hand and Upper Quadrant from Drexel University and in Ergonomic Assessment from The Back School of Atlanta. Additionally, Gabrielle received her Certification in Lymphedema Therapy (CLT) in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Performing Arts Medicine through Shenandoah University.
Joanna L. Fawzy Morales, Esq.
Joanna Morales is a cancer rights attorney and CEO of Triage Cancer, a national nonprofit organization providing cancer survivorship education through educational events, a speakers bureau, and online materials and resources.
Joanna has spent 24 years working on behalf of individuals with cancer, including as an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School, teaching a seminar in cancer rights law, and at the John Wayne Cancer Institute’s Psychosocial Care Program.
Joanna has presented hundreds of seminars on employment, insurance, financial and advocacy issues. She has also served on numerous cancer community committees and boards, including as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s California Division Board.
She has been published in Psycho-Oncology, Coping with Cancer, Women, and Ability Magazine. She wrote a chapter on preventing financial toxicity, for the Oncology Nursing Society’s book entitled Work and Cancer Survivors. She wrote a book chapter for Work and Cancer Survivors and co-authored an American Bar Association book on cancer rights law.
Joanna has received numerous awards and recognition for her service to the cancer community. In 2010, she was also recognized by the Los Angeles Daily Journal as one of the Top 20 Attorneys in California Under the Age of 40.
Ruth Oratz, MD, FACP
Ruth Oratz is a clinical professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine, where she practices and teaches. She is a medical oncologist specializing in the care of people with and at risk for breast cancer. She is especially committed to helping the individual with cancer continue to live life actively and fully, placing significant attention on flexible treatment programs and those that address concerns about career, family life, relationships and sexuality. Her teaching focuses on the art of medicine, bringing humanities to the sciences. She is President of the Advisory Board of The Bellevue Literary Review, a journal published by the Department of Medicine at NYU, committed to cultivating the humanistic side of medical practice.
Dr. Oratz is an advisor to several national advocacy organizations, including breastcancer.org, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, CancerCare, Young Survival Coalition, Moving For Life and Sharsheret. She served as Chair of the Medical Advisory Board of Susan G. Komen, Greater NYC, and on the National Board of the YWCA, USA. She was named “Physician of the Year” by CancerCare and has been recognized in “The Best Doctors in America” and “The Best Doctors in NYC.” Dr. Oratz She is active both locally and nationally as a speaker and healthcare educator, appearing on television and radio as well as lecturing to the public. Recent appearances include TODAY and Megyn Kelly TODAY.
Archie Smart
Archie Smart is an executive vice president at MSLGROUP, where he leads the social media and digital practice for North America.
He is passionate about using data and social media to create practical solutions to modern communications challenges. Over his 20-year career, he has worked with a wide range of clients from the Alzheimer’s Association, Emirates Airlines, American Express, The Guggenheim Museum, BMW, Cisco and many others.
He has consulted with public figures and candidates for office in the U.S. and the E.U., including serving as the Chief Technology Officer for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign.