A Metastatic Breast Cancer Panel Discussionwith Special Guest, Lieutenant Governor, Susan Bysiewicz

October 13th, 2021

E. C. Scranton Public Library Madison, Connecticut

9:30AM: Coffee and Meet/Greet

with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz

10AM - 12PM: Opening Remarks and Panel Discussion

To discuss the critical issues faced by metastatic breast cancer patients as they relate to access to care, health inequities and financial disparities. Panelists will be leading breast cancer oncologists from the state of Connecticut as well as patient advocates living with MBC.

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PINK IS NOTTHE ANSWER

S T R E N G T H

P R E S E N T E D B Y

Roberta LombardiFounder and President Infinite Strength

Breast Cancer Survivor

M O D E R A T O R

Roberta is a breast cancer survivor and early stage ally to the MBC

community. She began Infinite Strength in 2018 to provide single mothers

in active treatment for breast cancer with financial and emotional support.

As the nonprofit grew, she understood the unique needs patients with MBC

had and the lack of support and access to care for some groups. Infinite

Strength is the only breast cancer nonprofit in New England that provides

recurring financial grants for single moms with MBC, while also providing

support to their children as well. While the nonprofit is Connecticut based,

Infinite Strength provides assistance to women across New England.

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPHDirector of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital

Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center

P A N E L I S T

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, is Director of The Breast Center at Smilow

Cancer Hospital and Chief of Breast Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer

Center. She is also an Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology).

She has been recognized for her patient-focused care with awards

that include being rated by Forbes as one of the top breast medical

oncologists in the nation and named to the Castle Connolly list of “Regional

Top Doctors,” and “Exceptional Women in Medicine” for 2020. She is

currently participating in the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

Leadership Development Program.

Linda T. Vahdat, MD, MBAChief of Cancer Services, Head of the Department of Hematology/Oncology

at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

P A N E L I S T

Linda T. Vahdat, MD, MBA is the Chief of Cancer Services and Head of the

Department of Hematology/ Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering

Cancer Center (MSK)- Physicians at Norwalk Hospital. She is a Member of the

Breast Medicine Service at MSK and a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell

Medicine in NYC. Dr. Vahdat completed her medical degree at Mount Sinai

School of Medicine where she remained for residency training in Internal

Medicine, after which she completed fellowship training in Medical Oncology

and Hematology at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). In

2014 completed a Master of Business Administration at the Sloan School of

Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Lisa Laudico MA, LMSWSenior Host & Producer, Our MBC Life Podcast

Metastatic Breast Cancer Fighter

P A N E L I S T

Lisa is the creator and Host of the Our MBC Life Podcast from SHARE Cancer

Support. When she was diagnosed de novo MBC with ER+HER2- in August

2017, Lisa became the 4th generation in her family to be diagnosed with

breast cancer but the only one to be diagnosed at Stage 4 from the beginning

(de novo). She is currently on her sixth line of treatment and has participated

in two clinical trials. Since her diagnosis, Lisa has worked to use her skills

assisting others living with this disease through fundraising initiatives with

The Cancer Couch Foundation, along with support groups and webinars with

SHARE Cancer Support. In 2019, Lisa joined the Metastatic Breast Cancer

Alliance (MBCA) and is now the Co-Chair of the MBCA Awareness Task Force.

Deltra JamesCactus Cancer Society Board Member, Coordinator for Project Life MBC

Our MBC Life Podcast Member, Metastatic Breast Cancer Fighter

P A N E L I S T

Deltra is a Connecticut based mama of 5 amazing girls who she strives

to raise with cultural and health awareness. She’s a chain tea drinker, wig

hoarder, and lover of singing loudly and dancing unabashedly. Since being

diagnosed with Triple Negative MBC de novo in 2019 she has focused on

thriving through education, advocacy, connecting and radical self-care.

She is passionate about mental and emotional wellness, creative expression

as a means of coping, community building and connecting BIPOC women

with people and spaces that can care for their whole selves. She is a

member of Cactus Cancer Society’s YAC advisory board, the inaugural class

of For the Breast of Us Baddie Ambassador, the Our MBC Life podcast staff

and serves as Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for Project Life MBC.

Susan BysiewiczLieutenant Governor of Connecticut

Advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness

S P E C I A L G U E S T

Sworn in on January 9, 2019, Susan Bysiewicz is serving her first term as

Connecticut’s 109th Lieutenant Governor. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz’s and Gov.

Ned Lamont’s first priority is to grow good-paying jobs and investing in the

state’s future. Lt. Gov. Bysiewicz is continuing her commitment to economic

growth that made her a leading voice for Connecticut residents and small

businesses while she served as Secretary of the State from 1999 to 2011. As

a state representative in the Connecticut General Assembly, representing

the towns of Middletown, Middlefield, and Durham, Bysiewicz wrote

legislation to ban dangerous “drive-through” mastectomies and ensure that

women being treated for breast cancer had proper care.

S T R E N G T H

I N F I N I T E S T R E N G T H . O R G

If you would like to attend,please email roberta@infinitestrength.org.