Alex Hill, PT, DPT, OnCS, WCS, CLT-LANA, earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy at the University of Florida and completed the Women’s Health Physical Therapy Residency at Duke Health. Alex is a dual Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Women's Health and Oncologic Physical Therapy and a LANA Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She is presently a physical therapist in Jacksonville, Florida specializing in pelvic health, oncology, and lymphedema rehabilitation for all genders. In addition to her clinical work, Alex has multiple peer-reviewed publications, is an active member and leader within the American Physical Therapy Association, has presented at national and international conferences, and is passionate about providing inclusive and empowering education on pelvic health and oncology rehab through her business, OncoPelvic PT.

Alison Tierney, MS, RD, CD, CSO is a board certified oncology dietitian and cancer thriver who empowers those affected by cancer to conquer fears, take back control, and fully support their body before, during, and after cancer treatment. 

In 2022, Alison was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma at the age of 33. Her knowledge base of oncology nutrition supported her throughout surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Today, she uses both her professional and personal experience to help cancer thrivers do the same.

Using evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine, Alison guides her clients through recommendations to reduce treatment side effects, enhance quality of life, focus on recurrence risk reduction, and, ultimately, helping cancer thrivers reclaim the control cancer tries to steal.

Her passion for cancer nutrition isn’t just a passion or a profession - it’s also personal.

As a naturopathic doctor, Amy Rothenberg devoted her career to helping others holistically. In 2014, she became a patient when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and ovarian cancer, back to back. Two cancers, two separate treatments. One tough year. Not only did her training help her recover, but Dr. Rothenberg wrote a book for cancer survivors on how to rebound and reduce the risk of recurrence. Step one? Seek out traditional and naturopathic doctors—or, as she calls it, “a medical dream team.” 

Dr. Rothenberg’s cancer story didn’t end there. In 2024, she underwent one of the most aggressive treatments in all of oncology, a stem cell transplant for newly diagnosed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ALL). True to form, Dr. Rothenberg shares her experience and her recovery in order to bring hope (and some practical tips) to others going through treatment.

Ben White is Fight Colorectal Cancer’s Director of Policy. In this role, he leads the organization’s policy and advocacy strategy, advancing bipartisan policies focused on colorectal cancer prevention, screening, research, access to care, and health equity. He works closely with lawmakers, federal agencies, coalition partners, and patient advocates to elevate colorectal cancer as a national public health priority and ensure patient perspectives remain central to health policy discussions. 

Ben brings both professional expertise and personal experience to his advocacy. As a Stage III early-onset colon cancer survivor, his commitment to improving outcomes for patients and families affected by cancer is deeply personal. 

Beth Blakey is the CEO of Cancer Hope Network, the nation’s premier organization providing free, one-on-one peer mentorship to patients and caregivers impacted by cancer. Under her leadership, the organization expands national partnerships, drives program innovation, and strengthens the role of lived-experience support within oncology care.

Beth’s commitment is deeply personal. Having served as a caregiver to her mother—a two-time survivor—while raising young children and running a business, she experienced firsthand the isolation and gaps in psychosocial support families face. Today, she is dedicated to ensuring no one navigates cancer alone, connecting thousands with trained mentors who offer empathy, encouragement, and hope.

Dr. Chad Levitt is a board-certified radiation oncologist with over 25 years of experience in cancer treatment. Dr. Levitt has held leadership roles in oncology practices across the country and is the founder of Radiotherapy Associates of Forsyth and ONCare MD. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in cancer care, with numerous speaking engagements and published research in oncology journals. Dr. Levitt has also served on national advisory boards and as a principal investigator for clinical research trials, staying at the forefront of cancer treatment innovations.

After decades of practicing oncology, Dr. Levitt realized the existing gaps in the current systems and the need for a truly patient centered approach to cancer care. To address the often fragmented care between multiple providers, incentivized by multiple interests, Dr. Levitt founded ONCARE MD to put the patients back at the center of their cancer care. 

Chanchal is a medical herbalist and has been in clinical practice for 35 years with a specialty in holistic oncology. She is the author of Fibromyalgia: A Journey towards Healing and her latest book Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approach to Preventing Cancer, Helping Patients Thrive during Treatment, and Minimizing the Risk of Recurrence, was published in April 2023. She held the faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster 2004-2016, and she publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health.

Charlotte Bayala is a leading voice in the cancer caregiver community, known for transforming the invisible labor of caregiving into powerful conversations, tools, and practices that help caregivers stay grounded even in the hardest moments. As the host of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, which has received three Women Who Podcast Magazine awards and was shortlisted for an International Women’s Podcast Award, Charlotte reaches thousands of caregivers with stories and strategies that speak directly to their lived experience. She blends the emotional honesty of personal storytelling with practical techniques like breathwork and boundary-setting. Grounded in compassion, mindfulness, and real-world caregiving insight, Charlotte helps listeners not only feel seen but also be equipped to take care of themselves while caring for someone else.

Claire Rumore is an intimacy educator and founder of Cancer and Intimacy, a platform dedicated to redefining survivorship through whole-person care. After navigating colon and pancreatic cancer, she began advocating for intimacy-informed cancer care — addressing sexuality, body image, grief, and connection as essential components of healing. Her work bridges patient support, clinician education, and systems change.

Dr. David Grew is a board-certified radiation oncologist with a longstanding commitment to patient education and innovation in cancer care. He earned his MPH and MD from Tulane University, where his early work on disaster recovery in post-Katrina New Orleans earned national recognition and federal support. He completed his residency at NYU School of Medicine. Dr. Grew currently practices at Johnson Memorial Cancer Center and St. Francis Hospital in Connecticut, where he also serves as Co-Chair of the Cancer Committee.

In 2020, Dr. Grew founded PRIMR, a digital health company focused on reducing physician burnout and improving patient understanding through video-based education. His mission is to make complex medical conversations easier for patients to absorb and retain, ultimately empowering them throughout their cancer journey.

Outside of work, Dr. Grew enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 daughters. Together, they are avid skiers, bikers and boaters.

Trained Naturopathic Primary Care doc, end of life educator, patient advocate, death doula, and nature lover

Dr. Abernethy has nearly twenty years as an advocate for health equity and patient access to care. She has led nonprofits, worked with WHO work groups in setting standards, helped establish an international patient centered outcome organization.

She is a former hospice volunteer, INELDA certified End of Life Doula and has worked with numerous families through the death process.

Gila Pfeffer is a humor writer, breast cancer previvor, survivor and prevention advocate. Her award winning memoir NEARLY DEPARTED: Adventures in Loss, Cancer and Other Inconveniences has been described as heartbreakingly hilarious and lifesaving complimentary copies of which are on your table to take home and enjoy. Her FEEL IT ON THE FIRST campaign uses tongue-in-cheek humor to remind people to prioritize their breast health in an empowering, non-scary way. These posts have directly led to earlier diagnoses and treatment for some very grateful women. She's passionate about the power of genetic testing and risk profile assessment and is, herself, a BRCA1 gene mutation carrier. Gila’s writing has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, Today.com, Oprah Daily, Tablet Magazine and more. She's is a mom to four grown and flown kids who reluctantly admit that she's cool. 

Dr. Holly Lucille, ND, RN, ONC is a nationally recognized and licensed naturopathic doctor, educator, natural products consultant, and television and radio host. She is also the author of several books including Creating and Maintaining Balance: A Women’s Guide to Safe, Natural, Hormone Health and The Healing Power of Trauma Comfrey.

An acclaimed expert in the field of integrative medicine, Dr. Lucille lectures on a variety of natural health topics. She is regularly quoted in both consumer and peer journals, and was listed in Time magazine’s “Alt List” as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People.” 

Dr. Lucille believes in the science, art and mystery of healing and has a heartfelt passion for the individual wellness of all people. Her private practice focuses on comprehensive naturopathic medicine and individualized care.

James is a retired graphic designer who wrote and drew two comics about his prostate cancer experience.

Janet Abrahm, MD is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is among the founders of Palliative Care in the United States and the author of four comprehensive books on supportive and palliative care for patients with cancer. Dr. Abrahm is a former practicing oncologist who created the Palliative Care Service at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute over 20 years’ ago. She is an award-winning clinician and educator and continues to practice palliative care at Dana Farber.

JC Rodriguez earned his Master's degree from Ball State University and is a Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist and Personal Trainer. He specializes in cancer exercise science and helps cancer survivors rebuild muscle, regain strength, and feel better through online coaching.

Jeff Stewart’s stomach cancer was discovered when he tried to donate a kidney. His book, “LIVING: Inspiration from a Father with Cancer” is his inspiring cancer journey peppered with life advice for his seven kids.

Stewart had a varied life: molecular biologist, healthcare consultant, award-winning playwright, and Jeopardy champion.

At the time of this interview, his stomach cancer was stage four with a poor prognosis. The episode was released after his death on August 25, 2025.

Katie Deming, MD, The Conscious Oncologist, is a radiation oncologist, inventor, and TEDx speaker who is transcending the boundaries of conventional and integrative medicine to evolve the current paradigm of disease prevention, treatment, and healing. She blends conventional medicine with holistic practices and ancient wisdom to address the hidden roots of disease and activate the body's innate capability to heal.

Kia Lee is a Stage III breast cancer survivor, author, speaker, and survivorship mentor dedicated to helping women navigate the emotional and psychological realities of life during and after cancer. She is the author of Lighth⊙use: Surviving Narcissistic Abuse and Lighth⊙use: The Path Through Cancer, The Power of Becoming. Through her writing, speaking, and advocacy, Kia helps women reconnect with themselves after life-changing experiences, exploring identity, healing, and what it means to rebuild a life that reflects who they've become. She is passionate about helping women feel seen, understood, and less alone as they navigate the often-unspoken "after" of survivorship.

Kristina Marusic is an award-winning science journalist for Environmental Health News. Her personal essays report on topics ranging from the environment and LGBTQ+ equality to politics, food, and travel have been published by outlets including CNN, Slate, Vice, Women's Health, The Washington Post, among others.

Kristina’s younger sister was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 25 years old. Thyroid cancer usually runs in families, but no one else in their family ever had it, so Kristina began to question whether something in the environment could have played a role. These questions led her to write “Prescription for Prevention,” a 5-part series on cancer and environmental exposures in Pennsylvania, where she and her sister grew up, for Environmental Health Sciences. This series culminated in a national investigation of these issues in her new book, A New War on Cancer: The Unlikely Heroes Revolutionizing Prevention.

Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, eMBA began serving as Sonoran University of Health Sciences’s fourth President & CEO in July 2025. She is a naturopathic doctor with board certification in naturopathic oncology and has been practicing for over 30 years. She graduated from Brown University with an undergraduate degree in Medical Anthropology and received a doctoral degree in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University where she also completed her residency. She completed an executive Masters of Business from Quantic University in 2023. Previously, Dr. Alschuler worked as a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Arizona and was the Associate Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

After navigating her own experience with cancer, Maria transformed that journey into a passion-fueled career dedicated to improving the lives of others through advocacy, research, and systems-level change in psychosocial oncology care. Maria is a certified Leader in Oncology Navigation (LION) through the American Cancer Society, an After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) Mentor, and a Tigerlily Foundation ANGEL Advocate. She serves as co-chair of the Patient & Family Advisory Council at Siteman Cancer Center, where she partners with leadership to ensure that patient and caregiver perspectives are embedded in strategic planning and decision-making. She also volunteers with Cancer Support Community to support individuals impacted by cancer whenever possible. Whether walking alongside individuals facing cancer or helping organizations clarify their values and culture, she finds purpose in elevating both personal and collective well-being. 

Mary Barnhart is a breast cancer surgeon in Portland, Oregon. She spends her days working with women who have been diagnosed with cancer, consulting them on post-surgical treatment options and dietary changes that can benefit their overall health.

Melanie Ezell is an author, big-wave surfer, mother, and four-year survivor of stage IV ovarian cancer. Diagnosed at 37, she has navigated multiple recurrences and the reality of living with an incurable diagnosis. She is the author of Inherited: A Life Without a Cure, a memoir about cancer, motherhood, spirituality, and mortality. Through her Substack, An Incurable Life, she writes candidly about finding hope, meaning, and joy alongside uncertainty. Melanie continues to pursue healing while building a life fully lived.

Order Melanie’s book today: https://amzn.to/4767UQY

Dr. Natalie Godbee graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C., where she received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics. She went on to earn her Doctor of Medicine from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus in Suwanee, Georgia. She was then Chief Resident and completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township, Michigan. Dr. Godbee completed a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Wellspan York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. She currently works at City of Hope in Atlanta, GA.

Outside of practicing medicine, Dr. Godbee enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She also likes to cook and try out new recipes.

Natasha Ewa is a wife, and mom to two toddler boys. She also is a psychotherapist and owner of I Thrive Therapy and Wellness. Natasha is passionate about helping others navigate life’s hardest moments.

At 29, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (ER+ HER2–), which led to a bilateral mastectomy chemotherapy and several reconstruction surgeries, the most recent being a DIEP flap in October 2025. That experience further shaped how she lives, loves, and shows up in the world.

She is a true crime enthusiast (featured 3x on a TV ONE true crime show), a heavy coffee drinker, and most at home outside, gardening, traveling, writing poetry, and capturing beauty through photography.

Let’s keep it informal. You can call me Sammy. My journey started when I was a Clinical Oncology Dietitian. While working in a setting that emphasized care through a whole mind-body lens, I first hand experienced the true impact that taking a holistic approach to health and wellness can make and how easily it can change lives. After hearing countless patients say "I wish it didn't take cancer for me to change," I knew there was something that was needed - amongst us all. This is where Simply Wellness was born and an idea (a need!) was sparked.

Sandy Duarte is an award-winning actress, author, producer, and stage 4 cancer survivor whose life and work are rooted in resilience, creativity, and healing. A passionate creative and wellness artist, she is dedicated to inspiring others through lived experience and embodied wisdom.

While undergoing long rounds of chemotherapy, Sandy authored her book Cancer Ramblings, written in real time from within the experience of illness itself. The book has been described as raw, honest, and deeply human, offering readers a steady companion through uncertainty, transformation, and the often-unspoken emotional terrain of cancer and healing.

Sandy is devoted to the healing arts, exploring modalities such as yoga, breathwork, meditation, and sound healing as pathways to wellness and inner coherence. She is the Co-Founder, Executive Director, and Sound Curator of Sonic Unity, a healing sound immersive experience devoted to bringing the power of sound to the masses.

After surviving a divorce and cancer all before she turned 35, mom and author-illustrator Sara Olsher took the lessons she learned about helping kids through major life changes and wrote a book. Then another, and another. She now has twelve picture books under her belt, and is the founder of Mighty and Bright, a company that helps kids and adults understand and manage their lives more easily using magnetic visual schedules. Sara was chosen as a 2023 Remarkable Woman by Nexstar Media.

Dr. Sarah Court is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and provides in person and online sessions that blend her decades of yoga, Pilates, and physical therapy experience. She's a co-founder of Movement Logic, a series of continuing education tutorials that help movement teachers understand how to work with challenging clients while staying within their scope of practice. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, and after her experience with surgery and chemotherapy, she created a FREE online video exercise series for people going through, or recovering from cancer treatment, that progresses from simple yoga to lifting weights. Sarah lives in Los Angeles, and in her free time rides and repairs motorcycles.

Dr. Wendy Garvin Mayo, DNP, APRN, ANP-BC, is a distinguished healthcare leader with over two decades of experience spanning clinical, leadership, research, academia, and pharmaceutical sectors. As the CEO and founder of Collaborative Cancer Care, Dr. Garvin Mayo is dedicated to revolutionizing mental health support for cancer patients, survivors, their families, and oncology healthcare professionals.