Ask the Expert at PINK

Ask the Expert is an informal & interactive discussion hosted by Komen and led by some of the most dynamic and successful breast health surgeons, researchers, oncologists and community advocates in Los Angeles.

Our guest speakers discuss the latest breakthroughs in research, address barriers to access and examine how breast cancer impacts your community while encouraging you to share your stories of courage and determination. Our goal: To have you leave informed and empowered.
 
PINK is the first-ever Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County center offering free services and education to promote better breast health awareness. Located in Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, the “Pop-up” is open seven days a week, and hosts special events including free mammograms

CLICK HERE FOR DIRECTIONS TO PINK.

Upcoming Speakers:

TBD
Dr. Sylvia Gates Carlisle, MD, MBA

Sylvia Gates Carlisle, MD, MBA, is California Managing Medical Director for Anthem Blue Cross of California. She is responsible for medical management activities and collaborates with 180 contracted medical groups.

As a clinician, Dr. Gates had an active practice, serving high-risk populations in central Los Angeles for 15 years. After Stanford University, Dr. Carlisle graduated from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and completed her internal medicine training at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. She served in the National Health Service Corps, receiving the Regional Administrator's Award. She is a national speaker on quality and health care disparities. Dr. Carlisle served many years as a volunteer physician abroad and at the Venice Family Clinic, and was a Co-recipient of the Volunteer Physician of the Year Award. She is an active member of the National Medical Association. 

Dr. Carlisle will discuss what cancer detection programs are available in your neighborhood at little or no cost to you.

Past Speakers:

Friday, February 17th from 1:00-2:00pm
Dr. Jennifer Malin, MD, Ph.D 

A practicing medical oncologist, Jennifer Malin, MD, PhD, is the Medical Director for Oncology for Care Management at WellPoint, Inc.  In this role, she provides clinical leadership for all aspects of the delivery of care for WellPoint members with cancer.
 
After graduating from Harvard University, Dr. Malin received her medical degree and doctorate in public health from UCLA.  She is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology.  An Associate Professor of Medicine at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, she is the author of more than 70 peer-reviewed articles and is widely recognized for her research on the quality of cancer care.

Dr. Malin is an expert on the quality of breast cancer care in California for uninsured women and authored a recent study concluding that while services for the uninsured are improving, many women present at an advanced stage, which is associated with worse outcomes.

Join Dr. Malin as she tackles breast cancer myths head-on and how these ‘untruths” are causing women to be diagnosed at a later stage.

This is one lunch-hour session you won’t want to miss!

Thursday, January 26 @ 6:00pm
Marian Sama, RN

Marian Sama is Manager of Medical Management for Anthem Blue Cross.  She is a 24-year breast cancer survivor and has worked extensively with the American Cancer Society, Los Angeles office as Reach to Recovery Coordinator and public speaker.

A registered nurse, Sama graduated from St. Vincent School of Nursing in Pennsylvania. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles, a Master’s in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a Master’s in Practical Theology from King’s University in Los Angeles.

In addition to her health-related charitable work, she is also the chair of the board for the non-profit Kingdom Connexion.

Race for the Cure Kickoff Event: Thursday, January 19 @ 5:00PM
Dennis R. Holmes, M.D. 

Dr. Dennis Holmes, M.D. is the Chief Breast Surgeon and Medical Director of the Los Angeles Cancer for Women’s Health, a comprehensive multi-specialty center dedicated to improving health outcomes in women.

In this capacity, as well as in his former role as Breast Section Chief of the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California Medical Center, Dr. Holmes has acquired a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities for improving the health and quality of life of women facing a diagnosis of breast cancer and related health challenges.

In addition to providing outstanding surgical care to women with breast cancer, Dr. Holmes is actively engaged in breast cancer clinical trials that are focused on reducing the side effects and inconvenience of breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy, as well as reducing the barriers to treatment. Dr. Holmes’ free online guide, “10 Things You Should Do Before Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery: A Patient Guide to High-Quality Breast Cancer Care” is a widely used guide to help women avoid common missteps in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The guide is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, and Tagalog and may be downloaded at www.drholmesmd.com.

*Ask the Expert is Sponsored by Anthem*