BCA_Sept_2021_Outlook

outlook FALL 2021 — VOLUME 28

10.20.2021

www.breastcanceralliance.org

MESSAGE FROM YONNI WATTENMAKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director BOARD OF DIRECTORS Meg Russell, President Michelle Abadir-Hallock, MD Kim Augustine Amy Dates Carbone Sandra Caruso Jill Coyle Sue Delepine Xandy Duffy Donna Hagberg, MD Mary K. Jeffery Lois Kelly Stephanie Latham Nina Lindia Karen Lowney Andrew Mitchell-Namdar Justin Nelson Courtney Olsen Jordan Rhodes Mary Jo Riddle Barbara Rodkin Nancy Rosen Trish Shannon Susan Weis Jane Gershon Weitzman Elisa Wilson Diane Zarrilli Molly Zola Sharon Phillips, Trustee Emeritus MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD K.M. Steve Lo, MD, Chair Susan K. Boolbol, MD Patrick I. Borgen, MD Rachel Brem, MD Alison Estabrook, MD Alexandra Heerdt, MD Brigid Killelea, MD Gregory S. LaTrenta, MD Linda LaTrenta, MD Donna-Marie Manasseh, MD Monica Morrow, MD Elisa Port, MD David L. Rimm, MD, PhD Andrea Silber, MD Barbara A. Ward, MD Richard Zelkowitz, MD ADVISORY COUNCIL Jane Batkin Susan Bevan Frannie Burns Kathy Clark Frank Corvino Carol Crapple Nat Day Patti Fast Michele Haertel Brett Holey David Jones James McArdle Kenneth E. Mifflin Scott Mitchell Donna Moffly Betsy Donovan Nolan Maureen Perry Carol Santora Margaret Sinclair William C. Sinclair Nancy and Turner Smith Peter J. Tesei Marylou Williams Ramze Zakka FOUNDERS Lucy Day (1944-2020) Susan Elia (1944-2017) Kenny King Howe Valerie Marchese Cecile McCaull Mary Waterman (1944-1997)

As I sit down to write this annual message, I can’t help but reflect on life at this time last year, and how different a world we are inhabiting since our last live benefit celebration. I would also be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to reflect on my first decade as Executive Director at Breast Cancer Alliance.

Since I started in this position in June of 2011, BCA has become one of the most prominent and highly-ranked national breast cancer charities. The mission to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by the disease by investing in early-stage innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, and breast cancerrelated healthcare services for the underserved has been unwavering, even when COVID-19 wreaked havoc.

Our aim is for a 100 percent breast cancer survival rate by the close of this decade.

While breast cancer is still the most prevalent cancer affecting women of all ethnicities in the United States, there have been remarkable strides in survival rates since BCA’s founding 25 years ago. This October we will celebrate those accomplishments at our milestone Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show and acknowledge that our dedication to this cause must persevere.

Your support is what funds those groundbreaking advancements and leads us to achieving our goals.

Despite the tremendous progress that has been made, our mission continues with a renewed sense of urgency, especially on the heels of setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim is for a 100 percent breast cancer survival rate by the close of this decade. It is an ambitious goal for sure, but one we hope can be achieved.

Of course, this cannot be done without your help. Our grant submissions are exceptional and robust. Your support is what funds those groundbreaking advancements and leads us to achieving our goals. While we have awarded over $30 million to date, with over $13 million of those grants designated for innovative, life-saving research, we cannot stop until cures are discovered and more lives are spared from this disease.

As we move forward and remember from where we came, we will be honoring all of the past Presidents of BCA at this year’s luncheon. We also have some wonderful surprises in store, stunning fashions courtesy of both Michael Kors and Richards, and our ever beautiful and poignant Models of Inspiration.

You can read more on the pages inside.

Many of us will gather for the celebration in person, and others will join us virtually as we broadcast live from Westchester Country Club on October 20. One way or another, we do hope you will join us.

With gratitude,

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT: TOM O’SULLIVAN, PHD: 2019 BCA YOUNG INVESTIGATOR GRANTEE, WITH TOM SCRACE, UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME If I asked you to picture a “breast cancer researcher,” I bet you wouldn’t think of an electrical engineer! However, the knowledge needed to tackle a complex disease such as breast cancer comes from nearly all fields including science, social science, the arts, and engineering. I am an Assistant Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Notre Dame. My research group develops advanced imaging technologies based on the use of light because it is a safe, accurate, and low-cost way to characterize human tissue. Light can be used to measure the composition of healthy and cancerous tissue, including blood, water, and lipids, and has been used to improve breast cancer diagnosis, measure breast density, and predict individual response to chemotherapy.

Like many breast cancer researchers, my work is personal. Early during my postdoctoral position, when I was participating in a cancer biology training program at the University of California — Irvine, my soon-to-be wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

I helped her navigate the difficult decisions and experiences regarding surgery, fertility preservation, chemotherapy, and long-term surveillance. I have seen that, although the overall survival from breast cancer is higher than other cancers, there are still many aspects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment that needs improvement. I strive for and envision a day where breast cancer is no more a concern than the common cold, and treatment is swift, easy, and curative. I am very fortunate to have received the 2019 Young Investigator Grant from Breast Cancer Alliance, supported by Jill and John Coyle, to begin this work.

This support played a pivotal role in supporting my lab’s breast cancer research at the start of my independent career.

With this grant, we are creating tiny wireless implants similar in size to the “breast clips” that are used by radiologists to mark the location of breast tumors. Our “smart breast clips” will have the ability to continuously monitor the tumor and deliver localized and targeted treatment at optimal times. Since the smart breast clips are designed to be compatible with standard biopsy procedures, an important part of the work is developing ultrasmall (<1 mm) circuits that orchestrate its function.

We hope this platform opens up new possibilities for optimized breast cancer treatment of both primary and metastatic tumors.

I want to thank Breast Cancer Alliance for their support at a critical time in my career. If anyone is interested in learning more about my research, I am happy to share.

NOW IS THE TIME

25th Annual Luncheon and Fashion Show

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH 11am – 2pm

At Westchester Country Club & Livestreamed Online Milestone Fashion Show by Richards, our partner of 15 years, with a Finale by Michael Kors showcasing his 40th Anniversary Collection Featuring a special message from Hoda Kotb and an exclusive performance by Broadway’s Alexander Hamilton, Julius Thomas, III Event Co-Chairs: Jennifer Dreilinger, Lori Kron, Sarah Meindl and Paige Siek Deborah G. Black* Kathy Clark

We are thrilled to honor BCA’s Past Presidents at this milestone occasion: Lucy Day* Carol Santora Mary K. Jeffery Cecile McCaull Polly Park Hyman Margaret Sinclair Lisa Matthews Sharon Phillips *in memorium

Mary Waterman* Jane Weyl

Silent & Live Auction • Raffle • Models of Inspiration Cocktail Reception courtesy of Bellissima • Music by DJ April Larken Plus other exciting surprises!

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25 YEARS OF BCA-FUNDED RESEARCH Aarti Asnani, MD

Piero Dalerba, MD

Peter Gann, MD, ScD

Aaron Goldman, PhD

Aarti is a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her BCA-funded research in 2017 focused on a class of compounds that protect the heart against the toxic effects of chemotherapy while protecting the breast cancer antitumor effect.

Her lab was ultimately able to show that these compounds specifically inhibit a cytochrome P450 family of enzymes and hemoproteins that play a key role in metabolism of drugs, to confer cardioprotection. These major findings allowed Aarti to receive further funding and hopefully future commercialization of these cardioprotective compounds.

Aarti is also now looking at differences in how men and women respond to chemotherapy with regard to cardiac toxicity.

Piero’s research at Columbia University, funded by BCA, allowed for a breakthrough in breast cancer testing and diagnostics. In 2018, his laboratory discovered a protein biomarker that can be used by physicians to identify who, among patients with breast cancer, are at the highest risk of also being carriers of mutations in the BRCA1 gene.

The preliminary data from his BCA grant was key to a subsequent grant from the NY State Department of Health and the expansion of his research in order to increase statistical significance. Piero hopes to publish his findings in the near future. “The Young Investigator Grant (YIG) that I received from BCA was absolutely crucial to my career as an academic scientist, because it acted as a “seed” or “pilot” grant, and enabled me to obtain the preliminary data that is usually necessary to successfully compete for a governmental grant.“

Peter Gann is an influential researcher and professor at the University of Illinois focused on exploring the intra-tumor heterogeneity of breast cancer.

Under BCA funding, Peter developed a novel way to measure how closely a given case of breast cancer adheres to its intrinsic subtype. Since then, Peter has developed a second, more powerful method, and a manuscript for this method is in preparation. He hopes to eventually develop a biomarker, based on genomics and deep learning analysis of tumor histology, that can be used to guide the choice of therapy for breast cancer. “This grant helps us consolidate a multidisciplinary international research team that continues work to this day.”

As an instructor and successful researcher at Harvard School of Medicine, Aaron Goldman has made a number of biological discoveries that resulted in new knowledge about drug resistance in breast cancer.

With BCA’s support, he has been able to identify specific mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer cells and develop a drug to target these cells. The new drug targets cell surface lipid rafts that are present on drug-resistant cancer cells.

These lipid rafts have been found to play a critical role in cancer cell adhesion and migration. He has also since synthesized a kinase inhibitor that is conjugated to the lipid raft inhibitor. With the help of BCA’s grant in 2017, Aaron was able to gain independent support for his projects and develop a niche in breast cancer research. His current research is focused on basic/ translational cardio-oncology.

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www.breastcanceralliance.org

“I am truly grateful [for BCA’s] decision to provide young researchers like me with an unestablished career with the opportunity to continue our interest in cancer research.”

“The Young Investigator Grant (YIG) that I received from BCA was absolutely crucial to my career as an academic scientist, because it acted as a “seed” or “pilot” grant, and enabled me to obtain the preliminary data that is usually necessary to successfully compete for a governmental grant.“ “This grant helps us consolidate a multidisciplinary international research team that continues work to this day.”

Piyush Gupta, Ph.D.

Christopher A. Klebanoff, MD

Kazuya Machida, PhD

Michael Nemeth, PhD

At Tufts School of Medicine in 2012, Piyush Gupta intended to identify physiological vulnerabilities in multi-drug resistant cancer stem cells that have undergone a change in state known as an epithelial-tomesenchymal transition. He succeeded, with BCA’s support, finding that cancer cells do indeed change during this transition. This important finding suggests a novel therapeutic approach to targeting cancer cells that are resistant to most of today’s cancer treatments.

After BCA’s funding, Piyush received further funding and splits his time between an academic position and an industry position. His academic work focuses on defining all of the states of differentiation accessible to mammary epithelial cells, and their impact on normal breast development and breast cancer. His industry position as Founder and CEO of Naveris is focused on preventing the development of life-threatening cancers through earlier detection. “Funding from BCA and other foundations that focus on early-stage investigators provides support to the most innovative investigators at a stage in their careers when they most need it.”

Christopher A. Klebanoff is an attending physician and laboratory primary investigator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. BCA’s grant was among one of Christopher’s first external grants and enabled him the financial resources to develop preliminary data for his eventual federal grant. His research under BCA focused on developing an innovative new technique for discovering immune receptors that are capable of selectively recognizing breast cancer cells. His findings have ultimately led to a new class of immune receptors (TCRs) which he is seeking to develop into a first-in-women therapy in 2022.

Kazuya’s funding through BCA in 2007 led to the establishment of an impressive molecular diagnostic workflow to classify human cancers based on SH2 domain binding patterns suitable for patient stratification and targeted therapy. SH2 domains are involved in tyrosine kinase signaling cascades, which play an important role in a variety of cellular processes. Her diagnostic workflows from BCA-funded research have led to further development of SH2 profiling in the discovery of prognostic biomarkers for hematological malignancies. BCA’s funding has provided the opportunity for Kazuya to build expertise in phosphoproteomics, which led to a promotion at the UConn School of Medicine.

Michael is an Assistant Professor of Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Under BCA funding this year, he identified a novel approach for improving the response of triple negative breast cancer patients to immunotherapy. Triple negative breast cancer differs from other types of breast cancer in that the growth of the cancer is not fueled by hormones, therefore, it does not respond to medicines targeting HER2 protein receptors. According to Michael, this approach will rapidly be translated to the clinic.

He is currently moving into a phase 1 trial with these exciting results and hopes to continue his research in the future.

“I am truly grateful [for BCA’s] decision to provide young researchers like me with an unestablished career with the opportunity to continue our interest in cancer research.”

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25 YEARS OF BCA-FUNDED RESEARCH (CONTINUED)

Marjan Rafat, PhD

Linda Vahdat, MD, MBA

Qin Yan, PhD

Xiaoting Zhang, PhD

As a researcher and assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, Marjan studies how radiation of normal tissue surrounding tumors enhances breast cancer recurrence.

Her ongoing work funded by Breast Cancer Alliance has led to multiple notable findings.

Firstly, her lab has developed a robust model of epithelial mammary organoids to evaluate the effect of radiation damage on tumor and immune cell infiltration. Secondly, she has determined that macrophages enhance tumor cell recruitment to irradiated organoids. The BCA grant has allowed Marjan to obtain additional external funding from a different foundation and the data her lab is collecting will be used for multiple publications and as for preliminary data for larger grants.

Linda Vahdat is a successful scientist with over 120 publications, currently focused on researching metastases protection in cancer patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in partnership with Norwalk Hospital. Her BCA-funded work in 2003 focused on tetrathiomolybdateassociated copper depletion, which reduced factors in the blood associated with metastases for women with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence. Since then, Linda has received multiple grants to support her ongoing research. Her lab is currently moving to a large, randomized phase 2 trial within the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium.

As an associate professor of pathology at Yale University School of Medicine, Qin Yan has discovered the novel roles of KDM5 in antitumor immune responses. KDM5 enzymes are histone demethylases involved in transcriptional modification and DNA repair.

These enzymes are a target of therapeutic drugs, since they are over-expressed in certain types of cancers, including breast cancer. Under BCA funding in 2010, Qin Yan’s lab developed “first in class” KDM5B inhibitors. Although no drug has made it into clinical trials yet, Yan’s research led the way in discovering the novel roles of KDM5. BCA facilitated Qin’s development into Breast Cancer Research, something in which he is still focused on today.

Xiaoting Zhang is a professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and his research is focused on breast cancer and the development of RNA nanotherapeutics.

His research funded by BCA allowed him to identify the MED1 gene as a key transcriptional coactivator in mediating estrogen receptor (ER) functions in breast cancer. These findings have proven to be successful, as he has since developed a pending RNA nanotechnology-based approach to target MED1 specifically in cancer cells. As the first research grant he has received, BCA’s award has attracted Xiaoting to stay in the field of Breast Cancer Research.

“Funding from BCA and other foundations that focus on early-stage investigators provides support to the most innovative investigators at a stage in their careers when they most need it.”

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www.breastcanceralliance.org

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GRANTEE SPOTLIGHT: GRIFFIN HOSPITAL For the past 8 years, Griffin Health and Breast Cancer Alliance have partnered to spread awareness in the Lower Naugatuck Valley Community about the importance of early detection. through her fears and even held her hand during the test to ensure she could comfortably complete it.

Griffin’s community outreach and breast wellness education efforts don’t just spread information, but also make a real difference in the community. Thanks to the dedication of the Valley Breast Wellness Initiative and Maggie, Griffin has helped dozens of women who may never have gotten screened receive a potentially life saving mammograms.

Even when COVID-19 social distancing precautions reduced her access to the community, Maggie continued to talk one-on-one with women who went to Griffin for COVID-19 testing or vaccination.

Thanks to BCA’s generous support, Griffin has been able to educate thousands of women in its community about breast wellness and refer dozens for mammograms.

Community Nurse Educator Maggie Sessa is Griffin’s compassionate breast health ambassador in the local community. Every week, Maggie works with area agencies and visits locations such as laundromats, food pantries, senior housing facilities, and neighborhood recreation centers to have friendly conversations with women about breast wellness and encourage them to get a free screening mammogram, especially the uninsured or underinsured.

The benefits of one-on-one community outreach are clear to see in statistics detailing the reduction of premature deaths due to cancer in the Valley, but the best way to truly understand the impact of Maggie’s efforts is to hear stories about the real women she’s helped. In some cases, Maggie will go above and beyond and personally guide a patient through every step of the scheduling and screening process, from helping her apply for insurance to picking her up for her appointment to sitting with her through the test itself. When one woman was afraid to receive a mammogram due to stories she’d heard about the test being painful, Maggie talked

This important, life-changing work would not be possible without the Education and Outreach grant from Breast Cancer Alliance. This grant’s funding is solely responsible for Maggie’s ability to go out into Griffin’s community and build relationships with women, face-to-face. As social distancing precautions are reduced, Maggie is back in the community, continuing her vital work of helping women understand the importance of breast health and empowering them to protect themselves through breast cancer screening.

Griffin’s community outreach and breast wellness education efforts don’t just spread information, but also make a real difference in the community.

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ONE WOMAN’S STORY: ERICA JUNEJA My name is Erica Juneja, and I am a survivor. I was diagnosed at age 46, after a routine mammogram. Fighting breast cancer during a pandemic was challenging, but at the same time it gave me great perspective.

My family and friends provided me with tremendous support and having a strong support system makes a difference.

Before I tell more of my story I want to say: do not miss your screenings. They are so important. Don’t cancel! Things can happen before you can feel them.

I did not have my first mammogram until I was 41 and didn’t give it much thought as females in my family live well into their 90’s and there is no family history of breast cancer. After my first mammogram, the radiologist saw something that looked abnormal. I had an ultrasound-guided biopsy which showed just a calcification.

I continued with routine mammograms in NYC, even after I moved to Connecticut in 2017, and finally had a mammogram with an ultrasound on February 13, 2020.

The radiologist asked to speak to me right after the exam. She told she saw three masses and wanted to biopsy one of them. While I was convinced they were calcifications, they were on the other side and looked “different.” I had no pain, felt no lumps, and had a check-up a few weeks prior where my doctor felt nothing, but I scheduled the biopsy.

A week after my biopsy, I was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, ER+, HER2- breast cancer. I was referred to a surgeon in NY for a lumpectomy and told it would be fine and easily treatable with surgery, radiation, and Tamoxifen. Surgery was scheduled for March 30, 2020, but then the world shut down due to the surge of COVID hospitalizations and my surgery was put on hold indefinitely. I was referred to a medical oncologist over Zoom who prescribed tamoxifen to slow the tumor’s growth while I waited to have my surgery.

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I was living in unchartered territory.

On one hand there were bigger problems: COVID, my children out of school, making sure we had enough Clorox wipes and toilet paper... Yet I felt trapped. I was healthy, ate well, exercised, got enough sleep, and took care of myself. I could not wait around and do nothing.

I reached out to an internist in Connecticut to see if she had a local referral. She recommended Dr. Helen Pass at Stamford Hospital who I saw shortly after. She was warm and comforted me, and recommended biopsies of the other two spots so we had more information. An MRI guided biopsy revealed that one tumor was cancerous and the other was benign.

While this did not change my diagnosis, Dr. Pass suggested a different surgical path to leave less visible scaring, and I was able to schedule my surgery for May 20, 2020. A plastic surgeon, Dr. Paserati, worked side by side with Dr. Pass to limit disfiguration from the lumpectomy.

www.breastcanceralliance.org

Sentinel lymph nodes were removed at that time, and the initial pathology performed while I was in the OR showed no cancer cells there. A week later I received a call that after a more complete post-surgical pathology, the cancer had indeed spread to my lymph nodes. My diagnosis changed from a slow-growing Stage 1 cancer to Stage 2A but my Oncotype score for recurrence was low. This made determining the best course of treatment confusing.

I explored different opinions with a variety of treatment plans such as more surgery to remove more lymph nodes, ACT chemo, or no chemo at all. After evaluating the options, their impact on long term survival rates as well as potential major side effects, I chose the following course of action.

I began four sessions of TC chemo with Dr. Tessa Cigler at Weill Cornell, and though it added nearly five hours to each session, I added the cold cap to avoid losing the hair on my head. The cold cap was torture for the first twenty minutes (like constantly eating ice cream too quickly) but it was important to me. I was fatigued and had a fever after the first two rounds, but after a couple of days felt okay. I enjoy eating, and could not imagine losing my appetite from the chemo, but I did.

Friends rallied around me, joined me for short slow walks, flowers were received, a meal train was set up and delivered with kind notes. I received some very thoughtful small gifts and acts of kindness. I went for a walk almost everyday even if I did not feel like it, started practicing yoga and continued barre class to remain active.

Caregivers and support are so important.

I never felt alone even in the pandemic.

My father-in-law, living with us temporarily because of some health issues, was diagnosed with dementia and COVID kept us from moving him into his assisted living facility. With some encouragement from my supportive husband, my parents came up from Florida and rented an apartment close by for five months. I was so lucky.

Knowing my children were being cared for, surrounded by love and support, I knew ‘I got this.’

A couple of weeks after chemo I started four weeks of radiation, five days a week, at White Plains Hospital with Dr. Randy Stevens. Manhattan was too far to go daily and I wanted a radiologist Dr. Cigler knew and valued to take over the next part of my journey. Dr. Stevens and her team were warm and took great care of me. Friends insisted on taking turns driving me to and from treatments most days. The company and conversations, aside from discussing my treatment, helped keep my spirits high.

Once I finished radiation, I went back to the medical oncologist. The chemotherapy put me into temporary menopause and the plan was to keep this going to help keep the cancer from coming back since I was hormone receptor positive. My care plan involves monthly Lupron injections for ovarian suppression for five years. In addition, I take an aromatase inhibitor and some other medications to offset the side effects of these two. It has been over a year since my surgery. I have had my first scans and am deemed cancer free! Going through this experience and coming out the other side has made me stronger, reinforced the notion that I must pick the right battles, and let the small things go.

It is important to educate yourself and be your best advocate. I have learned to laugh a little more, appreciate helping hands, and to be more forgiving.

“Going through this experience and coming out the other side has made me stronger, reinforced the notion that I must pick the right battles, and let the small things go.”

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WELCOME BCA’S 2021 BREAST SURGERY FELLOWS!

Billie Borden, MD grew up in the Adirondacks in upstate New York.

She earned her undergraduate degree in Geography at Middlebury College and later completed the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Bryn Mawr College. For her medical education, she attended Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, where she was drawn to the sensitivity and complexity of breast cancer care. Under the mentorship of Dr. Sheldon Feldman, she contributed to several research initiatives including a study evaluating lymphovenous anastomosis for the primary prevention of lymphedema after axillary dissection. She trained in General Surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital and looks forward to completing the multidisciplinary breast fellowship at Yale University.

Kelly Krupa, MD graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Neuroscience from the University of Pittsburgh and received her medical degree from the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. She most currently served as chief resident in General Surgery at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

She is well-regarded by her peers and mentors alike and recognized for her leadership and attention to detail. Kelly is excited to join Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey as the 2021-2022 Rodkin Family Breast Surgery Fellow.

WHERE ARE LAST YEAR’S FELLOWS HEADED?

Michelle Abghari, MD: Inova Schar Cancer Institute (where our first BCA Fellow is today!)

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Sarah Shubeck, MD, MS: Assistant Professor, Section of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

www.breastcanceralliance.org

Angeleke Saridakis, MD, Awaiting placement

Marissa Srour, MD, graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, in 2011 with degrees in biological sciences and business administration. She obtained her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California with a distinction in research in 2015. Marissa recently completed a general surgery residency at CedarsSinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, where she served as Education Chief.

She has a strong academic background and has published 30 research manuscripts in peer-review journals. In addition, Marissa boasts over 30 research presentations and 15 podium presentations at national research meetings, for both her work in basic science and clinical research in breast cancer. Notably, she received the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Merit Award and Rubenstein Award for Excellence in Resident Research in 2019 for her basic science research on gene expression in triplenegative breast cancer. She co-authored a book chapter on Breast Disease in Berek and Hacker’s Gynecologic Oncology. Marissa’s interest in breast surgery stemmed from an inspiring apprenticeship as a surgical resident where she was attracted to the multidisciplinary aspect of patient care and the innovative research.

But most of all, she felt it was a field where she could express her compassion through the care and relationships she builds with her patients. Marissa’s fellowship is at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

BCA’S 25TH ANNUAL LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE ANNUAL LUNCHEON HAS LONG BEEN OUR MODELS OF INSPIRATION FASHION SHOW. THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE:

Karen Dillon Ruth Fried Erica Juneja

Jamie Kessel Evan Margolin Dr. Corinne Menn

Rebecca Nardi Dr. Katy Noble Kristin Parekh

Barbara Ripp Constance Skinner Natascha Vega

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THIS YEAR’S LUNCHEON:

In an effort to ensure a healthy, safe environment for all attendees, this year’s event will take a hybrid format. We will hold a live event at Westchester Country Club, with more limited capacity than in past years, as well as a wonderful live-stream event on that day for all to enjoy from the comfort of their own home with friends or family. For those looking to attend in person, table buyers will have first priority due to space limitations, with some seating inside the tent and some in the beautiful adjacent ballroom. For those who choose to purchase tables and attend the virtual event, we will once again offer floral arrangements and lunches for delivery to make hosting friends seamless and festive.

The health and safety of all of our guests is of utmost importance. We will be holding the highlight of our annual Luncheon, our Models of Inspiration Fashion Show, again this year. Some of those models, as well as some of our guests, have compromised immune systems due to treatment. As such, we ask that only those who are fully vaccinated consider attending the live event. With this in mind, for those who do come and are not fully vaccinated, we ask that you receive a negative COVID test within 72 hours of the event and wear masks in accordance with Westchester Country Club protocol and state and local guidance. Updates to these guidelines will be posted on our event website. When you purchase your ticket or table, please indicate whether you prefer to join us in-person or virtually. While we would love to be 1100 attendees again all in one space, in light of COVID, we do not believe that to be a responsible decision.

OUR FABULOUS RAFFLE IS BACK! FOR JUST $20 AN ENTRY, YOU CAN WIN ONE OF THE FOUR TERRIFIC PACKAGES, EACH VALUED AT A MINIMUM OF $1,000. TICKETS CAN BE RESERVED ONLINE OR IN THE ENVELOPE ENCLOSED IN THIS NEWSLETTER: 1. GLAMOROUS GAL. Who doesn’t enjoy a little pampering?

This package is just what you need to feel and look your best!

Begin the day utilizing a $100 gift certificate for skin care consultation services at Beautycounter. Accessorize with a pink Lokai bracelet, a pair of casual earrings earrings, and toss your cosmetic bag into the pink K.carroll 2-in-1 satchel and crossbody tote, then head to B Chic to redeem your $50 gift certificate.

From there, indulge in a pedicure using a $32 gift certificate to Greens Nails, one of four $20 gift certificates for a manicure at Hill Top Nails, and a $100 gift certificate for microblading services at Wow Brow by Karin. Pick up a pretty little thing with your $50 gift certificate at Lilies & Lace, something sporty with your three $25 gift certificates at Sportech, and a personalized item for your home with a $100 gift certificate at It’s Personal Monogrammed Gifts. You’ll be ready to order up some treats with the $25 gift certificate to Starbucks after all that! Go home and unwind with the AESOP beauty basket of skin care products along with some great advice with your $250 gift certificate for nutrition consultation services by Stay Healthy at Home.

2. ELEGANT EVENT. Entertaining is back and we have a lovely package to get your evening started. Your table will be elegantly set with a pair Waterford fine silver-plated candlesticks, Beneboon’s delight + delish gift set and a Hipchik porcelain serving bowl. You and your guests will dine on a delicious cheese & charcuterie board from Stephanie’s Kitchen Counter, a dozen handcrafted Amandier Macarons, a gourmet gift basket from Stanton Sweets and other sweet nibbles using your $30 gift certificate

to Sugar Hi. For beautiful holiday flowers, use your $250 gift certificate to SEEDS Design and wrap yourself in a lovely black and white shawl. You can recoup the next morning by filling your Tazza travel mug using some of your $50 gift certificate to their coffee shop and enjoy a relaxing lunch with a $50 gift certificate to Bedford 234.

3. STYLIN’! Have a fabulous day out looking your best! Throw on any of the beautiful pieces from Erin Gray: a long sleeve crew in white or charcoal gray, a pair of Wanderlust dangler earrings, a hematite gold bracelet stack, a Hope bracelet stack in gray metallic, an essential 18’’ layering necklace No. 4, or a barrel on double gunmetal necklace. Grab your black leather grommet handbag courtesy of STILE and let the man in your life don one of the two vineyard vines ties and tote while stepping out on the town.

4. DINER’S CLUB. We hope you’re hungry! You won’t have to see your kitchen for quite some time with gift certificates to this list of fabulous eateries. You’ll receive a $150 gift certificate to Hinoki, a $150 gift certificate to Miku Sushi, a $100 gift certificate to Moderne Barn, and a $375 gift certificate to Terra, Mediterraneo, or East End. If you just want something light, redeem your two $25 gift certificates at G.E. Brown. Take a break from dining to shop at Mixology using a $25 gift card, then treat yourself to something at B Chic with a $50 gift certificate, while sporting their pink Lokai bracelet and casual earrings, all while keeping lip gloss at the ready in their cosmetic bag. Pack your new items for a weekend away in the Vera Bradley “Pink Paradise” large duffel.

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FIRST CLASS PRESORT U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Breast Cancer Alliance 48 Maple Avenue Greenwich, CT 06830

PCI

SAVE THE DATES…AND JOIN BCA FROM ANYWHERE! Registration links and more details can be found at breastcanceralliance.org/events GoForPink: A series of events dedicated to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month The full calendar of events, participating vendors and other details, still in formation, can be found at breastcanceralliance.org/goforpink Curated shopping boutique in Katonah, NY September 30, 10am until 2:30pm Annual Raising of the Breast Cancer Alliance flag with First Selectman Fred Camillo and Dr. Barbara Ward, Greenwich Hospital October 1, 9am, Greenwich Town Hall Curated shopping boutique in Riverside, CT October 1, 10am until 2pm, 7pm until 9pm

Curated shopping and fitness event in Darien, CT October 14, Throughout the Day Annual Holiday Shopping Boutique Wednesday, November 16, 12pm until 7pm Thursday, November 17, 9am until 1pm Burning Tree Country Club, Greenwich, CT Virtual Poker Tournament Thursday, January 27, online Details to follow Windows on the World Complete Wine Class with Kevin Zraly Thursday, March 31, 7pm until 9pm Online and in person location TBD

Breast Cancer Alliance 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director breastcanceralliance.org

www.facebook.com/breastcanceralliance

@BCAllianceCT

@breastcanceralliance