SPONSORED CONTENT
SPONSORED CONTENT
2021/2022
WOMEN AND WELLNESS TOGETHER, WE CAN IMAGINE A FUTURE WITHOUT CANCER
AFTER HITTING THE INCREDIBLE 25-year milestone for their signature February speaker event in 2020, which has raised more than $5 million for women’s cancer research, VCU Massey Cancer Center’s Women and Wellness committee has taken on five new challenges — a rebranding, a free conference for survivors in March, a bi-monthly newsletter, social gatherings around the Richmond region and a March tennis tournament. And the committee is bringing back its ever-popular February luncheon virtually. The featured speaker will be Suleika Jaouad, an Emmy awardwinning columnist, celebrated TEDtalk speaker, and author of The New York Times bestselling memoir “Between Two Kingdoms,” which recounts her odyssey of healing and selfdiscovery after a diagnosis of leukemia at the age of 22, and the widely acclaimed The New York Times column and video series, “Life, Interrupted.”
HARNESSING ENERGY
“There is so much energy and passion in the ballroom at the Jefferson every February, that we wanted to find a way to harness and use it throughout the year on a broader scale,” says Connie Hom, Massey Advisory Board member and chair of the Women and Wellness Committee. “We wanted to keep that motivation going!” When the committee met in May 2021, they set their goals with a plan to execute them by the end of June. The first goal was a new look and brand identity for Women and Wellness. What was created was a fresh apple green-and-white logo with a woman’s profile and a new tagline, “Together, WE can imagine a future without cancer.” From there, the committee wanted to create more opportunities for women to learn from one another. Those include encouraging committee members and Massey supporters to host peer-
Connie Hom
Visit the Women and Wellness webpage for event information, tickets and ways to donate.
WE INVITE YOU
masseycancercenter.org/women-and-wellness
Women and Wellness is about women coming together to make a difference. As such, we invite you to join us for our Women and Wellness 2022 signature events.
survivors and their families, and hosted at The Westin Richmond on March 26, 2022. The conference will be open to 280 women to attend in person, and some of the sessions and speakers will be made available virtually, too. “Women who are treated at Massey have so much confidence in their doctors,” Hom says. “What we wanted to add is something to support the integrative health piece — a holistic approach to health after the diagnosis, [including] the physical, emotional and mental pieces.” Topics to be explored with Massey experts will include: healthy living and nutrition; selfcare and wellness (meditation, mindfulness); cancer and relationships; mental health and mood; and survivorship and thriving with cancer, in addition to opportunities for hands-on activities, such as art therapy and makeup and beauty tips. Registration for the Women and Wellness conference is free to all, and opens in early 2022.
to-peer gatherings at their homes to ask questions in a relaxed, comfortable environment is what for friends, family and neighbors these peer group meetings will to learn more about Massey and be about.” to meet medical experts and Daudani, who grew up other cancer survivors. with tennis and got back into Women and Wellness playing during the pandemic, committee member and cancer also wanted to see the survivor Tara Daudani, who “wellness” side of Women and spoke at the February 2020 Wellness further developed. Women and Wellness luncheon She suggested and will host about being diagnosed with one-day, round-robin styleWinn, M.D. StageUnder 3 breast cancer, is hosting the bold vision aof director Robert doubles tennis tournament on one of those gatherings at her Center is leading way inwomen, women's cancer March 19,the 2022, for 50 homeMassey for aboutCancer 20 women. on her neighborhood courtsand in Wellness Her special guestand will be Leslie research innovation. Through the Women Wellesley. Randall, M.D., Massey’s director initiative, Massey is making an impact on women's health, “I’m excited to bring this of gynecologic oncology, and TOMORROW’S CARE having raised over $5 million the past 27 years through level ofinactivity to Women Daudani’s doctor who was This coming February and comprehensive programsand focused onDaudani holisticsays. patient care, Wellness,” recruited and started at Massey beyond, Women and Wellness “It’s open toequity any women who in January 2020. access to clinical trials and health impacting women. will continue to raise critical wants to play by donating or “We can never talk enough funds needed for the cuttingfundraising $100.” aboutMassey the cutting-edge research invites philanthropic partners to join us as a edge research and support and clinical trials going on at health SELF-CARE as a Women and Wellness champion of “Iwomen's Massey,” Daudani says. was HOLISTIC diagnosed at [age] and you of the A week after theHealth tennis partner in37,support Women's Initiative for think, it can’t happen to you. tournament, Women and Trials at Massey. ManyClinical of my friends and family Wellness will host its first-ever were personally affected when educational mini-conference, support willspecifically advancedesigned the innovative work of I wasPhilanthropic diagnosed. To be able for
WOMEN AND WELLNESS CLINICAL TRIALS INITIATIVE
Massey researchers and physician-scientists, many of whom are outstanding women in their fields, to increase our clinical masseycancercenter.org/a-future-without-cancer trials including for women's cancers, expand integrative health and survivorship programs and increase access to high-quality cancer care for all members of our community.
of clinical trials happening at Massey. Clinical trials bring the latest and most effective treatments to patients early, and early treatment can make all the difference. “We need to continue to educate patients and the community about what trials are,” Randall says. “It’s truly tomorrow’s care today.” One new trial that Randall will oversee in 2022 will be the first to focus solely on the treatment of 100 Black women over three years. This particular trial will look at how an endometrial immunotherapy, which only had 4 percent of Black women in its study population, will impact Black women during treatment, their overall quality of life and other correlative markers. Clinical trials on this new immunotherapy also will take place at 10 other NCI-designated centers in the region, but Massey’s will be the only one to include all Black women. The percentage of Black women participating in trials has dropped from 75 to 80 percent to about 95 percent over 30 years, Randall says. “Women of color are being left behind, and we have the opportunity to change that.”
WOMEN AND WELLNESS VIRTUAL LUNCHEON AND BOOK CLUB EVENT, NOON, FEBRUARY 8, 2022, VIRTUAL Each year, Women and Wellness attendees come for medical and research updates, and plenty of inspiration, with a noted featured speaker. Emmy award-winning journalist Suleika Jaouad will speak at this year’s Women and Wellness luncheon. Free with registration or suggested donation.
Suleika Jaouad
Jaouad is a cancer survivor, celebrated TEDtalk speaker, and author of the instant New York Times bestselling memoir “Between Two Kingdoms,” which recounts her odyssey of healing and selfdiscovery after a diagnosis of leukemia at the age of twenty-two, and the widely acclaimed The New York Times column and video series, “Life, Interrupted.” Plus June 15, 2022 Evening celebration at the Jefferson 5:30-7:30 p.m. $175 per ticket including registration for February 8 Virtual Luncheon and Book Club Event
SOCIAL GATHERINGS All this year, social gatherings hosted by Women and Wellness supporters will provide opportunities to meet and hear from Massey researchers and raise awareness about cancer. Events can be in person or virtual and hosted in private homes, local restaurants, clubs or elsewhere, and will adhere to all CDC and social distancing guidelines. Interested in hosting a Women and Wellness gathering? Reach out to teammassey@vcu.edu for more information.
WOMEN AND WELLNESS EDUCATIONAL MINI-CONFERENCE, MARCH 26, 2022, AT THE WESTIN HOTEL RICHMOND. 8:30 A.M.- 3 P.M. The Women and Wellness educational miniconference invites guests to take a deeper dive with Massey leaders on topics like healthy living and nutrition, self-care and wellness, cancer and relationships and thriving with cancer. Hands-on opportunities, such as art therapy and makeup and beauty tips are also planned. Registration is free and open in early February.