Educate,Elevate,Empower FosteringLeadership UpliftingVoices BreastCancer AwarenessMonth Empowering Lives, Promoting Hope Newsletter OCTOBER
THINK PINK THINK PINK EEVENT VENT
Date: October 19, 2023
Time: 5 - 7 PM
Join us for an enlightening and empowering workshop as we dive into the world of breast cancer awareness and prevention!
"Think Pink" is a one-of-a-kind educational event designed to equip participants with essential knowledge about breast health, early detection, and the importance of support for those affected by breast cancer.
Follow @uoftwomens on Instagram for updates on the event location & how to sign up!
MAJA MAJA
Read More of Maja’s Story Here
In 2018 at 39 years old, Maja was diagnosed with stage 3C triple-negative metaplastic breast cancer - a rare & aggressive form of breast cancer This diagnosis was combined with the BRCA2 generic mutation - a gene mutation that increases the risk of developing breast cancer The diagnosis had come as a shock to her, as she was young, had no symptoms & did not have a family history of cancer
Motivated to make a positive difference in light of this diagnosis however, she joined CIBC’s Run for the Cure just 7 months after her diagnosis - raising awareness and funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. She even served as the keynote speaker for their 2019 run & continues her journey of advocacy today as she lives with no evidence of disease (NED). Now, Maja DJs online to raise funds supporting those with breast cancer & ultimately aims to break down barriers to conversations about cancer within the Filipino community.
TTRACY RACY
Read More of Tracy’s Story Here
As an Indigenous woman from Grand Prairie diagnosed with breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tracy noticed a need for further education on the early detection of breast cancer This compelled her to develop My Breast Day - an app featuring various tools that women can use to care for their breast health, including a financial tracker & journal
Tracy participated in the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch - an Indigenous entrepreneurship competition, where she was part of the top 100 & named a semi-finalist. Moving towards the future in her journey as both an advocate & entrepreneur, she hopes to expand My Breast Day in the coming years to support those in Indigenous & rural communities who do not have access to resources about caring for their breast health - with the goal of ensuring that all women are educated on the importance of early detection.
S U R V I V O R S
S U R V I V O R S
B R E A S T C A N C E R
B R E A S T C A N C E R
DR. CHRISTINA DR. CHRISTINA AADDISON DDISON
Read More of Dr. Addison’s Story Here
B R E A S T C A N C E R B R E A S T C A N C E R R E S E A R C H E R S R E S E A R C H E R S
Developing a love for scientific research from a young age, Dr. Christina Addison encountered her future career path after working in a cancer therapy lab during her graduate studies. Fascinated by what she experienced & motivated to make a positive impact on the lives of others, she was compelled to understand how cancer works & develop tools for early detection.
In her newest initiative, Dr Addison will be developing a new dye to detect breast cancer cells using fructose While fructose is commonly known as a sugar found in fruits & vegetables, research has shown that it is also an energy source commonly used by breast cancer cells The dye will be tested on breast cancer cells grown in a dish, before being used on mouse models - and eventually, in a clinical trial involving those diagnosed with breast cancer In the coming years, Dr Addison hopes that this dye will improve the ability of breast cancer cells to be detected, so that necessary treatment can occur earlier on
DR. MORAG DR. MORAG PARK PARK
Read More of Dr. Park’s Story Here
For over 30 years, Dr Morag Park has been a leader in the field of cancer research - making a variety of new discoveries & improving treatments One such breakthrough discovery, being a gene that played a role in the progression of various cancers Realizing she could use her research expertise to support women across Canada, Dr Park has since decided to specialize in breast cancer research
Her current research focuses on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) - a form of breast cancer that is aggressive & difficult to treat. In her latest initiative, Dr. Park looks to develop a 3D tumor model to better understand why TNBC is resistant to many standard therapies & explore new treatments that can be provided to better support women diagnosed with it. Ultimately, she hopes this 3D model will enable her team to discover ways in which the immune system can be leveraged to target this form of cancer.
Whether you were a participant of UTWSA during the 2022-23 term, have recently become a member, or are entirely new to UTWSA, we extend a warm welcome to the 2023-24 UTWSA chapter!
This month's newsletter is made accessible to the public as part of our efforts to broaden the reach of our organization If you're new to UTWSA, we encourage you to join us as a member to gain ongoing access to our comprehensive monthly newsletters, along with various other exclusive membership benefits. Membership registration is free and can be completed by simply clicking the button below:
UTWSA Membership Sign-Up
In this month's newsletter, we proudly showcase a multitude of UTWSA initiatives that have been meticulously planned for our esteemed members throughout the upcoming year. Additionally, we emphasize the profound significance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pay tribute to the influential women who are actively driving positive change through their efforts to raise awareness
We are enthused about the year ahead and we extend a warm invitation for you to join us on this path of growth and impact.
W E L C O M E T O U T W S A
W E L C O M E T O U T W S A
As a UTWSA member, you are exposed to a wide range of benefits, including the following:
M E M B E R S H I P B E N E F I T S M E M B E R S H I P B E N E F I T S
Access to Membership-exclusive events & newsletters
Priority access to the membership & mentorship program
Access to an invite-only LinkedIn group connecting members to alumni from various professions
Enjoy exclusive discounts on events, merchandise or services related to the UTWSA’s initiatives
Access to workshops & seminars that enhance your career readiness & personal growth
Be part of a community that shares your goals, experiences & interests, providing support & a sense of belonging
Participate in initiatives aimed at addressing gender-related challenges & advocating for gender equality.
Get involved in leadership roles within the UTWSA & develop leadership skills.
The UTWSA’s annual Mentorship Program aims to accelerate self-identifying women in their 3rd & 4th year of undergraduate study towards their career, academic & personal goals through a curated mentorship program that connects them with professionals in their field.
S t e f a n i a V l a s i e (VP
Finance)
I highly recommend the program for its ability to cut through the challenges of finding a good, vetted mentor and, instead, provide you with one who is guaranteed and willing to help!
My experience in the UTWSA mentorship program last year was wonderful! This program allowed me to connect with industry professionals who were kind, practical, and open-minded
I m a n H u s s a i n (VP
Each mentee works with their mentor, to achieve growth in various aspects & write their own futures.
M E N T O R S H I P P R O G R A M W r i t i n g T h e i r F u t u r e s
Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing stories from the mentorship program & the impacts it has had on mentees & mentors respectively.
M E N T O R S H I P P R O G R A M
W h a t i s t h e M e n t o r s h i p P r o g r a m ? H e a r f r o m P r e v i o u s M e n t e e s :
The program runs from Oct 2023 - Apr 2024
The mentorship I received helped me improve my communication and networking skills. I would highly recommend any selfidentifying woman at U of T looking for professional development opportunities to enroll in this program I'm looking forward to being a returning mentee this year!
As a mentee last year, I gained invaluable industry knowledge and a mentor who was open to listening to my ideas and plans and could help redirect and guide me along the way!
Mentorship)
L E A D H E R S H I P C O N F E R E N C E
L E A D H E R S H I P C O N F E R E N C E
Conference Suggestion Form
Do you know of women entrepreneurs within UofT or beyond?
The UTWSA monthly newsletter is starting a new initiative, aiming to highlight women-owned businesses at both local & national levels
At the local level, we’d like to highlight businesses owned by UofT students/alumni, as well as those owned by members of the public in Mississauga, Scarborough & Toronto.
At the national level, we’d like to highlight businesses owned by women across various provinces/territories of Canada.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur yourself, or know of any women who are, we’d love your ideas regarding women-owned businesses we can highlight!
Share Your Ideas Here!
W O M E N E N T R E P R E N E U R S
W O M E N E N T R E P R E N E U R S
S P O T L I G H T :
S P O T L I G H T :
L o c a l L e v e l
N a t i o n a l L e v e l S u b m i t Y o u r I d e a s !
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