CISN Consultants:

I have been a breast cancer survivor since 1992, and have been active in breast cancer advocacy since completing Project LEAD (a science training course for advocates developed by NBCC - the National Breast Cancer Coalition) in 1995 in Washington, D.C. I completed the Clinical Trials LEAD course in 2003, and am a graduate of the Georgetown Mini-Medical School program. I was the patient advocate for a clinical trial at Georgetown University and have been an advocate for the Georgetown University Breast SPORE (Specialized Programs of Research Excellence) and an outside advisor for the SPORE board since 2003.

My major advocacy interest is in breast cancer research, encouraging its translational potential (moving quickly from the lab to clinical use), establishing communications between research scientists and the general public, and promoting participation in clinical trials. I have been a reviewer for the California Breast Cancer Research Program, evaluating research proposals from the advocate’s point of view and served as an advocate guide at the CBCRP symposium, providing an interface between researchers and the public in the poster sessions.

My work in science publishing and experience as a member of a Journal Club for Project LEAD graduates led to me to involvement as co-author of a Systematic Review on the efficacy of prophylactic mastectomy for the Cochrane Collaboration (a group dedicated to the advancement of evidence-based medicine) published in 2004. I presented a poster of the Cochrane Review with my co-authors at the NBCC conference in 2005. As a funded advocate, I attended the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (the largest meeting of breast cancer researchers and clinicians in the world) in 2005, and plan to post synopses of some of the research presented on this site.

"Helping patients through their cancer experience and informing researchers about the patient's perspective is how I make sense of my cancer diagnoses." Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34, Diana's account is one heard frequently from women diagnosed at an early age. Diana serves on the Research Advisory Committee for the Young Survival Coalition. "I was told I was too young to have breast cancer. I take very seriously my charge to educate others, and especially, how to be pro-active when statistics do not serve you."

Diana jump-started her medical education by taking the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD course in 1996. "I couldn't control my diagnosis. But I could become extremely knowledgeable about breast cancer science, treatment, and the conduct of research. I try my best to make it more patient-centered."

As she moved past treatment, Diana began her efforts in grassroots breast cancer advocacy, alternating this involvement with freelance work in TV production. This ultimately led to an invitation to head the Cancer Survivorship Advisory Council at the University of Southern California (USC) Kenneth T. Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. This patient advisory group is one of a few in the United States. Cancer patients interact with cancer research scientists and physicians on the Cancer Center's Working Committees. Diana's participation extends to her role on the Institutional Review Board and as a speaker at the Keck School of Medicine. The Introduction to Clinical Medicine faculty has incorporated Diana and the other members of the Cancer Survivorship Advisory Council into their curriculum and other medical school programs.

"I especially value my participation as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. Diana has served as an advocate member of the State of California Breast Cancer Research Council and currently serves on the Working Group for the NCI/NIEHS Working Group of the Breast Cancer Environmental Centers.

She serves as an advocate on a DOD BCRP-funded Breast Cancer Center of Excellence with Michael Press, PI, University of Southern California, and Geoffrey Greene, PI, University of Chicago, on "Hormonal Carcinogenesis" and commends the funding of these multidisciplinary centers that require consumer participation.

She also serves on the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee of the California Cancer Consortium. She served as a consumer and/or programmatic reviewer for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Avon Foundation, the California Breast Cancer Research Program, and NCI/NIEHS.

Recently, Diana headed back to school part-time to begin work on her MPH degree. "My class work complements my work in the best possible way. I'm one of the older students in my class…the one who isn't wearing the rose colored glasses."

I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985 at the age of 36 and with no family history.  Three years later, breast cancer was diagnosed in my other breast. Since these experiences, I have been involved in a number of organizations committed to educating the public about breast cancer, supporting people affected by it and eradicating the disease. 

As a volunteer, I have run breast health awareness workshops for adults and teens and provided peer counseling to women diagnosed with breast cancer.  Currently I am on the Board of the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, am an active volunteer in a number of National Breast Cancer Coalition’s (NBCC) initiatives and am on one of the working groups associated with the Clinical Trials Summit. I have been an invited speaker on cancer advocacy at a variety of forums and have contributed to several websites and reviewed several books targeted at people affected by cancer.

I have a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and Masters Degrees in Educational Psychology, Computer and Information Science as well as an MBA. I started my career as an experimental cognitive psychologist at the University of Texas in Austin, spent most of my career at Bell Labs and currently run my own consulting company— Gemini Group. My consulting focuses on process improvement and accreditation, primarily for academic institutions. I have been an examiner for the Baldrige and Lincoln quality award programs. I also serve as a scientific review administrator for peer review panels for the Departments of Education and Defense external research programs.

Given my scientific training, albeit not related to cancer, I am especially interested in research advocacy. I have been a stakeholder reviewer for the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) and the US Department of Defense’s external research program, and am currently a member of the ACS’s External Research Council. I am also an advocate consultant on a number of academic cancer research projects. I have been a Survivor-Advocate representative at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), The American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Meetings, and other scientific meetings.

I am committed to increasing my effectiveness as an advocate and stay current with the scientific progress. In addition to attending scientific meeting, I am a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD training programs in basic science, clinical trials, and quality care. I have also participated in the Rocky Mountain Evidence-Based Health Care Workshop.