MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action - 43

ADVOCACY FUELED BY PASSION Finding Purpose in Advocacy
By bringing together diverse talents and
nurturing an environment of collaboration
and support, I witnessed firsthand
the power of a unified team working
toward a shared vision to help our community.
Our collective achievements
have allowed us to gradually and steadily
increase the participation of the Latino
community in biomedical and clinical
research, an undertaking that is quite
challenging. Together we have successfully
engaged thousands of Latina/os in
biomedical and clinical research across
various therapeutic areas. We are very
proud of this accomplishment, but also
recognize there is still much work to be
done! Our unwavering focus has been on
matching innovative and promising therapies
to groups of patients most in need
of advanced clinical care (e.g., clinical
research). By continuously exploring new
avenues and staying abreast of advancements
in clinical research, we strive to
bring hope and improved outcomes to
those who need it most. We have aligned
clinical trial initiatives with the unmet
medical needs in the areas of oncology,
liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and
infectious diseases. Moreover, through
precision medicine approaches in cardiology,
we have been able to identify
genetic variabilities that may be unique
to the Hispanic community. Being the
voice for patients most in need is a responsibility
I hold dear, and it drives me
to go above and beyond in advocating for
their well-being.
The act of empowering someone with
education and information so they can
make an informed decision is rewarding
on so many levels.
I think the time is now for us as healthcare
providers, knowledge generators,
and information disseminators to level
up. When I am speaking to groups of
people from rising high school seniors,
or community workers, all the way to
our C-suite, my message is always that we
must educate to empower. We can't talk
to someone about clinical trials before we
are sure they know about their health and
the illness they are bearing. Let's work
together to increase the tools available
to increase health literacy in our communities.
We have to be ambassadors for
change and the voice for those who cannot
speak for themselves. Clinical research is
not taboo. Yes, there is history to speak
otherwise, but we are making the changes
now. History by definition is the study of
change over time, and I truly believe we
are making history together. l
Speaking from a heart
centered perspective, why
are science, research, and
clinical trials so important
in the treatment of cancer?
A. Everyone deserves to have
the latest, safest, and most
promising treatments available.
Clinical research is an
option and a right that should
be provided to all of us.
What drives the work you
are doing?
A. Our work is changing the
trajectory of people's lives, for
the better!
Do you have a personal
statement related to DE&I?
A. I am praying this is not a
trend at the current moment.
Despite the political climate
surrounding this issue, our
families, friends, and loved
ones desperately need
our voices to be unified to
diversify, include, and meet
our patients where they are.
In dreaming big related to
your field of expertise, what
would you like to see in your
lifetime?
RESOURCES:
» DHR Health Institute for Research and Development: www.dhrresearch.org
» DHR Health: www.dhrhealth.com
» The WISDOM study: https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/
» CISCRIP, The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation: www.ciscrip.org
» Clinical Trials Registry: www.clinicaltrials.gov
A. There is far too much to
list! In healthcare, I would
love to see more collaboration
and less competition. No one
person, company, HCO, etc.,
does anything alone; well,
anything that a has long and
lasting meaningful legacy.
MY LIFE MATTERS
ADVOCACY IN ACTION | FALL 2023
43
Q&A

http://www.dhrresearch.org http://www.dhrhealth.com https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/ http://www.ciscrip.org http://www.clinicaltrials.gov

MY LIFE Matters - Advocacy in Action

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