We had the good fortune of connecting with Jade Gibson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jade, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking a risk, involves making a commitment without confirmation that the results will fare in your favor. The biggest risk I’ve taken is to stand in my purpose without knowing if the impact will truly make a difference. I am one of many lights in a community of “little warriors” who are living beyond a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

Being an overcomer ignited the flame that encouraged me to follow my dreams and pursue a career in patient advocacy. I believe that by having the audacity to believe that I can effect change in the landscape of healthcare delivery, the end result will be worth the risk taken to improve the quality of life for future generations of fighters, thrivers, and survivors.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For more than a decade, I have served as a trusted expert connecting the dots to care for uninsured Georgians navigating the health system without a roadmap to care. My interest in patient advocacy began after being diagnosed with a rare childhood ovarian tumor at the age of 16. I expressed my interests to help “patients like me” with my oncologist and she told me about the newly developing field of patient navigation.

After completing training through the Patient Navigation at the Harold P. Freeman Institute I found it difficult to use my new skills and training as the job opportunities did not seem exist. For a time it seemed, I had experience, but lacked education; or that I had acquired the proper education but lacked opportunity. Being someone with a resilient spirit, I persevered at little by little my work experience began to show a pattern of preparation.

In 2021, a dream deferred – became a dream realized when I joined the patient navigation team with Susan G. Komen. As a patient navigator, I am an extension of support to individuals and families affected by a breast cancer diagnosis. Our navigation services address financial, practical, and emotional barriers to care, so that treatment and recovery can be the primary focus of those we serve.

What is unique about my role, is that I focus on providing culturally competent assistance to Black women and men as part of Komen’s Stand for H.E.R. health equity initiative. Our program will increase access to financial assistance, timely screening and diagnostic services, and genetic counseling and testing for black patients – helping to close the gap in health disparities.

Though patient navigation and cancer advocacy are very big parts of my professional passions. I also enjoy having the freedom to express myself creatively. As an advocate I get to create content that spotlights many organizations and companies supporting adolescent and young adults affected by cancer. I aspire to become a human connector of resources and information for those who want to do more for themselves and members of the cancer community.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My desire to be more vocal and public was a result to me putting passion to practice through cultivating relationships with organizations like:

The Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, which offered me the opportunity to serve as a member of the Georgia Cancer Control Consortium (GC3) survivorship working group. At present, I co-chair the group and we work to elevate survivorship care for Georgia’s more than 647,000 cancer survivors.

BRCAStrong is a non-profit organization aimed at supporting women who have been touched by breast and/or gynecologic cancer. From financial support to routine monitoring or preventive surgery; BRCAStrong helps previvors, thrivers, and survivors through the journey towards health, positive self-image, and inspired living.

The leadership at both organizations have supported my desire to spread awareness for the needs of adolescent young adult and childhood ovarian cancer patients. They empower me to take risks, explore new ideas, and remind me that effecting change is possible – but it takes a village to make it happen.

Website: https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/stand-for-h-e-r/

Instagram: msjadeaya

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jade-gibson-/

Other: Learn more about my cancer journey here: https://bit.ly/2RY3FQU Also, BRCAStrong is providing women pre-mastectomy care packages before surgery or starting treatment. Each pre-mastectomy care package includes a robe with drain pockets and a post mastectomy bra. I am excited to announce that in 2022, the organization will provide care packages to women with Ovarian Cancer as well. For more information, visit www.brcastrong.org

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