Cervivor at SGO 2025: Amplifying the Survivor Voice in Gynecologic Cancer Care

On March 14th, 2025, Cervivor had the incredible opportunity to host a table at The Foundation for Women’s Cancer – Patient and Advocate Education Forum, part of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2025 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer in Seattle. This event brought together patients, survivors, caregivers, and advocates for a powerful day of education, connection, and advocacy.

The forum featured leading medical professionals who shared the latest breakthroughs in gynecologic cancer care. One of the highlights of the day was the Patient Advocacy and Empowerment Panel, where national and local patient advocates shared their lived experiences, offering hope, support, and practical strategies for making an impact in the cancer community.

Among the panelists were Selena Rushton, National Cervical Cancer Coalition Pacific Northwest Chapter Leader, and Arlene Simpson, a dedicated Cervivor community member. Each brought a unique and powerful perspective to the discussion.

Selena Rushton shared her journey of living through stage 4 cervical cancer, a diagnosis with an often daunting five-year survival rate. She spoke about the incredible resilience it took to overcome the odds and how, after fighting for her life, she found a renewed sense of purpose through advocacy. Selena has since used the skills she gained in her corporate career to amplify awareness, educate others, and support fellow survivors. Her story is a testament to the strength and determination of cervical cancer survivors, proving that even in the face of the most challenging diagnosis, hope and impact are possible.

Arlene Simpson, also a dedicated member of the Cervivor community, shared her deeply personal journey. Despite growing up in a family filled with medical professionals, Arlene had never heard about HPV until she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She spoke about the guilt and shame she initially felt—emotions many survivors experience due to the stigma surrounding this disease. However, through finding a supportive community like Cervivor, she was able to reclaim her voice, break the stigma, and turn her experience into advocacy.

Arlene’s Story:
Sharing my story was not easy coming from a very strict and disciplined family. Once my treatment was over, many questioned my decision to share my personal story in public. The reason I share my story is because of those who are afraid, unseen, or unheard. I want to be a familiar face and voice to someone who relates to me. Being one of the very few Asian Americans in Cervivor, I feel it’s very important for me to amplify my voice so others will know they are not alone in this fight. 

It was a humble experience being in a panel with other gynecologic cancer survivors. We all had our unique stories but, what brought us all together was being united in our mission to help other patients and medical professionals understand that the patient’s voice, the patient’s stories, and their cancer treatment choices and decisions are crucial in these types of medical conferences. 

It’s much more than being just a number in a report. We are living proof of the treatment, trials, and patient care that our cancer care teams provide. We provide the invaluable piece of the puzzle that one cannot get from a medical report alone. We are the HEART that beats or stops beating. Our voices matter!

At the Cervivor table, we had the privilege of connecting with survivors, caregivers, and advocates, sharing our mission of education and empowerment. The conversations we had reinforced the importance of sharing our stories, raising awareness, and advocating for better prevention, treatment, and survivorship care.

Mechal, Anna, and Arlene at the Cervivor exhibition table.

Beyond the panel discussions, attendees explored essential topics like managing treatment side effects, integrative medicine, and sexual health—critical issues that often go under-discussed but have a significant impact on quality of life.

A Powerful Story of Advocacy and Care

Another unforgettable moment at SGO 2025 was Aisha McClellan’s powerful speech, delivered on the main stage during the conference’s opening session—a moment that truly set the tone for an impactful and inspiring event.

Aisha took the stage alongside her oncologist, sharing her journey through diagnosis, the importance of finding an oncologist who truly cares, and the power of patient advocacy. She opened up about the challenges she faced early on, where she was met with dismissive care teams who assumed she would not survive. But Aisha refused to accept that fate. She fought tirelessly to be heard, advocating for herself across multiple hospitals until she finally found an oncologist who stood by her, fought for her, and ultimately saved her life.

Aisha’s story was raw, emotional, and deeply moving, highlighting the critical role of patient-centered care and the life-saving impact of advocacy. Her words resonated deeply with the audience, and by the time she finished speaking, the entire room was on its feet, giving her a standing ovation—a moment of recognition for her strength, resilience, and the powerful message she delivered.

The Power of Survivor Voices in Research & Clinical Care

One of the most powerful moments of the event was during the final session, where I was deeply moved by the recognition of patients and survivors as essential voices in clinical trials, research, and daily hospital operations. Seeing researchers, oncologists, and healthcare professionals actively listening and valuing the lived experiences of survivors reinforced the progress we are making in patient-centered care. It was a reminder that our voices matter—not just in advocacy spaces, but in shaping the future of gynecologic cancer care itself.

Why Events Like SGO Matter

Gynecologic cancers, including cervical cancer, don’t just affect individuals—they impact families, communities, and the healthcare landscape as a whole. The SGO Annual Meeting provides a vital platform for survivors and patient advocates to be at the table with researchers and clinicians, ensuring that the patient perspective is heard loud and clear.

As Cervivor continues to advocate for eliminating cervical cancer and improving survivorship care, we encourage all survivors to share their stories—because they truly matter. Every story has the power to inspire, educate, and spark change.

Were you at SGO 2025? We’d love to hear about your experience! Share your thoughts in the comments or reach out to us at [email protected]. Together, we are stronger.

About the Authors

Anna Ogo is a passionate cervical cancer survivor, and Cervivor Ambassador from Kent, Washington. Diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2021 after a routine health check, Anna faced her diagnosis with resilience, undergoing a radical hysterectomy, radiation therapy, and IVF for fertility preservation. Now a proud mother through surrogacy, as well as a loving dog and cat mom, Anna serves on the leadership team of the HPV Free Washington Taskforce. A 2022 graduate of Cervivor School, where she learned how to turn her experience into advocacy, Anna channels her journey into raising awareness about HPV, its vaccine, and the importance of early detection. Anna shares her story to inspire change, empower others, and promote accurate information about cervical health.

Arlene Simpson is a cervical cancer survivor and advocate residing in Bothell, Washington. She was diagnosed in September 2021 and underwent external radiation, chemotherapy, and Brachytherapy. She will be 3 years with no evidence of disease (NED) come March 2025. Arlene is a loving mom, a devoted wife, a Financial Services professional, and a dedicated leader in her church. She is very passionate about helping others and giving back to her community by volunteering in various ministries where she shares the importance of the HPV Vaccine, getting annual exams and pap tests, and sharing her story to raise awareness, especially in the Asian-American communities. She believes that being part of a community (like Cervivor) that understands and cares, along with having strong faith and a positive mindset, has gotten her through the many challenges in her cancer journey.

The 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit Was Unforgettable – Here’s Why

During January’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM), the 5th annual Cervical Cancer Summit powered by Cervivor, Inc. brought together patients, survivors, advocates, researchers, and healthcare professionals to share knowledge, build community, and inspire action toward ending cervical cancer. Held in Washington, D.C. – where Cervivor was founded 20 years ago – it marked a monumental milestone in the organization’s efforts to ensure no one faces this preventable disease alone or at all.

The 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit drew patients and survivors from around the world, joined here by other advocates, experts, and supporters.

Reflecting on a Transformative Weekend

From January 23 to 26, 2025, the JW Marriott and The National Press Club buzzed with energy as attendees participated in impactful discussions and engaging activities. The weekend kicked off with a Thursday afternoon scavenger hunt to iconic D.C. landmarks and wrapped up with a Sunday morning self-care session for attendees. Friday and Saturday featured nearly 40 speakers and drew over 150 participants, including about 40 virtual attendees. All gathered to explore the latest advancements in cervical cancer advocacy, prevention, and treatment.

Looking back at another successful Summit, it’s clear that we are stronger together, and now is the time to deepen our collective commitment to making every cervix matter. (Cervivor even commemorated this new mantra, “Every Cervix Matters,” with new merchandise for CCAM.) As Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder, encouraged the crowd in her welcome address, “Despite everything going on in the world, there is hope. I know it because of the work that all of you are doing, and we know that work will not be stopped.”

From start to finish, the Summit fostered powerful connections and inspired personal transformation. On the left, Cervivor’s DEI Chief, Kimberly Williams, welcomes attendees, while participants relax during a self-care-focused Sunday service including yoga and mindfulness.

7 Highlights from the 5th Annual Summit

Since its inaugural virtual gathering in 2020 during the pandemic, the Summit has become the most well-attended annual event for cervical cancer patients and survivors. It’s the place to discover groundbreaking solutions and identify missed opportunities, so key stakeholders – especially those in Cervivor’s global community of those impacted by cervical cancer – can collaborate to drive meaningful change. Some of the powerful highlights included:

1. Inspiring Keynotes

At left, Cervivor Chief Visionary and Founder Tamika Felder gave her annual State of Cervical Cancer address, mapping out a vision for a cervical cancer-free future. On Saturday, keynote speaker and cervical cancer survivor Trish Toro (right) inspired the crowd with her triumph over adversity.

From Cervivor Chief Visionary and Founder Tamika Felder’s essential State of Cervical Cancer remarks on Friday morning to the inspiring story of endurance athlete and cervical cancer survivor Trish Toro, our keynote speakers highlighted the strength and resilience of the cervical cancer community.

In her speech, Tamika expressed solidarity with attendees: “I know firsthand what it feels like to lack support, visibility, and community. That’s why I created this organization,” she explained. “Looking at where we are now, it’s undeniable – the power of this community and the importance of raising our collective voices for change cannot be ignored.”  She also noted how uplifting it was to see so many in teal and white but reminded the audience, “Don’t be dismayed if not everyone knows our ribbon colors or that January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. More and more people are understanding that this is our month to shine.”

Trish, Saturday’s keynote speaker, shared the irony of her diagnosis – she was training for an Ironman competition when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. “I was in the best shape of my life. I could swim a mile. I could run 31 miles,” she said. “But cervical cancer doesn’t discriminate. I decided to approach cancer like I would a marathon – because I can do hard things.” With that mindset, she chose to walk to and from her cancer treatment center, always accompanied by a supportive friend or family member, she tearfully recounted.

2. Powerful Panels

Two of the impactful panel discussions included “Equity in Action” about addressing healthcare disparities and the “Power of Storytelling” with three cervical cancer survivors turned advocates.

Multiple panels highlighted the critical work being done to address disparities in care and amplify patient voices, which Cervivor believes are the real experts needed to shape research, clinical trials, and public health initiatives.

The “Power of Storytelling” panel with Cervivor’s Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Kimberly Williams, MHCM, and cervical cancer survivors and advocates Aisha McClellan and Arlene Simpson, demonstrated how they’ve transformed their personal narratives into powerful teachable moments for their close friends, families, and broader communities.

“Be patient with yourself,” encouraged Arlene, who was initially hesitant to talk about her cervical cancer diagnosis due to stigma in her community. “Let yourself heal from the journey. If you’re not ready to tell your story yet, don’t tell it. But know that your story is important. There’s someone out there who’s going to take it to heart, and it’s going to spread.”

Attendees were fully engaged during the “Equity in Action” session, featuring experts on cancer care gaps such as Dr. Susan Vadaparampil, Senior Member and Professor at Moffitt Cancer Center; Dr. Lynn Richards McDonald, Clinical Program Director for cervical cancer screening at Johns Hopkins Hospital; and Dr. Isabell Scarinci, Clinical Psychologist at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center. While sharing a personal story from her childhood in Brazil, where she had polio, Dr. Scarinci expressed her vision for a world where cervical cancer is as rare as polio – another vaccine-preventable disease: “I dedicate my work to cancer elimination because I’ve seen the end of one disease,” she said. “I want to see the end of another.”

3. Interactive Sessions

In sessions on navigating financial toxicity due to overwhelming medical bills, becoming shame-resistant, and other key topics, attendees were encouraged to ask questions and share their perspectives.

To empower participants with practical tools and resources, four panels addressed highly relevant topics:

  • Trauma-Informed Care and Building Shame Resilience with Dr. Stephanie Broussard, Director of Social Work at Thyme Care and Vice President of Policy for Adjuvant Behavioral Health
  • Managing Medical Debt with Cervivor’s Community Engagement Liaison, Morgan Newman, MSW; Nurse Navigator, Glenda Cousar, RN, BSN, OCN; and Cancer Support Community’s Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Daneen Sekoni
  • Navigating Clinical Trials with Tiffany Drummond of Opinionated STEM and cervical cancer survivor and patient advocate Linda Ryan.

4. Cervivor Awards

From left, the Cervivor Champion Award winners included Pamela Akers, RN, Cindy Craddock, and St. Jude’s Julia Brown, MPH, and Andrea Stubbs, MPA, and Glenda Cossar, RN, BSN, OCN.

Cervivor proudly honored outstanding individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the mission to end cervical cancer. Pamela Akers, RN, Cindy Craddock, The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program Team, Virginia “Ginny” Marable, and Glenda Cousar, RN, BSN, OCN all received our coveted Cervivor Champion Award for their exceptional dedication and impactful work.

From left, more Cervivor Champion Award winners included Glenda Cossar, RN, BSN, OCN, and Ginny Marable.

Ginny moderated a session on the “Pathway to Parenthood” with cervical cancer survivors Dulcely Tavarez and Anna Ogo, who have all faced fertility challenges due to their cervical cancer treatments. The session concluded with the first presentation of the Virginia “Ginny” Marable Cervivor Baby Gift Fund to Dulcely, an emotional moment for Ginny, Dulcely, and Tamika who joined them on stage. Generous donations to the fund included over $2,500 in financial contributions, as well as baby essentials from Dr. Brown’s, and gift cards from Target, Starbucks, and more.

Tamika Felder and Ginny Marable presented the first-ever Cervivor Baby Gift Fund to Dulcely Tavarez.

5. Meaningful Connections

Throughout the weekend, attendees explored informational booths and participated in engaging activities, including the KickIt Pajamas Party Powered by Cervivor, Inc. on Thursday evening. Tracy Weiss, a cervical cancer survivor and Executive Director of Chick Mission, spoke to the group, setting a warm, vibrant tone for the weekend.

On Thursday night, attendees donned pajamas for a fun get-to-know-you event, while cervical cancer survivor Tracy Weiss from Chick Mission inspired the group.

6. Collaboration

Another central theme of the Summit was collaboration, focusing on innovative strategies to ensure that everyone – regardless of background or location – has access to life-saving screenings, treatments, and HPV vaccinations. Sessions included:

  • “Expanding Access and Reducing Barriers through HPV Self-Collection” and “What’s the Latest in HPV Vaccination?” – moderated by Dr. Linda Eckert, author of Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer – sparked valuable discussions on overcoming barriers to care and promoting health equity.
  • During the HPV self-collection session with Dr. Carolyn Kay and Vanessa Bennett, attendees were encouraged to open and handle the tests provided by Roche Diagnostics, exploring the impact of self-collection on increasing screening access.
  • Participants also gained historical context on cervical screenings through a reading by Dr. Wendy Kline, author of Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam
  • A talk on the evolution of cervical cancer screenings from Dr. Kyle Bukowski, Medical Director at Hologic emphasized the groundbreaking impact of the Pap test when it was first introduced in the 1950s.

Teamwork makes the dream work! The experts on stage participating in a session on the latest in HPV vaccination included: Dr. Linda Eckert, Deanna Kepka, PhD, MPH, (Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI)), Andrea Stubbs (St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program), and Zuli Garcia (Cervical Cancer Survivor).

7. Tools for Self-Care

On Sunday, the remaining attendees enjoyed a serene closing session featuring art therapy – resulting in a one-of-a-kind Cervivor quilt by Sandi Goldman – plus meditation, mindfulness, motivation, and more. The sessions were led by self-care experts Lisa Simms Booth of The Smith Center for the Healing and the Arts; clinical psychologist David Zuniga, PhD, MDIV, MA; and Tara Casagrande of Yoga + Mindfulness.

On the final day of the Summit, participants gathered in The Congressional Room for healing and reflection, including guided sessions by Lisa Simms Booth (left) and Tara Casagrande, and Dr. David Zuniga (right).

Our Heartfelt Thanks

To everyone who joined us in D.C. or followed the Summit online, we offer our sincere gratitude. A special thank you to our presenting sponsors Hologic, Roche, Pfizer, Genmab, and our supporting sponsor, BD, and of course, our volunteers who made this event possible, too.

We left this Summit inspired and ready to carry the lessons learned into our communities. Let’s continue to educate, empower, and advocate. Let’s keep sharing stories, sparking conversations, and working toward solutions. Let’s keep working together. 

Together, we are Cervivor Strong. Together, we will eliminate cervical cancer.

Mark Your Calendars!

Join us again in January 2026 for the next Cervical Cancer Summit. Be among the first to receive updates and secure your spot by signing up here. (If you attended this year, don’t forget to share your favorite Summit moments on social media by tagging us and utilizing the following hashtags: #Cervivor, #EndCervicalCancer, and #CervicalCancerSummit). Keep an eye out for upcoming webinars and other Cervivor community events. Your voice and your participation are critical to the mission of ending cervical cancer.