Survivorship

Cervivor School 2024: Our 10th Year of Patient Advocate Training Success

Marking the 10th anniversary of the first Cervivor School in New York City in 2014, this year’s annual patient advocate training program was a testament to Cervivor’s commitment to empowering patients and survivors to have a voice in their own health. It also solidified Cervivor School’s reputation as a top-tier program that has mobilized advocates worldwide.

The cause colors’ teal and white were on full display throughout the three-day event held in Minneapolis from September 12 to 14. More than 45 attendees – including Cervivor Ambassadors, valued industry sponsors, distinguished speakers, and, of course, the Cervivor School class of 2024 – dyed their hair, painted their nails, and coordinated their outfits to demonstrate their loud-and-proud dedication to Cervivor’s mission: ending cervical cancer through patient advocacy now.

Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder welcomes attendees to Cervivor School.
Kat Gentner Shaw provides graphic illustrations for class.

By the end, this year’s school was deemed a complete success, with attendees creating meaningful connections and gaining an extensive education – or a refresher – on the latest initiatives and information needed to make the most impact with our advocacy work. This continued success is due to the tireless dedication of Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, whose unwavering commitment has driven both the program’s impact and longevity. 

Here’s what happened at Cervivor School 2024.

Cervivor School Officially Opens

On Thursday, the official Welcome Reception began at the downtown W Minneapolis – The Foshay, where the weekend’s patient advocate training activities took place. Attendees, dressed to impress, mingled over food and drinks and were welcomed by Cervivor’s founder Tamika, a 23-year cervical cancer survivor herself.

Kimbery and Linda snap a selfie at the welcome reception.
Members of Cervivor Español mingle at the welcome reception.

The following morning, Tamika kicked things off with a powerful presentation about her “why” – the driving force behind her patient advocacy and the reason she founded Cervivor almost 20 years ago. She cited a quote from Dr. Heather Palmer that resonated deeply with the group, garnering many knowing nods: “Cancer is a gift wrapped in barbed wire.”

Mallory Erickson presents on fundraising.
Roshanda Pratt teaches attendees powerful media tips.

Among the day’s speakers: 

  • Mallory Erickson, fundraising expert and host of the “What the Fundraising” podcast (featuring Tamika in an early episode!), led a session introduced by Cervivor Ambassador Karen North, who shared some of her fundraising successes including a creative and profitable drag bingo event she organized. 
  • Roshanda Pratt, acclaimed motivational speaker, book author, and media maven of “The Ro Show Live,” followed with a hilarious and insightful presentation on strategic storytelling. She highlighted why sharing our survivor stories is vital: It connects us, prompts action, and provides context. 
  • Members of Team Cervivor were interspersed throughout the day including Community Liaison Morgan Newman, who thoroughly unpacked Cervivor’s mission and patient advocacy approach, and Lead Cervivor Ambassador Carol Lacey, who moderated a panel of Cervivor Ambassadors – Lindsay Gullatte-Lee, Christy Chambers, and Claudia Pérez-Favela.

Day 2’s official programming concluded with an open discussion, allowing attendees to reflect on the emotional journey of survivorship.

Diving Into the Data

The final day of the intensive patient advocate training program focused on learning about ongoing initiatives from pharmaceutical companies, researchers, the federal government, as well as legislative efforts. The goal? Connect the Cervivor School attendees to the broader global advocacy work that still lies ahead.

Dr. Allison Garda gives attendees the CervicalCancer 101.
Nikki Hayes encourages attendees to continue advocacy with health equity at the forefront.

Among the day’s speakers: 

Additionally, Cervivor community members participated in thought-provoking panels, including one moderated by our DEI chief Kimberly Williams with Karla Chávez and Claudia Pérez-Favela, aimed at dismantling the damaging stigma that prevents too many people from getting the care and support they deserve. Cervivor Ambassadors Tiera Wade, Emily Hoffman, and Anne Zajic also shared how they’ve harnessed their unique strengths and perspectives to advocate effectively through Cervivor.

Karla Chavez, Shelly Dusic, and Kimberly Williams discuss Stigma Elimination in cervical cancer.
Tiera Wade, Anne Zajic, and Emily Hoffman share their insights as Cervivor Ambassadors.

Rewarding Cervivor’s Outstanding Advocates

Cervivor School concluded with a momentous graduation ceremony, followed by a special recognition ceremony, where five outstanding individuals were honored for their exceptional dedication to Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer. Our founder Tamika proudly presented these remarkable individuals with awards, acknowledging their tireless efforts in spreading awareness, supporting survivors, and advancing the Cervivor mission. (Read more about the patient advocacy award winners.) This milestone marks the beginning of a new chapter for these empowered advocates, making a lasting impact in their communities. 

Thank You Again to Our Sponsors, Speakers, and Supporters

This year’s Cervivor School was made possible by the generous support of Hologic, which provided beautiful and useful goodie bags for all attendees, as well as our sponsors Pfizer, Genmab, Genentech, BD, and Roche. We also owe a heartfelt thank you to the speakers who dedicated their time and expertise throughout the weekend.

The 2024 Cervivor School Graduates, Mentors, and Cervivor Team

We’d also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous companies and individuals who helped make Cervivor School 2024 an empowering experience for our attendees. Special thanks to The Business Women’s Circle (BWC), led by Lani Basa, for cultivating a supportive community that fuels growth and collaboration, as well as Heather Bantle, Executive & Transitions Coach, for her expertise in guiding individuals through life’s challenges. Additionally, we thank WAY the Label for their sustainable accessories, and KickIt Pajamas for providing their cozy, functional, and stylish KickIt socks that bring warmth and comfort to cancer patients. 

Want to Attend Cervivor School in the Future? 

To secure your seat at one of Cervivor’s future patient advocate training programs, we encourage you to commit to cervical cancer patient advocacy and expanding the Cervivor Footprint. Visit our Cervivor School page to sign up for updates, or subscribe to our newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of this page – and be the first to know about our important initiatives!

Meet Cervivor’s Newest Patient Advocacy Award Winners

At the recent Cervivor School 2024 – celebrating its 10th year as a one-of-a-kind patient advocate training program – the following five Cervivor community members were honored with patient advocacy awards, recognizing their leadership and commitment to the urgent cause to end cervical cancer.

Read on to hear what they had to say about receiving these unique patient advocacy awards — some of which honor the legacy of Cervivor community members who are no longer with us — and why our Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder believes they are so deserving.

Cervivor Champion Award – Lindsay Gullatte-Lee


Why She Won: “Lindsay checks all the boxes of a Cervivor Champion,” says Tamika about this coveted patient advocacy award. “She’s great at sharing the patient experience, fundraising, and much more. She understands the importance of closing health inequalities and has used her survivorship to help make that happen.”

What She Says: “The reason I do this is so no one else suffers this disease alone. Everyone should have the facts about cervical cancer prevention and it’s important that our voices as patients are heard. I was completely shocked to win! I felt seen, heard, supported, and loved. I’m still healing but forever grateful to the Cervivor community for all its support. I found my people, and I’m just happy to give back a little of everything they’ve given me.”

Brittany Wagner Social Media Advocacy Award – Christy Basa Chambers


Why She Won: “Christy is so deserving of this award because she shows up and shares her vulnerability – the good, the not-so-good, and everything in between,” says Tamika about Christy, whose personal hashtag is #choosinghopedaily. “More importantly, she provides crucial information to encourage people to get screened and vaccinated, and we know that visibility is key to our cause. Christy truly understands what community means and spreads a message of hope across all social media platforms and in person.” 

What She Says: “When I was first diagnosed, I felt very alone. It would have been easy to lose hope, but life with and after Stage 4 cancer is possible! I have made it my mission to foster hope and joy in others who are struggling. If my online content can encourage someone to visit the Cervivor website, get vaccinated, schedule a screening, or learn more about HPV and cervical cancer, then I know I’ve made an impact.”

Erica Frazier Stum Living Life with Cancer Award – Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jackson


Why She Won: “No one is more deserving than Gwen, who is helping others while in the midst of fighting for her life,” says Tamika about this award named after an inspiring late member of the Cervivor community and honors a particularly passionate patient advocate who is thriving despite battling cancer.

What She Says: “This award means so much to me because of Erica Frazier Strum’s legacy,” says Gwen, who was unable to walk up to receive the patient advocacy award due to pain from her treatment, prompting a standing ovation from the Cervivor School attendees. “It inspires me to continue striving for excellence and contributing to the cause in her memory. I believe that individuals never pass if their names are still spoken in rooms. I will make sure her name is spoken in every room I enter.”

Cervivor Spark Award – Tiera Wade


Why She Won: “Tiera has shown incredible dedication and passion toward Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer,” affirms Tamika about this motivated and motivational patient advocate “Her commitment shines through in everything she does: from volunteering her time to support our organization, to enthusiastically sharing vital information about cervical cancer within her community.”

What She Says: “To know that cervical cancer is preventable with proper screening drives me to empower others to prioritize their health – because they are worth it. This award was the God-sent confirmation that there is still work to do,” says Tiera of the honor. “My spark was reignited!”

Cervivor Rising Star Award – Claudia Pérez-Favela


Why She Won: “Claudia is all in, and she’s already doing incredible work – not only within the Hispanic community but also in the broader effort to end cervical cancer,” says Tamika. “If this is what she’s achieving right out of the gate, I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

What She Says: “The stigma surrounding gynecological cancers in the Latinx community drives my advocacy. It’s crucial because cervical cancer and HPV are preventable, and treatment is much more effective when caught early.”

Thank you to these dedicated advocates for amplifying the patient voice in everything they do, inspiring hope, resilience, and action in our collective mission to end cervical cancer. They embody the spirit of the Cervivor community and demonstrate the importance and power of sharing the stories of those affected by this disease.

Join the Movement

If you’re inspired by these patient advocate award winners work, consider becoming an advocate yourself. Here are ways to get involved:

  • Share Your Story: On the Cervivor website, write a blog post, or post on social media about your experience with cervical cancer and tag Cervivor!
  • Volunteer: Help organize events, participate in awareness campaigns, or support local initiatives.
  • Fundraise: Support our non-profit’s mission of empowerment, education, advocacy, and support.
  • Join the conversation on social media using #Cervivor and #EndCervicalCancer.

Together, we can create a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat, and every patient has access to the care and support they deserve. Thank you again to Lindsay, Christy, Gwen, Tiera, and Claudia for shining bright as pillars of strength in the mission to end cervical cancer.