Popular Chapter 2 survivor workshop returns

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center was excited to welcome back Chapter 2 - A Cancer Survivor’s Workshop for Living Your Best Life, to campus on Saturday, October 7. Aimed at helping cancer survivors and current patients heal — in mind, body and spirit — the workshop hosted more than 200 attendees. Sessions on healthy eating, mindfulness, skin care, medical marijuana, fitness and many more cancer, health and wellness topics provided tangible tools and tips to cancer patients, survivors and their loved ones to help them live their best lives, while adjusting to a new normal as a cancer survivor.

Kick-off to a day of healing

The morning began with a continental breakfast, during which guests had to option to participate in yoga or Qi-Gong classes. Attendees then heard from Rodney Haring, PhD, MSW, Chair of the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health, who gave a Thanksgiving address used by the six nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) to open and close major gatherings and meetings. Following the Thanksgiving address, Candance Johnson, PhD, Roswell Park President and CEO gave her welcoming remarks before Mary Reid, BSN, MSPH, PhD, Director of Cancer Screening and Survivorship, introduced our Keynote address with author Gina Vild.

Gina Vild is the co-author of The Two Most Important Days, How to Find Your Purpose and Live a Happier Healthier Life. Gina most recently served as Associate Dean and Chief Communications Officer at Harvard Medical School. She has held leadership roles in health care, education, and government, and today consults on brand leadership and crisis management. Her second book will be on how to cultivate resilience during troubled times.

You asked, our Roswell Park experts answered!

After her keynote address, we enjoyed having Gina sit on our Q&A resiliency-themed panel moderated by Dr. Mary Reid. Our guests asked thoughtful questions to our knowledgeable panel consisting of Amy Gallagher, PsyD, MSHCT, (Resiliency), Elizabeth Repasky, PhD, (Research), Melody Rutherford, DMin, MDiv, MS-BCC, (Spirituality), Mark Farrugia, MD, PhD, (Oncology), Tessa Flores, MD, (Screening and Survivorship) and Cassandra Jackson (Wellness).

Thank you to everyone who attended this year and made it possible for this special event to return to Roswell Park! Keep an eye out for communications regarding next year’s event!