Meet The Team

four women stand together and pose for the camera

This webpage is one part of the very first comprehensive hub of resources created for, and with, Black women experiencing breast cancer in Canada. Throughout the journey of creating this webpage, there were four women who co-created the vision, goals and content for this webpage based on their personal experiences battling breast cancer.

Get to know our co-creators and read their stories below.

Meet the Co-Creators

DAWN BARKER

Dawn Barker, who was proudly born in Barbados is a dedicated mother, sister, and friend whose journey with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) at the age of 44 transformed her into a passionate advocate for health education and awareness. Since co-creating Every Breast Counts, Dawn  launched the NUY50 campaign to empower under-served communities, particularly Black women, by addressing disparities in breast cancer care, and ensuring access to vital information. Dawn has gained meaningful support from Women’s College Hospital and The Canadian Breast Cancer Network, to name a few.

She believes you don’t go through something as traumatic as cancer and come out of it the same… it changes you. Her faith keeps her grounded and has been her anchor in the storms of life, including losing both parents in the span of a four year period.

Through her advocacy, Dawn actively collaborates on many research projects as a community partner, bridging the gap between scientific research and community needs. Her volunteer work with organizations like The Olive Branch of Hope and The Canadian Cancer Trials Group, exemplifies her commitment to driving equitable healthcare and inspiring hope for those navigating their own health journeys.

Dawn believes that the best way to help drive change, is to be involved in the change!”

Debbie Pottinger was born in Jamaica and emigrated to Canada in 1976. She is a mother of four and a nana to three grandchildren. To her family and friends, she’s known as a Spiritual Warrior, Soul Sista, Nana, Mother and Daughter. She has been a community worker for over 30 years.

In 2017, Debbie was diagnosed with Stage 3 Her2 positive breast cancer. She then embarked on her journey of healing; a healing of her mind, body, and soul. Her treatment included six rounds of chemo, 25 rounds of radiation and finally a left mastectomy reconstruction surgery in 2019. She also began hiking as part of her healing and became a Certified Hiking Leader.

In conversation with another cancer survivor, she was told, “You never know how what you share may help someone else in this journey.” This gave her the motivation to confront any fears of sharing her own journey at an Olive Branch of Hope Prayer Evening. She found power in sharing her experiences.

She used her own journal, where she documented her personal care journey as a guide to help co-create this webpage for Black women who may be seeking the same information she wished was available to her at the time.

Her hair loss journey digital story was created with support from Breast Cancer and Diversity Project, a participatory research initiative with experienced storytellers and health services researchers from Peel Region, the Institute for Better Health, StoryCentre Canada and funded by Trillium Health Partners Foundation. You can see a preview of it below:

Shireen Spencer is a 4+ year breast cancer survivor who is friendly, gregarious and passionate about bringing out the best in people. She is a teacher, pastor, author and business owner, married to the love of her life Che Spencer and has two wonderful teenaged boys.

Shireen loves sharing her story of what she has been through in her life and health struggles to encourage and bring healing to others suffering the same challenges and heartaches. She is a speaker at various conferences and platforms, as well as a Patient and Family Experience Advisor (PFEA) for Lakeridge Hospitals and has shared her story often for new hire training. She is a volunteer for the LGFB program, the Hearth Place and an Olive Branch of Hope Ambassador.

 

Talina Higgins currently practices as a registered nurse in Toronto after having earned a BScN degree from the University of Windsor. Nursing the sick back to health while advocating on behalf of their needs has always been the focus of her care. Outside of work, she can be found volunteering and advocating in support of the Afro-Canadian community. She also enjoys sharing her creativity through painting, sculpting, event planning and interior design.

As website co-creator of this project, Talina has been able combine all her passions in a purposeful way that will improve not only the knowledge but health outcomes of Afro-Canadian women facing breast cancer.

Michelle Audoin is an experienced and passionate patient advocate and community collaborator. She uses her living experience of cancer to shine a light on some of the disparities Black women experience when navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Her advocacy work focuses on driving systemic change through partnerships including volunteer roles at CCTG, OICR PFAC, 3CTN, Women’s College Hospital and Princess Margaret.

Michelle uses her elementary school training to educate others by sharing her story and experiences on podcasts, panels, and awareness campaigns. She is most proud of raising two amazing and compassionate kids who support her cancer advocacy work.

Main Partners: The Olive Branch of Hope

Leila Springer

Leila Springer headshot

Leila has an innate ability to connect with people in vulnerable situations and motivate them to rise above their circumstances, especially women of African-Caribbean descent battling breast cancer and other life -threatening diseases. She has a strong desire to help women who feel defeated and trapped by their circumstances reach their highest potential. Living strong and giving back to the community is Leila’s motto. This strong belief has enabled her to continue to volunteer without apology. Leila recently completed her memoir “So Glad I Made It” her courageous journey with breast cancer which later led to the establishment of TOBOH. She also authored a devotional “In the Spirit of Naomi” and co-authored several booklets through TOBOH.

Dr. Juliet Daniel

Dr. Juliet Daniel Headshot

Olive Branch of Hope

Professor Juliet Daniel is a Cancer Biologist and the Associate Dean of Research and External Relations in the Faculty of Science at McMaster University.

Professor Daniel’s cancer biology research led to her discovery and naming of a new gene “Kaiso”, coined from her favourite Caribbean music “calypso”. Her research program is focused on elucidating the role of Kaiso in cancer and vertebrate development. Professor Daniel’s team is also studying the aggressive and difficult to treat triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) that are most prevalent in young women of African ancestry and Hispanic women – groups that despite a lower incidence and lifetime risk of breast cancer than Caucasian women, have a higher mortality rate from breast cancer.

Professor Daniel co-founded the African Caribbean Faculty Association of McMaster (ACFAM) in 2010 and serves on the President’s Advisory Committee for Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC) at McMaster. She also serves as Faculty Advisor and mentor for student-led initiatives such as The Black Aspiring Physicians of McMaster (BAP-Mac) and Women in Science & Engineering (WISE). Professor Daniel has received several awards including the inaugural Canadian Cancer Society Inclusive Excellence Award, an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill, a UWI Vice Chancellor’s Award, a Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Harry Jerome Award, and a WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award among many others.

Project Team

Dr. Aisha Lofters headshot

Dr. Aisha Lofters,
Chair in Implementation Science, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

Ayan Hashi headshot

Ayan Hashi,
Master of Public Health Candidate, Research Student, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

Rumaisa Khan headshot

Rumaisa Khan, Innovation Spread and Scale Lead, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

silhouette of a stick figure to indicate an generic photo of a person

Abigail Appiahene-Afriyie, Research Assistant, Implementation Science, Women’s College Institute for Health Solutions and Virtual Care, Women’s College Hospital

Lelaf Khalil headshot

Lelaf Khalil, Research Coordinator, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital

Noor Rizvi headshot

Noor Rizvi, Undergraduate Research Student, Queen’s University

silhouette of a stick figure to indicate an generic photo of a person

Elaine Goulbourne, Director, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

Dr. Ruth Heisey headshot

Dr. Ruth Heisey, Medical Director, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

Dr. Melinda Wu headshot

Dr. Melinda Wu , Education Lead, Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers, Women’s College Hospital

Emily Suthaharan, Research Assistant, Master of Occupational Therapy Candidate, University of Toronto

Ilakkiah Chandran, Research Assistant, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

Clinical Input

Dr. Nazik Hammad headshotDr. Nazik Hammad, M.D., FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Oncology, Queen’s University.silhouette of a stick figure to indicate an generic photo of a personDr. Mojola Omole, MD Breast Surgical Oncologist and General Surgeon, Scarborough Health Network 
Dr. Andrea M. Covelli headshotDr. Andrea M. Covelli, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Assistant Professor Dept. of Surgery, University of Toronto, Breast & Surgical Oncology – Mount Sinai Health SystemDr. Neil Isaac headshotDr. Neil Isaac, B. Sc, MD, FRCP(C), Radiologist, North York General Hospital, Clinical Adjunct Lecturer, University of Toronto
silhouette of a stick figure to indicate an generic photo of a personDr. Bimpe Ayeni, MD, MPH, FRCSC, FACS, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Plastic Surgery Division Head, Southlake Regional Health CentrePatrice de Peiza headshotPatrice de Peiza, OT Reg.(Ont), ND, MScCH, CLT. Occupational Therapist and Naturopathic Doctor, Provincial Head: Psychosocial Oncology- Ontario Health, Status-Only Lecturer, University of Toronto
Dr. Renee A, Beach headshotDr. Renée A. Beach, MD, FRCPC, Adjunct Assistant Clinical Professor & Head of Alopecia Clinic, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Women’s College Hospitalsilhouette of a stick figure to indicate an generic photo of a personChristina Pierre, PhD, DABCC, Clinical Chemist, University of Pennsylvania 
Dr. Danielle CuthbertDr. Danielle Cuthbert, MD, FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, St. Michael’s Hospital, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto .April SwobodaApril Swoboda, MD
Medical Oncologist, Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario at KHSC
Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology, Queen’s University
Career Advisor, Queen’s University School of Medicine
CanImpact logo

Funded by CanIMPACT, which is funded through a CIHR team grant (#128272)

peter giligan centre for womens cancer logo and the olive branch of hope logo

References | Glossary
Graphics Designed Nafisa Salima
We are grateful for the support for this page from Pfizer and ReThink Breast Cancer
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