Wenora Johnson

Research Advocate

I’m a 3x cancer survivor with Lynch Syndrome who never wanted cancer, but having it made me realize just how important my voice can be as an advocate!  As a RATS Advocate and Clinical Trials Curator for Fight CRC and volunteer for other organizations such as PCORI, FORCE, and NCCS, I’ve had an opportunity to understand how policy, research, and clinical trials have a powerful impact in my community, especially when it comes to healthcare disparities.

“I’ve been a grant reviewer for DoD, the V Foundation and ASCO.I also serve as a Patient Advocate on various panels and boards that include Centers for Medicaid & Medicare, Flatiron Health, Blue Note Therapeutics, iBeat CRC, National Quality Forum, NRG Oncology, PCORI Clinical Trials and as an IRB member for my local community hospital.”

As a committed Research Advocate, I plan to continue my training with cancer research, genetics, and clinical trials to be a successful addition to healthcare organizations in need of hearing the patients’ voice. I plan to collaborate, disseminate, and promote activities of programs that highlight areas of cross-collaboration, diversity, and equity. 

Her Role in Research Advocacy

As a Research Advocate, my top three advocacy achievements are:

  1. Attending policy change events on Capitol Hill that actually inspired real change that included new recommended guidelines to lower colorectal screening age from 50 to 45.
  1. Creating my first Abstract Poster entitled “Understanding financial toxicities and disparities associated with treatment of Colorectal Cancer in the minority community” presented at the AACR Scientist Survivor Program on healthcare disparities. The Scientist Survivor Program is designed to build enduring partnerships among the leaders of the scientific, cancer survivor, and patient advocacy.
  1. Being selected as a Consumer Reviewer with the Department of Defense CDMRP Program. Serving as a Peer and Programmatic review panel member with full voting rights on cancer research projects that are relevant and has the potential to make a significant impact on the community affected.

Features as a Research Advocate

Wenora’s story was featured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can view the video below!