The Internal Advisory Community Subcommittee is comprised of eight dedicated breast cancer advocates who communicate regularly with SPORE investigators and provide input on relevant research projects.

Ilana Cohen
A young cancer survivor, Ms. Cohen is a breast cancer advocate for the UC SPORE and for the Department of Defense (DOD) Breast Cancer Center of Excellence Award lead by Drs. Michael Press (University of Southern California) and Geoffrey Greene (University of Chicago). Ms. Cohen is a 2006 graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD, a science training course for advocates, and has been a consumer reviewer for the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program since 2006. In addition, she is an active participant of the Advocacy Committee for Breast Cancer Network of Strength Illinois and serves as a peer counselor for their 24-hour hotline.

Kay Wissmann
Ms. Wissmann has worked as a patient advocate for the past four years on Drs. Michael Press and Geoffrey Geene’s DOD Breast Cancer Center of Excellence Award. Ms. Wissmann’s personal history of being diagnosed three times with mammographically detectable breast cancer and her experience as a consumer reviewer make her an enormous asset to this SPORE.  She also serves as an adhoc reviewer for our Developmental Research Program.

Annie Pope
Ms. Pope is a healthcare advocate who has been involved in leading focus groups for the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research at the University of Chicago. As a licensed social worker, Ms. Pope administers instruments designed to quantify the understanding of behavioral, social, environmental and other community factors that affect health disparities. She helps SPORE investigators connect with the communities we serve with our research.

Emidee Wozniak 
For the past 11 years, Ms. Wozniak has been a valuable patient resource for the University of Chicago chemotherapy infusion clinic. She is a 14-year breast cancer survivor and uses her personal experience to support the research effort as a member of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center Clinical Trials Review Committee. Her special talents and endless energy and compassion strengthen the SPORE's community efforts.

Sarah Gehlert, PhD
Dr. Gehlert is the Associate Dean for the School of Social Service Administration and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research at the University of Chicago. She also leads the Center’s Social Environment, Stress, and Health project, which studies group disparities in breast cancer, particularly why black women develop early-onset breast tumors that are more aggressive and lethal than those in white women. The long-term objective of this project is to increase the flow of health information, especially about breast cancer and its treatment. Dr. Gehlert’s experience in health disparities, community research, and the dissemination of health information unites the projects of this SPORE.

Shirley Mertz
A two-time survivor of breast cancer and five-year survivor of metastatic disease, Mrs. Mertz is a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's (NBCC) Project LEAD, a breast cancer science training course, and a graduate of Quality Care Project LEAD, which analyzes quality healthcare and how to improve breast cancer care. She has been a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program multiple times. Ms. Mertz also serves an active member of the Legislative Initiatives Committee for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength and has successfully lobbied the Governor of Illinois to declare October 13, 2008, as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. As the American Cancer Society's LEAD Ambassador to the 10th Congressional District in Illinois, Mrs. Mertz received the Distinguished Service Award in Advocacy in 2008.