MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024 - 32

Becoming Empowered STRENGTH, ADVOCACY, AND FAMILY
old with a passion for health
and exercise, she is on the
high school dance team and an
officer in the dance program.
Gavin, gifted in academics and
musical endeavors, plays in the
high school band and orchestra,
looks forward to a career
in the medical field, and is very
giving of his time and energy
to nonprofit organizations. I
could not be prouder of them
for the adversity they have
faced and the way they have
been able to overcome challenges
with sheer resilience and
heart. I am ever grateful for our
close-knit family and dearest
friends who, through constant,
loving support, have made our
lives better in every way.
I am empowered. My anup
with my oncologist (every six months) and my dermatologist
(every three months).
After my first breast cancer diagnosis, I felt that I wanted to do
something more meaningful as a way of giving back. So, I went
to work for Pfizer. I have held several different positions in my 21
years at Pfizer, but three years ago, I moved into the role that I feel
is perfect for me. The role of my life at Pfizer has shaped me to lead.
I stepped up to lead our breast cancer advocacy efforts. I am the face
of Pfizer to the national breast cancer advocacy organizations across
the United States, as well as many of our key stakeholders and professional
organizations focused on supportive care and survivorship
in oncology. Not only is this the perfect marriage of my personal
and professional life, but it has also enabled me to move back to
San Antonio, Texas, so I can be near my family. After living in the
Chicagoland area for 15 years, this move has allowed my children to
be near family, and they are thriving, although I love and miss my
dear friends in Chicago. Kaelyn is an optimistic and active 17-yearI
am honored to be involved
in the Pfizer Butterfly Club, a
peer-to-peer support group
ensuring no Pfizer colleague
has to face cancer alone.
If we want support, we at
Pfizer always have a fellow
colleague who will be by our
side to give us hope. This
is aligned to Pfizer signing
the " Working with Cancer
Pledge, " with CEO Albert
Bourla stating on LinkedIn that
in our line of work, we see the
daily impact of cancer not only
on people's personal lives, but
also on their professional lives.
Further, many patients can be
afraid to tell their employers
that they have cancer, and
they struggle in secret to be
their best professional selves
while battling this disease.
Through the #WorkingWithCancer
Pledge, Pfizer strives to
provide an open and supportive
workplace culture for our
colleagues with cancer and
those who are caregivers.
cestors who died of this disease
were not empowered, I
guess no one really was back
then. They did not have many
treatment options, but today
through industry-led research
and development, immense
advancements in the cancer
care landscape, and innovations
in technology, we can
find quality information in
many ways. We can rest assured
that researchers are
diligently working to find
new ways to treat cancer, and
I believe they are on the cutting-edge
of finding a cure. I
am so proud of Pfizer for their
commitment to cancer and
to patients who are always at
the center of our endeavors.
Our incredible Advocacy and
Professional Relations team
invests significant time in
partnership with external patient advocacy organizations and
their patients to ensure we are enabling empowerment through
awareness, allowing for personal advocacy throughout their own
cancer journey. In my family, we study and arm ourselves with
knowledge so we can be involved in our decision-making related to
our personal situations. While some may fear knowing, we believe
that the more information we have when dealing with adversity,
the better. " Family is everything, " my Dad would tell you, and for
myself and my family, I am committed to empowerment as our
stories continue to develop.
SEE KATRINA'S
STORY
32
MY LIFE MATTERS
EMPOWERED | SPRING 2024
MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MY LIFE Matters - Spring 2024
