10/11/2026
It’s all about relationships! 🩷
Last week, I had the honor of spending the day with leaders in breast cancer care at Legacy Cancer Institute’s 21st Annual Pacific Northwest Excellence in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Care Conference.
Ricki Fairley, who I first met more than a decade ago, inspired us with the work of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance, and its When We Tri(al) movement, highlighting the importance of collective participation and expanding access to clinical trials.
We also reviewed some of the most important research shaping clinical practice, explored the next generation of cancer care with Nikhil Thaker, MD, MBA, and his AI heatmaps, and heard Lori Eckel, Carley Jones and Gina Westhoff, MD, lead an important conversation around the emotional cost of oncology care.
The mutual appreciation for colleagues, patients and the work being done across cancer care was palpable throughout the standing-room-only crowd on Hayden Island.
Masthead is fortunate to play a role in breast surgery recovery and in the collaborative work happening at Legacy. Thank you to everyone involved for your continued commitment to providing the very best care for patients.
— Dr. Elizabeth Chabner
Legacy Health Ricki Fairley Touch Black Breast Cancer Nathalie Johnson