Addressing Gaps in Healthcare Through Real World Advocacy

Ms. Venus Ginés, a 29-year breast cancer survivor, who survived cancer for the second time in 2017 after 25 years of survivorship. In 2018, Venus retired as faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, teaching cultural competence and health literacy, as well as conducting research on Latino medical mistrust. From her personal experience with cancer and her sister’s untimely death to cervical cancer, Venus founded Día de la Mujer Latina, Inc., (DML), in 1997 as a national non-profit organization, celebrating its signature health fiesta in 40 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Dominican Republic, providing the medically underserved Latina community with culturally and linguistically proficient health education, early detection screening for chronic diseases, culturally-tailored preventive programs for Latino teens and patient-centered navigation. She also trained 4212 Promotores/Community Health Workers (P/CHWs) in Texas alone. Venus is a State Certified Instructor of P/CHWs with DML being the first approved bilingual Texas State Sponsored Certification Training Program. She chaired the Department of Health and Human Services National Promotores Initiative and has conducted P/CHW training for employees at the City of Houston and Austin’s Paramedics, and more recently the employees of a federally qualified health center. Venus continues to train many Promotores nationwide and in Latin America on key core competencies as it relates to our medically underserved communities. She developed bilingual training curriculum on subject matters that affects Latinas disproportionately such as Dispelling Myths and Rumors about Women’s Cancers, STDs, Patient Centered Care and Mental Health. The Autonomous University of Baja California Sur included Venus’s Promotora Curriculum as part of their 2019 Fall Training Program under Public Health. With her team of Instructors, she sponsored their training as Bilingual Mental Health First Aid Instructors and on April 16, 2021, achieved the goal of having the Governor’s Proclamation as Promotores/Community Health Worker Day in Texas.

Tanya joined NAMI in January 2013. Initially as Project Director for the STAR Center ( a National Technical Assistance Center for SAMHSA), she managed the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of events, resources, communications and virtual learning for individuals from diverse communities. She currently leads initiatives for individuals with lived mental health experience, with a focus on culturally appropriate content. Tanya provides a variety of experience working with underserved and multicultural communities. Her previous employment in program/project management includes the Department of Family Services for Fairfax County Government, the Hispanic Committee of Virginia and the American Red Cross. Tanya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Sociology from Trinity University-Washington and a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from George Mason University. She is a wife, mother of 2 girls, 4 Boston Terriers and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Her passions are coffee, reading, running and podcasts. As a person in recovery, her faith and family are her cornerstones.

Dave Craig is a two-time cancer survivor, oncology researcher, and patient experience champion. He is CEO and co-founder of GRYT (“grit”) Health, a digital health company that connects individuals with similar experiences and engages them to inform, support, and facilitate improved disease management and patient well-being.

Through GRYT’s global oncology platform and work with the top healthcare organizations, we help advance the treatment, care, and experience of those affected by cancer. We do this through research, marketing, and clinical trial services that put people and caregivers first, integrating the patient experience – from early-stage treatments through long-term survivorship – to ultimately improve health outcomes.

In his recent TED Talk, Dave describes how he has catalyzed personal adversity, patient experience research, and digital technology to create a platform to connect, empower, and transform the living-with-cancer experience.

Danielle is a healthcare communications strategist and leader with deep knowledge of the global biopharmaceuticals industry, pharmaceutical manufacturing and business operations as well as the overall healthcare environment. Builds and motivates high-performing teams to drive strategic internal communications, product communications and public relations, media relations, issues management, advocacy relations, patient education, stakeholder engagement and philanthropy programs. Creative business partner and persuasive leader with a proven track record of creating communications programs to drive success of primary and specialty care medicines and vaccines across a broad range of therapeutic areas.

Reverend Anthony Evans, President of the National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) brings over 25 years of extensive experience working in the District of Columbia and around the country on faith-based and social initiatives for the disadvantaged. During the last 17 years, Rev. Evans has developed the budgets, provided fiscal oversight, managed fundraising initiatives, developed and implemented the organizational strategic plan, and hired and trained staff for the NBCI. In addition, he has provided oversight on technical assistance initiatives for 150,000 faith-based communities. He serves as the liaison between faith-based communities, government agencies, and community-based organizations. Rev. Evans does extensive national and community work in youth crime prevention, sickle cell disease, assisting the United Way, and personally provides volunteer services to a homeless shelter, the DC jail, and serves as an advocate for the mentally challenged.