WE ARE BRIGHT PINK

Tarsha
I am a registered nurse and a passionate breast cancer advocate who is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Nursing (MSN): Global Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. I plan to work both nationally and internationally to decrease health access barriers and reduce health disparities among underserved minority women at risk for breast cancer. Although not a breast cancer survivor, my life was impacted by the disease when my grandmother was the first woman in her family to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Unfortunately, she died in 2005. After experiencing this personal tragedy I did not want other women to suffer the way my grandmother did from breast cancer and began on a personal and professional mission to empower all women (particularly young African-American women) to become more aware of their risk of developing the disease and to make lifestyle changes in early detection measures. In addition, I serve as a Paul Ambrose Scholar with the Association of Prevention, Teaching, and Research (APTR) where I developed a community breast health awareness project for African-American women in S.E Washington, DC, providing them with breast health resources. Now as a member of the Susan G. Komen Young Women's National Advisory Council, I continue my work in the fight against breast cancer as a nurse and an advocate for change by working with high school and college students in the DC area. I am very committed to the cause of achieving a world without breast cancer and recognizes that everyone can play a small role in eradicating this disease.