The Kidney Cancer Program Patient Advocacy and Volunteer Program relaunched at an inaugural meeting in the Simmons Cancer Center. Five new volunteers began serving within the Cancer Center Genitourinary Clinic after being introduced to providers and staff within the Kidney Cancer Program.
Founded in 2014 by Tony Towler and Merlinda Chelette, the Kidney Cancer Patient Advocacy Program seeks to initiate contact with newly diagnosed patients and improve their experiences while traversing a challenging diagnosis. The duo led fundraising and patient involvement initiatives within the Kidney Cancer Program, as well as offering important feedback to the program on how to improve services for patients.
Temporarily paused during the COVID-19 pandemic, the return of the Patient Advocacy and Volunteer Program aims to bring back the spirit of camaraderie and hope to those affected by kidney cancer.
