GRACE is pleased to announce the acceptance of five rising stars into the 6th year of the GRACE Patient Education Ambassadors Program for the 2024-25 Program Year! 

All five candidates have shown a genuine passion for patient education and innovation in connecting with the patient community. The program will encompass the participants creating content which will be featured on the GRACE website, working alongside GRACE faculty, Board and staff, and learning the most current and effective communication skills needed to succeed at connecting and communicating with patients in their field. The program starts July 1, 2024 and ends on June 30, 2025. We are excited to work with them over the next year to continue to educate cancer patients on the most current and emerging treatment options. Watch for new videos, articles and podcasts featuring the passions that these five amazing fellows have to share with the community!

Dr. Maria Velez Velez

Dr. Maria A. Velez is a Hematology-Oncology fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In July 2024, she will transition to a faculty position at UCLA, where her clinical specialization will include thoracic oncology and head and neck cancer.

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Dr. Velez, who was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, earned her medical degree from Universidad CES in her hometown. She subsequently underwent her training in Internal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh followed by her fellowship at UCLA. She also received her master’s degree in clinical research at UCLA in 2023.

Dr. Velez’s research interests span from developmental therapeutics in thoracic oncology and head and neck cancer to identifying approaches in which investigators can enhance diversity and inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in clinical trials. Dr. Velez is eager to apply her training from the cancer GRACE program to create communication tools focused on enhancing understanding about participation in clinical trials, particularly for Spanish-speaking patients with limited English proficiency.

Dr. Arya Roy  

Dr. Arya Mariam Roy earned her medical degree from Government Medical College, Trivandrum in India, followed by her internal medicine residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock.  Currently, she is a third-year hematology and oncology fellow at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center/University at Buffalo, where she was honored with the Thomas F. Frawley, MD Research Fellowship Award for her research contributions and the Dr. Gerald Logue Memorial Award for academic excellence.

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Dr. Roy actively engages in clinical and translational research at Roswell Park, focusing particularly on breast cancer. She is preparing to take on her first role as an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Oncology/Hematology at The Ohio State University/The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, specializing in breast cancer. Her research interests include investigating immunotherapy in breast cancer and exploring novel combinations of therapeutic agents. Beyond her clinical interests, she is a prominent researcher in Global Oncology and cancer health disparities. 

Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Roy enjoys gardening, traveling, and discovering new cuisines.

Dr. Guilherme Sacchi De Camargo Correia

Dr. Guilherme Sacchi de Camargo Correia is a Hematology and Oncology fellow at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

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He obtained his medical degree from the University of São Paulo in São Paulo, Brazil. He then moved to the U.S. in 2019 to complete his Internal Medicine training at Mount Sinai Morningside and West.  His main interest is in Thoracic Oncology, with a special focus in the role of targeted therapies in lung cancer. He is interested in helping patients obtain adequate next-generation sequencing testing for their disease to receive the most appropriate treatment. He is also passionate about medical education, especially in integrating new technologies into the learning process of medical students, residents, fellows, and patients.  

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, following Brazilian soccer, and connecting with his family in Brazil. In 2024/2025 he will serve as a chief fellow at the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Erick Saldanha

Dr. Erick F. Saldanha is a Medical Oncologist who graduated from the A.C. Camargo Cancer Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he was selected as the student orator for his oncology class.  He is currently a Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and is pursuing an MSc in Clinical Epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

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Dr. Saldanha's research focuses on early biomarker-driven clinical trials, precision immuno-oncology, and liquid biopsy. His dedication to the field is reflected in his achievements, including multiple research awards at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, such as the Department of Medicine's Douglas Wright Melanoma Fund Award and the Hold 'em for Life Fellowship Award. He has also received merit awards from prestigious international organizations like ASCO, ESMO, and FOCIS.

Beyond research, Dr. Saldanha has a strong interest in education. He actively volunteers on various early career committees and is the creator and co-host of the Late Night Oncology Show Podcast. This platform features guest experts worldwide, discussing cutting-edge data in an informative and engaging format designed to educate physicians globally. To date, it has reached listeners in up to 25 countries.

 Dr. Marie Dreyer

Dr. Marie Dreyer is a second-year hematology/oncology fellow at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

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She completed her medical degree at Medical College of Wisconsin followed by an Internal Medicine residency at University of Chicago where she also served as Chief Resident.  

Dr. Dreyer firmly believes that effective communication and comprehensive education are central to the care and empowerment of our patients, especially as treatment options become more complex and individualized. In addition to patient education, she has special interests in clinical trial development, precision medicine, cost of cancer care, and quality improvement.

Welcome Dr. Marie Dreyer, Dr. Arya Roy, Dr. Guilherme de Sacchi Carmago Correia, Dr. Erick Saldanha, and Dr. Maria Velez Velez!

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#Lilly #Exelixis