MBC Alliance Welcomes New Executive Group Leaders & Members

The MBC Alliance is delighted to welcome a new Chair, Vice Chair and six new Executive Group members who bring diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences to the work of strategic guidance and oversight of Alliance activities. Chair Margaret Flowers, who previously chaired the Research Task Force and most recently served as a Vice-Chair, brings to the table extensive insight on the landscape of MBC research. Vice-Chair Stephanie Walker, project lead on BECOME, an LBBC Helpline/HMV volunteer, a SG Komen AIS volunteer and many more, brings a wealth of experience. Members-at-large Barbara Bigelow, Ellen Landsberger, Abigail Johnston, Donna Hopf, Keeshia Jones and Liz Frank have deep expertise in patient advocacy across various breast cancer subtypes. Get to know this dynamic team:

Margaret Flowers, PhD – Chair

Margaret is Managing Director of the Research Program at Breast Cancer Research Foundation, a founding nonprofit member of the Alliance. Following the loss of her mother to metastatic breast cancer in 1991, Margaret rerouted her career path from chef to scientist, completing a PhD in Nutritional Science and Cancer Biology at age 49. After a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, she shifted her focus to the nonprofit sector, seeking to make an impact through her training and passion. She served as a program manager at Susan G. Komen for several years before moving to BCRF in 2014, attracted by its unique grant-making model and enthusiastic and visionary leadership. At BCRF, she oversees a $55-60 million grants program and works closely with the scientific leadership in advancing BCRF’s strategic and research priorities. She leads a team of PhD-level program managers who are responsible for conveying the impact of BCRF’s research program to diverse audiences. While at BCRF, she has co-authored manuscripts for Oncology Times and Cancer Research. Read more.

Stephanie Walker – Vice Chair

Since 2017, Stephanie Walker has resided in a rural area, where her experiences have fueled a passion for supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2018, she faced the life-altering side effects of cancer treatments. With limited resources and support available locally, she dedicated hundreds of hours to online research to find the information and tools necessary to navigate her journey. Now, Stephanie is committed to empowering others with knowledge, equipping them to make informed decisions about treatment and survivorship.

Stephanie is particularly focused on advocating for Black men and women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in underserved areas. She highlights the importance of amplifying their voices, which are often overlooked, ignored, or marginalized. She advocates for greater representation and involvement in decisions about care, participation in clinical trials, and understanding how treatments impact the unique biology of Black individuals with cancer.

As an active member of the MBCA Executive Group, Stephanie serves as project lead for the BECOME (Black Experience of Clinical Trial and Opportunities for Meaningful Engagement) initiative. Her contributions extend to volunteering with the Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) Helpline and Hear My Voice (HMV) programs, as well as serving as a Susan G. Komen AIS volunteer, among other roles. Through her involvement in various community initiatives, Stephanie emphasizes the critical importance of mental health in the cancer journey, asserting that it should never be discounted or dismissed.

Stephanie’s mission is clear: to provide unwavering support and ensure that no one facing breast cancer has to navigate it alone.

Barbara Bigelow – Member-at-large

Barbara has had breast cancer for over 20 years, the last 8 as metastatic. Initially ER+, she mutated to Triple Negative MBC. A vocal advocate for patient research, she herself was in a clinical trial for immunotherapy that landed her in the hospital for 2 months, relearning how to walk and swallow while undergoing dialysis. Along the way she has also survived lung cancer and melanoma. Today she is the Vice President of Metavivor, committed to raising money to fund metastatic breast cancer research. She also blogs about her experiences using humor to inspire hope for others at The Cancer Chronicles. There she shares her love of Lucy, Calvin and Hobbes and The Life of Pi.

Barbara is a School Psychologist and has worked with adolescents for years. Happily married for 40 years, she is Mom to 2 adult daughters and Grammy to a 2 year old grandson.

You may recognize her from the registration desk at the DC Stampede, the 2018 Elements Campaign with her daughter Bridget for #thisismbc, the Count Me In video for the MBC Project, driving the Metavivor RV around New England for 6 weeks, live streaming from LLBC and SABCS or walking the runway in New York Fashion Week 2019 (#notjustone) and The Runway for Recovery 2022 with her daughters. She has also been a Celebrity Bartender and worked out with Booty by Brabants to raise research funds totaling $100,000.

Abigail Johnston – Member-at-large

Abigail lives in Orlando, Florida and has been a licensed attorney since 2002. In 2017, while tandem breastfeeding her children (then 1 and 3), Abigail was diagnosed with de novo Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). Since 2017, Abigail has focused her efforts on patient advocacy and supporting those people in the MBC Community through her experience and training.

Ellen Landsberger – Member-at-large

Twenty-two years after her primary breast cancer diagnosis, Ellen Landsberger was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer when the disease invaded her spine. This unexpected development led her to research how such a delayed recurrence could occur, ultimately learning about cancer dormancy. Choosing to channel her anger and fear into activism, she became an advocate for advancing metastatic breast cancer (MBC) research and improving access to optimal care. She is a proud member of the Alliance, fully aligned with its mission to support these efforts.

As a physician, Ellen has naturally become deeply involved in research advocacy at her treatment institution, Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). She has served as a member of the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and is the MSKCC Patient Advocate representative to the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium. Additionally, she is a Team Leader with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, where she advocates for research and funding through the Department of Defense’s breast cancer research program.

One of Ellen’s most fulfilling roles as an advocate living with MBC is her involvement with the Our MBC Life podcast, sponsored by SHARE Cancer Support, where she helps share critical information and stories from the MBC community.

Donna Hopf – Member-at-large

Donna Hopf works in Oncology Advocacy & Relations at Lilly, a medicine company which strives to create and deliver innovative medicines that enable people to live longer, healthier and more active lives. As a component of this goal, Lilly is committed to supporting projects that promote excellence in patient care and provide valuable information to the medical and patient advocacy communities.

Liz Frank – Member-at-large

Elizabeth (Liz ) Frank was diagnosed with breast cancer seventeen years ago. She is the Lead Advocate for a group of breast cancer patient advocates at the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, where she focuses on facilitating collaborations between advocates and researchers in clinical and translational research. Liz also serves as a patient advocate with several organizations that develop clinical trials, including the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium (TBCRC). She is a co-investigator on PCORI funded research projects as well as a PCORI Ambassador. As part of her work at Dana-Farber, Liz develops and coordinates educational materials and events for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Program. In addition to clinical trials, her research interests include the engagement of patient-stakeholders with researchers and interventions that seek to enhance the quality of patient/doctor communication and treatment-related decision making. In addition to Komen Advocates in Science, Liz is involved in projects with the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and the NBCC. She received a BA in Economics and an MA in program evaluation and education research.

Keeshia Jones – Member-at-large

Keeshia Jones was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2018 after years of clear mammograms. Drawing on her volunteer experience with the Jane Cremer Foundation, she navigated her diagnosis with the knowledge to advocate for herself and the support of a great care team at Froedtert Hospital’s Clinical Cancer Center.

After treatment, Keeshia sought ways to help others, organizing a free breast cancer awareness program and later becoming a Mentor with ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis in 2020. She values ABCD’s personalized, one-on-one support, which helps patients and loved ones at any stage of their journey.

Keeshia also volunteers with the American Cancer Society, founded a local Sisters Network chapter for African American breast cancer survivors, and cherishes time with her family, including her four children and two grandchildren. She describes ABCD as a “hidden gem” that fosters genuine connections and a sense of sisterhood among participants. For Keeshia, faith and family are central to finding joy in the journey.

Learn more about the MBC Alliance’s work and meet our full Executive Group.