I have always been interested in cancer. I’ve always questioned why certain types of cancer are so difficult to treat and what can be done to fund discovery that makes finding cures, prioritizing critical prevention programs and treatment of cancer, and prioritizing equitable access to cancer care a reality. This has stemmed from my own family’s struggles with the disease, especially with my mom being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer at a young age, relapsing multiple times, and eventually losing her fight to it. 

During my mom’s battle with cancer, I was completely consumed with learning everything there was to know about it. Knowing that there was no history of cancer in our family and waiting months before going to the doctor to have a lump in her breast checked, I realized that there is an accessibility issue when it comes to getting information about cancer and that there is a lack of cancer awareness in our communities. This made me want to do everything I could to increase cancer awareness and advocate for issues that impact those facing a cancer diagnosis, which garnered my interest in health care as well as public health and got me involved in ACS CAN and ultimately the CELC.

I am currently a first-year Master of Public Health (MPH) graduate student at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, where I plan to concentrate in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. With my long-term goal of going to medical school and becoming a physician, I want to apply my public health knowledge to assist cancer patients and have an impact on both them and my community as a whole. I want to treat cancer patients while also educating them about treatments that are effective and accessible to all people. 

As Advocacy and Mission Integration Chair, my job involves being aware of cancer-related issues/campaigns supported by ACS CAN, developing strategies on focus areas (such as (1) access to health care, (2) cancer prevention, (3) funding cancer research, (4) quality of life, (5) tobacco cessation) to spread their awareness, and working with the Volunteer Engagement and Development Chair to create ways to engage volunteers interested in cancer advocacy. 

Email: hshikha9@gmail.com