CCOBCO

Infinite Strength Connecticut Coalition
Our Newest Initiative

Our goal is to work with breast cancer oncologists and experts within the field of healthcare disparities across the state, to define the issues and challenges on multiple levels that lead to disparities and inequities in care and outcomes for breast cancer patients from 18-49.

We will work together to take the necessary steps to ensure this patient population all across the state is equipped with the resources needed to access treatment and achieve favorable outcomes.

How Can We Effect Positive Change
for This Patient Population?

Patient engagement.

Infinite Strength will form a patient advocate board comprised of this patient population and co-design a program tailored to their specific needs.

Determine The Greatest Issues
Young Breast Cancer Patients

  • Psychosocial

  • Financial (Rent/Mortgage/Groceries/Utilities)

  • Fertility

  • Insurance

  • Transportation

  • Childcare

  • Doctor/Patient Communication Challenges

Psychosocial

Infinite Strength will continue our monthly HOPE Retreats to focus solely on this population and feature a therapist at each retreat to conduct a support group, allowing these young women to find a sense of community which is so important to their mental and emotional health.

Infinite Strength recognizes how valuable peer-to-peer support is and will be evaluating the probability of creating a peer-to-peer support network. And while we are doing that, we will help connect women to groups that currently exist online and nationally. 

Personalized Resource Ambassador

Through the coalition, Infinite Strength will support a dedicated personalized resource ambassador who will partner with existing resources within institutions, but would harness all the resources available throughout the state and connect this patient population with the appropriate ones to meet their needs.
This will include...

  • Transportation/Childcare/Career Related and Legal Resources, among others

  • Helping patients gain quicker access to services offered by CT FoodShare, Columbus House and Affordable Housing by utilizing our existing relationships with these organizations

  • Immediate Short-Term Direct Financial Assistance for rent/mortgage, transportation and childcare through our Basic Needs Grant Program

Why Infinite Strength?

Healthcare is more than what happens inside the walls of a hospital or clinic. What happens in the home, the social services patients can (or cannot) access and the social determinants of health all shape patient wellness. 

Infinite Strength in a unique position, because we have already established ourselves as a trusted resource to patients and healthcare organizations. Since we are our own entity and not associated with any one healthcare organization, we have proven time and again that our response times are much quicker than those at large healthcare institutions. Our Ambassador will interface with hospital Navigators and SWs and will promote synergy. This will create a network of helpers.

Together, we will empower young, marginalized breast cancer patients by removing barriers in gaining access to treatment and care.

Notable Members

Eric Winer, MD Director of Yale Cancer Center ASCO President

Eric Winer, MD
Director of Yale Cancer Center
ASCO President

Patricia A. DeFusco, MD

Patricia A. DeFusco, MD
Breast Medical Oncologist, Program Director
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute

Alvaro Menendez, MD

Alvaro Menendez, MD
Breast Medical Oncologist
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute

Sara Dost, MD

Sara Dost, MD
Breast Medical Oncologist
Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute

Neal Fischbach, MD

Neal Fischbach, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH

Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH
Chief of Breast Medical Oncology
Yale Cancer Center

Sarah Elizabeth Schellhorn, MD

Sarah Elizabeth Schellhorn, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

Mariya Rozenblit, MD

Mariya Rozenblit, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

Richard Scott Zelkowitz, MD

Richard Scott Zelkowitz, MD
Regional Medical Director
Hartford HealthCare

Ian Krop, MD, PhD

Ian Krop, MD, PhD
Professor of Internal Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

Lisa Phuong, DO

Lisa Phuong, DO
Breast Medical Oncologist
Nuvance Health

Kathleen Fenn, MD

Kathleen Fenn, MD
Instructor of Clinical Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

Daniel O’Neil, MD, MPH

Daniel O’Neil, MD, MPH
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine
Yale Cancer Center

The Connecticut Coalition of Breast Cancer Oncologists is generously funded by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Specifically, Gilead Oncology who brought this idea to us and is our Founding Sponsor.

And we are very grateful to Pfizer for joining us as an annual sponsor. These members of the industry recognize the need in our communities and are offering us their financial support while allowing us full autonomy to create the programs we deem appropriate.

Gilead
Pfizer