On December 4, 2025, a dedicated group of 15 cancer survivors and caregivers began a transformative journey to become powerful patient leaders through the 2026 Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program. Spanning different geographical regions, genders, cancer types, and backgrounds, these individuals united as a collective force driven by a single mission: to help others navigating the daunting world of cancer treatment and survivorship.

Over an intensive eight-month curriculum, the participants learned how to navigate the complex and rapidly changing environment of modern cancer care. They explored practical methods to transform their deeply personal lived experiences into actionable, community-level change. Despite facing personal hardships, ongoing treatments, and even cancer recurrences along the way, every single participant persevered to reach the finish line. Today, they stand as fully fledged patient leaders, ready to elevate their voices among healthcare decision-makers and open new pathways for clinical and academic research tailored to the Latino community.

The graduating class embodies a unique spirit of shared resilience and community. Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez of the University of Puerto Rico, a co-creator of the program, reflected on the profound bond formed by the cohort.

"They have built a space where love, empathy, encouragement, joy, and even sadness can be shared openly," Dr. Segarra-Vázquez said. "A space where opportunities are celebrated, challenges are faced together, and learning never stops. A space where collaboration replaces competition and where every person’s voice matters."

2026 Latino Cancer Patient Leader Cohort

The newly minted graduates are already looking ahead, eager to deploy their training to support patients, caregivers, and families in their respective regions.

Arnoldo Rodríguez of Texas, a survivor of both lymphoma and prostate cancer, is launching a dedicated prostate cancer support group in September 2026 in partnership with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Health Cancer & Surgery Center. His vision includes expanding the initiative to host two monthly meetings—one in Spanish and one in English—with plans to subsequently establish a dedicated lymphoma support group.

In Oregon, breast cancer survivor Brooks Fuentes is focusing her post-graduation efforts on outreach and resource development for young Latinas impacted by breast cancer. Leveraging her role within the Oregon Cancer Coalition, Fuentes aims to build stronger, more effective bridges between healthcare organizations and Latino communities, ensuring that new perspectives are integrated into state-level cancer planning.

Carolina E. Uribe Abad of Kansas is utilizing her survivorship journey to raise widespread awareness about cancer, encouraging others to aggressively advocate for their own healthcare needs. Beyond general education, Uribe Abad intends to connect isolated patients and their families with essential mental health support and community resources.

In California’s Imperial County, cervical cancer survivor Claudia Pérez-Favela is continuing her tireless work to educate Latinas who face cultural and systemic barriers to cancer prevention. Pérez-Favela is spearheading a community project designed to establish a sustainable support program for local families, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection and resource navigation.

Deborah Blake-Ontiveros of Utah, who is living with metastatic breast cancer, is dedicating her advocacy to breaking down language barriers. Her primary goal is to make vital patient information and medical resources fully accessible to Spanish-speaking patients, ensuring that they feel seen, informed, and empowered to stand up for their health.

For Diana Garibaldi of Florida, a breast cancer survivor, the path forward involves strengthening the mission of BBellaBStrong. Garibaldi plans to use her personal experience to empower Latinas and all women affected by breast cancer by providing comprehensive, bilingual education and support networks.

Jackie Berrios Branch, a breast cancer survivor based in Oregon, is aiming structural changes at the institutional level. Her goal is to increase the representation of Latino cancer patients and survivors on cancer advisory boards and program planning committees, ensuring that firsthand experiences directly shape future cancer services, research initiatives, and community resources.

Javier Cantu of Texas, representing the caregiver perspective within the cohort, is focused on sustainability and mentorship. Cantu plans to invest directly in the future of the training program by identifying and recruiting three new applicants to ensure future caregivers and survivors can benefit from the same transformative education.

José Adorno of Ohio, a lymphoma survivor, carries a deeply personal mission to impact as many lives as possible. Through his advocacy, Adorno hopes to leave a lasting mark, letting isolated patients know that someone cares deeply about their journey and is standing by to support them.

Karen Estrada of Florida, a survivor of acute myelocytic leukemia, aims to serve as an inspiration to families navigating the darkest days of a diagnosis. Estrada hopes to demonstrate that resilience and beauty can emerge from profound pain, while expanding her own knowledge base to educate patients on diverse treatment options, including the benefits of participating in clinical trials.

Mignaliz “Nanny” Vega-Morales, a colon and ovarian cancer survivor, is setting her sights on systemic challenges across local, state, regional, and national levels. Vega-Morales intends to leverage her shared experience to address persistent disparities in healthcare access, education, and prevention within the broader Hispanic and Latino community.

Melissa González of Florida, an endometrial cancer survivor, is committed to lifelong learning and using her voice to ensure patients feel heard, supported, and confident in advocating for their medical needs.

Monica Binciguerra of Illinois, a lung cancer survivor, plans to develop or partner with an existing organization to create specialized programming dedicated to the Latino community. Binciguerra is focused on generating linguistically accessible content and tailored resources that demystify cancer treatment.

Shirley Pacheco of California, a breast cancer survivor, is continuing her hands-on volunteer work with hospital patients and nonprofit organizations focused on women’s cancers. Pacheco facilitates support groups and aspires to eventually serve formally as a professional patient navigator.

Tristana I. Vásquez Torres of Puerto Rico, a colorectal cancer survivor, is championing the integration of safe, accessible movement and wellness practices into standard cancer care protocols. Vásquez Torres aims to support ongoing research that studies how holistic wellness programs can meaningfully improve the quality of life for patients and survivors.

Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program

The 2026 graduating class joins a pioneering network of 15 other survivors who graduated from the inaugural cohort, all working in unison to improve cancer outcomes for Latinos and the broader public.

The program was originally conceived in 2023 by Dr. Barbara Segarra-Vázquez and the late Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. Designed to address stark inequities in cancer care and research representation, the initiative selected its first-ever class of 15 Latina cancer survivors, who convened ahead of the 2024 Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos Conference on February 20, 2024.

That initial gathering catalyzed a national movement aimed at placing Latino cancer survivors in positions where their experiential knowledge could directly shape the care of future generations. Today, graduates of the program occupy influential leadership roles. They meet regularly with clinical stakeholders, share their personal stories through various media channels, assist community organizations with prevention outreach, and serve on high-level institutional committees.

Demonstrating the enduring bond of the network, two graduates from the inaugural class—colon cancer survivors Marielle Santos McLeod of South Carolina and Andrea Suarez Vargas of Miami, Florida—returned to support the 2026 graduating class. Their presence welcomed the new graduates into an ever-expanding coalition of Latino patient leaders.

With the 2026 cohort officially completing their training, program leaders are already preparing for the next iteration of the initiative. Applications for the upcoming training program are scheduled to open in 2027.

"You really have to have passion to become a patient advocate," Dr. Segarra-Vázquez reflected. "It’s that desire to help others, that desire to speak for those who cannot speak, maybe because they’re not sitting at the table, or maybe because they’re not here anymore. It’s our role to continue the legacy and to have less people or no people at all die from cancer."

This publication is dedicated to the loving memory of Latino Cancer Patient Advocate Training Program co-creator Sandi Stanford of the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. A fierce survivor and tireless advocate who dedicated her life to improving cancer outcomes for Latinos and all people, Stanford passed away on August 29, 2026.