On August 20, more than 100 guests gathered at Carmel Country Club for Atrium Health Foundation’s inaugural Voices of Hope — an evening filled with powerful stories, medical discoveries, and the voices that bring hope to patients and families, every day. Guests were welcomed by Dr. Ruben Mesa, president of Atrium Health Levine Cancer. “Tonight, we gather not only to celebrate what has been achieved, but to commit ourselves to what still must be done. Every dollar raised, every voice lifted, brings us closer to a world where cancer is a challenge that we can overcome — together,” said Mesa.

Sandra Levine (center), Atrium Health Levine Cancer benefactor

Dr. Mesa paid tribute to the late Leon Levine, recognizing his legacy and the impact the Levine family and The Leon Levine Foundation have made on the cancer community. “With deep appreciation for Leon Levine whose keen vision and generosity propelled Atrium Health Levine Cancer to national prominence — his legacy continues to ensure world-class cancer care for generations to come,” said Mesa.

Katy Harrell, breast cancer advocate

Among the hopeful voices heard throughout the evening was that of cancer survivor and advocate Katy Harrell, a young mother who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at age 33. Katy shared both the challenges — and triumphs — of her breast cancer journey, highlighting the compassionate care of her oncology team.

“Standing here today, I feel an overwhelming mix of gratitude for even being able to stand in this room and tell my story, and disbelief in the road I’ve had to walk to get here,” shared Katy. “I leaned heavily on my oncologist, Dr. Heeke, who is more than just my doctor. She cried with me, reassured me and was one of my biggest strengths in this fight.”

Guests were invited to join one of two panel discussions, featuring oncologists and researchers from Levine Cancer. Dr. Seungjean Chai, chief medical officer and clinical lead for Atrium Health Levine Cancer in the Charlotte region, moderated a session with panelists from Levine Cancer’s clinical oncology and translational research programs. The team offered unique insights into discoveries in radiologic oncology, immunotherapy, and the role of targeted therapies and precision medicine in treating certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma.

Voices of Hope panelists including Dr. Arielle Heeke (center)

Dr. Richard L. White, chief of Surgical Oncology at Atrium Health Levine Cancer, led a second session that highlighted advancements in personalized medicine and the role of supportive oncology – hallmarks of Atrium Health’s commitment to patient-centered care. Experts on breast cancer, melanoma, gastrointestinal cancer, supportive oncology, and radiation oncology all emphasized the role of philanthropy in elevating the standard of cancer care offered at Atrium Health Levine Cancer.

“My dream is that we can bring all of these personnel in Levine Cancer together to position ourselves as a center of excellence in personalized medicine, including our pharmacogenomics team that is actively assessing patients to see how they respond to drugs…along with the power of the clinicians, and the power of the molecular scientists,” said Dr. Arielle Heeke.

Shannon Miller, Olympic legend and ovarian cancer survivor, with Jay Bilas, ESPN analyst and guest moderator

Keynote speaker Olympian Shannon Miller, inspired guests with her cancer story, facilitated by ESPN analyst Jay Bilas. She shared lessons learned from her gymnast days, along with the most important lesson she learned during cancer treatment: to rely on her caregivers and advocate for herself, as she now does for others facing cancer.

Page Stroup, associate vice president for Atrium Health Foundation, concluded the event with a message of gratitude and a call to action: “One voice can make a difference in the world. Imagine if we combine our voices, what an impact we can have,” she said, inviting attendees and colleagues to combine their collective voices of hope – and gifts – to impact the lives of every patient Atrium Health Levine Cancer serves.

For more information on how you can support our cancer programs, click here.

 

Special thanks to our Discovery Partner:

And event hosts:

Anonymous

Atrium Health Foundation

Mandy and Todd Houser

Andy and Mac Everett

The Leon Levine Foundation

Georganna and James Moore

 

And to our speakers, panelists, and moderators for lending their voices:

Keynote Speaker:

Shannon Miller, Olympic legend and ovarian cancer survivor

with:

Jay Bilas, ESPN analyst and guest moderator

 

Breakout Session: Innovative Research

Moderated by Seungjean Chai, MD and featuring Peter E. Clark, MD; Don L. Durden, MD, PhD; David M. Foureau, PhD; Kathryn F. Mileham MD; and Peter Voorhees, MD

Breakout Session: Personalized Cancer Treatment

Moderated by Richard L. White, Jr., MD and featuring Asim Amin, MD, PhD; Stuart H. Burri, MD; Anthony J. Caprio, MD; Arielle L. Heeke, MD; and Mohamed E. Salem, MD

 

Special guest:

Katy Harrell, Breast cancer survivor and advocate

 

Watch the highlights from Voices of Hope and see how, together, we are shaping the future of cancer care.