Alisa Gilbert

2002

Alisa Gilbert

Unbroken Circle/Office of Native Cancer Survivorship

http://www.ONCS.org

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

Health

The Bold Idea:

Due to late stage discovery and/or reoccurrence, 50% of American Indians (AI) and Alaska Native (AN) patients diagnosed with cancer do not survive. Underserved AI/AN patients are especially at risk due to a multiplicity of causes including economics, poor communications, limited information, and cultural factors. There is currently no tribal nation that has adequate palliative care, including cancer pain management or hospice services, nor are there any coordinated program efforts to address the issues of cancer pain and palliative care for American Indians and Alaskan Natives. The Unbroken Circle Project is a grassroots program working within the national Native community to initiate services that address the unmet needs of AI/ANs by: Connecting patients to a national network of resources, working with survivors to create programs tailored to their unique needs, providing specialized and confidential upport, and raising national awareness of the needs of this community.

Biography:

Gilbert has a diverse background that has focused on culture, family, wellness, the arts, and social change. A wife and mother of two Alaska Native beneficiaries, she is dedicated to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our Alaska Native Tribal Health System. Currently, she serves as the Director of the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation a division of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, which oversees the health care delivery to the Alaska Native population. Her professional career has included serving as the District Executive Director for the American Cancer Society, overseeing statewide affairs. Gilbert also worked for eight years in the American Indian/Alaska Native cancer care and survivorship arena. She is a recipient of the Lance Armstrong “Carpe Diem - Voice of Survivorship Award,” recognizing her contribution of positively impacting survivorship and cancer community commitment. She serves on many influential boards and committees including: Mayo Clinic’s Spirit of Eagles research program; a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee; State of Alaska and ANTHC cancer planning groups, to name a few.