Texans voted in 2007 to create the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) and to invest $3 billion in the state’s unprecedented fight against cancer. On November 5, 2019, Texas voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to continue CPRIT’s work and invest an additional $3 billion for finding and funding the best cancer research and prevention opportunities in the state.

Kristen and I unpacked so many fun stories from our shared journeys in Austin over the past two decades. As fellow parents of students, now alumni of St. Andrew's Episcopal School, to our shared experiences as students at the University of Texas School of Law, to our shared advocacy with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (now Blood Cancer United), including my cycling with her husband and son with Team In Training. This episode covers the gamut.

Once you listen, you'll understand how Kristen is truly living out her one thing. As a Texan who lost his wife to metastatic breast cancer, I am comforted knowing that Kristen is at the helm of CPRIT and ensuring that we no longer have to be lucky to not die of cancer.

Who is Kristen Doyle?

Kristen Doyle is Chief Executive Officer for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). Created by the Texas Legislature and approved by a statewide vote in 2007, CPRIT leads the state’s unprecedented $6 billion investment initiative in cancer research and prevention. To date, the agency has awarded $4 billion in grants to Texas research institutions, community organizations, and companies through its academic research, prevention, and product development research programs. CPRIT has recruited 340 distinguished researchers to Texas, supported the establishment, expansion, or relocation of 72 companies, and funded the delivery of 11 million prevention services reaching all 254 Texas counties.

Ms. Doyle joined CPRIT at its inception, serving in various roles, including as CPRIT’s general counsel, interim chief product development officer, and deputy executive officer. Ms. Doyle has played a pivotal role in establishing the policies and legal and regulatory foundations that ensure CPRIT maintains the highest standards in fulfilling our mission to accelerate cancer cures and treatments, and providing vital cancer prevention services throughout Texas. 

Prior to joining CPRIT, Ms. Doyle was a partner at an Austin-based law firm practicing electric utility and natural gas law and served as Assistant Public Counsel for the Office of Public Utility Counsel. She received a B.S. in Public Policy from Indiana University and her J.D. and M.S. in Technology Commercialization from The University of Texas at Austin. Ms. Doyle, a cancer survivor, is the president of the board of directors for Wonders & Worries, a Texas-based non-profit, and previously served as vice chair of the board of directors for the Central Texas Chapter for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Overview

In this engaging podcast episode, Gary Thompson interviews Suzanne Stone, the CEO of Livestrong, exploring her personal journey, professional experiences, and the impactful work of Livestrong in supporting cancer survivors. The conversation delves into themes of community, philanthropy, and the importance of moving forward in the face of challenges. Suzanne shares her insights on leadership, personal growth, and the significance of connection in the cancer community, emphasizing that no one should face cancer alone.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Connection to Livestrong

02:56 Getting to Know Suzanne Stone

06:09 Recreation and Personal Growth

09:03 Dreams and Aspirations

11:59 Early Career in Storytelling, Production and TV

17:57 Transition to Nonprofit Work

22:50 Philanthropy and Social Impact

29:59 Leadership at Susan G. Komen

37:32 Becoming CEO of Livestrong

44:36 The Livestrong Challenge and Community Impact

51:25 Sustainable Programs and Future Vision

Everyone Deserves To Grow Up With a Mom, Real Pink Podcast, Suzanne Stone and Kyla Thompson, Originally Aired July 14, 2018

From TV to Livestrong: Suzanne Stone's Journey of Impact, Her Success Story, Presented by Ivy Slater, December 23, 2024

Who Is Suzanne Stone?

Suzanne Stone is a Texas Christian University graduate and Louisiana native whose career began in television, earning a regional Emmy Award for her work in Dallas. In 1998, she transitioned from producing television to teaching it in the nonprofit sector, leading public access television initiatives in Naperville, Illinois, and later in upstate New York. 

Beyond media, Suzanne spent four years as Head Coach of a New York community college women’s basketball team while simultaneously managing a local TV station. Her passion for impact-driven work led her back to Texas, where she has since dedicated her career to leading nonprofit organizations across the state, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Children’s Miracle Network, Lake Travis Education Foundation, and Susan G. Komen Greater Central and East Texas. 

In 2019, she joined Livestrong to spearhead its mission initiatives, and in November 2023, she was named President & CEO. Today, she leads the organization in its commitment to ensuring that anyone affected by cancer has the resources and support they need to truly Livestrong.   

My conversation with Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor of MD Anderson Cancer Center is a special one. Mariana was Maureen's oncologist as my late wife's breast cancer metastasized from late 2013 into 2014. One of the things I always remember from our visits was Mariana's compassion and focus on Maureen. As Mariana put it so well, "When I'm with a patient, I understand my responsibility. I understand the privilege that I have and understand that I'm probably sharing incredibly hard things and I'm going do it the best way that I can, right? With compassion." Having witnessed it first hand, I can attest to Mariana doing it the best way that she can.

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, Medical Oncologist, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, MD, MSc, FASCO, is a tenured Professor in the Health Services Research Department, where she serves as ad interim Chair. She is also a Professor in the Breast Medical Oncology Department at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She is a breast medical oncologist committed to improving the outcomes of her patients while preserving their quality of life and providing evidence-based, research-driven, compassionate care. She is recognized as a key opinion leader who is devoted to contributing to the field through patient care, research, and education by fostering the next generation of clinicians and researchers.

Her research interests focus on outcomes and cancer care delivery. Her work extends to areas related treatment-related complications and to studying the impact and determinants of treatment delays. In addition, she has been involved in the planning, design, and implementation of clinical trials and has been deeply involved in guideline methodology, having participated in the development of national and international breast cancer treatment guidelines. She serves as the Executive Officer for international affairs at SWOG, where she leads the Latin America Initiative. She has served ASCO in many roles, recently completing her last year as a member of the Board of Directors and currently serving as the Chair-elect of the Scientific Program committee.

Gary has a personal connection to today's episode. Both his daughters, like their mom, Maureen, played volleyball. Maureen was 6'1", so Gary married up quite literally and figuratively, and she was captain of her high school team, as were Gary's daughters Kyla and Katelyn. In 2016, Kyla, along with her teammates, started the Dig Pink® tradition and a few years later Katelyn, her younger sister, overlapped with her and then took over after Kyla graduated. That senior year and freshman year when both sisters played varsity together was pretty special. And it was the year that they were the fourth largest fundraising high school in the country, which is how Gary learned of the Side-Out Foundation and was invited to be its board chair.

Ellen Dempsey, Executive Director

Ellen joined the Side-Out Foundation after a successful career in collegiate volleyball. Ellen’s teams participated in 11-NCAC Tournament Championships, 4-NCAA Tournaments, and she was named the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Coach of the Year, 4-times. “My family has been touched deeply by breast cancer. I’ve spent my career building and fostering relationships. In some way, It feels that my life’s work has been to prepare me for this next, most important chapter.

Rick Dunetz, Founder & Chief Vision Officer

Rick’s passion for volleyball and his dual role as a coach and caregiver, led him to create the Side-Out Foundation in honor of his mother, Gloria, who lived with stage IV breast cancer for 6 years before passing in 2010. Side-Out is now a leader in metastatic breast cancer research with the support of thousands of athletes, coaches, parents, and donors. Rick’s passion for volleyball has never waned and he still coaches at the school where it all started.

About The Side-Out Foundation

In volleyball, “side-out” means regaining control of the ball. The Side-Out Foundation helps people with breast cancer regain control of their lives – and we started our fundraising efforts through the sport of volleyball. Our Executive Director and Founder, Rick Dunetz, was a high school volleyball coach when his mother, Gloria, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. Together he and his father, Bryant, decided to tell her story, and the story of all those with metastatic breast cancer, through dedicated volleyball matches across the U.S., where communities would rally and fundraise to support breast cancer research. This is how Dig Pink® was born – and it is still a central program of The Side-Out Foundation.

We couldn't be more excited by the 2nd inaugural episode of the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast with Kelly Shanahan, President of METAvivor. Gary and Kelly first met through the #bcsm tweet chat started on January 1, 2011 by Alicia C. Staley, Dr. Deanna Attai and the late Jody Schoger. Gary joined these chats to learn from those with breast cancer how to be a better caregiver to his late wife, Maureen.

As Kelly and Gary discuss, when breast cancer becomes #MetastaticBreastCancer is when things go "all to heck," leading to 117/118 deaths a day from this stage of the disease. Research, like that funded by Metavivor, leads to hope, not just for MBC but early stage disease, too. 🍩 🩷

Kelly Shanahan, METAvivor, President

In 2008, I had everything going for me: a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the University of Virginia School of Medicine, I had a busy and successful ob-gyn practice in South Lake Tahoe, CA; a precocious 9 year old daughter; and a well-used passport from traveling all over the world with my family to attend conferences, with a liberal dose of vacation on the side. When I was diagnosed with stage IIB breast cancer in April 2008, I considered it a mere bump in the road, returning to work two weeks after my bilateral mastectomy and continuing to work all through the four months of chemo.

And for five years, breast cancer was an aside, something to put in the past medical history section of forms. Even when I developed sudden back pain, I never thought it could be breast cancer rearing its ugly head – a pulled muscle, a herniated disc but not what it turned out to be: metastatic breast cancer in virtually every bone in my body, with a fractured vertebra and an about to break left femur. I was diagnosed on my 53rd birthday.

I have been extremely lucky, for after an unconventional 14-month course of combination IV chemo and zometa, followed by a more conventional aromatase inhibitor, I have remained NEAD – No Evidence of Active Disease — since April 2014. Neuropathy from the chemo did cost me my career, but I have found a new purpose in advocacy. I am a volunteer and grant reviewer for METAvivor; a member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and the ABC Global Alliance; a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program; and past medical director of METUP. I will fight for more research funding for the already metastasized patient until my dying breath by continuing to contact my state and federal representatives and participating in legislative advocacy days on Capitol Hill, as I have since 2015.

I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a doctor, a woman LIVING with metastatic breast cancer. I am an advocate.

We couldn't be more thrilled to have Maureen Sticco, VP & GM, Sweet Baked Goods, Bimbo Bakeries as one of our first guests for the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast. She joined the company in 1999 and helped grow the Entenmann's brand, leading to ten years of double-digit profit growth. Today, Maureen leads the Entenmann's, Little Bites, Marinela and Bimbo Sweet Baked Goods brands. We talk about Maureen's career journey in the baking industry, leadership lessons from her MBA and running, the power of human connection, the importance of love, both professionally and personally, and the "sweetest team on the planet." 🍩 🩷

(Editor's note - Where Sara Lee's brand is mentioned as being owned, Maureen means licensed.)

Welcome to the Team Powdered Donut™ podcast. We're starting a love crusade as the powdered donut tradition goes on the air and on the road!