The BRAVE (Breast Restoration AdVocacy Education) Coalition Foundation announced the appointment of Lisa Shumpert as the new President of its Executive Board, effective immediately. The organization, founded in 2012 by Dr. Allen Gabriel and Dr. Christine Grogan, aims to address unmet needs in breast reconstruction access for women, particularly those facing insurance barriers and health disparities.
Shumpert brings extensive leadership experience, having served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Comar and authored the bestselling book "Team Turnaround - Spark High Performance in Your Direct Reports." She succeeds John Gwin, who led the organization for two years, preparing it for growth. Under her leadership, BRAVE will focus on three primary goals: expanding its network of breast and plastic surgeons, increasing donor funding, and partnering with Northwestern University to enhance funding and education for Black women's access to care. "We will continue providing essential resources to patients, making this a foundational goal," Shumpert stated.
The Women's Health Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA) was designed to bridge care gaps, but significant challenges persist. These include difficulty finding doctors who accept insurance, lack of insurance coverage, and health disparities where Black women face a 38% higher mortality rate and reduced access to care. BRAVE's mission directly confronts these issues by educating survivors on reconstruction options, advocating for legislative and insurance industry changes, and uniting patients with resources regardless of insurance, socio-economic status, education, or race.
For more information or to donate, visit www.bravecoalition.org or follow BRAVE on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.
