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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 20/09/2025

But to be flexible in approach means that I change how I discuss, how I perform, the path that I take to achieve my goal - but the goal remains the same regardless of the external noise surrounding it. I now realize that flexibility & pivoting is referring to a strategy to engage #resiliency.

A slide from the AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities from USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center & Keck School of Medicine of USC. Left side of the slide has a picture of the word "resilience" in scrabble tiles. Right side of the slide has a circle with three layers: the innermost layer reads, "resilience"; the second innermost layer is split into three sections: "Emotional resilience," "Resilient thinking," & "Balance and recovery"; the outermost layer is split into eifht sections: "Social connections," "Positive emotions," & "Emotion regulation" nested outside "Emotional resilience," "Flexible thinking" & "Optimism" nested outside "Resilient thinking," & "Self-care" & "Balancing demands" nested outside "Balance and recovery."

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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 20/09/2025

She told me about how seriously she took her role & quickly introduced me to her whole community(ies!) of breast cancer advocates. She tragically passed away from breast cancer, as did others I met in her circle. I still think about her today & I always will.

Cassie Liu with two breast cancer advocates holding signs that say, "Is your study as diverse as your clinic?" and "Close the gap. Diversity matters."

Cassie Liu at a function with two breast cancer advocates, all smiling at the camera

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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 20/09/2025

I am so impressed with #AACRdisp25 giving space, time, & honor to patient/community advocate voices. The closeness & respect publicly shown by the researchers who work with these advocates is clear role modeling for the scientific community in how to listen & collaborate with communities.

A slide from the 18th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities introducing, "Ysabel Duron
Journalist, Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate
Founder and Executive Director, The Latino Cancer Institute"

A slide from the 18th AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities introducing, "Alia Graham, The Chicago Reader's Vice President of People & Culture Breast Cancer Advocate"

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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 19/09/2025

He reminded us that #healthdisparities #cancerdisparities #scientificresearch has persevered through even the most turbulent times, that significant gains have been made despite sometimes overwhelming resistance, that there are many who came before us who wrote the playbook for us to follow.

A slide titled, "Health Disparity Key Milestones." Below the title is the outline of a powerful timeline: 1985, Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Black & Minority Health was published; 1986, Office of Minority Health was established; 1989, American Cancer Society released a Report to the Nation on Cancer and the Poor; 2000, NIH established the National Center on Minority Health & Health Disparities; 2001, NCI established the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities; 2003, "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Healthcare" was published; 2007, the inaugural year of AACR's The Science of Cancer Health Disparities international research conference

A slide titled, "The Playbook: Progress No Matter the Situation." Below the title are photos of African American woman Gladys West, captioned "Mathematician who gave us GPS."

A slide titled, "The Playbook: Progress No Matter the Situation." Below the title are photos of African American man Percy Lavon Julian, captioned "Made pain relief affordable."

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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 18/09/2025

I'm so grateful to have received one of the 43 Scholar in Training Awards at this conference to be able to come present my work, learn from the experts, & network in this critically important space in #scientificresearch #cancerdisparities #healthdisparities #AACRdisp25

A badge that says "Cassie Liu, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY" with a blue ribbon underneath that says, "Scholar in Training Awardee" overlaying a certificate from the 18th AACR Conference of The Science of Cancer Health Disparities awarding Cassie Liu with the AACR Scholar in Training Award supported by National Cancer Institute - Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities.

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Cassie Liu, MD, PhD @thecassieliu.medsky.social · 18/09/2025

Come chat with me at A126 #AACRdisp25! I'm representing my work on rural-urban #healthdisparities #cancerdisparities in prostate cancer in Nebraska done at @unmc.bsky.social & also representing my new position as resident physician @stonybrookmedicine.bsky.social!

Cassie Liu standing by posterboard A126 with her poster.

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