You’d have to go a long way to find a doctor that is more focused on her patients or who does more for her chosen field in terms of patient support and outreach. It gives us great pleasure to introduce Dr. Allyson Ocean, a medical superstar and a provider that epitomizes the best medicine has to offer. We are in awe.
Let’s start with Allyson’s work outside of her practice and the organizations and foundations, some of which she has co-founded, that focus on cancer patients, on care, aftercare, and support for a sector of the community that is so often left rudderless after the devastating and dreaded diagnosis of cancer. We’ve focused on two of the site she helped found and is prominently engaged with.
Michael’s Mission
Michael’s Mission was formed as a way to honor and remember Michael Soussa. Michael was a vibrant young man when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 30. He underwent multiple surgeries and almost 40 months of chemotherapy and radiation. After nearly three and a half years of fighting, Michael passed away at the age of 33. Here’s a brief summary of what Michael’s Mission is about.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life and treatment options for colorectal cancer patients, particularly young people like Michael. Michael always said that when he got better, he would give back to others diagnosed and living
with colorectal cancer. What Michael found most difficult to deal with was the lack of relevant and quality information about the disease, the inability to interact and share experiences with other patients, and the lack of funding for research trials and patient support services.He was also incredibly frustrated with the lack of attention and information regarding the side effects and quality of life issues associated with colorectal cancer—the focus was on treating the disease and not on helping people live their lives.
One of our core values – enhancing quality of life – allows us to help patients regain some control in a very uncontrollable situation. Having observed Michael fighting for his life and knowing what was missing to support his struggle, our goals include creating programs and providing services that will help patients and families navigate this difficult journey.
You can visit Michaels Mission by clicking on the image above, or follow them here on Twitter @MMfightsCRC
Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer
Let’s Win! Pancreatic Cancer is an unprecedented platform that enables doctors, scientists, and patients to share fast-breaking information on potentially life-saving pancreatic cancer treatments and clinical trials. Our goal is to inform, enable, and educate patients and caregivers, providing easy-to-understand, actionable information. In this way we can help people find the best treatment options available.
In May 2014, Anne Glauber learned she had stage IV pancreatic cancer. She and her family were stunned and devastated, not knowing where to turn but knowing they had to do something urgently. That overwhelming fear and confusion became the genesis for Let’s Win.
Anne gathered a team to develop her idea: her oncologist, Dr. Allyson Ocean, her dear friend Willa Shalit, social entrepreneur and philanthropist; and Kerri Kaplan, President and CEO of the Lustgarten Foundation. Anne and her team imagined an online community sharing new science-driven treatments to help patients and families have a say in their treatment plans, uncovering new possibilities, and finding new treatment options. When Cindy Gavin joined the team as Founding Executive Director, the vision took wing.
In 2017, Anne passed away after living three times longer than originally predicted. Today, Let’s Win is Anne’s legacy, and it stands as a valued resource in the pancreatic cancer community. It is a living testimony to Anne Glauber’s commitment that no one would ever again need to face a diagnosis like hers without resources and hope.
You can follow Let’s Win by clicking on the image above or connecting with them on Twitter @letswinpc
Meet Allyson Ocean
Allyson Ocean is a medical oncologist and attending physician in gastrointestinal oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center; Associate Professor of Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University; and medical oncologist at The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health.
She graduated cum laude from Tufts University and with honors from the Tufts University School of Medicine and completed residency in internal medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Allyson was chief fellow during her fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
She is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and abstracts and is an active member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and American Association for Cancer Research.
Allyson Ocean is on a mission to educate the world about pancreatic and intestinal cancers, focusing on innovation and emerging treatments, both in the form of treatment and prevention, and she is all about patient support, throughout the entire process of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. We cannot think of a finer example of real, ethics-driven compassionate healthcare in action.
It should come as no surprise that she’s racked up the following distinctions on top of her cancer advocacy.
- New York Magazine: Top Doctors: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
- Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctors: 1st Edition
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area (digital guide): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
- Exceptional Women In Medicine: 2019, 2020
If you’d like to reach out to Allyson, support her projects, or connect with here professionally, you can do so via the links provided below.
