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2026 CURE Recap

  • A Message from Brittany Michel, PhD | Associate Director, CURE Program

    This past year has marked an important new chapter for the CURE Program, with new staff, new ideas, and renewed momentum. I’m grateful to be leading CURE during this next phase and working with a team that is enthusiastic about and deeply committed to our students, alumni, and partners.  

    Even as we look ahead to the next chapter, I continue to reflect on the impact of our former colleagues who have helped shape CURE and brought us to where we are today. Ms. Karen Burns White founded the program in 2002 and grew it into the incredibly impactful program it is today. Feven Woldesenbet, a CURE alumna, brought her lived experience, perspective, and compassion to her role as Research Training Specialist, and Julia Miller, our Program Manager, brought tremendous enthusiasm to supporting our students and led CURE’s first Jimmy Fund Walk last year. Ms Karen, Feven, and Julia have all moved on to new opportunities, but their contributions remain part of the foundation we are building on.

    As CURE begins the next chapter, we are excited to welcome Teresa Acosta, MPH and Christopher Hogan, M.Ed to the CURE leadership team. We look forward to sharing the work, growth, and opportunities taking shape across the CURE Program in this newsletter. 

    Warm Regards, 

    Brittany C. Michel, PhD

    Associate Director, CURE Student Training Program

Meet Your CURE Leadership Team

Teresa Acosta, CURE Program Manager

My name is Teresa Acosta, and I am the Program Manager for the CURE Program. I hold a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health. Before joining the CURE team, I helped administer summer programs at BMC in partnership with the American Heart Association. I am excited to join the CURE team and contribute to a program that supports students at various stages of their professional journeys. Outside of work, I love to hike, explore new coffee shops, and travel around the country!

Chris Hogan, CURE Research Training Specialist

My name is Chris Hogan, and I am the Research Training Specialist for the CURE program. I hold a Master of Education degree from Saint Anselm College and have a background in education and cancer research fundraising. Watching students build confidence, engage deeply with their learning, and grow as researchers has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. Outside of work, I enjoy running and am currently training for my first marathon this October!

Support the CURE Program Jimmy Fund Walk!

Every dollar raised directly supports the program. Your support helps create opportunities for future students through cancer research training, mentorship, professional development, and exposure to careers in cancer research and healthcare. 

This year, our team already includes current students, alumni, family members, and friends, and we would love for you to support us.

Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, we have received a $5,000 matching gift! This means every dollar we raise is being doubled. If we can reach our $10,000 fundraising goal, we will unlock $15,000 total to support CURE students and the program! We are getting so close!

Consider Entering Our Raffle

Help us reach our $10,000 fundraising goal while entering to win:

  • David Ortiz Autographed Baseball Bat 
  • Dunkin Gift Basket- Gift Card and Merch 
  • Treetop Adventures Ticket 
  • Anna's Taqueria Gift Card 

Earn entries easily by:

  • 1 entry for every $5 donated
  • 2 entries for tagging us and reposting our fundraiser
  • 2 entries for sharing our raffle page with at least 3 people
  • 20 entries for joining our team for the Jimmy Fund Walk

Help us reach our goal and make an impact! 

Enter our Raffle(opens in new window)

Student & Alumni Spotlight

The lasting impact of CURE and their continued support through the Jimmy Fund Walk. Hear from our students and alumni on why they are participating in the Jimmy Fund Walk this year! 

Cali Cahill - Current YES for CURE Student

"I decided to join the CURE Jimmy Fund Walk team because I want to help those who cannot always help themselves," Cali says. "I believe it is important to come together as a community to work toward a cure." Cali Cahill is a rising senior at Nauset Regional High School. Joining the CURE Jimmy Fund Walk Team is a way to give back to a community that has inspired her growth as both a scientist and a person. She credits the CURE Program with helping her build scientific skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships. Her participation in the Jimmy Fund Walk reflects the gratitude she feels for those opportunities and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.

Carolay Suarez- CURE Alum

Joining the CURE Jimmy Fund Walk Team is Carolay's way of giving back to a cause and community that has made a meaningful difference in her life. Carolay Suarez is CURE alum who participated in the program in the summer of 2022 and 2023. She is currently working as a Medical Assistant at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is preparing to apply to a Physician Assistant Master's program.  "The CURE Program has given me valuable research experience, mentorship, meaningful connections, and opportunities that have shaped both my personal and professional journey," Carolay shares. "I am grateful for everything I have received from the program, and I hope to encourage other CURE alumni to stay connected and give back as well." 

Miranda Robert- YES for CURE Alum

Miranda is motivated to walk for CURE for the YFC community and future students who are interested in science and medicine. The Jimmy Fund Walk is also important for her as her dad was treated by DFCI in 2016 for lymphoma. She believes the Jimmy Fund Walk is an opportunity to honor those whom we lost and celebrate those who survived.  She is a YES for CURE alum who completed the program in spring 2026. She recently graduated with a BS in medical and molecular biology. She is a research technician at the E.L Steele lab at Mass General Hospital She is hoping to apply to MD-PhD programs this upcoming spring!  "This program has completely changed the trajectory of my career for the better. I have found amazing mentors and have found a passion in research. The YES for CURE program has given me the tools and confidence to succeed in highly competitive spaces. I want to ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunities that I had through the YES for CURE program." 

New Course: Community-Engaged Research Series 

We were fortunate to offer the Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) Series this summer, giving CURE students the opportunity to explore how researchers can partner with communities to address real-world health challenges. The four-part series was led by Liz Salomon,EdM, Senior Program Manager for the HCC Pathfinder Program, whose background in education and passion for student learning created an engaging and supportive experience for participants. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, students explored topics including health equity, trust in research, positionality, and community partnerships. The series was a tremendous success, and we are grateful to Liz for sharing her expertise and outstanding teaching skills to make this such a meaningful learning opportunity for our students.

Education Day: Survivor Panel

Students were particularly captivated by the survivor panel during our Education Day event. The panel featured multiple cancer survivors and healthcare providers who shared their personal journeys and answered questions from students. It was an emotional and powerful experience that gave students the opportunity to learn about cancer from a personal perspective, while also hearing from individuals who have supported loved ones through their cancer journeys. 

One student described the experience as “very insightful, informative, inspiring, and moving.” Students felt the panel was a valuable addition to Education Day because it provided not only the healthcare provider perspective, but also the patient perspective. Many students shared that the discussion encouraged them to consider career paths in healthcare that they had not previously thought about. 

HMS Healthcare Networking

Students attended a Networking Ice Cream Social at Harvard Medical School in partnership with the HMS Project Success program. The event featured a powerful keynote speaker, Dr. Alden Landry, who shared his journey to medical school and how he navigated the challenges of pursuing a career in medicine.

The event provided students with a better understanding of the many paths available in healthcare as they considered their future careers. A new component of this year's event was the healthcare networking session, which featured professionals from a variety of roles, including physicians, surgeons, nurses, physician assistants, and more. Students were able to learn about different healthcare professions and ask questions directly to professionals in the field. 

One student described the networking experience, saying, "It was incredibly helpful. Having direct, open conversations with healthcare professionals allowed me to ask candid questions about career pathways, balancing research with clinical work, and finding mentorship in the field." Networking with healthcare professionals gives students the opportunity to explore career pathways beyond research and gain valuable perspectives on the many roles within healthcare.

 

Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS)

November 18-21, 2026 | Seattle, WA

Congrats to our students on their acceptance to present! Kevin Martinez Lopez, Saratu Waya, Nasra Jama, Tanzim Mahmud, Arturo Magana-Colin , Ameera Sharif, Jennifer Ferreira

Biomedical Science Careers Program Skills Session

November 21, 2026 | 8:00 AM-4:30PM

Full day of interactive sessions focused on college and graduate school applications, interviewing, resume writing, securing internships, and smart financial planning.

REGISTER | CURE Alumni Holiday Gathering

Monday, December 21, 2026 | 5:30 to 7 PM | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Main Campus

This special event brings together current CURE students and alumni to celebrate the holiday season, enjoy refreshments and build new connections within the CURE community

Please let us know if you plan to attend by completing the RSVP form. We would love to see you there and celebrate the season together! 

Register(opens in new window)

Calling All CURE Alumni in Life Sciences!

March 18, 2027 | 5:30-6:30 PM | Zoom

We are seeking a speaker for a virtual career conversation with CURE students. We'd love someone who can share their personal career journey in the life sciences, discuss lessons learned along the way, and provide insights into their current role and industry. This is a great opportunity to help students explore different career paths, gain real-world perspectives, and learn from your experiences. 

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