University of California San Francisco
San Francisco, California, United States
Dace James Hines is a volunteer Peer Support Mentor and Support Group Facilitator with the Neuro-Oncology Department at the University of California, San Francisco. He is a young adult brain cancer survivor and patient advisor, working closely with the UCSF Brain Tumor Center to develop and lead programs aimed at improving psychosocial support. He is also a Cancer Coach in training with the Cancer Journey Institute. He helps individuals connect with their inner wisdom while navigating the life-changing challenges of a cancer diagnosis– learning to embrace it as an opportunity for growth, and live a more meaningful life.
Phoebe Bryson-Cahn (they/them) is a former Californian living in Seattle, Washington. Diagnosed with a grade II oligodendroglioma in 2015, Phoebe is also a volunteer Peer Support Mentor and Support Group Facilitator with UCSF. They find solace, inspiration, and joy in connecting deeply with other young adults living with brain tumors. They aspire to spend most of their time whipping up something involved and delicious in the kitchen or outside, hiking and camping with their pup, Snack. Phoebe also works with Kaiser-Permanente, advising providers on how to improve their empathetic communication skills with patients.
Katie Scotford is a Staff Research Associate at UCSF conducting research with stimulated Raman histology for the surgical resection of gliomas. Her research currently focuses on the ability of novel intraoperative tools to detect tumor microscopically with the help of artificial intelligence. Additional research interests include the experience of prosopagnosia and psychedelics as adjuvant treatments for mental illness. She is also a brain tumor survivor and is honored to work in neuroscience as both a professional and a patient.
Together, they co-founded the country's first peer-led Young Adult Brain Tumor Support Group (called YABS for short), creating a new category of patient-centered, self-directed psychosocial support for this underserved demographic.
