The BRAVE (Breast Restoration AdVocacy Education) Coalition Foundation announced the appointment of Lisa Shumpert as the new President of its Executive Board, effective immediately. BRAVE, founded in 2012 by Dr. Allen Gabriel and Dr. Christine Grogan, addresses unmet needs in breast reconstruction access. Shumpert brings senior executive experience, having served as Chief Human Resources Officer at Comar, and is the bestselling author of Team Turnaround - Spark High Performance in Your Direct Reports.
The Women's Health Cancer Rights Act of 1988 (WHCRA) aimed to bridge gaps in care, but significant challenges persist, including difficulty finding insurance-accepting doctors, lack of coverage, and health disparities where Black women face a 38% higher mortality rate and less access to care. BRAVE's mission is to educate, advocate, and unite patients with resources regardless of insurance, socioeconomic status, education, or race.
Shumpert expressed gratitude to outgoing President John Gwin, who led the organization over the past two years, preparing it for growth. She outlined three primary goals: expand the network of breast and plastic surgeons to assist more patients; increase funding from donors; and continue partnership with Northwestern University to increase funding and education activities for Black women. "We will continue providing essential resources to patients, making this a foundational goal," Shumpert said.
To learn more or donate, visit www.bravecoalition.org.
