Every year Resilience Survivorship holds a local conference for the cancer survivorship community. Below we have provided the links for you to view these speakers & presenters videos.
Alison Rash
Artist, Professor & Survivor
Alison Rash relocated to Lincoln, NE with her husband, Bryan, and their two children after nearly two decades in Los Angeles. Rash earned an MFA from Claremont Graduate University with a concentration in Painting, an MA in Education from Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology and a BA in Art from Pepperdine University. Her paintings have been exhibited in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Dallas and Washington D.C. as well as internationally in Paris, France; Venice, Italy and Tokyo, Japan.
Alison was diagnosed with stage llb breast cancer in 2014 which metastasized to stage IV in 2016. She has received treatment including chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and hormone therapy consistently for the past nine years. With three different metastatic relapses, Alison has had many opportunities to pivot: to adjust, muster strength, change course and continue to live her life. She believes that even here, in the middle of a metastatic cancer diagnosis, there is so much laughter, love, life and hope.
When Cancer Continues: Stories of Hope
2023
Living with Uncertainty
2025
Bryan Rash
VP, Assist. Gen. Counsel @ AECOM Tech Corporation
Bryan Rash is Vice President/Assistant General Counsel at AECOM Technology Corporation. A native Californian, Rash earned his JD from Pepperdine School of Law, MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and BA from Pepperdine University.
Bryan and his wife, Alison, have been married for 18 years and have two children. During the past nine years, Bryan has walked alongside Alison through her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent metastatic diagnosis, at times being the sole parent home with kids while she was out-of-state receiving treatment. Bryan gives voice to many of the thoughts, emotions and experiences that caregivers may experience in the face of cancer.
A Caregiver Perspective
2023
Jennifer Davidson
Pastor, End of Life Doula & Survivor
Our medical teams do an outstanding job of diagnosing and treating our bodies when a person has cancer. What about the other aspects of this journey?
This session will acknowledge the mental, emotional and spiritual concerns of this experience and will suggest strategies for dealing with the whole person, be it the cancer patient, the survivor or the caregiver.
Jen Davidson is a lifelong educator who’s taught and presented workshops in nearly all fifty states. She was ordained as a pastor in 2017 and was certified as an end of life doula in 2020. She has been diagnosed with cancer twice and volunteers her support in the cancer community.
Honoring the Complete Cancer Journey: Physical, Mental, Emotional & Spiritual
2023
Steph Nelson
Children’s Ministry Director-St. Marks, Maxwell Leadership Coach & Survivor
Stephanie Nelson is a certified Maxwell leadership speaker, trainer, and coach. She has also been a director of Children and Youth Ministries for the past 20 years and is passionate about helping people of all ages find direction, value, and peace.
Having had the honor of checking off many of life’s “boxes” at a young age–unsettled child, teenager without a life plan, young parent, married parent, divorced parent, single parent, empty nester, sandwich generation, survivor…Steph speaks from experience about navigating through life’s network of challenges. She truly believes that it is not what happens to you on your journey, but how you respond to it that matters.
We Can Do Hard Things
2023
Jovan DeWitt
College Football Coach & Survivor
Jovan has 26 years experience as a college football coach, including Nebraska, FAU, West Point, UCF, North Carolina, and currently FIU. He is a husband to Lisa, and a father of three to Maya 19, Jovan 17, and Kira 8.
He graduated with a BS in Physics and Mathematics from Northern Michigan University, where he was also inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame. Jovan was a finalist for the Orange Bowl Award for Courage.
He was diagnosed with throat cancer in January of 2019. Since that time he has become passionate about spreading awareness of the disease and the importance of rehabilitation and survivorship.
Cancer Rehab
2023
Kjersti Pollard
Personal Stylist, Owner of KPStyleConsultant & Survivor
In 2020, I started KPStyleConsultant with the dream of creating a business that helps women & men transform their wardrobes. By investing in themselves, elevating their style… & ultimately their lives.
What I do NOT believe: style is vain or extravagant. I think of it as quite the opposite, self care. What I DO believe: style can be fun, distinctive & exciting! If it’s not… maybe you’re doing it wrong? I also believe the way you dress is a direct correlation to how you feel about yourself. Therefore, helping you feel empowered, self-assured & more loving towards yourself is essential!
At the age of 37 I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. I'm about a year out from surgery & want to share how style can effect more than how you look.
Recovering a Sense of You, with Style
2023
Gina Boe
Author, Songwriter & Survivor
Gina Boe is a writer of songs, books, and blogs, as well as a singer and speaker. She is a Dove Award winning songwriter with multiple adult and children’s musicals to her credit, #1 songs, and songs recorded by numerous artists in a variety of genres.
Gina has dedicated herself to mentoring creatives of all ages, and to providing opportunities for creatives to experience community. Her latest book is "Hope Deserves An Anthem - One Creative’s Quest to Bring Light to Life’s Dark Places.” This book chronicles how Gina has faced life’s toughest seasons, including her recent battle with breast cancer, armed with a pen and a piano.
Gina has also authored “What If They Fly? Raising Creative Kids to Believe They Can Soar," and co-authored the book “Adventures in Songwriting” with Sue C. Smith. Gina and her husband Perry make their home in Nebraska.
Hope Deserves an Anthem: How Creativity Brings Hope to Life's Dark Places
2023
Michaela Bidrowsky
COTA & CLT
Michaela has worked at Cancer Partners of Nebraska for 6.5 years. Michaela is a lymphedema therapist, breast cancer rehab specialist and a Healthy Steps/Lebed Method Instructor.
Before working at Cancer Partners of Nebraska, Michaela worked in Cancer Rehabilitation/Occupational therapy for 17 years in Omaha. Michaela has been a Healthy Steps Instructor since 2005.
She is from Springfield, Nebraska where she enjoys country living her with husband David. In her spare time, Michaela enjoys gardening and spending time with family.
Healthy Steps
2023
Shelly Kathleen & Samantha Gallentine
Restorative Yoga: Body Scan with Sound Therapy
This session will be dually presented by Shelly Kathleen, Certified Herbalist, owner of SO Herbal, and Certified Restorative Yoga/Yoga4cancer instructor Cancer Partners of Nebraska, and Samantha Gallentine, Liscensed Certified Sound Therapy Practitioner with Sattva Sound Therapy, 200-hour Registered Yoga Instructor, and Licensed Nurse.
This is a meditative experience, and these two presenters combine their beautiful gifts to create an experience that you will not forget!
Yoga & Sound Bath
2023
Yoga & Sound Bath
2025
Sara Paxton
PharmD, Health Coach & Functional Medicine Practitioner
A pharmacist turned Certified Health Coach, is the founder of Nourish Health Coaching. Sara empowers Christian women to restore their vitality at work and home by improving their gut, hormone, and metabolic health.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Sara finds fulfillment as a devoted daughter of God, a wife to her husband Darby, and a mother of 5 energetic boys aged 11-19. Together they call rural Nebraska home.Central to Sara’s mission is the belief that God wants us to be healthy in our bodies and free in our minds to fulfill our life’s purposes. She teaches by the principles of Romans 12:2 and John 10:10 - that God desires us to Be Transformed and Live Abundantly. Her 12-week program will guide you in gaining health, losing weight, and growing closer to your Creator. Discovering the Impact of Hormones, Metabolism & Gut Health on Cancer
2025
Juliann Riley
Author & Survivor
I am a 51 year old Lincoln native. My titles include wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor, friend, anchor, business director for our family, tax payor, and financial services compliance principal employee of LPL Financial Services.
But, what brings the color to me, influenced by my journey as a 6 ½ year cancer survivor, includes these titles:
A philosopher, reflective over thinker, practical realist, advocate, debater, life long learner, self developer, unfiltered and direct harsh boundary warden, BS flag thrower, chaos resourceful organizer, queen of sarcasm, triage-r, problem solver and adaptable strategic thinker which frees up my precious time on this earth to be a dreamer, fierce lover of my tribe and humans, kindness advocate, author, artist, avid moving watcher, nature lover, lover of the simple things, music lover, foodie, adventure seeker, and despite what my family thinks-up and coming comedian, singer, and pianist. If You Give a Girl Cancer
2025
Dr. Rachel Jendro
Breast Surgical Oncologist, with Bryan Health
Dr. Jendro, is proud to be the first fellowship trained Breast Surgical Oncologist to serve the community of Lincoln and greater Nebraska. Her motivation for serving the women of Nebraska is due to her lifelong mission to Provide evidence-based medicine to enhance the standard of care through surgical expertise, compassion for women’s health, and emotional support. As an osteopathic surgeon, Dr. Jendro brings enhanced surgical training and vast experience from accredited medical institutions, and is committed to her patients through their entire journey.
Dr. Jendro was individually selected for a Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. As a breast surgical oncology fellow, Dr. Jendro studied under Dr. Charles Cox, a renowned pioneer in breast surgery. Her training focused on best surgical methods for treating both benign and malignant breast disease. Dr. Jendro is published in the Journal of Surgical Oncology.
Currently, Dr. Jendro has been honored with the distinction as Chief Medical Director of the Bryan Health Multidisciplinary Breast Tumor Board and the Bryan Breast Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic.
Cancer is Only Part of Your Story, It Does Not Define You
2025
Rebecca Evans, OTR/L, CLT &
Taylor Homes, OTR/L, CLT
Both Taylor and Becca are certified lymphedema therapists, certified in Breast Cancer Rehab, and trained in pelvic floor therapy and are both valuable members of the Cancer Partners of Nebraska and Urology Partners of Nebraska’s Rehabilitation Team!
This important topic is often not discussed enough.
What Everyone Should Know About Pelvic Floor: Pee, Poop & Sex
2025
DeMoine Adams, CEO of TeamMates &
Fara Adams, OT Assist, BS, COTA/L
DeMoine spent time in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers. DeMoine also speaks numerous times each year across the country motivating others to be winners in life through his business called ‘The Game Plan – Ready, Set, Perform’ which he started in 2011.Fara is an OT Assistant who spent over 20 years at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, treating patients with a wide range of diagnoses, with a primary focus on spinal cord injuries.As a founding member and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator of the OT Assistant Program at Union Adventist University, Fara is passionate about educating future OTAs.
Heart & Soul: Navigating Life's Unexpected Turns with Resilience & Strength
2025
Joselyn Hayes, Counselor, LMHP, PCMSW, MSW, MA & Survivor
Marci Fehlhafer, Wellness Community Navigator & Survivor
Joselyn has worked as an oncology social worker helping cancer patients and their loved ones. Interestingly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer while serving in that role. Being a cancer survivor gives Joselyn a unique perspective in helping those affected by cancer.
Marci was diagnosed with stage IV inflammatory breast cancer in 2018. After chemo, surgery and radiation… followed by more chemo, she knew she wanted to help others who face a cancer diagnosis. She learned many people face a diagnosis alone and don't know they CAN ask for help. So in April 2021, Marci became a certified Peer Support Specialist in Nebraska and started an online support group called Cancer Talk. A Peer Support model of the shared lived experiences.
Presenting Emotional Overwhelm & the Power of Community
2025