Neighbor-to-neighbor: Exploring New Models of Healthcare and Wellness

Welcome to Women's Health in Today's World: Conversation with Dr. Kim Rhoads!

In a time where access to healthcare, reproductive care, and research on women's health is being cut, as women, what other options do we have, how can we stay informed on our rights, our access, and support others who are being impacted deeply?

Join the YWCA Berkeley/Oakland, a 136 year old racial and gender justice organization, and Dr. Kim Rhoads, for this opportunity join an insightful discussion on neighbor-to neighbor healthcare, advocacy and community unity during this pivotal time.

About the "Strong Women For These Times" Speaker Series

This event is part of the Strong Women For These Times Speaker Series, created in response to the ongoing challenges facing women, gender non-conforming individuals, and marginalized communities. At YWCA Berkeley/Oakland, we believe that conversation is a catalyst for social change. By providing a platform for thought leaders, activists, and artists, we aim to challenge injustice, inspire advocacy, and promote resilience in the face of adversity.

___________________________________________________________________________________

What to Expect:

✨ Reception & Refreshments – Enjoy a selection of wine, cheese, and hors d'oeuvres before the conversation begins.🔥 Fireside Chat – A powerful discussion between Dr. Kim Rhoads and YWCA Berkeley/Oakland Executive Director, Dr. Monique LeSarre, covering themes of survival, resilience, and rediscovering identity after trauma.🗣️ Q&A Session – Engage with Dr. Kim Rhoads in a thought-provoking discussion about her experiences and insights.

About Dr. Kim Rhoads:

Dr. Rhoads MD, MS, MPH is an Associate Director of Community Outreach and engagement at VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. She also serves as a professor of colorectal surgery in the VCU School of Medicine. Rhoads most recently served as the associate director for community outreach and engagement at the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCSF. A board-certified colon and rectal surgeon, she founded the pelvic floor clinic at Stanford, becoming a leading voice in advancing women’s health and addressing conditions long under-recognized in medical care.

Her research explores how unequal access to evidence-based cancer treatment contributes to racial and ethnic survival disparities. Her work has shaped institutional strategies to close these gaps through equitable care delivery.

Dr. Rhoads is also the founding Director of Umoja Health Bay Area, a community coalition born in 2020 to rapidly mobilize to address the COVID-19 disparities facing communities of color. Its focus has been on building community coalitions with the capacity to address the uderlying cause of health inequities by dismantling systemic racism and reimagining healthcare delivery.

Rhoads holds leadership roles intenationally as a co-investigator leading the patient advocate efforts for the NCI/Cancer Research UK Cancer Grand Challenge team PROMINENT; nationally as an MPI for NIMHD's Health Excellence Action Network (HEAN); and locally as a community organizer for the Center for Third World Organizing in Oakland.

She earned her MD from UCSF, an MS from UC Berkeley, and an MPH from Harvard, where she was a California Endowment Scholar in Minority Health Policy.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Ticket Information:

This event offers a sliding scale ticket price with three options: $2.91, $7, or $12—pay what you can to support our programming! If you need a free ticket, please email atavakoli@ywca-berkeley.org, and we will be happy to accommodate you until we reach capacity. We will also do our best to fulfill requests as needed.

This event is a great opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with women of the Bay Area who are looking to take part in a vital conversation. Don't miss out!

Tickets are sliding scale. All ticket levels offer the same admission, please choose the level you are most comfortable with.

___________________________________________________________________________________