Black History & Health Equity Every Month, Every Day
Join Co-host Sheila Johnson for a very special panel in honor of Black History Month. Sheila speaks with Rev. Dr. Tawana Davis, Ricki Farley, Kellee Southern, and Stephanie Walker. This wide-ranging conversation is one not to miss as we dig into what it is like to be a Black woman seeking medical treatment for breast cancer or metastatic breast cancer, and what these incredible women are doing to improve health equity for Black women and men. We believe that Black History Month should always be celebrated but let's agree that it should not be just for one month but every month and every day. These women show us how to do that. has helped to elucidate both immediate and delayed adaptations that promote resistance to standard treatments.
Meet the Guests of this Episode
Sheila Johnson
Sheila M. Johnson is a pioneering breast cancer advocate with a particular focus on the black community. She has overcome personal adversity to help support and educate her community about the risks of breast cancer and how to live a fulfilling life once a diagnosis is received.
In 2009 at the age of 43, while active duty military with the United States Air Force, Sheila received her breast cancer diagnosis. She was diagnosed with Stage IV HER2+ invasive breast cancer. By the time she received her diagnosis, the cancer had already metastasized to her liver and ribs. Since then, she has undergone intensive treatments including a bilateral mastectomy and many rounds of very intensive chemotherapy.
This wasn’t the first time that breast cancer had touched Sheila’s life, as her own beloved mother Grace died from metastatic breast cancer in 2004. Ever since then, Sheila has been determined to carry on her mother’s legacy and her own diagnosis simply strengthened her commitment to be the voice the black community needed.
Sheila uses her voice to raise awareness about the racial disparities faced by black women throughout their breast cancer journey. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is devastating for anyone, and Sheila passionately believes that racial disparities should not have an impact on the standard of treatment that black women receive. Sheila has also taken part in a clinical trial, something that she feels is vitally important because African American women are under-represented in clinical trials.
Ten years as a breast cancer survivor is testament to Sheila’s strength of will. And she takes strength and comfort from her faith, which has helped her to find a greater meaning in her journey. She draws inspiration from her favorite bible verse, Matthew 17:20 – a mustard seed of faith.
Stephanie Walker
Diagnosed in July 2015 with de novo MBC. A Registered Nurse with close to 40 years of clinical practice and secondary teaching experience. Her experience has been pediatric and adult critical care working in level 1 trauma centers to critical access hospitals. The last 15 years of nursing was with End of Life/Hospice care. Only aware of MBC advocacy 3 years after diagnosis, she has pushed for rural equality, equity in breast cancer. She is a member of MBC Alliance (in which she is project lead on the BECOME initiative (Black Experience of Clinical Trial and Opportunities for Meaningful Engagement ), LBBC Helpline/HMV volunteer and Susan G. Komen volunteer.
She is married and lives in Tarboro NC with husband John and rescue dog Rex, advocating for men and women in rural areas as my own for equal access to quality healthcare , treatment modalities, and resources keeps her busy .
Research and Clinical Trials are extremely important. I want researchers to reach out to men and women with MBC to put a human face on their work. Realize that we are dying to live a longer quality of life.
“I’m an open book so ask me.” I don’t want anyone to feel alone, isolated or defeated.
Ricki Farley
As a Stage 3A Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survivor/Thriver, Ricki’s personal purpose, passion, mission, ministry and blessing is to bring focus, attention, research and action to eradicating Black Breast Cancer, and supporting and coaching what she calls her “Breasties” through their breast cancer experience.
Ricki is an award-winning seasoned marketing veteran that has transformed her strategic acumen into breast cancer advocacy. Ricki co-founded and serves as CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance to address Black Breast Cancer as a unique and special disease state, with the overall goal of reducing the mortality rate for Black women. Ricki founded and serves as co-host for “The Doctor Is In,” a weekly live web series on the BlackDoctor.org Facebook page that reaches over 3 million viewers. She is a founding member of #BlackDataMatters, in partnership with Breastcancer.org, Ciitizen, The Center for Health Care Innovation, Morehouse School of Medicine and Susan G. Komen Foundation to encourage and elevate the importance of Black Women participating in clinical trial research. In January 2022, she started the When We Tri(al) Movement to change the game on Black women participating in clinical trials to improve outcomes for Black women with breast cancer.
Ricki serves on the Board of Trustees for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation where she chairs the marketing committee. She is a board member for the Center for Healthcare Innovation, a non-profit research and educational institute making healthcare more equitable. She avidly works with pharmaceutical companies to provide the patient voice for breast cancer awareness, action, therapy/drug development and advocacy.
Ricki has two daughters, Amanda Brown Lierman, Executive Director of Supermajority, and Hayley Brown, 4th Grade Teacher at Kipp DC. She has 3 granddaughters, Belle, 4, Leia, 2 and Hart, 10 months, who remind her of her purpose every day. Ricki is a graduate of Dartmouth College and holds an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Kellee Southern
Kellee Southern’s journey as a breast cancer advocate began on her 45th birthday, December 27, 2012, the day she received her diagnosis. She credits that day as the one that taught her the true value of having God in her life, being surrounded by loving family and friends and embracing life – every moment, every day.
Following her diagnosis, Kellee started her own social media breast cancer awareness campaign called “Touch the Tatas,” through which she reminds women (and men) to do a self-examination on the 27th day of every month. As part of the campaign, she also encourages her pink sisters, their families and others to be their own advocate for treatment and wellness.
As a result of her campaign, Kellee has become a much sought-after speaker — sharing her story of survivorship and raising awareness. In 2013, Kellee and her team of supporters formed Team Butterfly to help raise funds for breast cancer research as part of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Her passion for spreading awareness led to an invitation to speak on the national stage in 2014 and to participate on the Susan G. Komen Advisory Council.
Since diagnosis, Kellee has become very involved in several different Breast Cancer Groups. She serves as a Board Member at For 3 Sisters based in Olney, MD. She has advocated on Capitol Hill with NBBC and serves as a Komen Advocacy Ambassador. She has also been accepted as a participant in the Upcoming Project Lead Institute.
Kellee’s greatest joy is being the wife to her devoted husband (Alvin), a mother to three wonderful children (Glenn, Joshua and Angelique), grandmother to precious grandson (Aiden) and daughter to a loving and supportive mother (Bonnie). By the grace of God, she has also been given the treasured title of breast cancer survivor.
Reverend Tawana Davis, PhD
Reverend Tawana Davis, PhD is currently the Mobilizer (Senior Operations Officer) for the national non-profit Carrie’s TOUCH, a breast cancer research, support, and policy organization that focuses on humanizing Black women and their experience with breast cancer.
Reverend Dr. Davis is the daughter of the late Edward Eugene Davis Jr. and the late Rose Lee Davis. Born and raised in Harlem, New York she was educated in the public school system, raised in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and began her life of service in the beautiful shadows of her mom and dad.
After attending St. John’s University, Tawana completed her last year of studies at State University of New York Empire State with a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management. Reverend Dr. Davis earned a certificate in Project Management from New York University and Human Resources (PHR) from Cornell University. Later, and she received a Master of Divinity at Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. Rev Dr. Davis earned a Master of Arts in Leadership and Change and her Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership ad Change at Antioch University Graduate School of Leadership and Change.
Reverend Dr. Davis is a Womanist, thought provoker, speaker, preacher, and community leader. She is a domestic violence survivor and is in active treatment for metastatic breast cancer survivor. She is an advocate and activist for both domestic violence and breast cancer awareness. Reverend Dr. Davis is the Co-Founder of Soul 2 Soul Sisters, a Black Woman led, faith-based, racial justice non-profit organization that centers Black lives and experiences. Established in 2015, Soul 2 Soul Sisters is leading and facilitating anti-racism work across the country through its signature program Facing Racism. Tawana is a contributor to the ground-breaking academic textbook “Race Work and Leadership: New Perspectives on the Black Experience.” She hosts a podcast called #tuesdayswithtawna on Fb Live, various Podcast platforms, and YouTube. Tawana is featured as the moderator and strategic planner for the award-winning Healing the Healers II 4-part series on Domestic Violence Awareness produced by Odyssey Impact and Transform Films. Get Out the Vote with Nuns on the Bus featured Reverend Dr. Davis as a guest speaker regarding the importance of the Black church and voting. Sojourner Magazine’s 2021 February issue featured Reverend Dr. Davis highlighting her work as a domestic violence survivor and advocate. Dr. Matthew Knowles Impact Podcast on April 5, 2021 featured Reverend Dr. Davis to discuss the Future of the Black Church.
Tawana is a proud mother of master level two educators, a grandmother, and most of all a Justice activist for all!
