In Memoriam: Dr. Amy Beumer, A Joyful Force for Good

The MBC Alliance celebrates the life and work of member Amy Beumer, who passed away on June 4, 2026 at age 47. Amy, who lived with metastatic breast cancer for six years, made an outsized impact on our community through her generous spirit, brilliant mind, and authentic heart.

Amy was diagnosed with Stage I breast cancer as well as extensive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 2017, at the age of 38. A newly married assistant professor with a PhD in microbiology, she initially returned to teaching and research after treatment. Three years later, she was diagnosed with a pleural effusion and other distant metastases. Progression on her first drug regimen was rapid, leading her to retire from academia.

A lifelong learner who met every challenge with curiosity and resilience, Amy immersed herself in the science and community of MBC, becoming a patient advocate. Her work spanned legislative advocacy, peer support and mentoring, research, and education. She was determined to make the greatest impact possible by using the skills she had developed as both a scientist and educator.

As an individual advocate member of the MBC Alliance, Amy played an integral role in reviewing and updating The Insider’s Guide to MBC, incorporating the latest science into a patient-written resource that continues to be maintained after the passing of its author, Anne Loeser. This guide remains available at no cost to the MBC community. Amy also served as a panelist at the Alliance’s 2025 member meeting at ASCO, helping explore ways to amplify member voices and advance policy and research efforts.

Her work with the Alliance was just one small part of a far-reaching commitment to serving others. As a legislative advocate with the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Amy worked at the federal level to represent the voice and needs of the breast cancer community in her home state of Ohio, championing access to care and research funding. As an advocate mentor with GRASP (Guiding Researchers & Advocates to Scientific Partnerships), she helped guide peers in sharing patient perspectives with researchers to inform trial design, drug development, and more. She also served as a peer mentor and volunteer science researcher with Project Life, writing a science column for its newsletter and creating educational opportunities for the MBC thrivership community.

Amy was also a trained peer support group leader and patient advocate grant reviewer for METAvivor, eventually becoming a member of its Board of Directors. She served during a critical period of growth, helping guide the organization as its work of funding innovative MBC-focused research became more important than ever.

She was also a team member supporting the Patient Centered Dosing Initiative, working to educate healthcare professionals and patients on the benefits of partnering to determine a personalized dose of cancer drugs with the aim of easing severe side effects, and allowing patients to stay on treatments longer while maintaining effectiveness.

“Getting to be part of scientific inquiry with her was irreplaceable,” said Martha Carlson, a fellow advocate who worked alongside Amy on the PCDI team. “It was so much fun to talk science with her because even though I am not a scientist, she took every question or idea as seriously as she did with everyone. She was full of heart, kindness and a quirky sense of humor, and saying she will be missed is not saying nearly enough.”

Even during challenging progressions, Amy continued to show up with the same gifts she had brought to her classroom: an unwavering commitment to learning, a deep desire to help others, and a steady but lighthearted presence. People were naturally drawn to her, and the impact she had on fellow advocates, patients, and friends was profound.

“Amy brought something rare to every room she entered,” said fellow patient advocate Janice Cowden, who worked with Amy across numerous projects and became a close friend. “She never led with credentials or tried to impress anyone. Instead, she shared her knowledge generously, and had a gift for making everyone around her feel smarter. One of her favorite sayings was ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’ and it was how she lived. She never hesitated to lend her expertise when it could help someone else.”

In the rare moments when she wasn’t advocating for others Amy could often be found hiking, traveling, reading, and gardening. She loved beach vacations, hot springs soaks, and any opportunity to reconnect with friends over a glass of wine. And she treasured time with her beloved husband Will, her family, and her dog Hermes.

Amy will be remembered not only for her remarkable ability to make complex science accessible, but for the genuine connections she built with everyone she met. As a coalition, we remain committed to carrying forward her spirit of service and her vision of a better future for all those living with metastatic breast cancer.