New Members Join MBCA in 2025: Unity, Vision, and Dedication

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The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA) is excited to welcome new members to its coalition in 2025. As a national leader in collaborative action, the Alliance continues its mission to transform and improve the lives of people living with metastatic breast cancer. This work includes a strategic focus on advancing research, making clinical trials more patient-centric, removing barriers to standard of care, and integrating quality of life services and care into all treatment planning.

Meet Our New Members as of 2025

NEW INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

Tami Eagle Bowling
Tami Eagle Bowling is a motivational speaker, patient advocate, and the driving force behind global initiatives that raise awareness and critical funding for MBC research. Diagnosed de novo with Stage IV MBC in 2015, while raising two young daughters, Tami has turned her personal journey into a mission to improve outcomes and inspire resilience worldwide. She is the creator of The Eagle Method, a framework that encourages embracing uncertainty, finding gratitude, and living with purpose in the face of adversity. She is also the Global Campaign Director of #LightUpMBC, a movement that illuminates landmarks across the globe each October to shine a light on metastatic breast cancer; and the creator of #LightUpMBC LIVE, a livestream broadcast that blends patient stories, musical performances, and scientific insights to educate and inspire audiences. These efforts have raised over $2 million in research funding for METAvivor, fueling vital grants that directly impact patient survival and quality of life. Tami is also a Co-Producer of The Janice Jam: Broadway for Breast Cancer concert, uniting performers and supporters to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Tami is a passionate policy advocate, published author, and mentor for ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. Learn more.

Marybeth Gilliam
Marybeth was diagnosed with stage 0 ER+, HER2+ breast cancer in 2007 at age 39, just after having two young sons, and underwent a bilateral mastectomy on her 40th birthday. In 2020, she learned her disease had metastasized with disease in heart, skull, lymph nodes, and lots of bones. After responding to standard therapy, Marybeth began searching for ways to “outperform” the statistics and was astounded to find extensive peer reviewed research on actionable anti-cancer strategies—research that had never been shared with her as a patient. Determined to change that, Marybeth founded Outperform Cancer, a website and podcast that connects patients with leading researchers to make life-changing science accessible. She now advocates as a community research ambassador and grant reviewer for Dartmouth Cancer Center, a voting member of UVM’s Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee, an advisory board member for Moving Through Cancer, and part of the leadership team for the Cancer Vaccine Coalition. With a background in healthcare strategy, qualitative and quantitative research, and executive leadership in technology, she is passionate about translating research into action for the MBC community. Learn more.

Natalie Hyman
Natalie was diagnosed with stage 2 ER/PR+ breast cancer in 2009 at age 33. At that time, her mother was in active treatment for stage 4 breast cancer. Despite aggressive and comprehensive treatment, Natalie’s cancer returned in 2020 as stage 4 ER/PR+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Her local oncologist ordered a full body PET/CT and brain MRI upon diagnosis. The MRI revealed 26 small brain mets, all asymptomatic. Natalie is a graduate of the 2022 Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s Hear My Voice Metastatic Advocacy Program. She continues to work as an advocate mentor with GRASP. She is incredibly grateful to be a member of the national Breast Cancer Brain Mets (BCBM) Support Group (sponsored by SHARE Cancer Support). Natalie serves as a brain mets patient advocate for the MBC Alliance’s Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis Initiative. Natalie’s local advocacy concentrates on bringing clinical trials to Hawaii where she currently lives. She is co-leader of the Patient Advocacy Council for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. Learn more.

Amy Russell-Parliman
Amy holds a Master’s in Health Administration and serves as a Director of Diagnostic Imaging for a health system in upstate New York, but the accent is all Georgia. After an early stage breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, Amy was diagnosed with metastatic lobular invasive carcinoma in 2019. Amy’s advocacy efforts since her MBC diagnosis includes serving as the Social Media guru for Project Life, she is trained as a mentor for MBC patients, completing the Hear My Voice Program through LBBC in 2022, serving as a patient advocate for DOD grants, teaching others about diagnostic testing through Spinning Science and elsewhere, serving on the MBC Leadership Committee for SurvivingBreastCancer.org, serving as a individual member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance and so much more. Amy is married to her sweetheart, Chris, and they have three fur babies who run their household. Learn more.

Betty Sanchez
Betty’s cancer care advocacy is focused on delivering resources that support preventive, diagnostic, shared-decision making empowerment, clinical trials, financial tools, & palliative care. Her primary missions include coordinating & hosting informative social gatherings that educate, engage and empower the Spanish-speaking cancer patient community with scientific, medical and financial facts and information. Although her advocacy efforts focus on the Hispanic/Latino communities and within the island population of Puerto Rico, her full time dedication is to advocate for all cancer patients. Learn more.

Maren Coffman
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance is deeply saddened to share that Maren Coffman passed away shortly after joining as a member. We are honored to have welcomed her into our coalition and are privileged to share her story and legacy.
Maren Coffman was diagnosed with DCIS in 2014 at age 44. Cancer recurred in 2019 at age 49 as ER+ Her2- Metastatic Breast Cancer. Shortly after her diagnosis, Covid became an epidemic, and Maren felt especially isolated, unable to find a peer support group for women with MBC. Maren facilitated the development of an MBC support program and secured funding for therapeutic (and fun!) activities. She also developed a research survey to better understand the support needs of women with MBC. Professionally, Maren was a Registered Nurse; she earned her PhD in nursing at the University of Connecticut and had taught at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for over 20 years! She was awarded research grants from the the American Nurses Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. As a peer advocate, Maren served the Komen Foundation, Project Life, and peer reviewed grants for METAvivor, and the Breast Cancer Research Program. Maren was married with 4 children and a goldendoodle. Learn more.

NEW NONPROFIT MEMBERS

For the Breast of Us
For the Breast of Us is a pioneering organization dedicated to uplifting and supporting women of color impacted by breast cancer. Our mission is to bridge the gap in care and information, ensuring all women, regardless of background, have access to the resources, support, and advocacy needed to navigate their breast cancer journey.
Learn more.

Project Life
Getting a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can feel like getting written off. Because MBC is considered incurable, achieving official status as a “cancer survivor” remains just out of reach. So do most survivorship programs designed to support cancer patients post-treatment. But people can live with MBC for years, and they need and deserve this kind of holistic support to live their best life. Project Life was created by people living with MBC to bridge the gap. As an online home for metastatic breast cancer patients and their loved ones, Project Life is designed to support all facets of wellness: from financial and social, to spiritual, physical and emotional. Its virtual “wellness house” is a space where members can find mentors and meet other MBC thrivers, join survivorship conversations and classes, and explore skills and knowledge that empower them to make every day the best that it can be. Learn more.

NEW INDUSTRY MEMBERS

TerSera Therapeutics
TerSera’s one-of-a-kind approach combines clinical expertise with a patient-first mentality to deliver therapeutics that transform patients’ lives. They follow the science to uncover and expand new possibilities for patients.
Learn more.