Self-Exploration & Awareness: Learning to Recognize the Subtle Differences in Your Own Body & the Importance of Routine Health Screenings

In 2012 Jess watched a movie that saved her life, A Little Bit of Heaven. The main character is diagnosed with colon cancer. Upon watching the movie Jess realized that she had all the same symptoms as the character and started to do some more research. She fought through 6 different doctors before one would test her for colon cancer. Finally, after months of appointments, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Upon reaching her 5 year cancer free mark, Jess decided to look for a career in the cancer world in hopes of helping others who experienced similar issues that she had.

She started working at GRYT Health in 2017 and has never looked back. She has worn many hats in the company, the latest being the Senior VP of Administration.

Outside of work Jess enjoys a quiet life in Rochester NY, with her husband, their cat and 100+ house plants. Despite being told she wouldn’t be able to have kids due to chemo putting her through early menopause and the loss of her right ovary, Jess and her husband welcomed their first child into the world, Evelyn Killeen Carroll.

Dr. Correa-Selm is a U.S. board certified dermatologist and internist, international dermatologist, fellowship trained Mohs micrographic surgeon and expert confocalist.  She is an Associate Professor at the Dermatology Department of The University of South Florida and is part of the cutaneous oncology multidisciplinary team at Moffitt Cancer Center.  Prior to being at USF/Moffitt, she was the Director of Cutaneous Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital while also teaching as an assistant professor at FSU. Before moving to Florida, she completed a fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery in New Jersey after completing her Dermatology residency at Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Additionally, she also accomplished a confocal microscopy fellowship and a laser/cosmetic research fellowship. She also performed research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer in New York, completed her Internal Medicine residency at Cornell New York Downtown Hospital and performed research at Harvard's renowned Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston following spending one year as a physician in a remote underserved area of South America.  She is a published author of numerous book chapters in dermatology as well as articles in important medical journals.

Asha is a Storyteller and Advocate for physical/mental health and body love. After having 12 surgeries, she advocates for more realness and transparency online and within the cancer community when it comes to our ever-changing body. She is currently flat with no reconstruction. Asha is a freelance writer, a public speaker, and storyteller that shares about the disparities within the BIPOC community, how brands can better represent and support the cancer community, and the importance of being body aware. She’s a stage 3 Breast Cancer Veteran, a lover of laughter, fitness, authenticity and all things chocolate!

At 5 years old, Kyle lost his grandpa to kidney cancer. He didn’t know what cancer was then, nor could he foresee the impact it would have on his life. 19 years later Kyle’s father would be diagnosed with prostate cancer & in another 3 years the same doctor who performed his dad’s life saving surgery would also remove Kyle’s cancerous right testicle.

While Kyle may have lost his ability to become a professional juggler (it’s not very impressive to juggle with only one ball) what he gained is a new mission in life. Utilizing his directing degree from Columbia College Chicago & now fourteen years of art department experience in LA, Kyle founded CHECK 15: The Monthly Cancer Awareness Day. From December 2012 through June 2019, he achieved 68 straight months of new cancer awareness PSAs, fighting cancer through early detection & lowering risk - all delivered with a healthy dose of humor.

Over the past three years, Kyle has been on the Leadership Team for the Los Angeles Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society & has produced the video content for their annual fundraising event. He also continues to work in the entertainment industry & stays creative at home with art & carpentry projects & recently ascended to dog dad status with the adoption of a giant puppy he named Indiana.