2025 Survive & Thrive Conference
PROGRAM AND AGENDA
Ready. Set. Go!
Tracks are designed to give guidance on suggested sessions to attend. However, you can attend any session that interests you.
- Ready Track
- Newly diagnosed or in treatment
- Set Track
- In or completed treatment
- Go Track
- All Participants
Yoga Snacks
Bite-size yoga experiences with Laura Moore will be sprinkled throughout the program.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
3:00 – 6:00 pm
Check In and Kickoff Activities
Welcome! Check in and kickoff activities are open for all participants. Enjoy light snacks and drinks, and connect with other participants with kickoff activities.
San Gabriel Lobby
- Go Track
6:00 – 7:00 pm
Dinner with Ice Breakers
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
READY. SET. GO! What you’ve been waiting for is finally here – Survive & Thrive Conference 2025. Join us for dinner as our dynamic emcees kick things off and you can get to know your fellow attendees.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Keynote Address – Resilience in Uncertainty: Thoughts on Change, Identity, and Growth
Katie Ozuna, LMSW, OSW-C
Katie Ozuna draws on personal experiences to explore the process of rediscovering identity in the midst of uncertainty. She explores themes of loss, transition, and grief, and looks at how resilience can take many forms.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15
7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Respite and Resource Room
The Respite and Resource Room is a great place to gather valuable resources from Texas Oncology Foundation and other organizations focused on cancer and survivorship. It has charging stations and is also a place of sanctuary when you need a few minutes in a comfortable space.
Ames Room
- Go Track
7:30 – 8:30 am
Check In and Breakfast
Please check in and pick up your conference packet. Then head to the ballroom for a nourishing breakfast before the conference kicks off at 8:30 am.
San Gabriel Lobby and Ballroom
- Go Track
8:20-8:30 pm
Saturday Kickoff
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
Texas Oncology Foundation Survive & Thrive Conference 2025 kicks off Saturday morning with the energizing and expert duo of our emcees and facilitators Tamika Felder and Cindy Trice.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
8:30 – 8:45 am
Welcome
Debra Patt, M.D., Ph.D., MBA
Texas Oncology Executive Vice President, Policy and Strategy, Dr. Debra Patt shares her perspectives and a warm welcome to the conference.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
8:45 – 9:00 am
Laughter Yoga
Claire Billingsley
Laughter is the best medicine! Let’s start the day with smiles and the benefits of deep breathing through laughter exercises!
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
9:00 – 10:00 am
Keynote Address – “Get-Real Mindset”
Harry Campbell
To increase the chances of success in life, particularly with care givers, you need to do the little things that increase your chances of winning a disproportionate share of the tossups. In thinking about successful individuals, three focus areas surface – relationships, resilience and renewal. Successful folks tend to their relationships by being an attractor; they overcome obstacles with resilience by embracing the crookedness of life; and they practice a habit of constant renewal by living to learn. This enables them to win at the margin.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
10:00 – 10:15 am
No Guilt: It’s Okay Not to be Okay
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
It’s okay not to be okay. A cancer experience, no matter if you are a patient, caregiver, or long-term survivor, is accompanied by a broad range of emotions. It’s okay to let those emotions show, delve into them, and have no guilt in doing so.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
10:15 – 11:00 am
Medical Panel: Survivorship
Stephanie Broussard, DSW, LCSW-S, APHSW-C
Mike Herman, M.D.
Kathryn Hudson, M.D.
Join an expert panel – two physicians and a social worker – to talk all things survivorship. We’ll define it, discuss when one is considered a survivor, and explore survivorship more deeply, including late and long-term side effects.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
11:00 – 11:15 am
Break
- Go Track
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
Morning Breakouts
Understanding Your Treatment
Stephanie Broussard, DSW, LCSW-S, APHSW-C
Mike Herman, M.D.
Kathryn Hudson, M.D.
Our expert panel will return to expand on the earlier medical panel discussion. This interactive session offers participants the opportunity to ask questions and share reflections about survivorship, late and long-term effects, coping strategies, emotional wellness, and practical approaches to navigating life after treatment.
San Gabriel GH
- Ready Track
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
Morning Breakouts
Caring Without Losing Yourself: Boundaries, Communication, and Connection
Katie Ozuna, LMSW, OSW-C
This session explores how caregivers can maintain balance and well-being while supporting a loved one. We look at setting healthy boundaries, communicating with your loved ones, and caring for yourself.
San Gabriel JK
- Ready Track
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
Morning Breakouts
The Beautiful Reconnection: Finding Intimacy Within the Mind, Body, and Soul After Cancer
Tiera Wade
Take a reflective and restorative journey of rediscovery. Together, we’ll explore how cancer impacts our sense of intimacy, identity, and self-worth — and how healing begins from within. Through guided discussion, shared experiences, and a sensory mindfulness activity, participants will:
- Understand the mind-body-soul connection and its role in emotional and physical healing.
- Learn how self-compassion and grace can reshape how we view intimacy after cancer.
Explore ways to rebuild trust, communication, and confidence in themselves and in their relationships.
San Gabriel AB
- Go Track
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
Morning Breakouts
Healthy Eating While Navigating into Survivorship
Nicole Hodac, MS, RDN, CSO, LD
Explore how nutrition can help you or your loved one feel their best after cancer. We’ll cover simple, realistic ways to eat well, improve energy, and support strength in survivorship.
San Gabriel CD
- Go Track
12:00 – 1:00 pm
Lunch
Kathryn Hudson, M.D.
Enjoy lunch while you meet and connect with others. Just before 1:00, Texas Oncology director of survivorship and Texas Oncology Foundation board member Dr. Kathryn Hudson will share her perspectives and how you can get involved in Texas Oncology Foundation activities.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
1:00 – 1:10 pm
Mindfulness Exercise
David Zuniga, Ph.D., MDIV, MA
Join the Texas Oncology Foundation for a brief, guided meditation focusing on mindfulness, compassion, and helping to ground us for wherever we are in cancer journey.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
1:10 – 1:25 pm
Mini Keynote – Across Paper Bridges: Letters of Light from Youth to You
Ananya Nagendra
Ananya will share her personal story of being a young caregiver to her mother. At her mother’s many appointments she witnessed many people with no support while they were being treated for cancer. These experiences inspired her to create Letters of Light, so that more people can feel support and love during such a vulnerable time.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
1:25 – 1:55 pm
Break
- Go Track
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Ready, Set, Feel: Navigating Emotions Through the Cancer Journey
Rebecca Clinton, LCSW-S
Explore the emotional landscape experienced during the cancer journey, emphasizing the importance of giving yourself permission to feel the full spectrum of emotions, not just the positive ones. Participants will learn how to navigate emotional fluidity, moving between difficult and hopeful feelings with intention and self-compassion.
San Gabriel GH
- Ready Track
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Tips for Treatment Side Effects
Nicole Hodac, MS, RDN, CSO, LD
Learn practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies to ease common side effects during cancer treatment – such as nausea, taste changes, loss of appetite and bowel changes. This session will provide simple tips to help you or your loved one stay nourished, maintain strength, and feel your best through treatment.
San Gabriel JK
- Ready Track
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Hacking Your Nervous System for Pain Management
Laura Moore, RYT 200, Yoga 4 Cancer Certified, Adaptive Yoga Certification
Learn how to recognize the difference between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system. Understand why engaging the parasympathetic nervous system will help you feel better and understand that it actually aids healing. Discover easy ways to engage the Parasympathetic nervous system, anywhere, anytime and have the motivation to try it.
San Gabriel AB
- Set Track
1:55 – 2:40 pm
Art Therapy | Self-Care Sanctuary
Mayra Guevera, ATR-BC, LCAT
Art therapy can support emotional and psychological healing. We’ll explore how engaging in the creative process helps manage stress, express complex emotions, and improve overall well-being. No prior experience with art is needed – just a willingness to explore the power of creativity.
San Gabriel CD
- Set Track
2:40 – 2:55 pm
Break
- Go Track
2:55 – 3:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Unbreakable: Discovering Your True Resilience
David Zuniga, Ph.D., MDIV, MA
The American Psychological Association defines resilience as “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences.” Research consistently shows that the resources and skills associated with positive adaptation can be cultivated and practiced. This session will explore practical mental and behavioral strategies for cultivating greater resilience during your cancer journey.
San Gabriel GH
- Ready Track
2:55 – 3:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Self-Care Isn’t Selfish – It’s Survival
Stephanie Broussard, DSW, LCSW-S, APHSW-C
Healing is not a race or a checklist – it’s a return to your own humanity. In this session, we’ll explore what it truly means to honor yourself beyond a diagnosis or a to-do list. We’ll uncover how small acts of care create big waves of strength. You don’t need to change everything overnight – gentle moments of self-kindness can refill your cup. And we’ll reimagine self-care as something deeply communal.
San Gabriel JK
- Ready Track
2:55 – 3:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
The Gift of Legacy: Supporting People in Telling Their Stories and Leaving a Mark
Kelsey Espinosa, LCSW, OSW-C
We will explore the meaning of legacy – how we create it, share it, and use it as a source of healing and hope for cancer survivors and caregivers. We’ll explore how reflecting on one’s impact and life story can foster emotional connection, resilience, and a sense of meaning throughout the cancer journey.
San Gabriel CD
- Set Track
2:55 – 3:40 pm
Afternoon Breakouts
Cancer Tell All
Harry Campbell
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
Sometimes you just need to get it all off your chest and tell your bestie the real deal about what it’s like to have cancer and the unexpected surprises that can come from it. Harry Campbell, Tamika Felder, and Cindy Trice give us a cancer tell-all, getting real about experiencing cancer as patients and caregivers, and how both can come out better on the other side. Come with your questions for our tell-it-like-it-is speakers.
San Gabriel AB
- Set Track
3:40 – 3:55 pm
Break
- Go Track
3:55 – 4:15 pm
Conclusion
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
At the end of this powerful day, our emcees will lead us in summarizing our day, acknowledging our insights and celebrating the new friends and connections we’ve made. As we bid farewell to our Saturday attendees, we’ll end with action items to READY. SET. GO!
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
4:15 – 6:00 pm
Vendor Market and Happy Hour
Enjoy a refreshing mocktail and a charcuterie board while browsing various community partners and pop-up shops, including hat making, chocolatiers, and KickIt Pajamas.
San Gabriel Lobby
- Go Track
Dinner on Your Own
- Go Track
8:00 pm
Weekend Warrior Pajama Party
Sport your favorite pajamas and don your fuzzy slippers for a modern-day pajama party. Gather on the pool terrace for late-night snacks and fun with your fellow Weekend Warrior participants and speakers.
Pool Terrace (will move to San Gabriel Lobby if weather dictates)
- Go Track
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16
7:00 – 7:30 am
Sunrise Yoga
Laura Moore, RYT 200, Yoga 4 Cancer Certified, Adaptive Yoga Certification
Greet the day by breathing, stretching, balancing, and moving. During this interactive, hands-on session, use diaphragmatic breathing to calm your nervous system and activate your immune system. Learn how to incorporate bone-building, balancing exercises into your day, anytime, anywhere and stretch to reduce stress when you need it most.
Pool Terrace (will move to San Gabriel JK if weather dictates)
- Go Track
7:30 – 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast
Weekend Warriors, after an optional invigorating early morning session, gather in the ballroom for breakfast.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
8:20-8:30 am
Morning Chat with Your Emcees
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
Our vibrant emcees will energize you with an engaging start to the day lay the foundation for a great morning ahead.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
8:30-9:00 am
Mini Keynote Address – From Patient to Purpose: Finding Hope and Community After Cancer
Leticia Hernandez
Cancer changed every aspect of my life — and helped me find my ‘why.’ I’ll be sharing my story and how I turned fear into advocacy, loss into connection, and survivorship into purpose.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
9:00 – 9:15 am
Break
- Go Track
9:15 – 10:00 am
Morning Breakouts
Art Therapy | The Road Ahead
Mayra Guevera, ATR-BC, LCAT
This session offers a gentle space to reflect on where you are in this new chapter of your life. Through guided art-making, you’ll explore your thoughts and emotions about the road ahead, and begin to envision what healing, hope, and support might look like for you moving forward.
San Gabriel CD
- Ready Track
9:15 – 10:00 am
The Three S’s of Nutrition and Cancer: Myth or Truth
Nicole Hodac, MS, RDN, CSO, LD
Is sugar really feeding cancer? Should soy be avoided? Do supplements help – or harm- during treatment? In this interactive session, we’ll separate fact from fiction around the three most talked-about “S’s” in nutrition: sugar, soy and supplements.
San Gabriel AB
- Ready Track
9:15 – 10:00 am
Morning Breakouts
Self Love Sound Bath
Eden Carter, PT, DPT
Begin and end in guided meditation as waves of sound from crystal bowls, chimes, and gentle tones wash over you. A nurturing space to release tension, restore balance, and reconnect with inner peace.
San Gabriel JK
- Set Track
9:15 – 10:00 am
Caregiving and Beyond
Penny DeCou, LCSW, OSW-C
Being a caregiver to a loved with cancer can take on many different roles. What happens when your loved one’s cancer treatment is complete? Do you ever stop being a caregiver? This presentation will cover some common experiences of cancer caregivers during this time.
San Gabriel GH
- Set Track
10:00 – 10:15 am
Break
- Go Track
10:15 – 11:00 am
And Go!
Tamika Felder
Cindy Trice, DVM
Our spirited emcees are back to close the conference with an uplifting time together before we GO! back out into the world refreshed and inspired.
San Gabriel Ballroom
- Go Track
