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Our Team

Working hard to carry out our mission to prevent, detect early, and survive ovarian and breast cancer.

If you’re interested in joining our team

or email info@rivkin.org

Staff

Board Members

Scientific Advisory Board

Instructors

Survivors

Campus Ambassadors

incoming-executive-director-molly-oconnor

Molly O'Connor

Chief Executive Officer

molly.oconnor@rivkin.org

Wendy Rosen

Chief Development Officer

wendy.rosen@rivkin.org

Christine Szekeres

Marketing & Communications Manager

christine.szekeres@rivkin.org

Amanda Schulte

Development Manager

amanda.schulte@rivkin.org

Kayla Driscoll

Education Program Director

kayla.driscoll@rivkin.org

Molly Oshin

Education & Engagement Manager

molly.oshin@rivkin.org

Jackie Lang, PhD

Scientific Programs Manager

jackie.lang@rivkin.org

Michele Kohorn

Education Program Coordinator

michele.kohorn@rivkin.org
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Maria Ortiz

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Abigail Mendel

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Andrea Rewitz Mizer

Amy P. Sing, MD

Kate Thomas

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Lily Katz

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Maddy Beier

University of Arizona

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Janeth Alonso

University of Oregon

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Leela Wong

UCLA

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Tressa Parkes

University of Utah

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Khajal Ramey

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Riley Rose

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Megan O'Neil

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Christina Best

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Sprince Arbogast

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Anika Christofferson

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Jane Rosenstein

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Nicole Virtue

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Alyssa Reed

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Drea Mizer

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Ellen Minkin

USC

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Gracie Martin

Washington State University

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Seerat Mann

University of Washington

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Taylor Noval

University of Washington

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Sanjana Vookanti

University of Colorado Boulder

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Isabella Stork

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Ashley Holtz

UCLA

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Maya Pande

University of Oregon

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Daisy Lookinland

UCLA

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Ellie Browne

University of Arizona

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Donna Benaroya

Ursula A. Matulonis, M.D.

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Nataly Shayansmith

UC Berkeley

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Douglas A. Levine, M.D.

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Kristin House

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Stacy Goldsby

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Ilyse Wagner

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Jo Gartenberg

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Michelle Tibbs

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Nancy Sivitilli

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Jill Friedman

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Sachia Stonefeld Powell

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Gail Fay

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Jackie L. Mungo

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Julie Duggan

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Katrina Cathcart

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Dona Pintea

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Sarena Perez

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Elizabeth Crouch

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Helen Chen

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Vicki McGrath

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Lauren-grabowski

Lauren Shea

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Kristin Anderson

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Weiping Zou, MD, PHD

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Victoria Seewaldt, MD

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Deborah K. Armstrong, MD

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Kunle Odunsi, MD, PHD

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Saul E. Rivkin, MD

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Santo Nicosia, MD

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Mary L. (Nora) Disis, MD

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Melissa Rivkin

Mary (Nora) Disis, MD - Medical Director

Kirsten Hart Ward

Dan Veljovich, MD

Eddie Fisher [Emeritus]

Katie Van Kessel, MD OB/GYN

Charles Drescher, MD

Katerie Laughlin Schei

Board President

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Garnet Anderson, PhD

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Gloria Bensussen

Alex Smith

Thomas Brown, MD

Bobbie Hinton

Saul E. Rivkin, MD - Founder and Board Member Emeritus

If you’re interested in joining our team

or email info@rivkin.org

When you donate to the Rivkin Center, you give hope to women and their families.

When you donate to the Rivkin Center, you give hope to women and their families.

Genes 101

Our bodies are made of many tiny building blocks called cells. Our cells contain a copy of our genome – all of the DNA genetic code we inherited from our parents. Our genome is organized into 46 chromosomes, 23 inherited from mom and 23 from dad. Each chromosome has hundreds or thousands of genes. Each gene has the instructions to make a protein that may control the structure or function of cells, can determine many things including how tall we are or the color of our eyes. Genes also contain instructions for many things inside of us that we cannot see, such as how our bones are formed or how our heart works. Each gene is made up of molecules called nucleic acids (A, T, C, and G). The specific sequence of the nucleic acids holds the instructions that control all the components and their functions in cells.

If the DNA sequence is changed, like a spelling mistake, the instructions may not make sense. The technical term for this change is “mutation,” meaning there is a change to the usual genetic code that may change the instructions stored in the gene. A mutation in a gene that repairs DNA damage or controls cell growth can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Sporadic vs Hereditary Cancers:

Ovarian and breast cancer can be either sporadic or hereditary. Sporadic cancers make up the vast majority (85-90%) of ovarian and breast cancers and are not associated with family history of either cancer or inherited cancer-associated mutations. Sporadic cancers arise from genetic mutations acquired in some cells of the body by events part of normal metabolism and environmental factors. This type of cancer can happen to anyone. Most acquired gene mutations are not shared among relatives or passed on to children.

Hereditary (also known as inherited, or familial) cancers are those that occur due to genetic mutations that are inherited from mom or dad. Other blood relatives may also share these same gene mutations. Parents give one copy of each gene to their children. If a parent has a genetic mutation in a gene, each of their children have a 50% chance of inheriting that mutation. Therefore, even in families with hereditary cancer, not all family members inherit the mutation that is causing cancer, and their risk of cancer is similar to the average person in the general population. Individuals who are suspected to have a family history with high incidence of ovarian, breast, and other cancers may be offered genetic testing to try to find the specific genetic mutation that may put them at risk. Importantly, individuals who do not have a known genetic mutation but have high incidence of ovarian, breast, or other cancers in their families are still considered at higher risk for developing those cancers.

Hereditary cancers often occur at an earlier age than the sporadic form of the same cancer, so experts often recommend starting cancer screening at a younger age for individuals at high risk for hereditary cancer. Hereditary cancers can also be more aggressive than the sporadic form of the same cancer. Individuals who have inherited a gene mutation may be at a higher risk for more than one type of cancer.

BRCA 1 and BRCA 2: Most Common hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

The genes that are most commonly involved in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) are BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes are named for their link to breast (BR) cancer (CA), but they are also linked to ovarian cancer risk as well as other cancers. Both women and men can inherit mutations in these HBOC genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes that have a usual role in our body of providing instructions on repairing DNA damage and preventing cancer. When a family has an inherited mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2, this leads to an increase in cancer risk. Not every man or woman who has inherited a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene will develop cancer, but people who have a mutation do have a significanlty increased chance of developing cancer, particularly cancer of the breasts or ovaries.

While breast and ovarian cancers are the most common cancers diagnosed in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations, the risk of some other cancers is also increased. Men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations have a higher risk of early-onset prostate cancer than men without mutations in either gene. Other cancers seen at increased rates, particularly in individuals with BRCA2 mutations, include pancreatic cancer and melanoma. Researchers are continuing to find new genes that are involved in hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancer so it is important to follow up with a genetic counselor on a regular basis if hereditary breast and ovarian cancer is likely in your family.

Talk to your family about your health history and take the Assess Your Risk quiz here

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