Launched by Grassroots.org, Faces of Change is a series of videos that highlight how individuals are contributing to change in their communities. Our latest video is from:
Tonya Kurtova, a volunteer for Advita Fund USA, grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was there where she studied biology/immunology at St. Petersburg State University. During her practice in leukemia diagnostics at Pavlov State Medical University, she witnessed first-hand the challenges that Russian cancer patients face: from lack of medications and supplies, to widespread infections and financial struggles. Upon her graduation, Tonya had a chance to come to the US in 2007 to continue her studies. She worked as a researcher for Leukemia Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and is currently pursuing graduate degree in biomedical sciences. Tonya’s long-term goal is to become a translational biology researcher to bridge the bench and bedside for novel cancer therapeutics.
Tonya became one of the first volunteers of Advita Fund USA once it was established in the US. Advita Fund USA works closely with AdVita fund in Russia, which supports the same patients Tonya had been helping as a young immunology student. For Tonya, it is a chance to use her education and knowledge to help Russian patients get access to the latest cancer treatments unavailable at home by arranging for consultations with medical experts and helping find matching clinical trials or other treatment options.
As Henry Ford once said: “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success”. Tonya believes that her professional and personal attitude in helping cancer patients as a volunteer for AdVita Fund USA will help in bringing a real change to many cancer patients in Russia.
For more information, please visit Advita Fund USA website
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