
Episode #15
From Patient to Person: Redefining Cancer Care at the AVBCC LA Regional Collaborative
In this episode of Value‑Based Voices, host Deirdre “Dee” Saulet, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, Jasper Health, and AVBCC Southwest Regional Collaborative Co-Chair, sits down with two extraordinary guests, Kommah "Koko" McDowell, MS, a 21‑year survivor, nationally recognized advocate, and Chief Customer Officer at Tali Health, and Leon Cristobal, MPH, an eight‑year leukemia survivor, and Oncology Sales Consultant, Bayer. Recorded following the AVBCC Regional Collaborative in Los Angeles, this conversation explores what person‑centered care truly looks like in practice—and why the distinction between “patient” and “person” is more than semantics. Koko and Leon share candid reflections on being seen, heard, dismissed, supported, and ultimately cared for by the teams who walked alongside them. Together, they unpack the realities of ageism, cultural bias, caregiver strain, communication gaps, and the emotional weight of diagnosis. They also illuminate the frontline heroes—nurses, navigators, physicians, and access teams—whose humanity shapes the cancer experience. This episode is a call to action for every stakeholder across oncology to design solutions with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to treating people as whole beings. A powerful, deeply human conversation you won’t forget. Resources AVBCC Regional Collaboratives: avbcc.org/regional-collaboratives Association for Value‑Based Cancer Care (AVBCC): avbcc.org City of Hope: cityofhope.org Connect with the Speakers KoKo McDowell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kommahmcdowell/ Leon Cristobal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-cristobal/ Deirdre “Dee” Saulet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdresaulet/ Contact Value-Based Voices - Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn - View our podcast lineup - Contact us at info@avbcc.org Thanks for listening!

