Meredith
Mitstifer,
PsyD
Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate, Clinical Psychologist, Alumni
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Meredith Mitstifer obtained her Psy.D at PCOM in 2007. She is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for the Federal Bureau of Prisons & adjunct psychology faculty member. Meredith was diagnosed with clear cell epithelial ovarian cancer at the age of 30, while four months pregnant. Following treatment, she became a fierce advocate. She serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). Meredith has presented & published research on perceived partner adaptation during a cancer diagnosis, national public speaker on awareness and is a contributing writer for BRIGHTER magazine on mental health, grief & loss.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
This presentation explores an interprofessional education (IPE) module featuring a powerful narrative from a 53-year-old psychologist, ovarian cancer survivor, mother, and alumna of the host institution. She shared her 23-year journey, beginning with a diagnosis of a rare form of ovarian cancer at age 30 while pregnant and completing her doctoral training in psychology.Her story illuminated the complexity of navigating medical decisions in the absence of clear evidence-based guidance, while managing the emotions of a life-altering diagnosis. She described encounters with healthcare…