The 2025 Komen Health Equity Revolution (H.E.R.) Summit
Breast cancer outcomes should never depend on a ZIP code, a line on a form or the language spoken at home. This conviction powered Susan G. Komen’s 2025 H.E.R. Summit, a virtual gathering of patient navigators, clinicians, community advocates and public health leaders committed to turning equity from aspiration to everyday experience. A crucial platform for gaining insights into how we can collectively work toward ensuring equitable access and exceptional care for all patients, the summit engaged individuals from a range of experiences and backgrounds to learn more about what health equity truly means and how we can all help be a part of it.
Meeting Attendees Where They Are
This year’s summit garnered engagement across varying sectors, reflecting the collaborative nature of Komen’s H.E.R. program. With a focus on advancing equitable care through community partnerships, health care innovation, public health systems and patient-centered advocacy, this event drew over 700 registrants from over 500 organizations and 46 states.
“This was WELL done and impressive! Kudos to the planning team and also to the presenters! Truly appreciated these topics, conversations and what I can do for health equity in my work!”
Diversity is key in representation and research. Forty-four percent of attendees self-identified as a patient, support person or advocate, while 46% of attendees self-identified as Black, African American or Latino/a.
Hospitals and health systems shared screens with grassroots nonprofits, public health agencies and research institutions, creating the kind of cross‑sector dialogue that sparks real change.
Listening to Attendees
An online survey was created to assess attendees’ satisfaction with the summit. This survey was created as a tool to gauge the summit’s effectiveness and 11% of attendees provided their feedback.
“The Summit was extremely well done and informative — great job to the full team involved!”
Ninety-five percent of those attendees who took the survey experienced overall satisfaction, while 97% expressed speaker satisfaction, sharing that speakers were engaging and knowledgeable. Because this event was virtual, it was important to make sure the attendance process was easy and streamlined with 100% of the survey responses saying the platform was user-friendly.
Ninety-eight percent of the respondents shared that they would attend another summit and recommend it to friends and colleagues.
Insights Into Action
The summit’s objectives were to increase attendees’ knowledge related to health equity, share resources and strategies,, and provide actionable information that could be applied to real-world work experiences.
Ninety-eight percent of attendees shared that attending this summit increased their overall understanding of health equity, with the same number of attendees sharing they intend to apply the information learned from the event in their everyday situations.
As a result of this event, 100% of respondents shared that they will now be able to identify and understand the barriers to equitable patient care and the systemic challenges faced across various health conditions.
Highlights for Health Equity
Equity isn’t a single initiative; it’s the lens through which every initiative must be viewed. The 2025 H.E.R. Summit affirmed that progress happens when patients, providers and communities move in concert — sharing stories, data and determination.
As we carry these insights forward, Komen remains focused on three imperatives:
- Amplify community voices: We will continue to elevate patient and caregiver perspectives in program design and research priorities.
- Close resource gaps: Through partnerships and advocacy, we will push for policies that expand access to screening, diagnostics and the latest treatments — regardless of geography or income.
- Measure what matters: Data will guide our next steps and hold us accountable for eliminating disparities, not just describing them.
Together, we can transform breast cancer care so that every person receives the timely, high‑quality treatment and care they deserve.
Do you want to be a part of diversifying research? Learn more about how Komen is helping to diversify research with our ShareForCures® research registry.
Do you need help with a breast cancer diagnosis? The Komen Patient Care Center is here for you!
Call 1-877-465-6636 or email helpline@komen.org to get started.
The Helpline is available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (ET) and Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (ET).
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Komen has educational resources available to help you deal with your own diagnosis here.
We also have resources to help those who are supporting someone with breast cancer here.
