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:   / kommahmcdowell   Leon Cristobal:   / leon-cristobal   Deirdre “Dee” Saulet:   / deirdresaulet   ***************************** Timestamps 00:00:00— Introduction to Value-Based Voices and the episode topic 00:00:52— Welcome to the guests and introduction to person-centered care 00:01:31— Koko introduces herself and shares her cancer survivorship story 00:03:10— Leon introduces himself and his experience as a leukemia survivor 00:04:18— The conversation begins on the meaning of person-centered care 00:05:24— Leon shares why the words “patient” and “person” feel different 00:06:52— Koko explains how being dismissed shaped her view of person-centered care 00:08:52— Leon reflects on his diagnosis journey and shift from person to patient 00:10:50— The hosts connect both perspectives and clarify the core issue: being seen and heard 00:12:18— Discussion of treating the whole human, not just the tumor 00:13:16— Koko clarifies that ageism, not race, shaped her dismissal experience 00:15:01— Leon shares how a caring nurse changed his experience 00:17:25— Koko describes the nurse practitioner who made her feel cared for at City of Hope 00:18:59— Defining characteristics of true person-centered care 00:19:26— Leon says person-centered care is simply humans taking care of humans 00:20:01— Discussion of caregiver support and reducing team burnout 00:21:23— Koko offers the “third cousin” framework for deeper human connection 00:24:25— Leon explains the need for better diagnosis education from day one 00:25:45— Koko shares her wish for a different doctor during the pre-diagnosis period 00:27:03— Koko describes a digital platform idea for patient education and questions 00:29:06— The hosts discuss peace of mind, discharge anxiety, and the value of technology 00:31:15— The conversation turns to guidance for non-provider stakeholders 00:32:32— Leon advises stakeholders to lead with humility and ask better questions 00:34:14— Koko expands on changing old habits and challenging “we’ve always done it this way” 00:36:28— Discussion of the financial burden of care and how cost affects survival decisions 00:37:28— Closing remarks and episode wrap-up