The Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at USC@AYA USC

AYA @ USC Annual

Weekend Getaway Retreat

September 27 – 29, 2019

We Treat Kids Better

Thank you for joining us at our 3rd annual AYA@USC Norris Young Adult Getaway Retreat at Camp Ronald McDonald.

With the generosity of the Audrey Irmas Foundation for Social Justice, we are able to bring together young adult patients and survivors along with their loved one to create a supportive community, learn new talent and skills, enjoy entertainers and comedians, or just hang out in a relaxing, healing and beautiful setting.

This weekend will leave you inspired, relaxed and with some new friendships. We look forward to a getaway weekend of sharing, laughing and celebrating together!

Aura Kuperberg

Welcome to the AYA@USC Getaway

Retreat 2019!

Speaker Profiles

AYA@USC Getaway Retreat ItinerarySeptember 27 – 29, 2019

Friday, September 27

2:00 pm Bus Departs from USC Norris Cancer Center Lot 70 Biggy Street

5:30 pm Welcome and Orientation (Lounge Lobby) Check-in to Cabins

6:30 pm Dinner (Dining Hall) 8:00 pm AYA Group Activity (Community Building)9:00 pm Campfire, S’mores & Games

Saturday, September 28

7:00 - 7:30 am Coffee Bar/Juices for Early Birds7:30 - 9:00 am Optional Camp Walk9:00 - 10:00 am Breakfast10:00 - 12:00 pm Separate Concurrent Group

Activity For Caregivers/Loved Ones and YAs

Exploring the Art of Ritual Led by survivor, artist and author Nicole Skibola and her mother Dr. Christine Skibola, these workshops will explore how cancer changes our sense of self as a patient and as caregiver. With thoughtful prompts, group discussion and some individual creative practice, participants will create their own ritual to thoughtfully consider who they are in the wake of cancer.

12:30 - 1:30 pm Lunch (Dining Hall)1:30 - 3:30 pm Optional Group Activity

(choose one of the following:)

• Learn to Tap Dance with ProfessionalDancer & Survivor Evan Ruggiero

• Make Your Own Painting

• Learn Fundamentals of Song-Writing withMusic Group Moontower

3:30 - 5:30 pm Camp Climbing Tower (Group Activity)

5:30 - 6:30 pm Free Time6:30 - 7:30 pm Dinner (Dining Hall)

8:00 - 10:00 pm Saturday Night Show with Mocktails & Snacks (Fellowship Hall)• Evan Ruggiero Inspirational Speaker• Musical Performance by Moontower• Quincy Jones, Jon Rudnitsky,

and Jake Nordwind Comedy Show10:00 pm Campfire & S’mores & Games

Sunday, September 297:00 - 7:30 am Coffee Bar/Juices for Early Birds7:30 - 9:00 am Optional Camp Walk9:00 - 10:00 am Breakfast10:00 - 11:30 am Optional Group Activity

(choose one of the following)

• Archery• Fishing• Make Your Own Painting

11:30 - 12:00 pm Pack and Bring Bags to Meeting Room

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch (Dining Hall) and Complete End of Retreat Survey

1:00 - 1:45 pm Closing Meeting1:45 - 2:00pm Group Photo2:00 pm Bus Onboard. Departure

Moontower, a three-piece indie-electronic group, tells the story of a young man named William Hollywood. This protagonist, much like the individual members of the band, has found himself lost in the jungle of suburbia, chasing lost loves and remedying broken promises as he navigates the odyssey of adolescence. But don’t feel bad for young William; though he may be down on his luck, his journey has just begun. Moontower is excited to invite you into his world - one of ninjas, roller skates, pickaxes, and orange juice breakfasts.

As a band, Moontower is known for their captivating live performances that feature their industrial, electronic indie-pop songs. The band met two years ago while all studying music at USC. Moontower has shared the stage with artists such as Bad Suns, COIN, Colouring, Cold War Kids, The Driver Era and Yungblud.

Moontower

Quincy is a comic residing in Los Angeles but originally from Seattle, WA. He’s been featured on Ellen, Conan, HBO, Mevin Hart’s LOL love network, You Made It Weird and WTF w/ Marc Maron. He’s currently on tour with his tour dates for his new HBO hour. Check his website at LLQJ206.com

Quincy Jones

Speaker Profile September 27 – 29, 2019

Jake is currently a member of the Sunday Company at the prestigious Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. He was a New Face at the Just for Laugh’s comedy festival in 2017 for standup. He’s performed in clubs and theaters around North America and was a featured comedian on the 311 Cruise and 420 Fest (please ask him about it). He’s written for Comedy Central, Sacha Baron Cohen, and the digital platform Above Average.

Jake Nordwind

Jon Rudnitsky can be seen most recently opposite George Clooney in the Hulu Series CATCH-22. He was added as the only new cast member of the 41st season of “Saturday Night Live.” In 2017, he starred in the Nancy Meyers produced feature HOME AGAIN, alongside Reese Witherspoon. And he just had his late night stand up debut on CONAN.

Jon Rudnitsky

Speaker Profile September 27 – 29, 2019

Speaker Profile September 27 – 29, 2019

Christine Skibola & Nicole SkibolaChristine Skibola is a former UC Berkeley professor and cancer researcher and she is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Emory School of Medicine. Her main research focused on the study of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that influence cancer risk and disease. After living through both of her daughters receiving cancer diagnoses at young ages, she decided to pursue her passion helping those with cancer and other chronic illnesses through lifestyle and dietary changes and holistic approaches. Christine co-founded Cosmic View, a medicinal cannabis company with her daughter Nicole in 2017.

Nicole Skibola is a cancer survivor, artist and author of Wakeful Night, an illustrated exploration of cancer-related loss she developed to lead readers through their own stages of identity, fear, and metaphorical thinking associated with a cancer diagnosis. She co-founded Cosmic View with her mother in 2017 and is a regular contributor for A Women’s Thing, a print and online magazine based in New York where she writes about entrepreneurship, feminism and finding your path.

AYA@USC Team MembersDr. James Hu, Co-Medical Director

Dr. David Freyer, Co-Medical DirectorJan Huynh, Social Worker

Aura Kuperberg, Project AdministratorShu Li, Program Administrator

Special Thank You September 27 – 29, 2019

The retreat is made possible by the generous support from the Audrey Irmas Foundation for Social Justice

Special Thanks to Matthew and Deborah Irmas

There are many unique and unmet needs for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancer patients, including the lack of focus on AYA clinical and supportive care models, differences in tumor biology, limited health insurance coverage, feelings of isolation, low participation in clinical trials and poor adherence to treatment. To address this “gap”, AYA@USC was established in 2013, representing a collaboration between the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Norris Cancer Hospital, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County Medical Center. This program is based on a joint medical leadership model by USC leaders in pediatric and adult oncology under USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Since 2013, over 550 AYA cancer patients have received individual counseling and psychosocial support services. More than one thousand patients, survivors, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers and community members attended AYA@USC educational conferences, wellness workshops, art and music activities, outdoor adventure, and annual retreats to build up peer support and advocate for AYA patients. Fight on!

Dr. Gino InDr. Jacob Thomas

Dr. Cecilia FuKlaire Blasco

Adriana Mares

Onsite Medical Staff Camp Staff and CounselorsBrian Crater

Chad EdwardsShannon Edwards

Mollie CameronCathy "Campy" Campos

Katie "Kitty" TerryJo Nisha KellyAugie Garcia