Cancer Institute Welcomes New Board Chair
Susan Shoemaker
When Susan Shoemaker was first approached to join the sponsorship committee for the Cancer Institute’s Cancer Survivors Day, her thoughts turned to her grandmother. Mary Adams raised Susan’s father, Jack, and her four other children virtually on her own after losing her husband at a young age. Mary was robbed of what should have been the best years of her life, seeing the family she worked so hard to raise grow and prosper, by a battle with colon cancer.
Susan admired her grandmother and honors her through her work with the Cancer Institute. Susan has served on the Board of Directors since 2013 and will serve as chair for two years. Her mission is to make the Cancer Institute synonymous with “building a healthy community.” The burden of cancer is a heavy one, and the Cancer Institute aims to ease it in any way possible. A cancer diagnosis should not be a scary, lonely road.
The Cancer Institute staff members can answer questions and provide resources to assist with emotional, financial, and other concerns related to a cancer diagnosis. In addition, through the Cancer Screening Navigation program, staff provides individualized assistance to help people complete their cancer screenings. Early detection saves lives. A cancer screening or diagnosis can seem daunting, the Cancer Institute can provide assistance throughout the process.
Susan understands the benefits of these resources in our community and as a resident of Wyoming, Susan is connected to many organizations that serve the area. She serves on the Boards of the Luzerne County Historical Society and the Maple Hill Cemetery and is a member of St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish.
Susan was born in Kingston and attended Villanova University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She went on to receive her Juris Doctorate from New York Law School. She is now a Vice President with the investment firm Riggs Asset Management Company. Susan also serves as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer, and oversees their SEC regulation compliance, putting both her business and law backgrounds to work.
Even with her busy schedule, Susan is motivated by her husband Jim and her three children. But, perhaps her biggest motivator is her parents who, even in their 80s, work to prioritize their health every day. They instilled in her from an early age that “to whom much is given, much will be expected in return.”
Thank you, Susan, for your dedication to the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute. We look forward to your leadership guiding us through the next two years.