Staff & Board
Our Staff
Stephanie Samolovitch, Executive Director
Stephanie Samolovitch is the Founder and Executive Director of Young Adult Survivors United, the health and wellness community for young adult cancer survivors, aged 18-39 when diagnosed. YASU’s comprehensive model provides emotional and mental health, social, and financial support that enhances young adults’ quality of life. Stephanie’s advocacy focuses on prevention, increased awareness, and most effective ways to support this unique cancer population. Dedicated to her hometown, she was a 2019 Pittsburgh Magazine “40 under 40” honoree and 2018 KDKA Radio “Hometown Hero” recipient.
Stephanie is a member of the Southwest PA Cancer & Environment Network, a UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Community Advisory Board Member, and an active advocacy representative for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network. She is a Patient Advisory Council member for the Elephants and Tea Magazine and Patient Expert Council member for Servier Pharmaceuticals. Stephanie admires community partnerships and any opportunity to embark on new outdoor adventures. In her spare time you can find her running, biking, or preparing healthy meals.
Sara Talerico, Events Coordinator
Sara, a Pittsburgh native is a graduate of Kent State University. She has built her career in Retail Merchandising and Vendor Relations. She has worked for a number of corporations located in the Greater Pittsburgh Area including GNC, Giant Eagle, and American Eagle Outfitters. Most recently Sara was an Account Manager for a natural foods distributor where she managed the end-to-end sales process for a portfolio of Natural and CPG Brands for her clients.
Sara has always had a passion for event planning, along with giving back to the community and helping those in need. She was determined to turn those passions into a career one day. Sara met Stephanie in 2015. She quickly learned of the great work Stephanie was doing through her Young Adult Cancer Support (YACS) group and became an instant supporter. Throughout the years Sara has participated in various YACS and YASU events and is an annual contributor to The Wig Out. As YASU grew, so did Sara’s support of the organization which has ultimately led her to where she is today.
Outside of work, Sara is a fitness enthusiast. She enjoys yoga, running, swimming, and all things that get her moving outdoors. She also enjoys playing the piano, reading, spending time with family and friends, and spoiling her two nephews (of course)!
Sara is thrilled to join YASU and looks forward to what this next chapter holds for her as she continues to support and grow with this amazing team!
Our Board
Bryan Doner, MD, DO
President,
D&P Medical Group, LLC
Compassionate Certification Centers
Mark Burnett, MSL
M.Burnett & Company
Bryan Doner, MD
President,
D&P Medical Group, LLC
Compassionate Certification Centers
Bio
Kimberly Pedersen, PhD
Vice President
Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute
Kimberly received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri in 2016. She completed her internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS with a specialization in Underserved Populations and Clinical Health Psychology.
She has been an Assistant Professor at Drexel University College of Medicine and a Clinical Health Psychologist at AHN since 2017. She currently serves as the Program Lead for Clinical Health Psychology, working in integrated healthcare settings including hematology-oncology and medical oncology, providing psychological services to cancer survivors and co-survivors
Jaye Wilson, CIA
Treasurer
Schneider Downs & Co.
Jaye is a leader in the Risk Advisory Services Practice at Schneider Downs & Co., a top 60 accounting, advisory and consulting firm. He brings more than 15 years of experience in risk advisory services, internal audit and strategy and operations consulting. Prior to joining Schneider Downs, Jaye was with professional consulting services firms Deloitte and RGP, providing strategy and operations project management in areas of accounting, finance, internal audit, information management and supply chain for public and private clients. Additionally, Jaye spent time at a federal government intelligence community agency and a major Fortune 500 financial services company.
Jaye is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (ICYB), and has completed the American Bankers Association (ABA) National School of Compliance Certificate.
In addition to being a board member and treasurer for Young Adult Survivors United (YASU), Jaye is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Pittsburgh Chapter and Risk Management Association, Pittsburgh Chapter.
John Fahey, RICP
Secretary
New York Life
John Fahey, RICP®, board member since 2019, is a Financial Professional with New York Life/NYLIFE Securities LLC. John has a passion for helping others, which has led him to his involvement with YASU.
John is an avid golfer, bowler, and loves meeting new people. He also enjoys a sudoku puzzle and he is learning how to play Maj Jongg. John is excited about the growth and increased local support and awareness of YASU. Say hi if you see him on the golf course!
Mounzer Agha, MD
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Mounzer Agha, MD
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Yolanda Murphy, BSBM
YA Cancer Survivor
University of Pittsburgh
Yolanda J. Murphy was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She graduated from Trinity Christian High School and went on to obtain her BS in Business Management from Carlow University. For several years, Yolanda worked for a healthcare company and until 2016 was living a “normal” simple life. At the age of 36, things drastically changed. Yolanda was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) of the left breast. She underwent four rounds of chemotherapy and thirty radiation treatments. As a young African American woman, she thought this could never happen to her and more frightening was the inability to find the necessary resources to help her navigate her now new normal.
While she is thankful for the organizations that did help her fight for life, she is passionate about advocating and providing resources for young women suffering with breast cancer. She understands how important it is for women to know being “too young to get cancer” is a myth. Yolanda is also adamant in seeing an end to the racial disparities African American breast cancer patients face and to ensure every young adult diagnosed with cancer knows they are not alone. In 2018, she created a blog and podcast (This Exceptional Journey – thisexceptionaljourney.com) to share her story and to help others tell theirs.
Yolanda serves as an Advocacy Ambassador with the Susan G. Komen Center for Public Policy, a Patient Advisory Committee (PAC) member for the Steven G. Cancer Foundation & Elephants and Tea Magazine, a Community Council Member with A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, a Pennsylvania State Leader as well as serving on the Council of Advisors Board in Patient Education with Young Survivor Coalition (YSC), a Young Adult Cancer Survivor (YACS) advisory board member with Cactus Cancer Society, a board member as well as a support group facilitator of Young Adult Survivors United (YASU), a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project LEAD science and research advocacy course, and a graduate of the Young Advocate program with Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC).
She has shared her story with a variety of audiences, organizations and through different mediums which include being interviewed by Pittsburgh, PA local news outlets KDKA and WTAE, featured in the Soul Pitt Magazine, the New Pittsburgh Courier and Elephants and Tea Magazine, She has participated in the National Breast Cancer Coalition and Susan G. Komen Policy Advocacy Lobby Days at Capitol Hill, was the keynote speaker at the Young Survival Coalition Symposium, and The Anthropologie Fall Fashion Show benefitting LBBC.
Yolanda is now 5 years cancer-free and encourages all she meets by declaring: “I am a miracle! Despite what it looks like – if I can make it, you can make it! Find what gives you hope.” Equally important, she wants women to know they have the inner strength and mental tenacity to conquer anything they are going through, including difficult physical challenges.
Follow Yolanda J Murphy, @thisexceptionaljourney, on Facebook, Instagram and @tejpodcast on Twitter. For speaking engagements, sessions or just to be in touch, she can be reached at hello@thisexceptionaljourney.com.
Mark Burnett, MSL
M.Burnett & Company
David Palmer
Logistics Manager
David K. Palmer retired in 2021 from 34 years in the cockpit with USAirways and American Airlines. He received both his Bachelor and Master of Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
He worked as a volunteer and Logistics Manager for the Western Pennsylvania chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for many years, and served on the Board there for five years in the early 2000’s. He has served on the Board of YASU since 2021. David and his wife Alison reside in Marshall Twp, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA.
Matt Miller, MD
Allegheny Health Network
Dr. Matthew J. Miller is a Diagnostic Radiologist specialized in Breast Imaging, with additional interests in the promotion of health care and radiology education, literacy and outreach.
Dr. Miller grew up in Wheeling, WV. He attended Washington & Jefferson College where he majored in Biology. Following his undergraduate education, Dr. Miller attended West Virginia University School of Medicine where he obtained his Medical Degree in 2013. Dr. Miller stayed at WVU for his Radiology Residency where he was elected Chief of recruitment and outreach and also served on the Quality of Care Committee, Resident Health and Wellness Committee, and Education Fund Committee.
During his time as a Radiology Resident, Dr. Miller’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 29. He subsequently completed a Fellowship in Breast Imaging at WVU.
Dr. Miller joined Allegheny Health Network (AHN) in 2019, where he is a practicing Breast Imaging Radiologist and also serves as Associate Residency Program Director and Chair of the Clinical Competency Committee.
Dr. Miller has numerous publications, and is actively involved with many local, regional, and national organizations. He currently serves as the secretary for the Pittsburgh Breast Imaging Society (PBIS) and sits on committees with the American College of Radiology (ACR), and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI). He recently developed a webinar series with the Society of Breast Imaging titled the #SBISummerSeries which covers a wide variety of topics dealing with breast health.
Dr. Miller currently resides in Pittsburgh with his wife and two sons.
Sarah Edwards, MHA
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Sarah is an oncology nurse. After losing her mother to cancer in 2014, she decided to change careers and go back to school for nursing. She believes it was one of the best decisions she has ever made. She has found her passion in helping others.
Currently, she holds a Masters in Health Administration and is working towards a second Masters in Nursing. She loves to laugh and make people smile.