People often ask us about Forge Survivorship Center. We created Forge as a place where everyone who is touched by breast cancer can have a place to find strength through knowledge, support and encouragement. It’s a place for survivors, family, friends, supporters and co-survivors as they forge on through breast cancer.
Lauren Roberts is the Executive Director for Forge Survivorship Center. She earned her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate at Louisiana State University. Lauren brings over 15 years of experience in a variety of non-profit settings and is passionate about improving the lives of others in her community. As Executive Director, Lauren oversees the operations, strategic planning, and resource management of the organization.
Executive Director
director@forgeon.orgClaire Gray is the Manager of Community Outreach for Forge Survivorship Center. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Birmingham-Southern College and her Masters of Public Administration from UAB. Claire has nearly a decade of experience in a variety of non-profit settings, and is passionate about making meaningful connections in the community. As the Manager of Community Outreach, Claire assists in implementing Forge’s sustainability & outreach initiatives, strengthening and establishing community partnerships, and marketing and communications.
Manager of Community Outreach
claire@forgeon.orgAlaina Pineda is the Program & Data Coordinator for Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Elon University, her Master of Industrial Design from University of the Arts, and her Master of Science in Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Alaina has over 10 years of experience supporting healthcare organizations in their efforts to develop strategic plans and programs that meet the needs of their patients, staff and the community at large. She is passionate about finding creative ways the healthcare industry can be innovated to improve experience, care and outcomes. As the Program & Data Coordinator, Alaina is responsible for the development and management of the high-impact programming that Forge offers the community as well as reporting on Forge’s data and outcomes to inform positive healthcare transformations across the country.
Program & Data Coordinator
alaina@forgeon.orgChristina is the Volunteer Coordinator for Forge Survivorship Center. She earned her Bachelor of Religion at Samford University and Master of Divinity at Emory University. She has several years of volunteer coordinating experience with cultural institutions, and is excited to engage her passions for compassionate care and volunteerism at Forge. She is dedicated to enhancing volunteers’ experiences by listening to their passions and skills and seeking where they can be present in exciting and creative ways at Forge. As the Volunteer Coordinator, she recruits and trains volunteers, oversees volunteer activities and events, and oversees the Lifestyle Programs.
Volunteer Coordinator
volunteer@forgeon.orgJanet Dees is the Client Services Coordinator for Forge Survivorship Center. She earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Samford University and her Master of Business Administration from UAB. Janet has over 20 years of experience working with women and their health-related issues. She is passionate about providing support and resources to women and those who love them as they navigate the cancer experience. As the Client Services Coordinator, Janet works with our clients to create the best possible plan to help meet their needs and situation.
Client Services Coordinator
janet@forgeon.orgSamantha Nichols is an intern at Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center. She is a current student at Samford University and is working on earning her Bachelors of Science in Nursing with a minor in psychology. She is part of the Micah Fellows program at Samford University, which is an honors program devoted to service where each student chooses a nonprofit in the Greater Birmingham Community to serve throughout college. Samantha chose to join Forge because she is passionate about healthcare and wants to learn ways to find resources for patients that best suit them as individuals. As a co-survivor, Samantha desires to support the breast cancer community and gain knowledge on new ways to make the healthcare world a more positive place for patients.
Forge Intern
St. Vincent's Foundation
Direct Communications
Forge Survivorship Center
Vice President Ascension Health and Chief Mission Integration Officer
St. Vincent's Health System
Chief Administrative Officer
Grandview Medical Center
Chief Operating Officer
Princeton Baptist Medical Center
President and CEO
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
SVP, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
UAB Health System
St. Vincent's Radiation Oncology Manager
Executive Director, Oasis Counseling for Women and Children
Emeritus Professor of Medicine, UAB
Co-founder, UAB Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Center
Administrative Director, UAB Center for Palliative and Supportive Care
Assistant Professor of Surgery, UAB Division of Surgical Oncology
Resource Navigator / Social Worker, Princeton Baptist Medical Center
Breast Cancer Rehabilitation, BenchMark
Executive Chef, Cooking with Cancer, Inc.
Specialist in Oncology Nutrition, St. Vincent's Health System
UAB Hematology Oncology, Integrative Medicine Clinic Director
Director, Rehab Services, Brookwood Baptist
Surgical Oncologist, Alabama Oncology
Radiation Oncologist, Brookwood Baptist Cancer Care Center