Jacqueline Smith
Jacqueline is a two-time stage III melanoma survivor who has dedicated the last decade of her life to patient advocacy, health policy and advancing the field of cancer survivorship. Currently, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and State Government Affairs at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Jacqueline was formerly Associate Director for U.S. Oncology Advocacy and Professional Relations at Bristol Myers Squibb where she oversaw the melanoma, breast, and survivorship portfolios. Jacqueline is also a former staffer for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Due to Jacqueline’s health advocacy efforts, she is a frequent speaker on Capitol Hill and beyond, including being a Spotlight speaker at the Biden Cancer Summit. She has been featured in InStyle, Self Magazine, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Yahoo Health, and other international publications. Jacqueline has also shared her melanoma journey and expertise on live news broadcasts, on NPR and in documentaries. She is proud to be nominated to serve on the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Council of Research Advocates, appointed to external advisory board for H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center's Skin Cancer and Health Disparities/Health Equities SPORE program, and as a reviewer for the U. S. Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Research Program in melanoma. She is a former appointed Commissioner on Montgomery County’s Commission on Health (Maryland), served on the Board of Directors for the Melanoma Research Foundation and served as the survi
