Ruth was 36 when diagnosed with breast cancer followed by a second primary breast cancer diagnosis in 2004. Treatments included lumpectomy, chemo, and radiation; and for the second bout, double mastectomy, reconstruction, hormone ablation, tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. A faculty member in University of Pittsburgh's Department of Medicine from 1985 through 2009, Ruth received her BS Degree in Biology from Carlow College and her PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Pittsburgh. Ruth is a trained advocate who is actively serving on several awarded grants as well as many currently under review. Now, Mission Coordinator for Susan G. Komen for the Cure Pittsburgh, Ruth embraces her survivorship, translating it into work that delivers on Komen's promise to end breast cancer forever. Ruth has been involved with TRCCC since the 2012 meeting.