Lauren Bendesky is an MD/MBA student at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation this May, she will pursue residency in radiation oncology at the University of California San Francisco. She was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in 2012 during her freshman year of high school. After completing chemotherapy, radiation, a stem cell transplant, and immunotherapy, she went on to complete a clinical trial in 2016.

Although she battles many of the late-term effects of her treatment, she considers herself a fortunate one, surviving and remaining cancer-free. Since her entrance into the cancer world in 2012, Lauren has dedicated herself to serving as a patient advocate and future healthcare provider. As a HOPA committee member, her focus is to provide the pediatric patient perspective and increase awareness about the need for continued research and healthcare team collaboration.