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We Make Up the California Firefighters Skin Cancer Coalition!
is a nonprofit, founded in 2022. It is a SoCal-based foundation created in memory of firefighter/paramedic Andy Valenta. Andy worked for the City of Vista Fire Department in San Diego County for 11 years. In January 2021, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma. Just 3 months later, he died. Andy was only 33 years old. He left behind his wife, Caylie, and his 2 daughters that were only 4 and 2 years old at the time.
Andy’s death was determined to be job-related, meaning he developed this cancer because of his work as a firefighter. Melanoma is one of many types of cancer that firefighters have an increased risk for.
When Caylie learned about this, she realized that skin cancer is also one of the easiest cancers to screen for and treat, if caught early. However, most fire departments did not provide skin cancer screenings for their personnel.
The Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation is a nonprofit, founded in 2022. It is a SoCal-based foundation created in memory of firefighter/paramedic Andy Valenta. Andy worked for the City of Vista Fire Department in San Diego County for 11 years. In January 2021, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Melanoma. Just 3 months later, he died. Andy was only 33 years old. He left behind his wife, Caylie, and his 2 daughters that were only 4 and 2 years old at the time.
Andy’s death was determined to be job-related, meaning he developed this cancer because of his work as a firefighter. Melanoma is one of many types of cancer that firefighters have an increased risk for. When Caylie learned about this, she realized that skin cancer is also one of the easiest cancers to screen for and treat, if caught early. However, most fire departments did not provide skin cancer screenings for their personnel.
is a nonprofit aimed to assist firefighters and EMS workers and their immediate families diagnosed with cancer by providing badge to badge support, training, and guidance. Their goal is to be the global leader in firefighter cancer support, awareness, and education.
FCSN has delivered our extensive cancer awareness and prevention training program to thousands of firefighters across the US and Canada from the largest fire-service events, including the Fire Department Instructors Conference, Fire Rescue International, and the National Volunteer Firefighter Council national conference to fire departments of every size, both volunteer and career.
Widely hailed as a groundbreaking study and guidebook, the 2013 FCSN White Paper, Taking Action Against Cancer in the Fire Service, continues to be an important resource for individuals and fire departments nationwide to expose, reduce and manage cancer risk. The useful, 11 immediate actions, has been implemented across the country to help protect firefighters from occupational cancer.
FCSN continues to actively engage with experts to participate in engineering and medical research studies. Additionally, FCSN continues to be a resource for leading cancer organizations, physicians, research scientists and institutes to gather and report the prominence of cancer amongst members of the fire service.
FCSN staff provides information specific to cancer in firefighters. In particular, types most prominent, demographic information, statistical data related to geographical incidence, and other relevant data points. FCSN also works directly with many of the leading cancer physicians, research scientists and institutes to gather and report the prevalence of cancer amongst members of the fire service.
To date, FCSN has directly assisted over 11,000 families across the US and Canada. They also proudly have close to 1,000 volunteers that assist families and departments with cancer-related needs or education.
(CalDerm) has been in existence for over 50 years. Its purpose is to protect and foster the practice interests and health of both California dermatologists and their patients. While the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is the national society, CalDerm represents California dermatology.
CalDerm accomplishes this in a number of ways. It is the only organization which monitors legislative and regulatory issues in Sacramento which pertain to dermatologists and dermatology patients. There are CalDerm dermatologists representing the society within the Specialty Delegation of the California Medical Association.
There are also CalDerm dermatologists at the AAD level acting as the conduit of information from the parent society to California dermatologists. CalDerm has seen a number of legislative success stories over the years, including the passage of a ban on indoor tanning for children under age 18. California was the first state in the nation to pass such legislation and there are now over 30 states with some sort of indoor tanning restrictions for minors.
CalDerm is also known for its excellent educational opportunities for dermatologists and residents/medical students, hosting annual symposiums. These meetings also have allowed CalDerm to introduce a couple of its new Community Outreach activities, the first of which is the firefighter skin cancer screening program. Because of the overwhelming success of this program, CalDerm elected to partner with the Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation and with the California branch of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to form the CA Firefighter Skin Cancer Coalition. CalDerm provides the screening materials (AAD Spot Skin Cancer screening program) as well as the screening dermatologists. This has provided not only an excellent opportunity to “pay it forward” to our California firefighters who are at higher risk for development of melanoma, but also to educate both the participating firefighters and our student volunteers.
Dr. Ann Haas currently directs the CalDerm component of the CA Firefighter Skin Cancer Coalition. She was serving as Chair of the AAD’s State Society Relationship Committee when the concept and rationale for doing skin cancer screening for firefighters was introduced at the AAD before her committee. Screening of this sort were already being introduced in Massachusetts by Dr. Christine Kannler, a dermatologist whose firefighter sibling had died of occupational cancer. Dr. Haas brought this idea back to the CalDerm Board of Directors, who endorsed the concept, and she and another CalDerm Board member, Dr. Sima Torabian, put together the first pilot screening in northern California in 2022. The program has now expanded state-wide.
Caylie is the co-founder and president of the Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation, the non-profit branch of the Coalition. She is also the widow of Firefighter-Paramedic Andy Valenta, who passed away from melanoma at the age of 33. Andy left behind his 2 little girls, that were only 4 and 2 at the time of his passing.
Andy’s death was determined to be occupational-related, meaning the job led to his death. With cancer being the leading cause of death amongst firefighters, Caylie recognized the lack of cancer screenings happening in most fire departments and wanted to make a change. She knew it was just a matter of time before another firefighter died from skin cancer.
She co-founded AVMF, never imagining that it would become so successful so quickly. Caylie loves being able to give back to firefighters throughout California, that work tirelessly to protect and care for the community.
Caylie is also a mentor with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, helping other women go through what she has been through. She also volunteers as an ambassador for Tunnel to Towers Foundation. In addition to the foundation work, Caylie has been a Physician Assistant for 13 years. She is passionate about improving people’s health, in the clinic and at the fire stations.
You may be lucky enough to see Caylie, her 2 little girls, and their dog Sunny at a Skin Cancer Screening event near you!
Scott Jennie serves as the California State Director and National State Director for the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting firefighters, EMS workers, and their families facing cancer diagnoses. In his role, Scott leads efforts in providing critical resources, mentorship, and advocacy for those affected by occupational cancer in the fire service.
Scott chairs the Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month committee for FCSN, where he collaborates with the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) to produce educational campaigns focused on cancer prevention, awareness, and best practices. He also contributed to the FCSN White Paper, “Doing It Right: Reducing Cancer in the Fire Service,” which offers actionable strategies for minimizing cancer risks in the line of duty.
In addition to his work with FCSN, Scott co-chairs the FRANTIC (Firefighter Research Against Nicotine and Tobacco Use in California Firefighters) committee, addressing the impact of tobacco and nicotine use in the fire service. With over 35 years of experience in the fire service, Scott recently retired as a Fire Captain/Paramedic with the Laguna Beach Fire Department. He has presented on occupational cancer prevention at national conferences and continues to advocate for healthier practices across the country.
Sheila Johnston is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Luminari Partners. Sheila is also a board member of the Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation. She is a kindness-driven business executive who has spent the last decade of her career driving strategy and increasing impact for associations and nonprofits alike!
While serving as the Executive Director of California Society of Dermatology, Sheila led the statewide launch of the Spot Skin Cancer program in California. That led to a happenstance meeting with Caylie Valenta, founder of the Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation. A partnership was born on the spot!
Appreciating challenges, Sheila’s teammates find her “WILL DO” attitude exists both professionally and personally.
In her spare time, you’ll find Sheila traveling lesser travelled roads with her husband, and her beagle Duke! On any given day, Sheila will reach out to those that cross her mind – an old friend, new friend, family member, or even text the pet parent of a friend of Duke’s. Sheila loves reminding others that they matter and that she cares.
Sheila holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from California State University, Stanislaus, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from Sacramento State University. She served as a Leon Panetta Fellow, Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellow, and is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Leadership Management program. She has worked in the California State Legislature, various statewide budget offices and in the House of Representatives.
Her executive experience in associations include California Lawyers Association, California Lawyers Foundation, California Society for Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, NAIOP Silicon Valley, Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, the California Pharmacists Association and the Association of California Healthcare Districts.
The goal for our community of dermatologists and partners is to screen every firefighter in California for skin cancer, free of charge.