Kathleen Harris is a twenty-nine-year breast cancer survivor and a founding member of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Coalition (WBCC). She began her breast cancer advocacy in 1993, working with the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) based in Washington DC and on the state level with WBCC. Ms. Harris is the NBCC Field Coordinator for WI. She has led the Wisconsin delegation on Capitol Hill for twenty-nine years, advocating for funding for breast cancer research every year, and for guaranteed access to quality care for all. For her efforts in coalition building in Wisconsin and work related to the passage of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act (Medicaid coverage for underserved and uninsured women diagnosed with breast cancer), she was invited to the White House as a guest of President Clinton to celebrate its passage into law. In addition to her public policy advocacy, she has served on peer review panels for breast cancer research funding and is a graduate of NBCC’s Project LEAD, a five-day intensive course on the science of breast cancer. She has done workshops on advocacy on both the state and national levels and has been a speaker and panelist at events locally and nationally. She currently serves as chair of WBCC’s Policy Committee. Ms. Harris has been recognized for her service to the breast cancer community on both the national and state levels.
Kathleen is a retired medical illustrator and has been married to her husband Arthur Harris for 56 years. They have five children and fourteen grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and adventuresome travels.
Kathleen’s profile is part of an ongoing series. Visit the Meet Our Team page to read more about featured WBCC members.
(January 2022)