María Montoya is an organizational leader, cancer patient advocate, and emerging public health researcher whose experience bridges organizational development and psychosocial oncology care. She holds a Master of Social Work from WashU, where she is a PhD student in Public Health Sciences. With a tech startup career spanning over 20 years, including experience as an executive and principal consultant, Maria aims to bridge industry and academia through innovative, impactful interventions that leverage systems and implementation sciences. In her PhD, María’s research focuses on the psychosocial well-being of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) impacted by cancer. Her previous research experiences with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and WashU’s Health Design & Impact Lab explore stigma, survivorship, and navigation systems affecting young cancer patients and their caregivers. She is certified by the American Cancer Society as a Leader in Oncology Navigation, serves as a leader on Siteman Cancer Center’s Patient & Family Advisory Council, and holds advocacy credentials with the Cancer Support Community and Tigerlily Foundation. As a two-time cancer survivor, she also provides peer support to breast cancer patients as an After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD) mentor.
