Meet Our Pink Table Talk Panelists!

Meet our panelists for the A. Rose Pink Table Talk Event in Chicago, IL, on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Join us and learn a little more about our speakers by checking out their biographies below:

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Julia Burke, MPH

Breast Cancer Survivor & Medical Student

Julia Burke is a proud native of Saint Petersburg, Florida. She is currently in her third-year of medical school at Saint James School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she earned her Master of Public Health in Behavioral Science from Florida A&M University. Her passion for women’s health and advocacy is deeply personal. She is a breast cancer survivor who faced her diagnosis during medical school with resilience and faith. Julia has transformed her journey into a mission to empower and educate others, drawing on her background in public health, social services, and medicine to champion healing, strength, and awareness. She continues her medical training with the goal of becoming a physician leader who blends clinical expertise with compassion, inspiring others to rise beyond adversity. 

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Jilma Patrick, MD FACS

Breast Surgical Oncologist 

Dr. Jilma Patrick is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Breast Surgical Oncologist who has dedicated her career to advancing breast health and empowering women through education and compassionate care. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Patrick pursued her undergraduate studies in Biology at Morgan State University on an athletic scholarship for track and field. Her early work at the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute sparked her interest in breast cancer research and inspired her to pursue medicine. She went on to earn her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in 2009, completed her General Surgery residency at the University of Florida–Jacksonville, and advanced her training through a Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at the Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Center at Northwestern University.

Since 2015, Dr. Patrick has been serving patients in the Chicagoland area, where she provides surgical management for benign and malignant breast disease. She is particularly committed to reducing health disparities by promoting breast cancer awareness and education among minority women.

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Darlene Allen Nichols, LCPC, NCC, PhD

Founder of Dan Care Counseling Center

Dr. Darlene Allen-Nichols, LCPC, NCC, PhD, is the founder and owner of Dan Care Counseling Center and provides executive oversight to several nonprofit organizations committed to mental health, community empowerment, and holistic wellness. She earned a Master's in Counseling from Governors State University, a PhD from Capella University, holds national certification as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC), and brings over 25 years of experience in counseling, organizational leadership, and ministry. Her career reflects both academic excellence and a proven record of service within the nonprofit and faith-based sectors, advancing opportunities for growth, healing, and transformation across diverse populations.

Dr. Allen-Nichols has also been a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness through education, outreach initiatives, and support services that promote early detection, treatment, and recovery. Her commitment to this cause is informed by personal impact within her extended family and community, which has deepened her resolve to champion resources, hope, and advocacy for those navigating the challenges of breast cancer. She lives by her personal motto: “Your future matters, and it is my endeavor to touch your life.”

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Tiffany L. Mason, RD, LDN

Chef, Registered Dietitian, & Diabetes and Weight Wellness Educator

Tiffany Mason, RD, LDN, is a Chef, Registered Dietitian, and Diabetes & Weight Wellness Educator who blends her nutrition expertise with her culinary creativity to make healthy living both approachable and enjoyable. She is passionate about showing individuals and families how everyday food choices can be both flavorful and nourishing. Helping people to build habits that support long-term wellness, weight management, and disease prevention. Her work emphasizes practical and sustainable approaches to eating that strengthen the relationship with food and empower people to thrive.

Her dedication to breast cancer awareness and women’s health is also deeply personal. Tiffany’s beloved aunt passed away from breast cancer at just 38, an experience that drives her commitment to education and advocacy. With her sister currently undergoing breast cancer screenings, she understands the vital importance of proactive health measures. By sharing both her professional insight as a chef and dietitian, and her personal connection to breast cancer, Tiffany brings a unique perspective to the panel — one that highlights the powerful role of food and healthy habits in supporting prevention, recovery, and overall well-being.

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Tichina Burnett, LCPC, NCC

Founder of The Mending Corner

Tichina Burnett, LCPC, NCC is the founder and head of clinical services at The Mending Corner—a collaborative and holistic therapeutic practice dedicated to creating a supportive space for emotional healing while guiding clients through grief, suicidality, depression, anxiety, and relational challenges via transparency, cultivating internalized grace, and evidence-based approaches. She has engaged the privilege of witnessing healing unfold in ways that transcend generational trauma and empower clients to live authentically while embracing the sacred nature of their journey.

The passing of her grandmother in 2007 due to breast cancer transformed her understanding of the familial dynamic and support systems while deeply impacting her critical understanding of the value of life, wisdom, and presence. Tichina endeavors to openly and persistently challenge constructs about health in the Black community, healing, and interplay of culture via advocacy, stress reduction education, and modeling behaviors of intentional self-care and rest. 

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We can't wait to see you there!

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