Featured Panelists

Jessica Miller, 2026 Spirit of Life Awardee

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Founder. Mother. Builder. Survivor.

Nearly one year after a stage III breast cancer diagnosis changed her life overnight, Jessica Miller is moving forward with gratitude, purpose and an unwavering belief in what research and the people behind it can make possible.

September 2026 marks two years since Miller launched Rock Spring Real Estate Solutions, a woman-owned commercial real estate advisory firm grounded in transparent, client-first guidance. She was also working to launch REAiL, an artificial intelligence company created to give commercial real estate brokers better tools to protect and advise their clients. Then cancer made the future she had been building suddenly very uncertain.

After telling her family and going to three different hospitals, Miller began six months of chemotherapy, followed by a bilateral mastectomy, removal of 18 lymph nodes, proton radiation and continuing therapy.

“It was a very tough year” Miller said. She credits her family, friends and the Georgetown Lombardi care team with carrying her through the moments when courage felt out of reach. Their skill and compassion restored more than her health; they restored her ability to imagine a future.

It was this event and my community of commercial real estate women that I reached out to after my diagnosis that led me to Georgetown Lombardi. The courage of the women who received this award before me and the committee of Lombardi Women supporters was there for me when I really needed them. The research and advocacy at Georgetown is changing treatments for the better. I am grateful not only for the results, but for all those who contributed along the way.

“The doctors at Lombardi Georgetown used the latest surgery advancements and research to help me beat average statistics,” Miller said. “The research funded today becomes someone’s treatment tomorrow. I am sharing my story and why I pushed so hard to join the research study at Georgetown because the Lombardi Women’s community made it possible for me to thrive. I am here to help other women with early detection, advance research appreciation and share any lessons learned with our community of powerhouse women.”

The Spirit of Life Award is presented to exceptional individuals who have navigated the challenges of breast cancer, raise awareness in their communities, and provide hope and support to those touched by this disease. Their bravery to share their story makes a difference for breast cancer research at Georgetown Lombardi. We are so grateful to Jessica for sharing her story with us.

Meet Our Expert Panelists

Dr. Claudine Isaacs

Professor of Medicine and Oncology, Associate Director of Clinical Research and Leader of the Clinical Breast Cancer Program at Georgetown Lombardi

Dr. Lucy De La Cruz

Chief of Breast Surgery Program and Director of the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Join Us!

Support Jessica and the 20th Annual Lombardi Women celebration on October 1, 2026. Sponsor, attend or make a gift to advance breast cancer research and compassionate care at Georgetown Lombardi and the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research.