Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW, BCD, OSW-C, is the Chief of Oncology Social Work at Boston’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, has been an adjunct professor at Simmons College School of Social Work and Boston University School of Social Work., and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s first Hatcher Professor of Survivorship. She was the Breast Cancer Patient Advocate for RevolutionHealth.com and now writes a daily blog, “Living with Breast Cancer,” for BIDMC.

A nationally known speaker, Ms. Schnipper has written numerous articles for professional journals about issues for both breast cancer survivors and professional caregivers. She has authored two books: Woman to Woman: A Handbook for Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and After Breast Cancer: A Commonsense Guide to Life After Treatment. She is a past President of the Association of Oncology Social Work. In 1991, she received their Oncology Social Worker of the Year award and, in 2007, their Leadership in Oncology Social Work award.

In 1993 and again in 2005, Ms. Schnipper was diagnosed with breast cancer and treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. These diagnoses transformed her life’s work into her life. She has two young adult daughters and lives, gratefully, with her husband in Concord, Massachusetts.