HPV On the Ground

HPVCA proudly attended the first-ever National HPV Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana – a state leading the way in HPV vaccine uptake and setting a model for other states.

Our very own Lillian Kreppel was featured on the HPV Disease Survivorship panel alongside Kim McClellan, Tamika Felder, and Jason Mendelsohn sharing powerful lived experiences and strategies to strengthen HPV prevention, early detection, and treatment.

HPVCA was honored to attend the 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit as Cervivor celebrated 20 years of empowerment. This milestone event brought together survivors, advocates, and healthcare leaders to drive progress in cervical cancer awareness, research, and patient-centered care. As a HPVCA mission partner, the team was thrilled to be part of this movement and to continue the fight to end HPV-related cancers.

Our Executive Director Lillian Kreppel represented HPV Cancers Alliance at the 36th International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC 2024) in Edinburgh, UK contributing to two impactful panels. In “Tapping into the Power of Lived Experience,” she highlighted how personal stories drive HPV awareness, ethical engagement, and policy advocacy. In “Communication Competence,” Lillian explored trust-building communication, cultural influences, and strategies to improve healthcare practitioner awareness and community outreach. Her contributions underscored our mission to empower and educate for a future free from HPV-related cancers.

Every year, HPVCA attends Merck Patient Advocacy Day. This event is focused on understanding patient needs, experiences, and how to best serve future patient communities. HPVCA team members spend time educating and advocating for HPV and quality prevention, screening, and treatment at the Merck Headquarters.

HPVCA is proud to announce that our Co-Founders Marcia Cross and Lillian Kreppel presented their personal experiences with HPV-related cancer at #PROTECT EUROPE Showcase Event held in Belgium on November 22nd.

HPVCA attended our mission partner, Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Foundation’sRRP Awareness Day™ launched at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to draw awareness and understanding to this condition caused by HPV strains 6 and 11.

HPV Cancers Alliance proudly attended the 2024 Cervivor Conference in New York City, where we engaged with advocates, healthcare professionals, and survivors to promote awareness, education, and support for those affected by HPV-related cancers. It was a powerful opportunity to collaborate, share insights, and strengthen our collective efforts in the fight against cervical cancer and HPV-related diseases.

Lillian Kreppel was honored to participate in Healthy Women’s Let’s Talk Women’s Health & Wellness Symposium! As an anal cancer survivor and tireless advocate, Lillian brought passion and purpose to the breakout session, “Your Healthcare Roadmap: How to Get the Care You Deserve.”

Through her personal journey and leadership, she’s helping change the narrative around HPV-related cancers, educating both the public and medical community on the importance of prevention, early detection, and patient advocacy.
Thank you, Lillian, for reminding us that knowledge is power and that everyone deserves to be heard, respected, and properly cared for on their health journey.

The American College of Gastroenterology Virtual Grand Rounds hosted “Anal Cancer-HPV: The Silent Vector”, featuring esteemed expert Dr. Carl J. McDougall, actress Marcia Cross, and advocate Lillian Kreppel. This impactful event focused on the often under-recognized role of HPV in anal cancer, providing clinicians with essential insights into the virus’s implications and its effect on patients. The session helped raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the importance of early detection, prevention, and comprehensive care for those impacted by HPV-related cancers.

HPV Cancers Alliance co-founders Lillian Kreppel and Marcia Cross were featured in an in-depth interview on the podcast “Going Viral”, where they shared their powerful personal stories as anal cancer survivors and activists. The conversation delved into their journeys, the impact of HPV-related cancers, and the importance of advocacy and awareness. We highly recommend this interview and the entire podcast series for anyone looking to learn more about the fight against HPV-related cancers.

HPV Cancers Alliance was featured on the American Sexual Health Association’s podcast, where Lillian Kreppel discussed her personal experiences in sex, health, and cancer survivorship.

Lillian Kreppel was featured on the Conquer Cancer podcast series where she shared powerful stories as a cancer survivor and advocate. In this episode, Lillian discussed her personal journey with HPV-related cancer and the vital work with HPVCA.

Lillian Kreppel teams up with Marcia Cross. Together, they aim to raise awareness about the link between HPV and anal cancer, promote preventative care, and dismantle the stigma surrounding this condition. Don’t miss this powerful conversation that could change how we approach anal cancer awareness.

Awards:
HPV Cancers Alliance Co-Founder Lillian Kreppel Honored with The American Cancer Society’s HPV Round Table’s Lived Experience Ambassador Award

NEW YORK, NY (November 7, 2024)

The American Cancer Society’s National HPV Vaccination Roundtable has awarded their annual Lived Experience Ambassador Award to HPV Cancers Alliance Executive Director and Co-Founder Lillian Kreppel.

Established in 2023, the Lived Experience Ambassador Award is given to a human papillomavirus (HPV) cancer survivor who has made a significant contribution to the American Cancer Society’s National HPV Vaccination Roundtable’s collective mission. An outstanding volunteer, this individual uses their story to advocate locally and nationally in an effort to spare families the unnecessary pain, stress, and financial burden of a HPV-related cancer diagnosis.

Through her work with HPV Cancers Alliance, Lillian has remained motivated, driven and committed to spreading knowledge and saving lives. She has advocated on Capitol Hill regarding the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act and how the HPV vaccine can help prevent up to 5% of cancers worldwide caused by the virus. She has also worked with the Biden Cancer Moonshot initiative, St. Jude Hospital’s HPV Prevention Program, The Head Neck Cancer Alliance, and over thirty-five other similar minded organizations to promote knowledge and produce educational webinars around HPV. On her win, Lillian said, “Getting cancer, especially one with the stigma of HPV, didn’t hold me back—it lit a fire in me to educate, break barriers, and save lives. Although HPV impacts nearly everyone, no one should have to face the pain of HPV-related cancers alone. This award means the world to me because it means that our work at HPVCA is advancing. Our passionate goal of spreading knowledge and saving lives is being accomplished, even if it is one by one.”

On Lillian’s recognition, the American Cancer Society’s National HPV Vaccination Roundtable said, “I hope you all have had the opportunity to speak with Lillian or hear her story. She is always willing to jump into inspiring people to action and give guidance to those facing cancer as well. Whether she is speaking at a conference or walking up to Capitol Hill – Lillian is a force and inspiring us all to take action to prevent HPV cancers. Thank you Lillian for sharing your story and for everything that you do. Thank you for being a phenomenal member, partner and champion of the work. We could not do all that we do without your volunteer leadership and expertise.”

About the American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable

The American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable (ACS HPVRT) was established in 2014, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The ACS HPVRT is a national coalition of over 90 member organizations working to raise HPV vaccination rates and prevent HPV cancers in the US. The ACS HPVRT is working to reduce the incidence of a mortality from HPV-associated cancers, through coordinated leadership, strategic planning, and advocacy. We believe that by working together over the long-term, the US can move towards ending vaccine-preventable HPV cancers as a public health problem. The American Cancer Society provides organizational leadership and expert staff support to the ACS HPVRT. 