New York City, NY — June 1, 2026 — Stupid Cancer®, the leader in building the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community, today announced Joshua Rivera, MBA, ITIL, has been appointed Board Chair effective in April. Rivera, who joined the Board of Directors in 2020 and held the position of Treasurer since 2022 is succeeding Barry Klein, who joined the Board in 2021. The announcement comes on the first day of National Cancer Survivor Month, which celebrates the 18 million survivors in the United States, including two million AYA patients.  

“We are grateful to Barry for his five years of dedicated service to Stupid Cancer with three of those years serving as Board Chair,” said Alison Silberman, CEO of Stupid Cancer. “Stupid Cancer is the proud leader of the AYA space through our proprietary programming and organizational partnerships, ensuring AYAs have the community and resources necessary to navigate their individual journeys. We’re excited to welcome Joshua as our Chair, and eager to harness his expertise amid a pivotal shift in expanding our advocacy efforts.”

Nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 15-39) are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US, yet their unique experiences are often overlooked. Rivera was one of these patients, diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at 27 years old in 2007, faced distinct difficulties, including delayed diagnosis, fertility preservation, and psychosocial challenges. After being the first patient who completed the standard of care for Ewing’s Sarcoma at Moffitt Cancer Center, including over 1,100 hours of chemotherapy, two dozen radiation treatments, and six surgeries, in 2009, he was declared in remission.

In survivorship, Rivera, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Phoenix and a Masters of Business Administration from The University of Arizona Global Campus, started working at the same cancer center that saved his life. Over the last 15 years, Rivera has held positions at Moffitt Cancer Center, currently holding the title of Pathology Business Operations Director since September 2022. To support other patients within the hospital, in 2012, Rivera was the first patient advisor, working to create an AYA program, and supported the creation of the Moffitt Fertility Preservation Fund, helping patients overcome the same challenges he faced. 

“As with many AYAs, when I was going through treatment, I was the youngest person in the cancer center, and lacked the community I desperately needed. I am committed to bringing my authentic experience and pairing it with direct listening, working, and connecting with today’s patients, to ensure Stupid Cancer is the go-to resource for AYAs,” said Joshua Rivera, Board Chair of Stupid Cancer. “My professional experience and work on the Board over the last six years has prepared me for this new role focused on diversifying the Board, increasing our programming and engagement numbers, and advancing our emerging advocacy strategy and approach.” 

The nonprofit also announced the addition of Soumi Saha, PharmD, JD to the Board, and the creation of a Junior Board composed of AYA cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers for critical first-hand perspectives into the population being served. 

“I am grateful for the last five years of experience leading the Board, proud of what we accomplished, and eager to see the next phase of growth under Joshua’s leadership,” said Barry Klein.  Klein formalized committees within the board, inspiring members to align their experience with Stupid Cancer’s needs.  He led the way in board fundraising through various events and employer matching.  Klein was a consistent ambassador sharing the work of Stupid Cancer and the needs of the AYA community with his networks.  He will remain a friend to Stupid Cancer, staff, and community members. 

In alignment with National Cancer Survivor Month, the organization’s annual fundraising campaign – Another Stupid Challenge – is live, raising funds specific to scholarships for CancerCon®, the largest gathering of AYAs designed for community, learning, and connection. Scholarships ensure funds for those facing financial difficulty have equal opportunity to access the event. 

To learn more about Another Stupid Challenge, or to donate, please visit their website here. To learn more about CancerCon 2027, including registration, visit their site here.