Gay Lynn Richards is a dedicated nurse leader and public health professional serving as the Breast Cancer Champion Coordinator at the Breast Cancer Education Association. With decades of experience in oncology care and community health, she champions outreach, education, and screening initiatives aimed at reducing breast cancer disparities.
Before her current role, Dr. Richards held positions as a hospital-based oncology nurse and clinical nurse specialist within the Minnesota Department of Health’s Cancer Control section. She has long been committed to bridging gaps in access by serving underserved communities.
Her leadership in the “Breast Cancer Champions” program—a peer-to-peer education and mobile mammography initiative—has helped promote screening uptake among women of African heritage through culturally relevant outreach.
Richards holds credentials in nursing (RN), a Master of Public Health (MPH), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). She is known not only for her clinical and public health expertise, but for her deep commitment to community engagement, health equity, and empowering lay health educators to make a difference in breast cancer awareness and prevention.