SimBioSys and Venture Café Phoenix Partner to Present Live Panel on AI, Innovation and the Future of Breast Cancer Care

Moderated by Emmy Award-winning host of ABC15's Sonoran Living Terri Ouellette, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month event will unite leaders in healthcare, AI, investment and patient advocacy to explore how innovation can improve breast cancer care

PHOENIX, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SimBioSys^®, an AI-driven precision medicine company revolutionizing how cancer is understood and treated, today announced a live panel event in partnership with Venture Café Phoenix exploring how artificial intelligence and innovation are reshaping breast cancer care. The event, "AI, Innovation & the Future of Breast Cancer Care," will take place on October 1 in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Moderated by Terri Ouellette, Emmy Award-winning host of ABC15's Sonoran Living, the panel will bring together leaders in healthcare AI, biotechnology, breast surgical oncology, venture capital and patient advocacy to discuss how new technology is shaping breast cancer care, what is required to translate innovation into clinical practice and why collaboration across these fields is essential to meaningful progress.

Breast cancer remains one of the most significant health threats facing women and is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women nationally and in Arizona. More than 320,000 women in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026, including more than 7,000 people in Arizona—underscoring the urgent need for continued progress in detection, treatment and patient support.

The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to register here.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026
• Time: The panel will take place from 5:45–6:45 p.m. during the Venture Café program, which runs from 4:30–7:00 p.m. Arizona time.
• Location: 850 PBC, 850 N. 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

Featured Speakers

Moderator

• Terri Ouellette, Emmy Award-winning host, ABC15's Sonoran Living

Panelists

• Stacey Stevens, President and CEO, SimBioSys
• Brenda Moorthy, DO, FACS, Medical Director for Breast Surgery, HonorHealth; Breast Surgical Oncologist; Program Director, HonorHealth Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Assistant Clinical Professor, Creighton University School of Medicine; and Assistant Clinical Professor, John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering at Arizona State University, Chief Medical Officer, HealthAI
• Chris Yoo, General Partner, Xcellerant Ventures
• Chelsea Sumner, PharmD, RPh, Healthcare AI Startups Ecosystem Lead, NVIDIA
• Ashley Plum, Executive Director, Check for a Lump

"Arizona is home to a growing community of clinicians, innovators, and advocates committed to advancing cancer care," said Terri Ouellette, Emmy Award-winning host, ABC15's Sonoran Living. "As a native Phoenician and breast cancer survivor, I am proud to help bring together the people developing, delivering, funding and advocating for innovation to explore how new technologies can translate into better information, more individualized care and greater hope for patients in Arizona and beyond."

"Personalized breast cancer care begins with giving patients and their surgeons clear, patient-specific information to better understand treatment options and make decisions aligned with each patient's clinical needs and personal priorities," said Brenda Moorthy, DO, FACS, Medical Director for Breast Surgery, HonorHealth; Breast Surgical Oncologist; Program Director, HonorHealth Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship, Assistant Clinical Professor, Creighton University School of Medicine; and Assistant Clinical Professor, John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering at Arizona State University, Chief Medical Officer, HealthAI. "I look forward to exploring how emerging technologies and collaborative approaches can strengthen clinical decision-making, tailor treatment more precisely and give patients greater clarity and confidence throughout their care."

"In healthcare, capital can be a catalyst for impact—giving bold ideas the resources, expertise and runway to prove their value and reach the patients they were designed to serve," said Chris Yoo, General Partner, Xcellerant Ventures. "Arizona has the ingredients to build consequential healthcare companies, and stronger connections among investors, innovators and clinicians can help turn that potential into lasting progress in breast cancer care."

"AI is giving healthcare innovators the power to turn complex data into insights clinicians and patients can more readily understand and use," said Chelsea Sumner, PharmD, RPh, Healthcare AI Startups Ecosystem Lead, NVIDIA. "NVIDIA provides the full-stack accelerated computing and AI foundation that enables companies like SimBioSys to transform breast scans into detailed 3D models, while our Inception program helps startups bring cutting-edge AI into real-world care."

"As a breast cancer survivor, I know how overwhelming it can be to navigate a diagnosis while searching for clear information, practical support and hope," said Ashley Plum, Executive Director, Check for a Lump. "At Check for a Lump, we work to ensure no one faces breast cancer alone. As new technologies reshape care, we must make sure they reflect patients' real needs, are accessible across our communities and help people move through their journey with greater understanding and confidence."

"We are proud to partner with Venture Café Phoenix to bring together leaders whose perspectives span the full path from innovation to patient care," said Stacey Stevens, President & CEO, SimBioSys. "Every patient's cancer tells a different story, and AI is helping us understand that story with greater depth by bringing imaging, clinical data and advanced modeling together. I look forward to joining this distinguished group of experts for a dynamic discussion about how collaboration can move these advances into everyday care—offering patients clearer answers, more individualized treatment and better outcomes."

About SimBioSys
SimBioSys is an AI-driven precision medicine company revolutionizing how cancer is understood and treated. By converting standard medical imaging into AI-powered, decision-driving intelligence, SimBioSys empowers clinicians with clear, contextual, and actionable insights to individualize care. Its FDA-cleared TumorSight^® Viz platform and in-development TumorSight^® Risk solution combine AI and spatial biophysics to deliver greater confidence, precision, and personalization in cancer treatment. For more information, visit www.simbiosys.com.

About Venture Café Phoenix
Venture Café Phoenix connects innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders through inclusive programs designed to accelerate ideas, relationships and impact. Its gatherings create opportunities for meaningful connection and collaboration across Arizona's growing innovation ecosystem. For more information, visit venturecafephoenix.org.

Contact

SimBioSys, Inc.
[email protected] 

References

1. American Cancer Society. "Key Statistics for Breast Cancer." Estimates that 321,910 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/key-statistics.html 
2. Arizona Department of Health Services. "Arizona Cancer Control Plan." Identifies female breast cancer as the most common cancer diagnosis in Arizona. https://www.azdhs.gov/prevention/chronic-disease/cancer-prevention-control/az-cancer-coalition/cancer-control-plan/index.php 
3. American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "Arizona Cancer Advocates Celebrate New Law Expanding Access to No-Cost Breast Cancer Screenings." Reports that more than 7,000 Arizonans are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026. https://www.fightcancer.org/releases/arizona-cancer-advocates-celebrate-new-law-expanding-access-no-cost-breast-cancer 

SOURCE SimBioSys