Licensed Clinical Social Worker Adney Reid has spent the last 14 years diagnosing, treating, and providing treatment plans for various mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Today, Adney continues to do this work through his private practice, while also running a construction company and car rental business. Adney has been living in American Samoa for the past 9 years with his wife and 4 beautiful children. He said what keeps them going is their faith in the Lord, and always putting Him first. 

Adney’s father-in-law sadly passed away from cancer at the early age of 54 years old. He states, “It was another illness you hear about, but it truly doesn’t affect you until someone close to you has it.” Within a year of diagnosis, his father-in-law’s health was heavily impacted. “Cancer does not discriminate.” He stated that it does not matter how rich you are, your skin color, or where you come from. Cancer can affect anyone. 

Adney is focused on the preventative side of cancer. He hopes to get into the homes of our community and raise awareness of the seriousness of cancer prior to them having to experience it. He believes in teaching people more about prevention, how to identify cancer symptoms, and how to monitor it. 

Adney says “he is grateful to all the board members and the staff at the ASCCC for all their hard work over the years. I hope we can contribute to that.” 

Elder Richard Masunu,  a continuing  Board member,  previously worked for the ASCCC, but his background is in education. After being a teacher for 20+ years, he decided to switch career paths and now works for the Department of Treasury under the American Samoa Government. He is a proud father and husband, with his daughter attending Southern Oregon University in the fall. 

Richard’s father, unfortunately, passed away from cancer, and it is his motivation to make a difference for those fighting cancer. “It is a good reminder of my father. I want to honor him that way,” he said. 

His wish is that the ASCCC can one day get funding to create a local lab to help find a cure. He also hopes the local government and private sector can build stronger relationships with the ASCCC to further its mission.

From the villages of Afonotele and Fituta, Manuatele, Dr. Salote Aoelua-Fanene is the Department of Youth and Women’s Affairs director and previously worked for the ASCCC through the INSPIRE program. She is a proud mother of five children and two grandchildren.

For 20 years, Salote’s mother battled cancer before sadly passing from the disease. She stated that her mother “never allowed cancer to overcome her own personal duties as a mother. So, I learned from her that you can have a sickness and you can still live life to its fullest.” A few years ago, Salote was also diagnosed with cancer. She said because of taking care of her mother; she learned how to take care of herself and take preventative measures to make sure that she can live the same way her mother lived. 

Salote is a strong advocate for implanting preventative measures in ways of taking care of ourselves. If diagnosed, she hopes to create a resource hub for patients to learn their choices and where they can go to help make decisions on how they will live with cancer. 

She has a powerful desire to be a part of the community and help the Samoan people be happy and healthy. She said, “I love research and collecting data. I find it is one of the best ways for us to make decisions and to provide our leaders who are the decision makers on different types of policies, laws, and implementing different programs to help our people.”

Andrew Berquist is a proud graduate of Leone High School. He is currently working towards receiving his bachelor’s degree in Managed Information Systems and works at the Department of Treasury as an IT Manager.

Andrew’s drive to join the ASCCC’s board stems from a close family member who had Sarcoma in his shoulder, along with other non-cancerous tumors that affected his health. Thankfully, his family member is now in remission but some of his friends were not so lucky.  

With his experience helping the Government craft strategic plans for information, telegraphic, and broadband communications, he hopes he can shine a new light on the importance of cancer screening. By leveraging the broadband and Telehealth opportunities, as well as utilizing his IT background, he hopes to make improvements with the resources we have on island. He would also like to focus on creating more awareness of ASCCC’s programs and “finding ways to sustain these types of programs that have been extremely helpful for our community,” such as the stipend program – Tautai Laveai, and the new Alzheimer’s program – Puipui Malu Manatu.  

He hopes this will bring new avenues in being a potential future research institution to expand local research facilitated by local individuals and a support mechanism for other universities. “It is exciting to see where we can go.”