Ashley Mikitzel

Ashley Mikitzel has been part of Pink Pearl Canada since 2014 and is our Director of Psychosocial Support overseeing our mental health strategies and programming. Her introduction to cancer came at 3.5 years old when she was diagnosed with Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and she has been providing support for others within the oncology community for over half her life. Ashley currently works at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario as the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program Specialist, supporting all cancer patients between the ages of 18-39.

Ashley completed a Bachelor of Social Work at Toronto Metropolitan University, a Masters of Social Work at Laurier University and a Masters of Education in Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto. Ashley works from a person-centred, trauma-informed and anti-oppressive feminist lens. She works to highlight the strengths of her patients and collaborates to increase coping and meaning through a serious illness diagnosis. While supporting individuals at all stages of illness, Ashley has a special interest in holding space and supporting end of life planning, upholding dignity at end of life, and supporting her community through grief and bereavement.