Melinda (Mindy) Conklin has worked in the health industry for over 30 years. She has a master’s degree from Virginia Tech in Human Development and a master’s degree in Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University. Melinda lost her young husband to colorectal cancer in 2011. After her loss, she left her career as a mental health clinician and she founded Hitting Cancer Below the Belt – a nonprofit organization dedicated to colon health and colorectal cancer prevention.

Melinda’s personal and professional experience in the field of mental and physical wellness has prepared her with a strong skill set to identify community needs and to develop and bridge resources which advances community health. Hitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2) began serving in the Commonwealth of Virginia in 2013 and continues its efforts to create communities where colorectal cancer is challenged to survive.