Sharon A. Merritt
Sharon Merritt is a dedicated Breast Cancer Advocate and co-owner of RecoverEasy, a company providing innovative post-surgical recovery products for cancer patients. Leveraging her personal experience as a HER2-positive, Stage 4 breast cancer survivor, Sharon brings a unique blend of compassion, technical expertise, and advocacy to support patients navigating their cancer journeys. Her commitment to equitable, high-quality care drives her work in education, research, and patient-centered solutions.
With a background in aerospace engineering and education, Sharon combines analytical precision with creative problem-solving to develop practical solutions for post-surgical recovery. She has presented and participated in multiple research conferences, including the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium as an Alamo Scholar, and actively contributes to the Susan G. Komen advocacy programs. Her expertise extends to patient navigation, holistic care approaches, and empowering women with dense breast tissue through early detection advocacy.
Sharon’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to community support are reflected in her work with RecoverEasy, where she co-created shower capes and other products designed specifically for post-surgical and cancer patients. Alongside her professional pursuits, she values family deeply, cherishes her role as a grandmother, and enjoys traveling. Through her advocacy, research engagement, and business initiatives, Sharon continues to impact the lives of patients and advance the conversation around breast cancer care and recovery.
• California Teaching Credential – Math, Physics, and Physical Science
• Certified Breast Cancer Advocate
• NYU Tandon School of Engineering – Bachelor of Science (BS), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
• California State University-Dominguez Hills – Secondary Education and Teaching
• Saddleback College – Certificate, Computer Graphics and Graphic Design
• Alamo Scholar – San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
• Susan G. Komen – Science Advocate
• Breast cancer education, research conferences, and charitable product distribution via RecoverEasy
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of intellectual curiosity, resilience, faith, and a steadfast commitment to helping others, even while navigating my own health journey. My engineering background has instilled in me a mindset of questioning systems, seeking better solutions, and advocating fiercely for patient-centered care.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay curious, ask questions, and never accept “this is just how it’s done” as an answer. This approach has guided me across diverse fields—from engineering to healthcare advocacy and entrepreneurship—enabling me to challenge norms and create meaningful change.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women entering this field to advocate for themselves, pursue knowledge relentlessly, and trust their instincts. Speak up, leverage both logic and lived experience, and recognize that your unique perspective is a powerful asset in driving progress and innovation.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in healthcare is the prevalence of standardized treatment approaches that do not fully account for individual patient needs. At the same time, there is a significant opportunity to advance personalized medicine, enhance patient advocacy, and develop practical recovery solutions—particularly for women navigating cancer treatment.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Knowledge, integrity, compassion, optimism, and faith are the core values that guide both my professional and personal life. I believe in staying informed, maintaining a positive outlook, and using my personal experiences and challenges as a platform to uplift, educate, and serve others.