Sasha Kalcheff Korn, Executive Director, Realm of Caring Foundation – Interview Series

While the federal government is unable to complete any meaningful research on cannabis for a variety of reasons, that hasn’t stopped many private non-profit organizations from compiling and completing that very important observational research. One such organization that is conducting this groundbreaking observational research by incredibly qualified and accomplished professionals is the Realm of Caring Foundation. For more information about this vital work, my cannabis.com had the pleasure of speaking with Sasha Kalcheff Korn, Executive Director, Realm of Caring Foundation.

So what subjects did you study/major in while a student at Hunter College, and what interested you about eventually attending graduate school?

During my time at Hunter College, my BA program was in Political Science and I took a lot of communications courses that led me to an internship at MTV in the news and docs department. I was most interested in unveiling true stories about real people to learn from our historical past and improve our future as a society. During my last semester, I took a Gender and Politics course where my final presentation was on PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and the pitfalls that existed, for example only funding faith based organizations and not providing condoms. This very project inspired me to turn down a corporate job post-graduation and head to Uganda on a volunteer trip with an organization called The Real Uganda. This gave me first hand experience in health initiatives. We traveled to rural areas to provide various forms of birth control (condoms, pills, depo-provera shots), perform HIV screens, and sell mosquito nets at a reduced rate. This solidified my eagerness to further my studies in health education as a human right so I could work in nonprofit management. At the time – only two schools offered an International Human Rights master’s program, which is what brought me to the University of Denver.

What all went into obtaining your Master of Arts in International Human Rights, and how did that graduate degree provide you with more insight and advantages in your very meaningful field of work?

My time earning my degree was invaluable. I had the opportunity to perform case studies on so many human rights injustices around the world – from deforestation in Mozambique to girls leaving school at early ages in South Africa. I also had the opportunity to put into practice being a project manager, completing a fundraising audit, and scaling potential projects – all in real time for real local nonprofit organizations. I was able to  two of my research papers to the International Studies Association Conference in Pasadena. One was on women’s roles in ending prohibition and the other was  on the forced labor industry in Uzbekistan. It was rewarding t to get that first hand experience in presenting research to an academic audience. These papers also kick started my career into advocating for plant-based therapies. A course I took on the international and domestic consequences of the War on Drugs gave me a human rights perspective on cannabis and the injustices that follow for those who seek medical autonomy.

What were your regular duties while serving as a Congressional intern for Congressman Rick Boucher, and how did such a prestigious internship strengthen your communications skills and public service appreciation? 

Regular duties included writing letters and answering phone calls from constituents who wanted to express their concerns across several issues to their Congressman. My favorite duty was providing tours of the capitol to visitors from his district. My love for the intersection of education and history met in such a meaningful way. I also grew such an admiration for those who worked in the offices of our state leaders. Talk about working long hours on various, contentious topics for the sake of serving citizens. I was so inspired by their dedication and was so proud to be a part of that, even if just for a short time.

What would you say were your favorite or otherwise the most thoughtful parts of being a mathematics teacher in public schools in both Denver and Colorado Springs? Conversely from your experience, what were the most glaring and widespread issues that face Colorado public schools and their students and teachers alike?

My favorite part would have to be building relationships with these students. I taught in all Title 1 schools, where trust among students and authority is difficult to foster. I was lucky enough to have a mentor my first year in AmeriCorps who showed me the importance of trust before education. My students needed to trust that what I was doing would be in their best interest, that I wouldn’t let them down, and that I would help them achieve. And so many of my proudest moments came from taking something they had such a disdain for – I mean math, come on – and turning it into something they engaged with willingly. Showing them yes you can make a career of this, you can do difficult things, and success is achievable.

As far as issues facing Colorado public schools – there are many just as there are issues in any district you might go into in America. I had great, lofty visions of fixing a lot of what is wrong. I think there are a lot of pressures on teachers mostly but administrators as well, there isn’t enough financial support, and there is not at all enough emphasis on nutrition and kids being able to move their body throughout the day.

What caught your professional attention about working for the Realm of Caring Foundatio,n and why is the organization’s work important from the big picture? 

My first interaction with Realm of Caring was actually when they were first forming as a nonprofit in 2014. I was working as an ABA therapist while earning my Master’s degree and one of my kids I was providing therapy for had moved out to Colorado to access cannabidiol (CBD) oil for relief for her seizures. Her mom knew the Realm of Caring founding mothers and volunteered to help set up Realm of Caring when they moved into their office space. It was incredibly pivotal to me because this was the time I was taking that course on the international and domestic consequences of the War on Drugs.  I had this human rights perspective on cannabis, and now I had this very real first hand experience of witnessing the power of plant based therapies in improving the quality of life for a children; therefore for a whole family.

The big picture is that access to plant-based therapies is a human right; and that education and research, not stigma, should lead the conversation. Realm of Caring is community-driven research, honest education, and free guided support that fills gaps until our medical communities and policymakers catch up. People need other options when they are failed by traditional medicines and they need to be supported in that journey so they can find success in a safe way.

During your tenure as Director of Education and Communications, how did you educate clients and the general public about the potential benefits and medical possibilities of medical cannabis? 

In addition to being on the lines and email as a care specialist during this time providing  free 1:1 support, I was writing blogs based on research, creating webinars on topics of interest, and making personal connections with people in and out of the industry. If cannabis is truly going to be recognized for its medicinal value, it needs to be a collaborative message. I wanted to carry on what our founders had created in allowing patients to have the voice and their stories coupled with collected data be what improves access.

As Executive Director of RoC, what are your usual daily duties and some lesser known aspects of the role? How does an effective and personable Executive Director bolster the entire organization itself?  

As Executive Director, a lot of my day is spent in meetings because building and maintaining relationships are so very important. Movements can’t happen in silos. I am constantly brainstorming and collaborating with both my team, our partners, and others who are connected to this great work of improving the health and wellbeing of tens of thousands in our society. To me this is the best way to bolster an organization – you don’t have to reinvent the wheel when you can bring bright minds together and be shepherds of progress. I also love to write a lot of our blogs because of the creative outlet but it also keeps me updated with new research. As in most nonprofits, there are a lot of hats we all wear – which I don’t mind at all because there isn’t anything going on at our organization that I don’t know about at any given time. Our team thrives on transparency and collaboration. I think some of the lesser known aspects of the role is just how much administrative work goes into this position with budgets, invoicing, audits, and updating things in the backend of our website. There is never a dull moment and always a new challenge.

Throughout your time with Realm of Caring, what have been the most impactful ways that those helped by the organization have received relief through cannabis?

Not only has our call center received countless anecdotes since 2013, but our Observational Research Registry (ORR) has also been active since 2015. This registry has seen thousands of people take multiple surveys to capture how they are using commercially available products in their everyday lives. Through both means of communication, we have seen nonverbal children speak to their parents, we have seen a wife with dementia have a conversation with her husband for the first time in a decade, cancers go into remission, suicidal ideation dissipate, decreased rates of opioid use, and a child go from 17 pharmaceuticals to zero pharmaceuticals. All with the safe and intentional introduction of cannabis. To sum it up in one impact would be to say we are witnessing people regain their life – and not just living but thriving. 

Who are some notable and accomplished people on the RoC team, and why are their perspectives valuable?

Our entire team is notable and accomplished! Each of them play significant roles in driving our success forward so that we are able to help more people:

Matthew X. Lowe, PhD / Senior Research Director

Ivori Zvorsky, PhD / Research Data Scientist

Quinn Darby / Research Associate

Jan Morton / Community Outreach Coordinator and Care Specialist

Steve Bond / Care Team Coordinator

Jennifer Sandoval / Care Specialist

Amber Sellers / Care Specialist

Why is it crucial that RoC has a Scientific Advisory Board, and why are the doctors on that board fitting choices to serve in such roles?

It’s crucial because we have  first hand experience from the consumer and patient directly on what gaps need to be filled. We take those gaps and we create future, independent studies to drive science forward. Our board helps us by asking questions that allow us to think critically about the surveys we build and how we execute them. They have also been instrumental when it comes to how we advocate for policy. In my time here I have sat on state-appointed task forces for developing legislation as well as have two appointments for state education on hemp and cannabis. Consulting with them has been helpful in crafting meaningful responses based in science.

As cannabinoid-based research continues and may finally receive federal funding, assuming a rescheduling occurs, how does RoC continue to advocate for the medicinal uses and numerous possibilities of cannabis?  

If rescheduling occurs, for the first time the federal government openly states that cannabis has medicinal value. This is huge! This means we can continue to bolster our research initiatives to then advocate for further policy change and drive clinical studies. It also means that we will get more individuals thinking about cannabis as a medicine instead of a stigma and reaching out for help. Our goals include getting more education to wider audiences – we have spoken with nurses, in retirement communities, and at conferences for specific diseases. Every time we have a speaking engagement we introduce a new possibility to someone, somewhere. Even if rescheduling occurs, we still have a long way to go so we will continue to advocate for equitable access to not just safe products but quality education.

Thank you for joining us, Sasha! For more information on Realm of Caring, please visit its website.