A walk of love and hope: How a breast cancer walk changed Tiffany Karlin’s life and career
For Tiffany Karlin, a partner at Wipfli with over a decade of healthcare industry experience, a Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk was supposed to be another way to honor her family’s history with the disease. Instead, it became the first chapter of a love story and her lifelong commitment to a cause.
Tiffany had always been passionate about breast cancer research and awareness because of her family’s history with the disease. Over the years, she participated in many breast cancer walks. A rain-soaked walk in San Diego in 2009 was like any other — until Tiffany and her sister connected with a brother-sister duo. The foursome hit it off immediately and stuck together for the three-day, 60-mile journey, despite challenging weather conditions.
Little did Tiffany know, she was meeting her future husband, Tony. And she was joining a deeply personal breast cancer journey, fighting for her soon-to-be father-in-law.
and during a recent walk in 2022 (bottom).
A chance encounter
Tony’s father, Anthony Maturani Sr., had battled illnesses his entire life. At 21, he was diagnosed with diabetes and later heart disease. Later in his life, he faced an unexpected battle: breast cancer.
The diagnosis came late, Tiffany said, because men don’t often check for breast cancer. “His breast was the only reason why he knew something was wrong,” she said. “It was very sore and discharging white material.”
The Stage 3B diagnosis meant aggressive treatment — a full left breast mastectomy and 20 lymph nodes removed. Tony also underwent 15 rounds of chemotherapy and 30 rounds of radiation. While his heart disease was present prior to the breast cancer, it increased in severity due to his cancer and treatments.
Despite the advanced stage of his cancer and his ongoing battle with diabetes, Tony’s father showed remarkable resilience and is now 15 years free of cancer. He reflects now that he started feeling symptoms at least a year before his diagnosis, but it took such severe pain in his breast to do anything about seeking help.
The same year he was diagnosed, Tony and his sister participated in their first Susan G. Komen breast cancer walk to honor their father’s fight — and met Tiffany.
Over a decade later, Tiffany and Tony reconnected the bond they formed on that three-day walk. They were married in 2021 and carry on a legacy of resilience and hope. They continue to participate in breast cancer walks, and Tiffany’s father-in-law joins them when he can.
“He loves to show off the scar from his mastectomy,” Tiffany said. “It’s like a badge of honor for him and his fight.” His story is a reminder that all people should be screened yearly for breast cancer.
Wipfli’s commitment to breast cancer awareness
Inspired by her father-in-law’s journey and her professional commitment to healthcare, Tiffany has had a years-long passion for breast cancer awareness. This fall, she’s leading a Wipfli-sponsored breast cancer fundraiser event in Dallas.
On the first weekend of November, Tiffany and members of the Women of Wipfli business resource group will participate in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure. “Instead of only meeting and strategizing for the future, we decided to empower and embrace an event that is for women and men,” Tiffany explains. Wipfli will host a networking event after the walk, featuring a presentation from one of Tiffany’s close friends who is a breast cancer survivor. Her friend plans to speak about resilience in the face of adversity.
The Wipfli Foundation will match funds raised by participants. Tiffany and her team will be easy to spot in their custom shirts, proudly displaying “Paint the Town Pink” on the front and the Wipfli Foundation logo on the back.
For Tiffany, this event is about more than raising money or awareness — it’s about creating a community of support and understanding. “Sometimes we need that, for those who are fighting and those who have lost their loved ones.”
As she prepares for the walk, Tiffany is reminded of the power of perseverance, a quality she’s witnessed firsthand in her father-in-law and countless others affected by breast cancer. She’s also grateful for the unexpected ways life can bring people together around a common cause.
Susan G. Komen estimated that in 2024, for women in the U.S. there will be:
- 310,720 new cases of invasive breast cancer (this includes new cases of primary breast cancer, but not breast cancer recurrences).
- 56,500 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a non-invasive breast cancer.
- 42,250 breast cancer deaths.
For men in the U.S., there will be:
- 2,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer (this includes new cases of primary breast cancers, but not breast cancer recurrences).
- 530 breast cancer deaths.
And she invites others to join the cause. “The more people who are interested, the better,” she said. Every action counts in the fight against breast cancer, whether it’s walking, donating or simply spreading awareness.
A rainy day in San Diego set Tiffany on a new path — one that perfectly aligned her passion and Wipfli’s values of caring, teamwork and perseverance. Her story is a testament to how life’s unexpected turns can lead us to our true calling, and how personal experiences fuel professional missions.
