Parker Shubin Wins the 2025 Pilzer Klein Fighting Cancer Scholarship

The Social Security Disability lawyers with Pilzer Klein understand how drastically cancer diagnoses can change people’s lives. That’s why we debuted the Fighting Cancer Scholarship. This scholarship promises financial support to students and family members contending with the ways cancer continues to impact their lives.

This year, Pilzer Klein wants to celebrate the achievements of Parker Shubin. Shubin’s pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor has not only impacted his health but also transformed his ambitions for the future and motivated him to pursue a career in medicine.

Shubin is currently wrapping up his time at Moorpark College, where he’s taken the pre-requisite courses needed to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. He looks forward to completing his degree in California before using his experience to improve the lives of other cancer patients.

Shubin’s Experience With a Pilocytic Astrocytoma Brain Tumor

At five years old, medical professionals diagnosed Parker Shubin with a pilocytic astrocytoma brain tumor. This slow-growing tumor threatens a person’s cerebellum and balance, as well as their optic nerve and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

In Shubin’s words, his diagnosis resulted in a childhood that was “anything but typical.” He’s undergone 19 surgeries so far, including 14 brain surgeries. He’s also endured over two years of chemotherapy and two years of targeted therapy. He’s had over 50 brain MRIs.

“Though the road hasn’t been easy, I’ve learned to navigate adversity with resilience and determination,” he says. “Being in and out of hospitals didn’t break me—it inspired me.”

Turning Treatment Into Inspiration

That inspiration took root at an early age. In high school, Shubin served as president of the Cancer Awareness Club at Newbury Park High School. He spearheaded an effort to rename the club after its advisor, Christy Hodson, who was also undergoing treatment for her cancer during Shubin’s high school career.

In addition to honoring his mentor, Shubin used his position to secure over $1,000 worth of toys and books for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. The club also donated hundreds of dollars to the Mike P. Nosco and Make-a-Wish Foundations, in addition to creating care packages for patients and their families.

When recalling his time with the club, Shubin asserts that he’s proudest of organizing a toy drive for underprivileged children in the Conejo Valley community. “Each act of service helped me transform my experience into a source of hope for others.”

Shubin’s Advocacy at UCLA

Shubin’s advocacy didn’t stop after he graduated from high school. Upon his acceptance at UCLA, he joined Synapse and the American Cancer Society. His work with Synapse paired him with a fellow brain injury survivor, giving him an opportunity to bond with someone who understood the complex physical and financial demands of cerebral conditions.

Working with the American Cancer Society gave him the opportunity to continue fundraising for cancer patients and research. His efforts allowed him and the rest of the society to secure over $80,000, which they donated to efforts to preserve cancer research and patient advocacy.

However, it was his time as a volunteer with the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center that Shubin cites as his most transformative experience. As a Care Extender, he connected with stroke victims, patients with hydrocephalus, and other complex concerns, and found that his personal experiences helped them feel less alone.

Community Borne From Shared Experiences

When discussing his time as a Care Extender, Shubin takes care to offer high praise for a nurse on the floor he worked on.

“One nurse on that floor, Mila, changed everything for me,” he says. “From my first day, she saw me not as just a volunteer, but as someone with potential. She took time to answer my questions, explain procedures, and share wisdom.”

“One moment stands out,” he continues. “A patient was recovering from brain surgery and visibly distressed. I didn’t know what to say, but Mila quietly reminded me, ‘Sometimes just being here is enough.’…her mentorship showed me the power of empathy in action and how small acts of kindness can shape someone’s path.”

What to Expect From Parker Shubin in the Future

When asked about his ambitions for the future, Shubin quickly emphasized his desire to continue working in the medical field. He hopes to use his degree to work in pediatrics as a registered nurse, and intends to apply to the RN Residency in Pediatrics program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

He emphasizes that he wants to give back to the hospital where he’s received treatments over the past 15 years, and that while he doesn’t want to be defined by his past, he does want his experiences to drive him.

About the Pilzer Klein Fighting Cancer Scholarship

The legal team with Pilzer Klein makes a point to help cancer patients and their families better understand what rights they have to financial support through Social Security and other legal avenues. The Fighting Cancer Scholarship is emblematic of the firm’s commitment to cancer patients and their families.

This scholarship, valued at $2,500, offers students some financial relief as they pursue their college educations. Students diagnosed with or recovering from cancer can draft 1,000-word essays describing their experiences and ambitions, as well as how their diagnosis may have changed their plans for the future.

Previous recipients of the Pilzer Klein Fighting Cancer Scholarship include Dimitri Vallejo (2023) and Kaleolani Ilac (2024).

Celebrating Parker Shubin

Learning to live with a cancer diagnosis takes time and grace. The medical teams that support cancer patients can become a lifeline for patients and their families.

Shubin’s determination to join the teams of people who’ve helped cancer patients like him speaks to his empathetic and dedicated spirit.

The team with Pilzer Klein applauds Shubin’s commitment to his education in such extenuating circumstances. We wish him the best of luck as he pursues his Bachelor of Science in Nursing and have no doubt that his compassion will make him a bright light in his patients’ lives.

Students interested in applying for next year’s Fighting Cancer Scholarship can check the scholarship’s terms and conditions for updates to its qualifying criteria and 2026’s submission deadline.