About Me
My name is Dr. Cleo A. Ryals, and I’m the founder of Evidence in StyleTM.
I’m a Harvard-trained cancer outcomes researcher with nearly two decades of experience in real-world evidence, health equity, and policy.
This platform was born from both my professional expertise and a deeply personal experience when my mother-in-love was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the fall of 2024. With her diagnosis came a flood of decisions and information that our family had to navigate quickly and carefully. I stepped in as her advocate, reviewing medical reports, breaking down confusing medical language, and helping everyone understand what was happening and what came next. That experience made one thing clear: cancer should not be this hard to understand. So, I created something new.
As the founder of Evidence in StyleTM, I translate complex cancer concepts into stories that are relatable and memorable, using analogies drawn from fashion, music, film, and everyday life. I deeply believe cancer education can be clear, creative, and deeply human.
Because when people understand what they’re facing, they feel more equipped. And from greater understanding, comes greater hope.
5 Things to Know About Me
I’m a wife and mom, and both roles have stretched me.
Motherhood gave me clarity and confidence. Being a wife has pushed me in the best ways. My husband challenges me, believes in me, and brings out my boldest self, including through fashion. (And, he also happens to be my stylist for work travel and speaking engagements!)
I believe in the power of self-expression.
Fashion isn’t just what I wear. It’s how I show up. It’s how I bring confidence, creativity, and presence into every space I enter, including the world of cancer research.
I am a Miami-native and the child of Haitian immigrants.
Raised in a bilingual home, I learned early how to move between worlds, languages, cultures, and perspectives. That same instinct shapes how I translate complex science into something real, relatable, and useful for everyday people.
I’m a former professor who loves to teach.
I spent 8 years in academia designing and teaching graduate courses and conducting cancer research. I truly enjoy teaching and mentoring, and even won a teaching award while on faculty. My teaching experience is the inspiration behind the EIS Notes format for Evidence in StyleTM content.
I believe scientific evidence can be empowering and infused with hope.
Evidence in StyleTM isn’t just about translating and effectively communicating complex cancer concepts. It’s about restoring clarity, confidence, and courage. This work is deeply rooted in my faith in God and belief that knowledge can be a vessel for hope, healing, and purposeful action.