As an oncology nurse, Judi Hirschfield-Bartek raised awareness of the importance of genetic testing and environmental factors in understanding breast cancer. While working for Dr. Susan Love, a cancer researcher and patient advocate, Hirshfield-Bartek became involved in breast cancer activism—a cause that was especially important to her as the daughter of a woman who died from breast cancer. She has served on the board of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and is also a founding member of the Jewish Women's Coalition on Breast Cancer, which addresses issues of genetic testing. She has lobbied Congress on the importance of research and critical issues of privacy and non-discrimination for genetic predispositions. Alongside her work as an activist and lecturer on issues of cancer and genetic testing, Hirshfield-Bartek continues her work as a nurse at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Judi Hirschfield-Bartek was honored at the 2001 Women Who Dared event in Boston.