Dr. Sharlene Gill, BSc, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, FRCP(C) (Medical Oncology) - Co-chair

Dr. Sharlene Gill is a Professor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and a medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies at BC Cancer – Vancouver. She received a Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy and an MD from the University of British Columbia in 1996 followed by residencies in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Dr. Gill subsequently completed a fellowship in Gl Oncology at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) and a Masters of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. In 2017, she completed an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina. She is actively engaged in education and research, with over 120 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters to her credit. Dr. Gill serves as the Chair of the Canadian Clinical Trials Group (CCTG) GI Disease Site Committee and Chair of the UBC Department of Medicine Mentoring Committee. She is the Editor-in-Chief for Current Oncology and is the President of the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists. Her TEDx talk in 2022 on ‘How to Flip the Script on Cancer’ delivered her passion for patient advocacy and empowerment.

Dr. Michael Raphael, MD FRCPC - Co-chair

Dr. Raphael is a Medical Oncologist at the Odette Cancer Center at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. His practice is dedicated to the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. He completed his medical degree at Queen’s University and his internal medicine and medical oncology training at the University of Toronto. He then completed an advanced cancer health services research fellowship and a Master’s of Science (Healthcare Quality, Risk and Safety) at Queen’s University. His research focus is on population-based cancer care. His research aims to identify ways to optimize the coordination and delivery of cancer care services, and to describe gaps in care, disparities in access to treatment, uptake of cancer therapies, and real-world toxicity and effectiveness. His research has already influenced practice guidelines globally and led to a new quality metric that is routinely captured by Cancer Care Ontario (“time to initiating adjuvant chemotherapy”). He is also a valued member of CCRAN’s Scientific & Medical Advisory Board.

Dr. Petra Wildgoose, MD FRCPC - Co-chair

Dr. Petra Wildgoose is a Family Physician with a specialization in Oncology. She is the lead of the Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, where she addresses the physical, psychological, social, and lifestyle concerns unique to this patient population, and provides long-term survivorship care. She also works in the division of General Surgery as a surgical assistant in colorectal and hepatobiliary oncology. She received her certification in Family Medicine from the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto in 2018, and prior to this, completed two years of residency training in General Surgery. She also has specific interests in both mental health and the care of young adults. She holds a Master of Public Health degree in Adolescent Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and previously worked as an inpatient physician at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Her current interests are looking at the application of mindfulness-based interventions in improving the quality of life of young adult colorectal cancer patients. She is thrilled to be involved with CCRAN to promote awareness of early-age onset colorectal cancer.

Dr. Christopher Lieu MD

Dr. Lieu joined the University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty in 2011. He trained in internal medicine at the University of Colorado, where he also served as a Chief Medical Resident. Dr. Lieu completed his fellowship training in medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and served as the Chief Medical Oncology Fellow in 2010. Dr. Lieu currently serves as the co-Director of GI Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, the Vice-Chair of the National Cancer Institute Colon Cancer Task Force, the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC), and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Panel for Neuroendocrine Cancers.

Dr. Clarence Wong MD FRCPC

Dr. Wong is a gastroenterologist and Associate Professor with the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Alberta. He is an Attending Staff gastroenterologist at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital and the Cross Cancer Institute. He holds a BSc in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Calgary and a MD degree from the University of Alberta. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology having completed medical residency at McMaster University in Hamilton and the University of Alberta. During his training, Dr. Wong was awarded research fellowships from both the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology for translational research in Experimental Oncology. He has also completed a fellowship in endoscopic ultrasound and is a therapeutic endoscopist focusing on gastrointestinal cancers. He is the medical director of the Edmonton Endoscopic Ablation Program which treats Barrett’s esophagus and early upper gastrointestinal tract cancers. He is currently the Section Lead for Gastroenterology in the Edmonton Zone for Alberta Health Services. His research interests include clinical and laboratory innovations in colon cancer screening and Barrett’s esophagus. He received funding from AHFMR and Alberta Innovates. Dr. Wong is a Past-President of the Alberta Society of Gastroenterology. He has received regional and national teaching awards for excellence in medical education including Endoscopy & Teacher of the Year from the UofA GI Residency Training Program, the University of Alberta Medical Students’ Association Teacher of the Year Award, the Canadian Association of Medical Education (CAME) Certificate of Merit, and the University of Alberta Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Dr. Dan Schiller MD FRCPC

Dr. Dan Schiller is a Surgical Oncologist and Associate Professor at the University of Alberta with an interest in Gastrointestinal Oncology and Sarcoma. He is currently the Site Lead for General Surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, the Chair of the Royal College Specialty Committee in Surgical Oncology, and past Residency Program Director at the University of Alberta. Dr. Schiller completed his medical school at the University of Western Ontario, his General Surgery Residency at the University of Alberta and his Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Darren Brenner Ph.D

Darren Brenner is a cancer epidemiologist who leads a program of research at the University of Calgary focused on using big data and precision health analytics to examine cancer risk and outcomes. He has over a decade of experience conducting observational and intervention research on chronic disease risk and survival. In recent years, Darren has led several large multi-centered analyses of observational datasets as well as numerous systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses in the oncology space. He was the co-lead of the Canadian Population Attributable Risk of Cancer (ComPARe) project that was a comprehensive set of analyses examining the current and future burden of cancer in Canada related to all known modifiable cancer risk factors. In 2019 he was selected as the co-recipient of the Canadian Cancer Society’s William E. Rawls Prize recognizing a young investigator whose outstanding contributions have the potential to lead to or have already led to important advances in cancer control in Canada.  Darren also serves as the Academic Advisor on the Canadian Cancer Statistics Steering Committee and on the OncoSim advisory committee for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

Darren completed his PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Toronto followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization in Lyon, France. To date he has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals in the areas of oncology and epidemiology.

Dr. Marko Yurkovich, BSc, MD, CCFP, ABOM

Dr. Yurkovich completed his medical school and residency training at the University of British Columbia. He’s been practicing family medicine in downtown Vancouver since 2016, mainly focussing on Primary Care, Obesity Medicine, Weight Management, and Preventative/Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Yurkovich recently obtained his American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) fellowship certification and is actively accepting patient referrals for Obesity & Weight Management.

Dr. Yurkovich is constantly disocvering new ways to optimize human health. Along with his interests in Dermatology, Medical Aesthetics and Hair Restoration, he also has a passion for teaching. He is currently working as a Clinical Instructor with the UBC Faculty of Medicine.

Dr. Mary De Vera Ph.D

Dr. De Vera is an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences where she holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair. She holds a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Masters and Doctoral degrees in Health Care and Epidemiology. An epidemiologist and health services researcher her research program spans pragmatic studies in real-world settings and population-based studies using administrative databases to study patient experiences with disease and treatments, particularly in rheumatology and oncology. She brings the patient perspective to her research with her own experiences of being diagnosed with young-onset colorectal cancer.

Dr. Mary Jane Esplen Ph.D

Dr. Mary Jane Esplen is Professor and Vice-Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, former Clinician-Scientist at University Health Network and founded de Souza Institute – a National Centre of education for oncology health professionals. She has held Career Scientist awards from CIHR and NCIC for psychosocial oncology research, completing studies of psychotherapeutic treatments to support adjustment to being diagnosed with cancer or receiving genetic risk information in breast, colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Other areas of research include studies addressing body image among cancer survivors or the management of grief and loss. Dr. Esplen gives numerous workshops and keynotes and has received several awards, including the lifetime achievement award from Canadian Association Psychosocial Oncology and the Bernard Fox Memorial Award from International Psycho-oncology Society.

Dr. Aaron Pollett, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Dr. Aaron Pollett is the Provincial Head, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Program at Ontario Health - Cancer Care Ontario (OH-CCO). He is an Anatomic Pathologist and Co-Director of the Division of Diagnostic Medical Genetics at Mount Sinai Hospital and an associate professor in the department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Pollett has a specialty interest in gastrointestinal pathology and pathology informatics with a master’s degree from the Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. He is the review pathologist for the Familial Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry (FGICR) and the Ontario Familial Colon Cancer Registry (OFCCR), tumour-based registries constructed to analyze the genetic basis of gastrointestinal cancers. In his various roles, Dr. Pollett oversees the molecular analysis of solid cancers as well as the development and implementation of new molecular biomarkers.

Dr. Abha Gupta, MD, MSc, FRCPC

Dr. Abha Gupta received her MD at the University of Toronto. She completed her pediatrics residency at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital (New Haven, CT) and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa) before moving back to Toronto to complete her fellowship in paediatric hematology/oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children. To complement her training, Dr. Gupta completed a one-year fellowship in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology with a focus on sarcoma. She is currently cross-appointed as a staff oncologist at both The Hospital for Sick Children and Princess Margaret Hospital.

Dr. Gupta’s primary clinical and research interests include sarcoma, adolescent and young adult oncology. She is the Medical Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at Princess Margaret. Here she is working with a team of people to create the infrastructure to ensure consistent and high quality delivery of information and services to young people with cancer.

Dr. Gupta is also the founding medical director of CanSaRCC, the Canadian Sarcoma Research and Clinical Collaboration, and is interested in clinical trials for sarcoma and desmoid.

Mr. Allen Chankowsky

Allen Chankowsky is an author, international speaker, sales promotion marketing expert, and 31-year cancer survivor who is currently surviving a rare form of stage-4 cancer. As the author of his best-selling and multi-award-winning book, On the Other Side of TERMINAL, Allen hopes to share his incredible story of survival by inspiring readers with an enduring message of hope and resilience in the face of a life-shattering diagnosis.

Allen credits his survival to the love and tireless support of his girlfriend Cynthia and their four children. He’s committed to raising awareness about cancer and helping other survivors find the strength they need to reclaim their lives from illness. He has been invited to speak at major international cancer events - most recently as the keynote speaker at TargetCancer Foundation’s 2022 gala. He was also invited to be the patient keynote at a precision medicine conference where he presented to world leaders in cancer research, molecular pathology and oncology. Allen has appeared in a television commercial in support of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, a movie theater trailer, referenced in national and international news publications.

Born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Allen currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In his spare time, he can be found winning backgammon tournaments at the United States Backgammon Federation, where he won the Intermediate Division at the 2021 US Open. For more information about Allen and his work, visit his website at: AllenChankowsky.com

Ms. Alyson Geary

Alyson Geary is the Lead, Impact Partnerships, Support + Community Powered Projects where she helps drive revenue and awareness for the mission, supports the healing and psychosocial programs for breast cancer patients and works closely with the community and volunteers on various events and projects.

Aly is a builder, fascinated by ideas and is always looking for connections. Having worked in the not-for-profit sector for over two decades – from academia to healthcare – and having experienced breast cancer personally at a young age, Aly is very driven by the Rethink mission and passionate about making a difference.

When Aly is not working, she keeps busy by renovating her 150-year-old century home in the country, hiking in the forest with her dogs or dreaming of her future goat and donkey farm!

Dr. Anand Govindarajan, MD, FRCSC

Dr. Anand Govindarajan is a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, associate professor at the University of Toronto and adjunct scientist at IC/ES. He is also the provincial clinical lead for Survivorship at Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).

He completed medical school and a residency in general surgery at the University of Toronto, and a clinical fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. In addition, he has completed a Master's of Science through the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Dr. Govindarajan’s clinical practice involves the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers with a significant focus on peritoneal-based malignancies. He is a co-author on Canadian and US guidelines on management of peritoneal-based malignancies. His primary research focus is to study and narrow the gaps between current practice and best evidence in the treatment of these diseases. He too is a valued member of CCRAN’s medical and scientific advisory board, helping to keep CCRAN abreast in the management of colorectal peritoneal metastases.

Dr. Andrea Cercek, MD

Dr. Andrea Cercek is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC), appendix cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma. Her research is focused on the development of novel systemic and regional therapies, including approaches based on tumor genomics, with the goal of improving outcomes while minimizing treatment-related toxicities.

She is the founder and co-director of the Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancer. This clinic — the first of its kind in the world — is dedicated solely to the specific needs of people under 50 who have CRC or other GI cancers.

Dr. Anna Spreafico, MD, PhD

Dr. Spreafico is Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and Clinician Investigator in the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.

Her previous training includes a PhD in translational research in the Program for Evaluation of Targeted Therapies at the University of Colorado, USA, and a subspecialty fellowship in experimental therapeutics at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Dr. Spreafico serves as the Head and Neck Medical Oncology Disease Site Lead and Director of the Phase I Drug Development Fellowship at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Dr Spreafico is involved in national and international Steering Committees, including the CCTG Head and Neck Disease site and IND Executive Committee and the US NCI rare tumor task force, and serves a Co-Chair of the NRG Oncology Recurrent/Metastatic H&N Cancer Working Group. Dr. Spreafico's full-time academic practice and research include early phase clinical trials, with disease-specific interests in skin/melanoma, and head and neck cancers. Her translational research focuses on immuno-oncology-based, microbiome and cancer interception-driven studies and she leads as PI, CCTG, NRG and NCI CTEP early phase investigator-initiated clinical trials.

Dr. Aparna Parikh, MD MS

Ms. Armina Ligaya

Ms. Atoosa Rashid

Ms. Cassandra Macaulay, BSc, MHS, RTNM

Dr. David Gurau, MD, FRCSC

Dr. David Gurau earned his medical degree (MD) in 2011 from The University of Western Ontario. He completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) at The University of Toronto in 2016 and subsequently completed a fellowship in Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (GREI) at McMaster University in 2018. Dr. Gurau is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC Ob/Gyn, GREI).

Dr. Gurau is the author of several publications on a range of topics in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, reproductive endocrinology, and medical education.

Dr. Gurau works at Generation Fertility with offices in Vaughan and Newmarket, Ontario. His scope of practice includes all areas of reproductive medicine including fertility treatment and fertility preservation.

Dr. Dawn Richards, PhD

Mr. Don Husereau, BSc, Pharm, MSc

Don Husereau is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at The University of Ottawa.

He does freelance health care research, and works with private and public sector life sciences organizations to help them understand the value of health technology and its implications for health and innovation policy.

Dr. Emina Emilia Torlakovic, MD, PhD, FCAP

Dr. Eric Chen, MD, FRCPC

Miss Erin Ranger, RPN

Erin is a registered practical nurse with training and expertise in the operating room.

She has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, telehealth and most recently, in the non-profit sector. Erin is committed to patient advocacy and is passionate about empowering patients through connection, support, education and awareness.

Mrs. Felicia Newell, MSc, RD

Ms. Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.

Filomena is the President and CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (“CCRAN”) – a patient-focused organization championing the health and wellbeing of Canadians touched by colorectal cancer and others at risk of developing the disease. Her undergraduate and graduate work lie in the biological sciences and educational studies. As a caregiver to her father, who was afflicted with and succumbed to metastatic cancer, his journey has served as the impetus for the founding of CCRAN, one month post his passing in August of 2006.

The past seventeen years have been dedicated to the cause of supporting, educating, and advocating on behalf of colorectal cancer patients and caregivers, to improve patients’ quality of life and longevity through the provision of evidence-based information and access to innovative patient programs, such as CCRAN’s innovative “My CRC Consultant”, an online tool providing the metastatic patient with evidence-based and expert reviewed, potential therapeutic options based on the patient’s tumour’s molecular profile. She has been working closely with valued health care professionals across the continuum of colorectal cancer care to ensure content acumen. She is humbled to be published alongside world-renowned experts in areas such as colorectal cancer management, PROs and PROMs, early age onset colorectal cancer awareness and education, promoting national LDLT efforts, education on molecular profiling, and more.

Filomena is a strong proponent of HTA patient evidence submissions since the inception of pCODR, ensuring the patient voice is captured and well incorporated into her submissions. She prepares these submissions not only for colorectal cancer drug therapies under review, but within therapeutic areas for which there are no representative patient advocacy groups or on behalf of patient advocacy groups who may not have the capacity to make these critically important submissions. She strives to secure robust patient and caregiver participation to help identify patients’ unmet needs, as well as capture their fundamentally important values, preferences, and priorities with the goal of ultimately ensuring reimbursement of effective treatments based on thoughtful and compelling input. She continues to be a passionate advocate for the Canadian cancer patient and their caregiver.

ABOUT CCRAN
The Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (“CCRAN”) is a national, not for profit patient organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating on behalf of colorectal cancer patients and caregivers across Canada. It is a patient-focused organization whose programs are inspired by two patient advisory councils, one of which is dedicated to Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer (EAOCRC). Its members identify unmet patient needs to serve as the inspiration for the development of thoughtful and relevant patient programs to help improve the quality of life and longevity for patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin, MD, PhD, MSc, FRCSC

Ms. Hayley Painter, RN

Hayley Painter (she/her) lives in Caledon, ON with her husband and two young boys. In May 2021, after two months of vague GI symptoms, Hayley was diagnosed with a rectal adenocarcinoma with metastatic disease to the liver and probable lung. Having a background in healthcare, Hayley very quickly submerged herself into the colorectal world of oncology. Armed with current research rather than non-applicable statistics, Hayley threw herself into 15 months of aggressive treatment which included chemotherapy, radiation, and multiple surgeries. Because of a fantastic medical team and a lot of hard work, Hayley is proud to say that she is tumour free today. Now the focus is on healing herself and her family from this emotional ordeal.

Throughout treatment, Hayley continuously found that the needs of those with early onset diagnosis were not always represented within the healthcare system. The priorities, and concerns of those who are younger often look different than an older demographic. For this and so many other reasons Hayley is proud to be working with CCRAN. Organizations such as CCRAN are vitally important to the Cancer patient as well as their families. For Hayley, it is all about the human connection and having accurate current information on the ready!

Ms. Jessica Dasler

Mr. Jim Palma

Ms. Joanna Kirsh

Dr. Jose Perea, MD, PhD, MSc

Dr. Kim Ma, MD, FRCPC

Dr Kim Ma completed her medical oncology and hematology training at McGill University before working in CISSS des Laurentides and Laval. She has been PI in multiple phase 3 clinical trials focusing on breast and GI malignancies as well as leading investigator-initiated trials in her centre.

She was chief of Optilab for 2 years where she gained insight into system management and optimizing trajectory of care. Since starting at the Jewish General Hospital, she is actively implicated in opening a new hereditary GI clinic focused on timely prevention and intervention in this at-risk population.

Ms. Laura Palma, MSc, CCGC, CGC

Ms. Lindsay Hlushak

Dr. Marcelo Cypel, MD, FRCSC

Ms. Marlie Smith, RN, MN

Ms. Martha Raymond, MA

Martha Raymond is the Founder/CEO of The Raymond Foundation and also serves as the Founding Executive Director of the GI Cancers Alliance.

For over thirty years, Martha has been a passionate and active advocate in the cancer community. She is a certified professional facilitator and serves as a frequent speaker and moderator for global oncology conferences and symposiums.  Martha also serves as an oncology consultant specializing in program development for clients in academia, pharmaceutical industry and advocacy.

Martha holds advanced graduate certifications in Integrative Medicine, Hospice Care, Palliative Care and Patient Navigation, and has published numerous research in peer-reviewed journals including the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer. As a life-long learner, Martha is currently enrolled in the Non-Profit Management Executive Education program at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University.

Ms. Michele Wright, BA

Dr. Monika Slovinec D’Angelo, B.Sc., M.Ed., Ph.D.

Dr. Nancy Nixon, MD FRCPC

Dr. Paul J. Karanicolas, MD, PhD, FRCSC

Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC

Dr. Rob Rutledge, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Safiya Karim, MD MSc FRCPC

Dr. Shaqil Kassam, MD. MSc. FRCPC

Shaqil Kassam completed his Honours Bachelor of Science degree with a Minor degree in Medical Physics at McMaster University.  He then pursued a Masters in Radiation Biology and DNA repair similarly at McMaster University.   After completing undergraduate medical training at the University of Toronto, he then trained in Radiation Oncology for 2 years after which he completed his Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology at the University of Toronto.  During his Medicine and Oncology training, Dr. Kassam also continued his basic science research under the guidance of Dr. Gurmeet Singh at the Jurvinski Cancer Center, and also Dr. Robert Bristow at Princess Margaret Hospital- University of Toronto - for his research work Dr. Kassam received the University of Toronto's Department of Medical Oncology Resident research award.

Dr. Kassam is currently the Medical Director of research at the Southlake Regional Health Centre, where he has consolidated research activities at the Centre and also facilitates further research in the areas of Cardiology, Medicine and Intensive care.  He is also the head of Oncology Research at the Stronach Regional Cancer center - where he has brought several international Phase III randomized trials to the centre.  Dr. Kassam is currently the Primary Investigator on several open and in progress trials at the Cancer Centre.

Currently Dr. Kassam is a Staff Medical Oncologist at the Stronach Regional Cancer Centre in Newmarket Ontario, specializing in the treatment of Thoracic, Gastrointestinal, Neuroendocrine and Genitourinary malignancies.  He is also the Skin cancer Lead Oncologist for the Centre and is also the Centre's Immunotherapy and NGS expert where he is instrumental in developing the Molecular diagnostics department at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

Dr. Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD

Mrs. Stephanie Condon-Oldreive, Bed, Med

Mr. Steve Slack

Ms. Suzanne Wood

Suzanne Wood was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer in July 2022 at the age of 45. She was diagnosed when liver metastasis were seen on a routine abdominal ultrasound during her annual executive health physical.  Her tumours were deemed resectable and she started on chemotherapy to shrink the tumours in preparation for surgery. She had a right hemicolectomy and a major liver resection in late 2022. Post surgery CT scans identified a large Krukenberg tumour on her right ovary and the tumour and both ovaries were removed in February 2023.  Suzanne underwent adjuvant chemotherapy, but unfortunately, subsequent scans identified numerous tumours in her lungs.  Suzanne underwent SBRT for one of those tumours.  Suzanne and her oncology team have used ctDNA tests to help guide her treatment plan.

Suzanne lives in Toronto with her husband and three sons. Prior to taking a healing sabbatical, she worked in law firm management.

Ms. Sylvie Bouchard, B. Pharm., D.P.H., M. Sc., M.B.A.

Sylvie Bouchard holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Université Laval in Québec city (1988). She also has a diploma (1989) and a master’s degree (1992) in Hospital Pharmacy from Université Laval (Faculty of Pharmacy), and an MBA in Corporate Management (2001), also from Université Laval (Faculty of Business Administration).

Sylvie Bouchard was a hospital pharmacist and hospital pharmacy manager. She joined the Conseil du médicament in April 2010, where she has held various management positions over the years. Between April 2016 and January 2020, she headed the Direction du médicament. Since February 2020, she has headed the Direction de l’évaluation des médicaments et des technologies à des fins de remboursement.

Ms. Teresa Norris

Teresa Norris is a passionate Sexual Health Specialist with an expertise on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and sexual health issues with over 17 years’ experience. She uses evidence-based communication methods and champions disease prevention strategies. She is also the President of HPV Global Action.

In 2006, Teresa founded HPV Global Action/VPH Action Globale, a bilingual registered charity offering forward-thinking research initiatives and programs in healthcare and academic settings and has developed synergies at different organizational and governmental levels evolving from local initiatives and up to the international stage.

Her focus is educating people of all ages about sex-positive and inclusive sexual and reproductive health, while emphasizing HPV and its potential consequences – which include nine preventable HPV-related cancers. With the support of her team and healthcare professionals across Canada and around the world, HPV Global Action is working to ensure countries offer equitable access to HPV prevention, cervical screening and access to treatment/care both in Canada and internationally.

Teresa is currently leading an international team that is putting forth a women-centred health implementation research project using integrated approaches to ensure sustainable systemic change for women in Sub Saharan Africa through a «one-stop shop» approach to offer women ranging 20-49 y.o. an opportunity to address their gynaecological needs during a two-hour visit, starting in Eswatini in September 2022. This project will be addressing four World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 objectives for disease control and elimination of: Cervical Cancer, Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and treatment of Soil transmitted helminths.

Dr. Tomotaka Ugai, MD, PhD

Dr. Ugai is a faculty member at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School and an MD/PhD physician scientist with expertise in pathology, clinical oncology, cancer epidemiology, and molecular epidemiology.

His current research focuses on early-onset cancers and tumor biomarkers, including immune and microbial characteristics of cancer.

Dr. Ugai has recently founded the International Cancer Spectrum Consortium, an interdisciplinary working group with faculty, postdocs, and students from various institutions all over the world.

Dr. Ugai aims to build up a resource that integrates lifestyles and biomarkers including genetics and tissue molecular markers to (a) develop effective prevention and early-detection strategies, and (b) identify novel biomarkers to guide early-stage clinical decisions.