After recovering from an aggressive form of leukemia called Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia in 2017, Michelle Burleigh founded The Clarity Lab, an organization dedicated to improving the patient experience in the Canadian healthcare system. Michelle advocates for safe and exceptional patient experiences, educates Canadians about how to be proactive in their healthcare and supports healthcare organizations in shifting towards patient-centric tools and solutions.

Michelle currently Co-Chairs the Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network, a coalition dedicated to advocating for immunocompromised Canadians, and the Cancer Action Now Alliance, a coalition dedicated to making cancer a political priority. She also sits on the CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity's Community Advisory Committee, the Roche Canada Co-Creation Council and has been a proud steering committee member for Health eMatters since 2022.

Michelle can be found on most social media platforms, and at www.soyouvegotcancer.ca, and info@theclaritylab.ca.

Brenda was the primary caregiver for her daughter, Rebecca, who passed away from cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Rebecca was diagnosed in June 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic and died June 30, 2021. It was Rebecca’s wish to carry on her fight against cholangiocarcinoma. Brenda and her family formed the Cholangio-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Canada charity to both honour Rebecca and carry out her wishes. Brenda is a retired Registered Nurse.

Dr. Cohen is a gynecologic oncologist at the Victoria BC Cancer Agency. He operates out of the Victoria General and Royal Jubilee Hospitals.

He received his medical degree from The University of Western Ontario and completed his residency training in Edmonton at The University of Alberta. He did further training in Sexual Medicine with Dr. John Lamont at McMaster University in Hamilton. He then practiced in Yellowknife while training in advanced laparoscopic surgery. He also completed a year-long program at the University of Alberta in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for the medical practitioner. Finally settling in Victoria, he worked as a General Obstetrician Gynecologist for 10 years before completing a two-year fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He has been practicing as a Gynecologic Oncologist since 2014 in Victoria.

Amanda Conlon is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Circle Back Foundation, a national charity she co-founded with Samantha Schlosser to address the alarming rise of early-onset colorectal cancer in Canada. Amanda’s advocacy is rooted in personal loss—she helped establish Circle Back in memory of her cousin, Adam Joon, who died just nine months after being diagnosed at the age of 44 with stage IV cancer. Adam became an advocate for timely screening and detection prior to his passing at the age of 45. What began as a way to honour Adam’s life has grown into a movement to fund critical research, raise awareness, and create hope for families facing this disease.

With over 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit and cultural sectors, Amanda brings a proven ability to unite communities, build strategic partnerships, and lead transformative projects. As the former Executive Director of the London Children’s Museum, she successfully led a $23 million capital campaign to create a new cultural and educational destination, demonstrating her capacity to bring bold visions to life.

At Circle Back, Amanda and Samantha lead innovative fundraising efforts such as the Adam Joon Memorial Golf Tournament, national awareness campaigns, and community partnerships. These initiatives are building sustainable funding streams to support cutting-edge research and amplify the voices of young patients and families. Their vision is to create a national granting program guided by medical expertise and lived experience, ensuring that research translates into earlier detection, better treatments, and improved outcomes.

Amanda speaks with both the empathy of lived experience and the strategic insight of a seasoned leader, inspiring action and collaboration in the fight against colorectal cancer.

Dr. Cypel is a Staff Thoracic Surgeon at University Health Network (UHN) and a Professor of Surgery at the University of Toronto. He is the Surgical Director of the Ajmera Transplant Center at UHN and Artificial Lung Program at UHN. He received his MD in 1999 and completed his general surgery and thoracic surgery residency program in 2004. In 2005 he started his post-doctoral research fellowship at the Latner Thoracic Surgery Laboratory. During this time, he developed a new method of lung preservation and donor lung repair called Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP). This method is now used clinically in Toronto and in many other centers, and has significantly increased the number of transplantable lungs. He subsequently performed a 3 years fellowship in thoracic oncology, cardiac surgery, and lung transplantation at the University of Toronto. Dr. Cypel has a large number of 1st and senior author peer review publications including high impact journals such as Science Translational Medicine, The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. His main clinical interests are in artificial lung devices, Ex vivo and In vivo Lung Perfusion and lung transplantation. Dr. Cypel currently holds the prestigious Canada Research Chair in Lung Transplantation from the Government of Canada and he is the principal investigator in very innovative clinical trials, such as the use of uncontrolled donation after cardio-circulatory death for lung transplantation and in vivo lung perfusion with chemotherapy to treat patients with lung metastases. He is a Member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) and a Fellow from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC).

Jessica Dasler is a stage IV colorectal cancer survivor, patient advocate, and CCRAN’s My Lung Mets and My Advocacy Coach based in North Vancouver, BC. Diagnosed in January 2021 at 37, after her cancer had spread to her lungs and bones, she endured a year of symptoms before finally being properly tested—even as her GI doctor discouraged her from a colonoscopy. Since then, she has undergone over 40 rounds of chemotherapy, colon removal surgery, four lung surgeries, spine and rib surgery, cryoablation, and SBRT. Currently, her only known cancer is in her spine, and she continues to explore treatment options to extend her life and preserve her quality of living.

As a Patient Partner for BC Cancer and a CCRAN Coach, Jessica supports patients across Canada and internationally, helping them feel informed, empowered, and less alone. She also shares resources and insights on Instagram, offering encouragement and building connections within the cancer community.

Rooted in her love of gardening and forest walks, Jessica finds strength and reflection in nature. She has been married to her supportive husband for ten years and is the proud mother of a seven-year-old daughter, conceived through IVF—a journey that taught her resilience and perseverance, qualities that now guide her cancer fight. Both in her family life and in her community, Jessica is known as a connector, fostering support and bringing people together in North Vancouver and beyond.

Dr. David earned her MD from the University of Toronto where she also completed her residency in Radiology. She then did a fellowship in Interventional Radiology which she completed in 2003. She joined the staff at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto that same year. She holds the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Medicine and is the Fellowship supervisor at Sunnybrook. She served as a member of the Interventional Oncology Emerging Technologies Working Group that secured funding for ablation, TACE and TARE for Ontario patients.

Dr. Paul Dhillon is a rural family physician who practices in Sechelt, British Columbia. He also works as an emergency room doctor and serves as a medical officer in the Canadian Armed Forces reserves.

Dr. Dhillon's medical career includes international work, such as providing aid in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic. He has held leadership positions in various medical organizations and actively advocates for improvements in rural medicine. For his work, he received the Canadian Medical Association's Award for Young Leaders.

He was appointed as the Chief Medical Officer for the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025. In addition to his clinical and military duties, Dr. Dhillon is an author and an educator in the medical field.

His academic background includes an undergraduate degree in political science, a medical degree, a Master's in Disaster Medicine, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His professional activities span clinical practice, military service, global health initiatives, and medical administration.

As a palliative care physician and health justice activist, Dr. Dosani is dedicated to advancing equitable access to healthcare for people experiencing structural vulnerabilities like poverty and homelessness. These efforts include founding and leading the Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless (PEACH) Program at the Inner City Health Associates in downtown Toronto, serving as the Medical Director of Kensington Hospice (Kensington Health), a Health Equity Expert Advisor at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and as a palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto).

Dr. Dosani shares his passion for palliative care and health equity with learners as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. As a researcher, he is appointed as an Investigator with the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital’s Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, with a special interest in health system innovation and advancing access to equity-oriented care for structurally vulnerable populations. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Medical Association.

Dr. Dosani has received many awards, including the Meritorious Service Cross for Humanitarianism from Canada’s Governor General, Award for Humanitarianism from the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and the Early Career Leader Award from the Canadian Medical Association. Dr. Dosani recently received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Ontario Tech University, the Dr. Earl Dunn Award from the University of Toronto, and the Dr S. Lawrence Librach Award from Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. In May of 2025, he was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal, awarded to Canadians whose work strengthens their communities and country.

Dr. Caitlin Dunne is a reproductive endocrinologist and co-director at the Pacific Centre for Reproductive Medicine (PCRM) and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC).  She is doubly certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and specializes in fertility, including IVF and egg freezing. Dr. Dunne is a media advocate and current Editor-in-Chief of the British Columbia Medical Journal.

Dr. Craig Earle is Chief Executive Officer at the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, a medical oncologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, a Senior Scientist at ICES, and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Earle originally trained and practiced in Ottawa, after which he spent 10 years – 1998 to 2008 – in Boston at Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health. From 2008 to 2017 he was Director of Health Services Research and Head of Clinical Translation at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research.

Maureen joined Pancreatic Cancer Canada in June 2024 bringing professional experience and knowledge gained through her 10+ years in the not-for-profit and community health sectors. She is passionate about program development and creating accessible, sustainable and adaptable services that put the individual first, bridge gaps in support, and hold space for those reaching out. Having lost too many family members to cancer, she feels a deep personal connection to the patient advocacy community and is motivated to find new and innovative ways to support patients and caregivers.

Liz Ellwood’s journey epitomizes resilience, compassion, and a relentless commitment to positive change. Liz is an Ottawa-based marketing and business development professional with over 18 years of experience in establishing and growing businesses focused on improving the health journey and experience for patients.

Her passion for healthcare stems from real-life experience. Liz’s life took an unexpected turn at age 24 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer, leading her to become a multifaceted entrepreneur and advocate. In the wake of her battle with cancer, Liz founded Fertile Future, a national charity supporting cancer patients in preserving fertility. To date, close to 1,000 fellow cancer patients have found hope and funding through this initiative.

After her own journey to motherhood, Liz founded Fertility Match, one of Canada’s largest egg donation and surrogacy agencies. In doing so, she used her experience to bring a new level or professionalism as well as best in class medical practices to the increasingly vital fertility and third-party reproduction industry, emphasizing her dedication and passion for safely creating families of all kinds across Canada.

Diversifying her endeavors, Liz is also the owner of several Maverick’s Donut Company locations in the Ottawa area. Beyond serving delectable treats, these establishments embody community, joy, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Liz’s approach to business.

Kaylee, 25 years old from BC, has been living with stage IV metastatic melanoma since she was diagnosed in 2023 after years of being dismissed. Since then, she has learned the importance of speaking up for herself and finding strength in community. She shares her story online to help others feel less alone and to remind people that there’s still joy, humour, gratitude, and love to be found even in the hardest of moments.

Margaret I. Fitch, RN, Ph.D., is a Professor (Adjunct) at the Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, in Canada. She has a background in oncology nursing and psychosocial oncology, including palliative care. She practiced for over 20 years at the Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto where she held the positions of Head of Oncology Nursing and Psychosocial Oncology, and Co-Director of the Psychosocial and Behavioral Oncology Research Unit. Her long-term research focus has been on coping and adaptation of patients/survivors and families across the cancer trajectory.

She has served in clinical, educational, and administration roles within comprehensive cancer centres/networks and has maintained a strong program of research in supportive care in cancer throughout her career of more than 30 years. She has expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and a specific interest in profiling patient and family voices regarding their experience with cancer care as the basis for improving care.

She currently works as an independent consultant for research and program evaluation initiatives. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal and is on the Board of Directors with the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology. She is an honorary lecturer at both the University of Rwanda and the University of Nairobi within their respective nursing schools and has on-going lecture responsibilities with nursing schools in Nigeria, Thailand, and Vietnam.

It has been five years since Laura Floyd's lung cancer diagnosis — a milestone that only 1 in 4 lung cancer patients in Canada will reach. Since being diagnosed at the age of 39, she has used her story to raise awareness of both lung cancer and cancer in younger adults, working with organizations such as Lung Cancer Canada, the Anew Research Collaborative, and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer to expand research in these areas, and push for better patient supports and outcomes.

A healthcare leader spanning over fifteen years with a graduate degree in health administration, Shalini has worked in small to large scale public and private healthcare clinics and integrative medicine clinics. During her tenure as a Medical Radiation Therapist, she was challenged daily to adapt to a complex and unpredictable healthcare system, questioning the status quo by aligning herself to quality patient care and supporting health disparities. She was recognized for her contribution to developing and launching the first Head and Neck Cancer Support Program in Vancouver, BC, addressing structural barriers to care. She has recently joined CCRAN as their Research Officer where she supports public policy spaces and a number of research and advocacy initiatives to implement strategic objectives in cancer research and quality care.

Julia (she/her) is a passionate advocate, dedicated traveller, and "stage IV thriver" diagnosed at 33 with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (Her2+). Julia found healing through Rethink’s Stretch, Heal, Grow retreat, and various community programming. She is committed to changing the negative narrative surrounding life with Metastatic Breast Cancer and raising awareness about the disease. With over 15 years of experience in Canada’s charitable sector, Julia has led the delivery of high-impact initiatives focusing on arts & culture, climate action, food insecurity and women’s health. She has spoken on numerous media platforms and fundraisers to inspire change and drive awareness for these important issues. Julia is fueled by her love for adventure and connecting with people. MBC can’t stop Julia from bringing joy, energy, and a zest for life to everything she does.

Robert Grant is an MD/Ph.D. Clinician Investigator at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, also affiliated with the Institute for Medical Science at the University of Toronto, ICES, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. He is a practicing medical oncologist, specializing in the treatment of pancreatic and biliary cancers. His research focuses on applying artificial intelligence to clinical and genomic data to improve outcomes for people with cancer. He holds several awards, including the Hold'em for Life Professorship and the Marathon of Hope Clinician Scientist Award. He is currently the Principal Investigator of the AIM2REDUCE study, Co-Principal Investigator of the Legresley Biliary Registry, and Co-Lead of the PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative. 

Dr. Hameed completed his residency and Surgical Oncology fellowship at the University of Toronto in 2015. He has an interest in minimally invasive and transanal approaches to gastrointestinal malignancies, organ preservation in the setting of rectal cancer, and surgical innovation to improve surgical safety. He is the clinical lead of the GI cancer program and Division Head of General Surgery at North York General Hospital, which has established a Young Onset and Elder Onset colorectal cancer program.

Eric Hamilton is a Stage IV colorectal cancer patient living in Edmonton, Alberta. He and his wife Jasmine have two children: Byron, aged 12 and Julianne, aged 9. While continuing systemic treatment, he works full-time as a Senior Policy Analyst with the Government of Alberta. Diagnosed with colon cancer at Stage 3 initially in June 2022 at age 41, he underwent a successful colon resection surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfortunately, 18 months later, the disease was found to have spread to his liver and nearby lymph nodes. Eric then underwent a liver resection and currently has disease only in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. He hopes to regain his health in the long term and to be off treatment eventually. Eric understands the young-onset patient experience well. He advocates for aggressive, curative treatments for himself and other under-50 CRC patients who may also have young families, careers, and potentially decades left to live. Despite being in treatment, Eric is determined to make the best of life through camping, cycling, and most recently learning to play the piano.

J. Nadia Headley, BS, MA, is deeply empathetic, kind to a fault, highly energetic and hopelessly optimistic.

Hailing from the most easterly Caribbean Island, Barbados, Nadia is a proud Caribbean woman of African descent, she has also lived in St. Vincent and the USA; studied in Rome, Italy and now calls Canada home.

As a Social Development Specialist, having served as the youngest United Nations Coordination Officer in Latin America and the Caribbean, Nadia is committed to improving education. As a visionary, nonprofit leader she has seen the ins and outs of nonprofit start up and intimately understands the challenges faced on the impact level. She has added many transferable skills as the Strategic Director of her social enterprise, Twenty One Fourteen Consultancy Services, making her service offering highly comprehensive to women led businesses and nonprofit organizations.

Nadia holds many titles but the most important are Mom to two intelligent girls and Wife for over a decade to a loving husband. Through her book, Embracing the Valley, Nadia is grateful for the willingness and opportunity to share her story so that others would be inspired to thrive through their difficult moments in life. Nadia currently serves as the Executive Director of The Women’s Centre of Halton and is a Ph.D. student in the Leadership and Policy program at Niagara University.

Joan Heatherington has been a Nurse Practitioner within Gastroenterology for over 20 years. In that role she has operationalized a specialty clinic working with individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease; participated in development of triage guidelines for gastroenterology and endoscopy; and provided bedside consultation at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre for individuals presenting with various GI and liver complaints.

She works with multidisciplinary teams to develop treatment plans and is an advocate for shared decision-making and patients' experience in healthcare.

Katie Hulan is a marketing professional and advocate for lung health. Diagnosed with Stage IV ALK Positive lung cancer at 33 years old, Katie's journey has taken her from living in Toronto to now Victoria, BC, offering her unique insights into provincial cancer care experiences. She uses her experience to better lung health and patient experiences across Canada, and is a board member of ALK Positive Canada. When she is not working or advocating, you’ll find her out hiking, exploring new areas and things to do, being part of her community, or spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Kevin Jao is an adjunct professor at the Université de Montréal and a hemato-oncologist at the Hôpital du Sacré Coeur de Montréal. He is the medical oncology lead of the thoracic oncology team and the current director of research in hematology and oncology.

He has a master’s degree in Immunology and HIV from McGill University. He went on to obtain his medical degree from the Université de Montréal, and specialized in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He completed a fellowship in thoracic oncology at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center.

He is also the current co-chair of the Lung Cancer Canada Medical Advisory Committee.

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 serves as the Centre's Immunotherapy and NGS expert, where he has been instrumental in developing the Molecular Diagnostics department at Southlake Regional Health Centre.

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 Centre, 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.

Harjeet Kaur is a Stage IV rare blood cancer survivor, patient advocate, and speaker, passionate about breaking stigma and advancing equity in cancer care. Diagnosed as a young immigrant in Canada, she transformed her challenges—including chemotherapy, fertility loss, and early menopause—into a purpose-driven mission to support others.

She is the Co-Founder of Chai and Hope, a South Asian peer-support initiative that creates safe spaces for patients and families while addressing cultural stigma surrounding cancer. Through this online platform, she empowers individuals to share their stories and access community-driven healing.

Harjeet collaborates with organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Wellspring, Young Adult Cancer Canada (YACC), and the Arthur J.E. Child Cancer Centre PFAC to ensure patient voices are included in research, education, and policy.

In addition to her advocacy, Harjeet shares her journey through her social media platform @hk_thriver, blending healing, awareness and storytelling to inspire resilience and hope. She is committed to amplifying diverse perspectives in cancer care and building inclusive communities of support.

Dr. Krishnamurthy’s patients are her motivation for research. There is a large unmet need for new therapies in cancer. Novel drug development through early phase clinical trials is an integral part of cancer care. Dr. Krishnamurthy completed a second phase 1/drug development fellowship as part of my training because she thought it was so crucial for cancer care. During her fellowship, she had the privilege of attending the AACR-ASCO Clinical Research Workshop at Vail which was a great opportunity for learning. Dr. Krishnamurthy is a GI oncologist with an interest in T cell-based therapies. In line with her interest, she holds the position of associate director of Early Phase Clinical Trials in Solid Tumor Cell Therapies at Roswell Park. T cell-based therapies are relatively new avenues of treatment that have shown great promise in hematologic malignancies and now in certain solid tumors. Roswell Park is on the forefront of this research, and she is very excited to be a part of the team. Within her role, Dr. Krishnamurthy is involved in opening cell therapy clinical trials for solid tumors and managing solid tumor patients receiving cell therapies. Her commitment to her patients is to work toward developing better cancer therapies.

Peter is a seasoned advocate, speaker, and media professional dedicated to amplifying patient voices and advancing critical conversations around health, mental wellness, and social equity. As a cancer survivor and LGBTQ+ advocate, he brings over 15 years of experience in public speaking, patient advocacy, and community outreach. His work spans leadership roles in national organizations, impactful media engagements, and frontline advocacy supporting those affected by cancer and intimate partner violence.

Peter is passionate about bridging gaps in healthcare access and fostering meaningful change through strategic storytelling and public engagement.

Yuan Lew, M.Sc., MBA, PMP, is a passionate advocate for cancer research and healthcare accessibility. Following a diagnosis of Stage IVB EGFR cancer in 2022, she leverages her educational background in immunology, business, and project management to champion better access to precision medicine and lung cancer screening. Having navigated various roles in life sciences research, from academia to private equity to biotechnology, Yuan understands the intricate landscape of cancer care and precision medicine. She was a coordinator and current member of the Patient Working Group for the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network, driving the implementation of precision medicine across Canada. She is also a Patient Research Advocate Program alumni (STARS PRA) by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC).

Dr. Lofters is a scientist at the Women's College Research Institute (WCRI), adjunct senior scientist at ICES, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is the Medical Director at the Peter Gilgan Centre for Women’s Cancers at Women’s College Hospital in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society. She also holds a CIHR Applied Public Health Chair in Advancing Health Equity in Cancer Prevention and Screening. Her research program focuses on improving the quality of care in cancer screening and prevention, particularly for populations that experience marginalization, through a variety of methods, including community-partnered approaches.

Dr. Mairi Lucas is a medical oncologist in BC Cancer Surrey treating people with breast and gynecological malignancies. She completed her fellowship in Breast medical oncology at BC Cancer Vancouver. She is committed to furthering medical education with a Diploma in Health Professionals education and interest in research completing a research degree focusing on tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer.

Cassandra is the Chief Research Officer at the Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN). She leads and contributes to CCRAN’s patient-focused and evidence-based initiatives to provide support, education, and advocacy for colorectal cancer and other tumour-type patients and caregivers, as well as those at risk of developing the disease. Cassandra has a clinical background as a Medical Radiation Technologist in addition to a graduate degree in health studies and leadership. She has worked in both patient-facing and project management roles and led the start-up of two nuclear medicine programs which improved access to diagnostic imaging in her community. She is passionate about health quality and improving the patient experience and is honoured to have the privilege of supporting, educating, and advocating on behalf of cancer patients.

Dr. Megan Mahoney is the Director of Scientific Affairs and Training Programs at BioCanRx, a federally funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to transforming cancer into a curable disease through the advancement of immunotherapy. With over 12 years of experience in the health research sector, Megan  brings strategic leadership to the development and execution of complex, multi-disciplinary programs that accelerate the translation of cutting-edge science into clinical impact. In her current role, Megan oversees BioCanRx’s $36.6M translational research portfolio, guiding the progression of promising immunotherapies from bench to bedside. Her role includes designing strategic funding initiatives, advising on research direction, engaging with international experts who provide oversight to BioCanRx’s research program, and engaging the BioCanRx research community and ecosystem stakeholders to strengthen Canada’s translational and commercialization capacity in biotherapeutics. In her role,
Megan also co-chairs the scientific agenda of BioCanRx’s annual scientific conference program.  

Megan also leads BioCanRx’s national training program, which equips the next generation of scientists, translational researchers and patient partners with the skills needed to advance biotherapeutic development, and ultimately build a sustainable life sciences ecosystem.

Prior to joining BioCanRx, Megan served as Operations Manager at the Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre Virus Facility at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, where she supported the development and manufacturing of viral vectors and vaccines for early-phase clinical trials.

Christopher is a 41-year-old, 3-time cancer survivor, father of two and husband. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) Management Degree, graduating with High Honours. He worked for 15 years in Business Management & Operations, primarily as General Manager. He also worked in the public service space for 4 years as the publicly elected Toronto District School Board Trustee for Humber River – Black Creek, also sitting as the Vice-Chair of the Board. In this role, Christopher was awarded the Canadian Heraldic Platinum Jubilee Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. After 6 months of volunteering with CCRAN, Christopher now works as a member of the team, in the role of National Patient Programs Manager. He also supports the My Cancer Coach Patient Program as a Young Adult Coach.

Lianne Mantla-Look is an Indigenous nurse from Behchokǫ̀. Tłı̨chǫ is Lianne’s first language. Her bilingualism helps improve the healthcare experience for Indigenous people who speak Tłı̨chǫ. As a nurse, she sees gaps in communication between providers and patients, even with a family translator.

Trudy Matwiy began her health career over 20 years ago in Nursing. She graduated and stepped into the Nurse Practitioner role in 2014 with the Department of Hepatology at the Foothills Medical Centre. She transitioned to Rural Primary Care in 2021, which has led her to become the Director of Primary Care for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta in 2025, helping to pave the way for the nurse practitioner primary care program. With past expertise in hepatology and palliative care, combined with rural primary care experience, she was invited to provide feedback and input into the Alberta Provincial Cancer Pathways through Cancer Care Alberta.

When Trudy is not busy working, she can be found volunteering with Special Olympics Alberta and spending time with her husband and two boys.

Cynthia Mitchell is a dedicated patient advocate based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma in September 2021, she has since transformed her experience into a platform for advocacy. As a patient partner, mentor, and speaker, Cynthia collaborates with various organizations and charities to raise awareness and support for those affected by cancer. Her special interests lie in molecular testing and research, particularly how these areas intersect with advocacy and equitable access to care. Through her efforts, Cynthia hopes to inspire and empower others facing similar challenges.

Eddy Nason is the Director for the Health Knowledge Area at The Conference Board of Canada. In this role, he spearheads the efforts of the health team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, relevant, and impactful research and products to clients and stakeholders within the health sector.

Prior to joining The Conference Board of Canada, Eddy accumulated 20 years of experience at the intersection of health, science, public policy, and research, with a particular focus on research impact. During this time, he collaborated with national and international think tanks such as the Institute on Governance and RAND Corporation, as well as research funding organizations like the Ontario SPOR SUPPORT Unit and Genome Canada. Eddy has provided guidance to policymakers, health system managers, private sector partners, and not-for-profit stakeholders on a wide array of health issues, ranging from health human resources to drug plan management, to patient-partnered clinical research.

He is internationally recognized as an expert in research impact, having served as Program Director for the International School on Research Impact Assessment, contributed to the development of the precursor to the ResearchFish research impact system, authored the influential CAHS framework for ROI in health research, and has advised research systems across the globe.

Dr. Pamela Ohashi is an internationally recognized leader in immunology and tumor immunity. She received her Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Toronto in 1988 under Dr. Tak Mak and completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Zurich with Nobel Laureate Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel and Dr. Hans Hengartner, deepening her expertise in T cell biology and immune regulation.

In 1992, she established her own laboratory at UHN’s Princess Margaret (PM) Cancer Centre in Toronto, where she has built an internationally recognized research program investigating T cell activation and function. Her lab investigates the tumor immune microenvironment to better understand and improve anti-tumor immune responses, with the goal of translating fundamental discoveries into effective cancer immunotherapies.

Since 2005, Dr. Ohashi has led the Tumor Immunotherapy Program (TIP) at the PM Cancer Centre, growing it into a comprehensive translational research network. The program integrates advanced cell therapies, state-of-the-art immune profiling, and clinical trials to support the development of novel immune-based treatments. In 2024, she became the founding Director and Chair of the Centre for Immunology to Immunotherapy (Ci2i) at UHN. Ci2i builds on the foundation of TIP and broadens its scope to include autoimmunity, transplant medicine, and infectious disease. Its mission is to unite clinicians and scientists at UHN to advance immune-based therapies across a range of diseases. Dr. Ohashi has also shaped the field through leadership roles with the AACR and SITC, and as co-founder of the Canadian Cancer Immunotherapy Consortium, fostering collaboration and innovation in cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Pugh is a cancer genomics researcher, board-certified molecular geneticist, and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Translational Genomics. His research program is focused on understanding clinical implications of clonal shifts in cancer and non-cancerous cell populations during treatment, most recently using cell-free DNA, immune repertoire, and single cell RNA-seq sequencing. He is appointed as Associate Professor in the University of Toronto Department of Medical Biophysics, Senior Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Director of Genomics and Senior Investigator at the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. He has contributed to multiple large-scale genomics and data-sharing programs including AACR GENIE and the Terry Fox Canadian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Network. Most recently, he was awarded a Terry Fox New Investigator Award and a StandUp2Cancer Phillip A. Sharp Innovation in Collaboration Award.

Dr. Ramjeesingh is an Associate Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology at Dalhousie University. He completed his MD (2008) and Ph.D. in cancer research (2004) at the University of Toronto. He completed his residencies at Queen’s University and a clinical trials fellowship at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. His main clinical expertise is in the areas of hepatopancreobiliary (HPB) cancers and breast cancer. He is currently the chair of the HPB Disease site group in Nova Scotia and is the Medical Director of AACRU, the Nova Scotian oncology clinical trials group. Nationally, he is a founding member of the Canadian GI Oncology Evidence Network and is a board member of Craig’s Cause Pancreatic cancer society. His research activities are in the fields of health service delivery, and translational research in oncology.

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.

Matt is not just the founder and visionary behind Genomic Focus, but also a testament to the profound impact and potential of targeted cancer treatments. As a long-term stage 4 cancer survivor, his life story took a hopeful turn with the advent of biomarker testing and advanced targeted and immunotherapy treatments. His experience underscores the pivotal role that genomics plays in revolutionizing cancer outcomes. At Genomic Focus, Matt's journey fuels their dedication to helping cancer patients and their caregivers.

Étienne Richer has a postdoctoral background in the genetics of infectious diseases, complemented by consultancy experience across various healthcare domains. His commitment to advancing the genomics community began in 2011 when he joined the CIHR Institute of Genetics (IG) as Assistant Director, later becoming Associate Scientific Director.

Over 14 years, Étienne played a key role in shaping and implementing the institute’s strategic vision. He also strengthened ties with the national research community and forged numerous international partnerships, expanding opportunities for the Canadian genomics sector.

His expertise and collaborative leadership have been widely recognized, notably through his election as Chair of the Health Economics Working Group of ICPerMed, followed by his appointment as Chair of ICPerMed.

Building on this experience, Étienne is now continuing to help building a thriving Canadian genomic ecosystem as Director, Genomics Programs, at Genome Canada, bringing his passion and vision to further drive innovation in genomics. Fluently bilingual, Étienne has a Ph.D. from INRS Institut Armand-Frappier, a B.SC. in Biological Sciences from University of Montréal, and a graduate degree in Project Management from UQAM’s School of Management.

Gijs van Rooijen has served as the Chief Scientific Officer for Genome Alberta since 2005. Genome Alberta is a convenor and a catalyst, bridging knowledge and the academic sector to government and industry partners to realize the potential of Alberta-made genomics solutions for Health, Agriculture and Environment. In his position he is responsible for the program development at Genome Alberta.

In addition to his role at Genome Alberta he serves on the International Science Advisory Panel for the Global Institute for Food Security in Saskatoon and as Director for The Metabolomics Innovation Centre at the University of Alberta. He held several volunteer positions including Director and President of the Dutch Canadian Business Club of Calgary from 2010-2014, University of Calgary Senator from 2017-2023, and mentor for students that are considering a career in science. In his spare time, he enjoys walking, hiking and exploring cultural European cities.

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 eighteen 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 by furnishing evidence-based information and access to unique and novel 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 in the management of colorectal cancer.  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 HTA patient evidence 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

Monika Slovinec D’Angelo, Ph.D. is a health scientist with extensive experience in population health and healthcare transformation. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa and a health system services and policy consultant. Her work is focused on promoting value-based healthcare, with expertise in implementation science, impact assessment, intervention design, and change management. She has been working across healthcare delivery, health research, and academic organizations, engaging with stakeholders across the health ecosystem in the design, implementation, and evaluation of strategic healthcare and population health improvement and capacity building initiatives.

Robby Spring is an experienced professional in health innovation, commercialization, patient engagement, and public affairs, holding a B.Sc. in Medical Biophysics, an M.Sc. in Neuroscience, and an MHSc in Translational Research. Robby has over 15 years of experience across academia, hospital, government, industry and charitable organizations in the health and life sciences sector. Her recent experience as both a breast cancer patient and care partner has enriched her perspective on the healthcare system. Leveraging her professional background and personal insights, Robby is committed to making significant contributions as a consultant focused on patient engagement as well as improving and increasing the adoption of health technologies.

Chamundeeswari Srinivasan is a dedicated patient advocate and healthcare strategist whose mission was shaped by her personal experience navigating her husband’s metastatic cancer diagnosis. Her proactive efforts were instrumental in securing timely biomarker testing and access to appropriate treatment, interventions that have had a life-saving impact. This experience continues to inspire her work in empowering patients and caregivers facing similarly complex health challenges.

With a master’s degree in health industry administration and a background in biotechnology, she blends scientific expertise with system-level insight. Her professional portfolio includes content and quality assurance for patient support programs, health education initiatives, and digital health solutions. As a Women Who Lead Governance Fellow, she is committed to elevating patient and caregiver voices in healthcare leadership and boardroom decision-making.

She is also deeply passionate about the ethical and effective integration of artificial intelligence in oncology and broader healthcare. She sees AI as a powerful enabler, capable of closing gaps in biomarker testing, expediting accurate diagnoses, and driving personalized cancer care. She advocates for AI-driven innovations that prioritize not only clinical excellence but also equity, compassion, and the lived experiences of patients and caregivers.

Dr. David Stewart trained in medical oncology in the Department of Developmental Therapeutics at Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1976-1978. He was on staff at MD Anderson 1978-1980 and 2003-2011, and at the University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Canada) 1980-2003 and 2011 to the present. His areas of research interest have included pharmacology of cisplatin and other anticancer agents; anticancer drug resistance mechanisms; new drug development; use of nonlinear regression analysis of survival curves to provide new insights into factors limiting therapy efficacy; and assessment of how markedly dysfunctional clinical research regulation drives up drug costs while delaying access to effective new drugs that could save lives and alleviate suffering. He has more than 340 peer-reviewed publications. He has also published several Op Eds in the lay press dealing predominantly with patient access to care. In April 2022 he published a book intended for both patients and physicians covering the full spectrum of cancer, entitled “A Short Primer on Why Cancer Still Sucks”, available through Amazon books. The aims of the book are to educate and to advocate. He has given a free copy to all Canadian MPs and senators and offers a free PDF copy to all his patients and trainees. He has also launched an accompanying YouTube channel

Dr. Gilad W. Vainer is a Senior Staff Pathologist, who heads the thoracic pathology unit, and the Onco-proteomics Lab at the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (2007). Dr. Vainer is a world leader in molecular pathology and a valued speaker. In recent years, Dr. Vainer gave many several high-profile lectures at different global meetings and conferences, such as the ESMO. In 2016, Dr. Vainer published the first harmonization of PDL1 (22C3 assay), generating one of the most commonly used protocols globally. He continued to educate about PDL1 testing and quality assurance, both locally and internationally. In 2019-2022, Dr. Vainer presented and advised the Israeli health basket on the advances and medical need for CGP in numerous solid tumors. Dr. Vainer is a member of several global and regional advisory boards focusing on pathology, oncology, and molecular pathology diagnostics. He received numerous competitive grants and is currently an evaluator with several cancer funding organizations, including the ERA-personalized medicine program.

Laura Weeks is the Director of Health Technology Assessment, within the Evidence Products and Services Business Unit at CADTH, where she oversees a team responsible for the conduct of evidence assessments to support Canada's health system decision makers. She holds a PhD in Community Health and Epidemiology, and has nearly 20 years experience in evidence synthesis and health technology assessment acquired through her work with CADTH, AHRQ, academia and the Cochrane Collaboration. During her 10 years at CADTH, she has contributed as an author and methodologist to over 20 HTAs, and has contributed to training, methods development and the academic literature in a range of disciplines relevant to HTA including clinical reviews, qualitative synthesis, patient engagement and reporting guidelines.

Nora Woo is a mother of 2, wife and licensed realtor in British Columbia. In 2022, when her husband Toby was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer, she found herself taking on the role of caregiver and patient advocate. The challenges they faced while navigating the healthcare system has motivated her to continue to participate in patient and caregiver groups. Her interests include increased accessibility to colonoscopies for early detection, comprehensive genetic testing at diagnosis and multimodal treatment plan options.

Christine was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer 10 years ago. She has been on targeted therapy since her diagnosis and is an active patient research advocate both nationally and internationally.

Christine is part of the Cancer Grand Challenge Advocacy Panel, initiated by Cancer Research UK and NCI in the USA, focusing on patient involvement in cancer research. She also serves on the Trial Selection Board of the German Cancer Research Centre and the ASCO Conquer Cancer Foundation in the USA, reviewing grant applications.

Christine co-developed several grant programs in the Terry Fox Research Institute, the Canadian Cancer Society, and Lung Cancer Canada. She is a patient reviewer for grant applications and is involved in four research teams as a patient partner lead at various Canadian universities.

Winky Yau is the Manager, Medical Affairs at Lung Cancer Canada, joining the team in July 2021. At LCC, her work primarily revolves around advocating on behalf of the patient voice for better access to new therapies, and is passionate about health promotion, working to remove barriers and inequities in healthcare accessibility. Winky holds a BSc in Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo and lives in Markham, ON.

Austin holds a M.Sc. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UBC, where he worked to develop Pharmacokinetic models which better align with human physiology. In addition to his educational background, Austin also has a strong background in teaching, previously acting as a teacher on call for the Abbotsford School District. Austin has been the Support Services Manager since September 2024, where he blends his backgrounds to assist PCFC in education, awareness and advocacy roles for individuals and support groups across the country. Outside of work, Austin is a firm believer in physical activity, where he plays and sits on the executive board for the Abbotsford Rugby Football Club.