Since launching, the Advocacy Exchange has engaged global and local advocacy organizations through live sessions covering a variety of topics – shaped by participant feedback – and made possible by the passionate advocates, patients, and healthcare professionals who have joined us as presenters.
Below, you can learn more about our esteemed speakers.

From Patient to StopAFib: Health Equity Action Plan

April 12, 2024

SPEAKERS

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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Mellanie True Hills, CSP
Founder and CEO, StopAfib.org
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The Courage of Action:  Empowering Lessons from the Alzheimer’s Community

April 03, 2024

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Russ Paulsen
COO, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
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Pamela Price, RN, BS
Deputy Director, The Balm In Gilead, Inc
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One Voice Makes a Difference. Many Voices Can Change the World.

January 23, 2024

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Audrey Davis
Senior Director of Health Equity, Cancer Support Community
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Jasmine Greenamyer
Vice President, Global Patient Outreach, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Ebony-Joy Igbinoba
Breast Cancer Warrior/Advocate
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Melodie Narain-Blackwell
Patient and Founder, Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses (COGI)
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My Disease Does Not Define Me: Stigma and Perceptions of Chronic Illness

September 26, 2023

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Ingvar Agust Ingvarsson
Vice President of the Board of IFPA, IFPA
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Yisel Martinez, LCSW (she/her)
Bristol Myers Squibb
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Tricia Yap
Vice President, WWC Dermatology & Rheumatology, Bristol Myers Squibb
Jannarie Zarzoso (she/her)
President, PsorPhil Youth, Miss Universe Philippines Finalist
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Patient Advocacy is Integrating Lived Experience in Medicines Development

June 27, 2023

MODERATOR

Sheila Thorne
President and CEO, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC
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SPEAKERS

Lorena Kuri (she/her/hers)
Head Diversity Strategy R&D, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Barry Nelson
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Ashley Ratcliff (she/her/hers)
Director, Communications & Operations, We Are ILL
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Advocating for the Invisible: When Health Conditions Are Unseen

April 25, 2023

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Wayne Eskridge
CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation
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Lisa Salberg
CEO & Founder, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association
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Co-Creating Health Equity by Including Lived Experiences

February 27, 2023

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Sheila Thorne
President and CEO, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC
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Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group
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Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health
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The Global Impact of Human Rights

December 01, 2022

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA
Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research, Jefferson Health
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Chris McCarthy, MPH, MBA
ILN Coaching & Consulting
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Manan Shah
Vice President, Head of Global Health Equity & Policy Partnerships, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Checkbooks and Balances: How Advocacy Can Support Both Physical and Financial Health

November 10, 2022

MODERATOR

Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Amy Niles
Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation
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Chris Strumfels
Resource Navigator, Family Reach
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Managing Your Mental Health While Facing a Chronic Illness

October 06, 2022

EMCEE

Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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MODERATOR

Catherine Benedict, Ph.D.
Psychologist; Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Medical Psychiatry, Stanford Health Care
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SPEAKERS

Nitika Chopra
Founder + CEO, Chronicon
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Renata M. Kisa, MD, IFAAD
Worldwide Medical Lead, Dermatology, I&F WW Medical
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Molly Murray
President & CEO, Autoimmune Association
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Nurturing Yourself while Navigating the Nuances of Caregiving

September 01, 2022

EMCEE

Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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MODERATOR

Catherine Owen
Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Commercialization, Bristol Myers Squibb
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SPEAKERS

Heather Badt
Executive Director, Research and Training Institute, Cancer Support Community
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Josie Liow
Co-Chair Designate, SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network
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Making Space to Care for Yourself

August 04, 2022

SPEAKERS

Lauren Lastauskas
Vice President of Community, Gryt Health
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Angelike (Angie) Giallourakis, Ph.D.
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Create Change Through Lived Experience: The Whole Advocate™ Model

June 02, 2022

MODERATOR

Dave Bjork
Lung Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate and Vice President of Empowerment, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Tim Cage
Cofounder and Senior Coach, Living Proof Advocacy
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John Capecci
Cofounder and Senior Coach, Living Proof Advocacy
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Kate Callan
EVP, Head of Social Media, Evoke KYNE
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Designing with the Patient in Mind: Amplifying the Patient Voice in Medicines Development and Approval

May 12, 2022

SPEAKERS

Winselow Tucker
Senior Vice President, Intercontinental, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group
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Catherine Kopil
SVP, Clinical Research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
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Kate Morgan
Head of Policy and Access, Myeloma Patients Europe
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Moving Medicine Forward: Highlighting Humanity and Patient Experience in Clinical Trials

April 07, 2022

SPEAKERS

Dan Platt, M.D. (he/him)
Chief Medical Officer, Gryt Health
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Rachel Byrd
Senior Research Coordinator, Gryt Health
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Brian McMahon
Founder, SparkCures
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Cara Stabile, MPH
Associate Director, Patient Engagement Capabilities, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Dr. Karriem Watson
Chief Engagement Officer, NIH All of Us Research Program
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Health Equity: Reinventing Treatment through the Lens of Gender

March 03, 2022

SPEAKERS

Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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Jamie Agunsday, MA, MSN, RNC-OB
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Tyler Campbell
Founder, Pro Player Foundation
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Chris Chamars
Program & Partnership Specialist, Gryt Health
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Assertiveness is Not Aggression: Accessible Strategies to Advocate for Quality Care

February 03, 2022

MODERATOR

Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health
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SPEAKERS

Megan-Claire Chase
Patient Advocate
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Kelly Cuvar
Political Consultant and Healthcare Policy Advisor
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Colin Ferro
Director Of Operations, Epic Experience
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Nancy Ferro
Founder and Executive Director, Epic Experience
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Patients are People: Improving Cultural Competency to Reduce Healthcare Disparities

January 20, 2022

MODERATOR

Brad Love, PhD.
Co-Founder and Chief Culture Officer, Gryt Health
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SPEAKERS

Rachel M Bond, MD, FACC
Co-Chair, Women and Children's Committee for the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.
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Sheila Thorne
President and CEO, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC
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The Power of Advocacy: Lessons Learned from HIV Advocates

December 09, 2021

SPEAKERS

Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group
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Louise Binder
Health Policy Consultant, Save Your Skin Foundation
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Jim Howley
Senior Director and Hematology Lead, Patient Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb
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End of Life Care: A Retired Hospice Counselor Creates a Safe Space for an Uncomfortable Conversation

November 30, 2021

SPEAKER

Susan Desmarais
Retired Hospice Counselor and End of Life Doula
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How Technology and Personal Voices Partner to Create Scalable, Human Care

November 04, 2021

SPEAKERS

Paul von Autenried
Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Melodie Narain-Blackwell
Entrepreneur, Health Advocate, Founder, Color of Crohn’s and Chronic Illness (COCCI)
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International Health Technology Assessments and Their Impact on Access and Patient Preferences

October 14, 2021

SPEAKERS

Michael L. Ryan, Pharm.D.
Senior Vice President and Head for U.S. and Worldwide Value, Access, Pricing and Health Economics and Outcomes Research, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Stephanie Dyson
Vice President, U.S. Policy & Government Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW
President, Cancer Support Community
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Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou
Executive Director, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)
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John M. O'Brien, PharmD, MPH
President and CEO, National Pharmaceutical Council
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Giving Voice to the Often Voiceless: Advocate-led Research Creating Change

September 30, 2021

SPEAKERS

Dr. Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, FCCP, FESC, MSCAI
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Dr. Yasmin Ibrahim
Public Health Manager, Hepatitis B Foundation
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Alex Filicevas
Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, President, All.Can International
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Michelle Weese
Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb
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The Evolution of Healthcare: Co-Creating the Future Through Collaboration

September 09, 2021

SPEAKER

Mark Bertolini
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aetna Inc., Director of Verizon Communications Inc., and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
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Living with Disease: A Conversation on Life After Diagnosis

June 10, 2021

SPEAKERS

Adam Lenkowsky
SVP and General Manager, U.S. Cardiovascular, Immunology and Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Shelley Fuld Nasso
Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)
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Julia Rowland, Ph.D.
Senior Strategic Advisor, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
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Kimberly Richardson
Research Advocate, University of Illinois Cancer Center
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Strategies to Support Patients: A Focus on Mental Health and Patient-Centric Care

May 13, 2021

SPEAKERS

Teri S. Brister, Ph.D., LPC
National Director Research & Quality Assurance, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
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Dr. Cindi Slater, M.D.
FACR Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, ConsumerMedical
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Addressing Gaps in Healthcare Through Real World Advocacy

April 08, 2021

SPEAKERS

Reverend Anthony Evans
President, National Black Church Initiative
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Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health
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Venus Ginés
CEO and Founder, Dia de la Mujer Latina
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Danielle Halstrom
Head, R&D, GPS and Commercial Communications & Global Advocacy Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Tanya Ryder
Tanya Ryder, M.Ed., Director, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
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Resilience: Leading in a Reset World Workshop

March 23, 2021

SPEAKERS

Ann M. Powell
Global Chief Human Resource Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Charlene Wheeless
Senior Advisor, Gagen MacDonald
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Maril MacDonald
CEO and Founder, Gagen MacDonald
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Patricia Bayerlein
Executive Director, Gagen MacDonald
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Outlining Our Paths to Impact and Change

March 11, 2021

SPEAKER

Rachel Giles, MD, PhD.
IKCC Chair, Von Hippel-Lindau Organization / Living with Bladder or Kidney Cancer Netherlands
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Harnessing Our United Strength to Create Meaningful Change

February 11, 2021

SPEAKERS

Sheila Thorne
President and CEO, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC
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Tina Ripperger
Accenture, Managing Director , What If Innovation, Partner, Global Head of Life Sciences
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Advocacy for Advancements: Patient Insight Influencing Action

January 14, 2021

SPEAKERS

Brian Lee
Director, Global Advocacy, CV, Fibrosis, MS and LCM, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Maria Dutarte
Coordinator, European Patients’ Academy (EUPATI)
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Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group
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Mellanie True Hills, CSP
Founder and CEO, StopAfib.org
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Building Stronger Relationships Across Healthcare Through Empathy

December 17, 2020

SPEAKERS

Shanelle Gabriel
HBO Def Poet/ Singer/ Activist/ Advocate for Lupus Awareness
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Erin Galyean
Author, Speaker, & Trainer
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Laura Adams
Special Advisor, National Academy of Medicine Catalyst, X4Health Principal, Laura Adams Consulting
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Sandra Leung
Executive Vice President, General Counsel , Bristol Myers Squibb
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Taking Action to Correct Health Inequities

November 12, 2020

SPEAKERS

John L. Damonti
President, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Steven Kramer
Deaf Community Representative
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Patricia (Patti) Mae Doykos, PhD
Lead, Health Equity Initiative and Director, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Kristen D. Krause, PhD, MPH
Deputy Director, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS)
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Feyikemi (Kemi) Osundina, PharmD, MS
Associate Director of Oncology Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH
Dean, Professor of Urban-Global Public Health, and Director of Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS), Rutgers School of Public Health
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Anthonise Louis Fields, PhD
Director, Strategic Collaborations, World Wide Medical, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Getting Back to Work

October 08, 2020

SPEAKERS

Tinamarie Duff
Global Lead, Differently-Abled Workplace Network (DAWN) People and Business Resource Group, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Noreen Gleason
Executive Director, Business Continuity and Corporate Event Response Team Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Getting Back to Normal: Care by Putting Patients First

September 10, 2020

SPEAKER

Dr. Nicholas A.J. Botwood, BSc, MB BS, MRCP, MFPM
Head of US Medical Affairs, Interim Head of Oncology Development, Bristol Myers Squibb
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The Patient Voice & Patient-Focused Drug Development

July 23, 2020

SPEAKERS

Oriana Sousa
SCOCHT Survivor, Founder/Psychologist, Dealing with Cancer, Patient Advocate, Rare 2030, EUPATI Student
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Tamás Bereczky MA, PhD
Courses and Contents Coordinator, EUPATI
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Kathleen A. Arntsen
President & CEO, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.
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Begonya Nafria
Coordinator, Share4Rare & Patient Engagement in Research Coordinator, Sant Joan de Déu Children's Hospital
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Danielle Halstrom
Head, R&D, GPS and Commercial Communications & Global Advocacy Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Samit Hirawat M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Global Drug Development, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Reshaping Healthcare: Thinking Differently after COVID

July 16, 2020

SPEAKERS

Ester Banque
SVP & Head of Intercontinental Commercial, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Eleanor M. Perfetto Edwards, Ph.D., M.S.
Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, National Health Council (NHC)
View Bio
Lily Cannon
Operations Manager, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)
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KT Jones
Cancer Survivor & Patient Advocate
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Katie Rizvi
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Youth Cancer Europe
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Preventive Care & COVID

July 09, 2020

SPEAKERS

Anita Wiseman
Campaigns and Partnerships, World Stroke Organization
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Lisa Berry Edwards
Managing Director, External Affairs, Prevent Cancer Foundation
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Richard Wender, M.D.
Professor, Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University
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Jessica Valence
Colorectal Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate, Director of Operations, Gryt Health
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Robert C. Block, MD, MPH, FACP, FNLA,
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences and the Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester
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Patrick E. McBride, MD, MPH, FAHA, FACC, FNLA
Emeritus Professor of Medicine and Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Former Associate Dean of Faculty, and Associate Dean for Students; Former Director, UW Preventive Cardiology Program
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Practical Solutions for Patients during COVID

July 02, 2020

SPEAKERS

Gaetano Crupi
President and General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb Brazil
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Kelly Brassil, Ph.D., R.N.
Director of Medical Affairs, Pack Health
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Megan-Claire Chase
Cancer Survivor, Blogger & Patient Advocate
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Pat Masterson
Vice President, HUSCO International, MaskForce LLC
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Anders Thelborg
General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb Denmark
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Diane Gross
National Director of Advocacy and Programs, Lupus Research Alliance
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Mental Health, Well-Being, and Psychosocial Support for Patients

June 25, 2020

SPEAKERS

Jasmin Watson-El
MS Patient Ambassador
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Catherine Benedict, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Stanford University School of Medicine
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Dominika Czarnota-Szałkowska
Secretary General, Polish Multiple Sclerosis Society, Executive Committee Member, European Multiple Sclerosis Platform
View Bio
Teri S. Brister, Ph.D., LPC
National Director Research & Quality Assurance, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
View Bio
Kelly Davis
Director of Peer Advocacy, Supports, and Services, Mental Health America (MHA)
View Bio

Telemedicine and Access to Care

June 18, 2020

SPEAKERS

Adriana Zupa-Fernandez
Global PBRG (People & Business Resource Group) Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Sandeep Pulim, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Bluestream Health
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Dr. Morhaf Al Achkar
Lung Cancer survivor, Family Physician, UW Medicine
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Matt Bouchonville, M.D.
Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Associate Director, ECHO Institute, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
View Bio
Leticia Ferri, M.D., MSc, MBA, PhD.
Global Lead, OLA (Organization for Latino Achievement), Bristol Myers Squibb
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Sirisha Mohan, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Telemedicine Physician Lead, Interim Associate Program Director, Family Medicine Residency Program, Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine
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Safely Returning to Clinical Trials

June 11, 2020

SPEAKERS

Catherine Owen
Senior Vice President, Major Markets, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Kathleen Griffin
Executive Director, Partnerships and Digital Engagement, Syneos Health
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Dr. Amy C. Moore
Director, Science & Research, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
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Upal Basu Roy PhD, MPH
Vice President of Research, LUNGevity Foundation
View Bio
Christopher D. Ferris MD, PhD, MPH
Gastroenterologist, Tryon Medical Partners
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Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health
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Going Virtual: Best Practices for Advocacy Organizations

June 04, 2020

SPEAKERS

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health
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Shwen Gwee
VP and Head of Global Digital Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Lorna Warwick
CEO, Lymphoma Coalition
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Nick Giallourakis
Co-Founder and President, Elephants and Tea
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Crista Lopes
Professor, University of California, Irvine
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Coalitions & Collaboration

May 28, 2020

SPEAKERS

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez
CEO, The Max Foundation
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Dr. Cary Adams
CEO, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
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Trudie C A Lobban, MBE
Founder & Trustee, Arrhythmia Alliance, Founder & CEO, AF Association, Founder & CEO, STARS
View Bio

Welcome & Introduction

May 21, 2020

SPEAKERS

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health
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Cathy Trzaskawka
Executive Director & Head, Global Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb
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Catherine Owen
Senior Vice President, Major Markets, Bristol Myers Squibb
View Bio
Wayne Eskridge
CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation
View Bio
Seth D. Ginsberg
CO-Founder, Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF)
View Bio
Andrea Vassalotti
Partnerships & Programmes Director, World Heart Federation
View Bio
Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health
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Insights From the Exchange

November 06, 2020