Going Virtual: Best Practices for Advocacy Organizations

Dave Craig is a two-time cancer survivor, oncology researcher, and patient experience champion. He is CEO and co-founder of GRYT (“grit”) Health, a digital health company that connects individuals with similar experiences and engages them to inform, support, and facilitate improved disease management and patient well-being.

Through GRYT’s global oncology platform and work with the top healthcare organizations, we help advance the treatment, care, and experience of those affected by cancer. We do this through research, marketing, and clinical trial services that put people and caregivers first, integrating the patient experience – from early-stage treatments through long-term survivorship – to ultimately improve health outcomes.

In his recent TED Talk, Dave describes how he has catalyzed personal adversity, patient experience research, and digital technology to create a platform to connect, empower, and transform the living-with-cancer experience.

Shwen is a recognized pioneer in digital health and social pharma, as well as a well-respected industry thought-leader who was named a Top 40 “Healthcare Transformer” by MM&M in 2015 and a PR Week and MM&M "Health Influencer 50" in 2017 & 2018.

He sits on various advisory boards, including: Google (Healthcare), SXSW (Health), MM&M Healthcare Transformers, conversationHEALTH, GRYT Health and the Digital Health Coalition.

Shwen brings over a decade of experience leading digital strategy and driving innovation in commercial, communications, and clinical organizations, both on the client-side and at leading creative agencies. He is often featured in industry publications, speaks regularly at industry events and chairs.

Shwen is also very involved in the health tech startup community and organizes startup bootcamps, runs startup pitch contests and plays an active role running healthcare hackathons around the world as part of the MIT Hacking Medicine team.

Lorna Warwick, BA, BEd, has successfully held senior leadership roles in health charities for more than twenty years and has a diverse background in patient advocacy, mission development, communications and strategic planning. Her efforts have been focused on haematological cancers since 2003, at a national (Canada) and global level.

Recognized and respected for strong leadership skills, breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, and patient-focus, Lorna was appointed CEO of the Lymphoma Coalition (LC) in December 2018, to provide vision and leadership for the 83-member strong organisation.

As a result of her years of experience in advocacy and especially in the haematology field, she is frequently asked to present on emerging trends and important issues in the lymphoma and CLL landscape.

Nick is the Executive Director of the Steven G AYA Cancer Research Fund and President/Co-Founder of Elephants and Tea. The Steven G. AYA Cancer Research Funds’ mission is to support the adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer community in wellness, education and research.

Nick is passionate about helping the AYA cancer community unite during social isolation: before, during and after COVID-19.

Cristina (Crista) Lopes is a Professor of Software Engineering in the School of Computer Sciences at University of California, Irvine, with research interests in Programming Languages, Software Engineering, Distributed Virtual Environments, and just about anything else that relates to the art of programming. She is an IEEE Fellow, an ACM Distinguished Scientist, and Editor in Chief of The Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming. She is the recipient of the 2016 Pizzigati Prize for Software in the Public Interest for her work in the OpenSimulator virtual world platform. Her book "Exercises in Programming Style" has gained rave reviews, including being chosen as "Notable Book" by the ACM Best of Computing reviews.