About Myeloma Canada

Joyce has been in the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. She brings with her a broad range of experience in medical marketing, sales management, and market access in specialty therapeutics and rare diseases.

Throughout her career, Joyce has worked for various private and global pharmaceutical companies including Bayer, Pendopharm, Ferring, and CSL Behring.  She is currently working as a Senior Marketing Manager at Lundbeck Canada in Mood Disorders.

Joyce is a big proponent of amplifying the patient voice in her strategies and has partnered extensively with patient organizations effecting policy changes and promoting access to therapies. She is an active and contributing member of the diversity committee of Women Leaders in Pharma and serves as a board member of the Annie Parker Foundation.

De’Shanel Childs is a seasoned healthcare leader with extensive experience in benefit administration, operations management, and customer experience. De’Shanel is currently the State Operations Director of operations for Consumer Direct Care Network where she is accountable for the successful delivery of the state’s operational performance, ensuring state’s contractual requirements were consistently met. She graduated from the University of Washington with an undergraduate degree in health care leadership and from Western Governors University with an MBA in health care administration and management.

Dr. Eappen is an experienced Health Care Executive with over a decade of healthcare management and operations experience. Dr. Eappen is an Assistant Professor at Cape Breton University and an Assistant Director of Clinical Services at the Breton Ability Center. Before teaching at Cape Breton University, Dr. Eappen taught at the University of Toronto, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Fanshawe College. Before moving to Canada, Dr. Eappen also worked as the Director of Health Services and Chief Administrator of the Health Center and taught as an adjunct faculty at the American University and various other universities. Dr. Eappen is also on various director boards, including Myeloma Canada, Aplastic Anemia, and Myelodysplasia Association of Canada.

Lisa is a retired IT professional who began her career at Bell Labs before leaving research to run international consulting practices for Sun Microsystems in Europe and the US. She spent 25 years in IT and was consulted by some of the largest banks, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies in the world.  After a successful career, she retired early at 45. She and her husband then started their own business cutting fine gemstones, which combined their love of travel with her love of gemstones. Through the business, she’s been able to support educational and health initiatives in Tanzania, Madagascar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.  Her husband was diagnosed with myeloma in 2014 and died of the disease in early 2021.

Lisa’s experiences learning about the disease, drug research, and navigating the healthcare system for her husband led her to seek out opportunities to improve care for other Canadians with myeloma. In addition to Myeloma Canada, Lisa serves on the Clinical Trials BC Advisory Council where she continues to advocate for patients and their families.

Dylan Marando is a Canadian political scientist, specializing in tax policy, fiscal policy, public administration, public investment, and federalism. He has held the positions of: Deputy Director of Policy to the Prime Minister of Canada; Principal Advisor to the President of the Treasury Board of Canada; Executive Director, National Housing Strategy to Canada’s Minister of Housing; Senior Advisor to the Premier of Ontario; and Head of Public Policy & Government Relations for Siemens Healthineers in Canada.

Dylan sits on the Boards of Directors of Canadian Science Publishing and Geist Magazine, as well as the Health Policy Council of the CD Howe Institute.

Dylan studied at the University of Toronto, where he received an Honours Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Public Policy, and a Doctorate in Political Science.

Hira is a hematologist at the Juravinski Cancer Centre and an assistant professor within the department of oncology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where she specializes in multiple myeloma. Hira completed her clinical training at the University of Toronto and furthered her research training at McMaster University where she obtained her Masters in Health Research Methodology as well as completed the Royal College Accredited Clinician Investigator Program.

Hira’s research interests centre around health services and outcomes, with a specific focus on disparities in access to care/outcomes and quality of life among patients with myeloma. She is also very involved in research activities with the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG), the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Group as well as the International Society of Geriatric Oncology.

Dr. Ramakrishnan is currently an Associate Director for Oncology Biomarkers at Labcorp. Prior to that he was an Assistant Professor at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN where he worked on basic and translational multiple myeloma research. He has published several papers and secured funding from extramural and intramural sources to support his research while at the Mayo Clinic. He is delighted to be a part of the board of directors and is very much looking forward to serving in this role to support MM Canada’s mission and help patients and families impacted by multiple myeloma.

Anthony Reiman is a medical oncologist with a special interest in the study and treatment of myeloma. He is based at the Saint John Regional Hospital in New Brunswick and is a member of the board of directors of the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. He is the Canadian Cancer Society Research Chair at the University of New Brunswick and the Assistant Dean, Research, at Dalhousie Medicine, New Brunswick.

Anthony is currently a Professor of Medicine at Dalhousie University and is an active researcher with over 100 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Anthony is also the co-chair of the myeloma committee at the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and a member of both the US National Cancer Institute Myeloma Steering Committee and the International Myeloma Working Group. He sits on several committees with the Myeloma Canada Research Network.

Annie is an experienced business leader with over 25 years of expertise. She began her career in the insurance industry before transitioning to entrepreneurship, where she played a pivotal role in building three companies with national reach.

In 2020, after a two-year search for answers, Annie was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age 48. She underwent extensive treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, an autologous stem cell transplant, and later, an allogeneic stem cell transplant, which brought her three years of remission. In 2024, her fight with multiple myeloma resumed, and she continues to face each challenge with exceptional courage and resilience.

Sandor is an experienced regulatory lawyer and accountant. He has worked as a lawyer in the resource development sector, provincial government, and non-profit health sector in both Alberta and British Columbia.

Additionally, Sandor has experience as a board member for the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta and as a committee member for the Law Society of Alberta’s Audit and Finance Committee. Sandor has extensive experience in advising clients on business decisions and regulatory matters.

Sandor holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Bachelor of Law all from the University of Manitoba. He also holds a CPA-CGA designation.

Dr. Stakiw is a malignant hematologist and stem cell transplant physician with a special interest in myeloma. She is based at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and is an associate professor at the University of Saskatchewan. An active member of the Canadian Myeloma Research Group (CMRG), she also sits on the CMRG Database steering committee. Her research interests include health equity, with a specific focus on First Nations and Metis patients with myeloma. Julie recently finished her term as the Medical Director of the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and was previously the Provincial Head of Hematology for Saskatchewan.

Keith studied at the University of British Columbia, Cambridge University, and Sheffield University. He has worked as a police officer in London, UK, and with the Vancouver Police Department, as well as in research, planning, and management with the Calgary Police Service, the Justice Institute of BC, and Canada Post. He has served on several boards and committees and is currently Partner in a consulting firm specializing in police, justice, governance, and community issues.

An accomplished photographer, he enjoys short-course triathlons, hiking, and biking. Diagnosed with myeloma in 2012, Keith has been in remission since 2014. As a Director on Myeloma Canada’s Board, he is grateful to give back to the myeloma community for what he describes as the superb care he receives as a patient.

Ms. Darlene Thibault is currently Senior National Program Director with the Industry Initiatives and Partnerships segment of BMO Bank of Montreal. She is responsible for building and growing commercial banking strategies and programs supporting selected industries for the North American Commercial Bank. Ms. Thibault was formerly a Senior Relationship Manager, Diversified Industries in the Corporate Finance Group and previously Regional Director and Team Lead of BMO Equipment Finance.

Ms. Thibault was formerly with the Bank of Nova Scotia from 2005 to 2015 her last role being a Regional Director and Group Lead in the Specialized Financial Services Group. A graduate from McGill University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science, her 25-year career in the financial services industry has included positions at HSBC Bank, Bombardier Capital Ltd., AT&T Capital Canada Inc., and Pitney Bowes Leasing. Ms. Thibault was appointed to the Board of Directors of Export Development Canada in January 2010 and was Chair of the Board Risk Management Committee from 2015 to 2021. Ms. Thibault is also a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors.