About Myeloma Canada

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.

Kim is a business owner and certified Business Coach from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He’s been married to Valarie since 1987, and they have two adult daughters and four grandchildren. Since his diagnosis in 2024, Kim has been active with the local Myeloma Support Group, participating in the annual Marches and other endeavours to increase public awareness. As a dedicated board member of Myeloma Canada, he is committed to advancing support, education, and research for Canadians affected by multiple myeloma. He brings a strong background in governance, strategic planning, and community engagement, with a focus on improving patient outcomes and amplifying patient voices.

Dr Paola Neri, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine, attending physician in the Hematology division at University of Calgary, and member of the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. Since January 2019 she has been the Scientific Director of the Cancer Translational Research Core, a clinically accredited laboratory located at the Arthur Child Comprehensive Cancer Center in Calgary. She is very active both in preclinical and clinical trial research in Multiple Myeloma.

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.

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. Keith was diagnosed with myeloma in 2012. 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.

Dr Visram earned her MD at the University of Toronto in 2014. She completed her internal medicine training at the University of Ottawa in 2017, followed by hematology training at Dalhousie University in 2019. She further completed fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic, including an advanced hematology clinical fellowship, followed by a research fellowship, focused on understanding the epidemiology of precursor plasma cell disorders. She also completed a Master of Public Health and Clinical Epidemiology at Harvard University. Prior to joining McMaster University, Dr Visram was a staff physician in the Division of Hematology at the Ottawa Hospital and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa. 

Dawn is a senior executive with extensive leadership experience across the health, regulatory, and not-for-profit sectors. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of a national oral health accreditation agency, where she leads the development and oversight of national accreditation and standards that support excellence in dental education and practice.

She brings significant expertise in governance, accreditation, and working with boards, regulators, and professional bodies. Prior to her current role, Dawn was CEO of Speech-Language & Audiology Canada and has held leadership positions with several national medical organizations, including the Canadian Association of General Surgeons, the Canadian Hernia Society, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Dawn is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her ability to advance complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. Her accomplishments include leading national organizational integrations, securing major funding partnerships, launching a national entry-to-practice examination, and supporting the development of professional and manufacturing standards.

She has served on the Board of St Mary’s Home for over five years and is a Certified Association Executive. Originally from Scotland, Dawn trained as a nurse and now lives in Ottawa with her family.