who we are

The CML Society Board of Directors consists of the three members listed below. In addition, three advisory boards with ad-hoc representation, as needed from every province and region across Canada are integral to the functioning of the CML Society: the Patients Advisory Board, the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board and the Stakeholders Advisory Board.  These three advisory panels are ‘floating’ in the sense that they are only populated, when decision are being made.  They are filled with members of the CML patient population on an ad-hoc basis, this keeps the role of patient advisory in rotation allowing many other CML patients to have their voices heard at this level.  Medical & Scientific advisory board members are also ad-hoc, and filled by current clinicians and researchers.  Stakeholders advisory boards rotate in response to industry changes.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cheryl-Anne Simoneau, President  B.A., Philosophy and Sociology (Concordia university), is a healthcare marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare marketing in the areas of radiology, interventional cardiology, nuclear medicine, wound care and CME event planning. In November 2000 her knowledge of the healthcare system became much more personal when she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a very rare form of cancer. Being in the prime of her life, Cheryl-Anne was faced with an uncertain future. The first thing she remembers was telling herself to keep on breathing. The diagnosis of cancer provided an opportunity to reorganize her life and put her expertise and skills developed in healthcare marketing and sales to good use. She co-founded the CML Society of Canada with the objective of supporting fellow patients with qualified information on the treatment and survivorship of CML.  Additionally, The CML Society of Canada has been working as a patient advocate in  helping find solutions to achieving equitable and sustainable access to targeted oral drugs, which, while they are very expensive, are also medically necessary and life saving.

Suzan McNamara, PhD  Dr. McNamara obtained her PhD in Experimental Medicine from McGill University. Her studies focused on mechanisms of resistance for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Following her doctorate, she joined Health Canada as an Assessment Officer where she was responsible for the licensing of health products. She joined the Quebec-Clinical Research Organization in Cancer in 2011 as Director of clinical and translational research. In 2017 she joined Exactis Innovation where she is now Vice President of Clinical Operations.  She plays an active role in the ongoing scientific development of the CML Society.  Dr. McNamara was diagnosed with CML when she was 31 years old and was actively involved in helping other CML patients obtain access to the new Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to control CML.  After finally achieving remission from CML she went back to her studies and completed her PhD.

Antoinette Lizzi, CPA, with an established record of success in significantly growing enterprise value. Highly accomplished finance and accounting professional with over 30 years of progressive leadership growth within world-class global business environments. 13 years in public company. Results-focused leader, with a record of leading, motivating, and inspiring large and diverse teams of professionals to operate as cohesive units to achieve the timely completion of strategic projects and initiatives with demanding deadlines.