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.

September 26th, 2023

My Disease Does Not Define Me: Stigma and Perceptions of Chronic Illness

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Yisel Martinez, LCSW (she/her)
Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Tricia Yap
Vice President, WWC Dermatology & Rheumatology, Bristol Myers Squibb
Jannarie Zarzoso (she/her)
President, PsorPhil, Miss Universe Philippines Finalist

View Bio

Ingvar Agust Ingvarsson
Vice President of the Board of IFPA, IFPA

View Bio

June 27th, 2023

Patient Advocacy is Integrating Lived Experience in Medicines Development

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Lorena Kuri (she/her/hers)
Head Diversity Strategy R&D, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Barry Nelson

View Bio

Ashley Ratcliff (she/her/hers)
Director, Communications & Operations, We Are ILL

View Bio

April 25th, 2023

Advocating for the Invisible: When Health Conditions Are Unseen

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Wayne Eskridge
CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation

View Bio

Lisa Salberg
CEO & Founder, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association

View Bio

February 27th, 2023

Co-Creating Health Equity by Including Lived Experiences

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health

View Bio

SPEAKERS

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

View Bio

Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group

View Bio

Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health

View Bio

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

View Bio

December 1st, 2022

The Global Impact of Human Rights

MODERATOR

Dave Craig
CEO, Gryt Health

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Manan Shah
Vice President, Head of Global Health Equity & Policy Partnerships, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA
Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research, Jefferson Health

View Bio

Chris McCarthy, MPH, MBA
ILN Coaching & Consulting

View Bio

November 10th, 2022

Checkbooks and Balances: How Advocacy Can Support Both Physical and Financial Health

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Chris Strumfels
Resource Navigator, Family Reach

View Bio

Amy Niles
Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, Patient Access Network (PAN) Foundation

View Bio

October 6th, 2022

Managing Your Mental Health While Facing a Chronic Illness

EMCEE

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

View Bio

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Renata M. Kisa, MD, IFAAD
Worldwide Medical Lead, Dermatology, I&F WW Medical

View Bio

Nitika Chopra
Founder + CEO, Chronicon

View Bio

Molly Murray
President & CEO, Autoimmune Association

View Bio

September 1st, 2022

Nurturing Yourself while Navigating the Nuances of Caregiving

EMCEE

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

View Bio

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Josie Liow
Co-Chair Designate, SingHealth Patient Advocacy Network

View Bio

Heather Badt
Executive Director, Research and Training Institute, Cancer Support Community

View Bio

August 4th, 2022

Making Space to Care for Yourself

SPEAKERS

Lauren Lastauskas
Vice President of Community, Gryt Health

View Bio

Angelike (Angie) Giallourakis, Ph.D.

View Bio

June 2nd, 2022

Create Change Through Lived Experience: The Whole Advocate™ Model

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Tim Cage
Cofounder and Senior Coach, Living Proof Advocacy

View Bio

Kate Callan
EVP, Head of Social Media, Evoke KYNE

View Bio

John Capecci
Cofounder and Senior Coach, Living Proof Advocacy

View Bio

May 12th, 2022

Designing with the Patient in Mind: Amplifying the Patient Voice in Medicines Development and Approval

SPEAKERS

Winselow Tucker
Senior Vice President, Intercontinental, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group

View Bio

Kate Morgan
Head of Policy and Access, Myeloma Patients Europe

View Bio

Catherine Kopil
SVP, Clinical Research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

View Bio

April 7th, 2022

Moving Medicine Forward: Highlighting Humanity and Patient Experience in Clinical Trials

SPEAKERS

Rachel Byrd
Senior Research Coordinator, Gryt Health

View Bio

Dr. Karriem Watson
Chief Engagement Officer, NIH All of Us Research Program

View Bio

Dan Platt, M.D. (he/him)
Chief Medical Officer, Gryt Health

View Bio

Cara Stabile, MPH
Associate Director, Patient Engagement Capabilities, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Brian McMahon
Founder, SparkCures

View Bio

March 3rd, 2022

Health Equity: Reinventing Treatment through the Lens of Gender

SPEAKERS

Tyler Campbell
Founder, Pro Player Foundation

View Bio

Jamie Agunsday, MA, MSN, RNC-OB

View Bio

Chris Chamars
Program & Partnership Specialist, Gryt Health

View Bio

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

View Bio

February 3rd, 2022

Assertiveness is Not Aggression: Accessible Strategies to Advocate for Quality Care

MODERATOR

Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health

View Bio

SPEAKERS

Nancy Ferro
Founder and Executive Director, Epic Experience

View Bio

Megan-Claire Chase
Patient Advocate

View Bio

Kelly Cuvar
Political Consultant and Healthcare Policy Advisor

View Bio

Colin Ferro
Director Of Operations, Epic Experience

View Bio

January 20th, 2022

Patients are People: Improving Cultural Competency to Reduce Healthcare Disparities

MODERATOR

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

View Bio

SPEAKERS

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

View Bio

Rachel M Bond, MD, FACC
Co-Chair, Women and Children's Committee for the Association of Black Cardiologists, Inc.

View Bio

December 9th, 2021

The Power of Advocacy: Lessons Learned from HIV Advocates

SPEAKERS

Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group

View Bio

Louise Binder
Health Policy Consultant, Save Your Skin Foundation

View Bio

Jim Howley
Senior Director and Hematology Lead, Patient Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

November 30th, 2021

End of Life Care: A Retired Hospice Counselor Creates a Safe Space for an Uncomfortable Conversation

SPEAKERS

Susan Desmarais
Retired Hospice Counselor and End of Life Doula

View Bio

November 4th, 2021

How Technology and Personal Voices Partner to Create Scalable, Human Care

SPEAKERS

Paul von Autenried
Executive Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Melodie Narain-Blackwell
Entrepreneur, Health Advocate, Founder, Color of Crohn’s and Chronic Illness (COCCI)

View Bio

October 14th, 2021

International Health Technology Assessments and Their Impact on Access and Patient Preferences

SPEAKERS

Stephanie Dyson
Vice President, U.S. Policy & Government Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

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

View Bio

John M. O'Brien, PharmD, MPH
President and CEO, National Pharmaceutical Council

View Bio

Elizabeth Franklin, PhD, MSW
President, Cancer Support Community

View Bio

Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou
Executive Director, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)

View Bio

September 30, 2021

Giving Voice to the Often Voiceless: Advocate-led Research Creating Change

SPEAKERS

Dr. Yasmin Ibrahim
Public Health Manager, Hepatitis B Foundation

View Bio

Dr. Roxana Mehran, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, FCCP, FESC, MSCAI

View Bio

Michelle Weese
Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Alex Filicevas
Executive Director, World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition, President, All.Can International

View Bio

September 9, 2021

The Evolution of Healthcare: Co-Creating the Future Through Collaboration

SPEAKERS

Mark Bertolini
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aetna Inc., Director of Verizon Communications Inc., and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

View Bio

June 10, 2021

Living with Disease: A Conversation on Life After Diagnosis

SPEAKERS

Shelley Fuld Nasso
Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS)

View Bio

Kimberly Richardson
Research Advocate, University of Illinois Cancer Center

View Bio

Julia Rowland, Ph.D.
Senior Strategic Advisor, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts

View Bio

Adam Lenkowsky
SVP and General Manager, U.S. Cardiovascular, Immunology and Oncology, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

May 13th, 2021

Strategies to Support Patients: A Focus on Mental Health and Patient-Centric Care

SPEAKERS

Teri S. Brister, Ph.D., LPC
National Director Research & Quality Assurance, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

View Bio

Dr. Cindi Slater, M.D.
FACR Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, ConsumerMedical

View Bio

April 8th, 2021

Addressing Gaps in Healthcare Through Real World Advocacy

SPEAKERS

Venus Ginés
CEO and Founder, Dia de la Mujer Latina

View Bio

Tanya Ryder
Tanya Ryder, M.Ed., Director, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

View Bio

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health

View Bio

Danielle Halstrom
Head, R&D, GPS and Commercial Communications & Global Advocacy Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Reverend Anthony Evans
President, National Black Church Initiative

View Bio

March 23rd, 2021

Resilience: Leading in a Reset World Workshop

SPEAKERS

Patricia Bayerlein
Executive Director, Gagen MacDonald

View Bio

Maril MacDonald
CEO and Founder, Gagen MacDonald

View Bio

Charlene Wheeless
Senior Advisor, Gagen MacDonald

View Bio

Ann M. Powell
Global Chief Human Resource Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

March 11, 2021

Outlining Our Paths to Impact and Change

SPEAKERS

Rachel Giles, MD, PhD.
IKCC Chair, Von Hippel-Lindau Organization / Living with Bladder or Kidney Cancer Netherlands

View Bio

February 11th 2021

Harnessing Our United Strength to Create Meaningful Change

SPEAKERS

Tina Ripperger
Accenture, Managing Director , What If Innovation, Partner, Global Head of Life Sciences

View Bio

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

View Bio

January 14th 2021

Advocacy for Advancements: Patient Insight Influencing Action

SPEAKERS

Neil Bertelsen
HTAi Patient and Citizen Involvement Group

View Bio

Mellanie True Hills, CSP
Founder and CEO, StopAfib.org

View Bio

Maria Dutarte
Coordinator, European Patients’ Academy (EUPATI)

View Bio

Brian Lee
Director, Global Advocacy, CV, Fibrosis, MS and LCM, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

December 17th 2020

Building Stronger Relationships Across Healthcare Through Empathy

SPEAKERS

Shanelle Gabriel
HBO Def Poet/ Singer/ Activist/ Advocate for Lupus Awareness

View Bio

Sandra Leung
Executive Vice President, General Counsel , Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Laura Adams
Special Advisor, National Academy of Medicine Catalyst, X4Health Principal, Laura Adams Consulting

View Bio

Erin Galyean
Author, Speaker, & Trainer

View Bio

November 12th 2020

Taking Action to Correct Health Inequities

SPEAKERS

Steven Kramer
Deaf Community Representative

View Bio

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

View Bio

Patricia (Patti) Mae Doykos, PhD
Lead, Health Equity Initiative and Director, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Kristen D. Krause, PhD, MPH
Deputy Director, Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS)

View Bio

John L. Damonti
President, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Feyikemi (Kemi) Osundina, PharmD, MS
Associate Director of Oncology Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Anthonise Louis Fields, PhD
Director, Strategic Collaborations, World Wide Medical, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

October 8th 2020

Getting Back to Work

SPEAKERS

Tinamarie Duff
Global Lead, Differently-Abled Workplace Network (DAWN) People and Business Resource Group, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Noreen Gleason
Executive Director, Business Continuity and Corporate Event Response Team Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

September 10th 2020

Getting Back to Normal: Care by Putting Patients First

SPEAKERS

Dr. Nicholas A.J. Botwood, BSc, MB BS, MRCP, MFPM
Head of US Medical Affairs, Interim Head of Oncology Development, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

July 23rd 2020

The Patient Voice & Patient-Focused Drug Development

SPEAKERS

Tamás Bereczky MA, PhD
Courses and Contents Coordinator, EUPATI

View Bio

Samit Hirawat M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Global Drug Development, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Oriana Sousa
SCOCHT Survivor, Founder/Psychologist, Dealing with Cancer, Patient Advocate, Rare 2030, EUPATI Student

View Bio

Kathleen A. Arntsen
President & CEO, Lupus and Allied Diseases Association, Inc.

View Bio

Danielle Halstrom
Head, R&D, GPS and Commercial Communications & Global Advocacy Corporate Affairs, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Begonya Nafria
Coordinator, Share4Rare & Patient Engagement in Research Coordinator, Sant Joan de Déu Children's Hospital

View Bio

July 16th 2020

Reshaping Healthcare: Thinking Differently after COVID

SPEAKERS

Lily Cannon
Operations Manager, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)

View Bio

KT Jones
Cancer Survivor & Patient Advocate

View Bio

Katie Rizvi
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Youth Cancer Europe

View Bio

Ester Banque
SVP & Head of Intercontinental Commercial, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Eleanor M. Perfetto Edwards, Ph.D., M.S.
Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, National Health Council (NHC)

View Bio

July 9th 2020

Preventive Care & COVID

SPEAKERS

Robert C. Block, MD, MPH, FACP, FNLA,
Associate Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences and the Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester

View Bio

Richard Wender, M.D.
Professor, Family and Community Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University

View Bio

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

View Bio

Lisa Berry Edwards
Managing Director, External Affairs, Prevent Cancer Foundation

View Bio

Jessica Valence
Colorectal Cancer Survivor, Patient Advocate, Director of Operations, Gryt Health

View Bio

Anita Wiseman
Campaigns and Partnerships, World Stroke Organization

View Bio

July 2nd 2020

Practical Solutions for Patients during COVID

SPEAKERS

Pat Masterson
Vice President, HUSCO International, MaskForce LLC

View Bio

Megan-Claire Chase
Cancer Survivor, Blogger & Patient Advocate

View Bio

Kelly Brassil, Ph.D., R.N.
Director of Medical Affairs, Pack Health

View Bio

Gaetano Crupi
President and General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb Brazil

View Bio

Diane Gross
National Director of Advocacy and Programs, Lupus Research Alliance

View Bio

Anders Thelborg
General Manager, Bristol Myers Squibb Denmark

View Bio

June 25th 2020

Mental Health, Well-Being, and Psychosocial Support for Patients

SPEAKERS

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

Jasmin Watson-El
MS Patient Ambassador

View Bio

Dominika Czarnota-Szałkowska
Secretary General, Polish Multiple Sclerosis Society, Executive Committee Member, European Multiple Sclerosis Platform

View Bio

Catherine Benedict, Ph.D.
Psychologist, Stanford University School of Medicine

View Bio

June 18th 2020

Telemedicine and Access to Care

SPEAKERS

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

View Bio

Sandeep Pulim, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer, Bluestream Health

View Bio

Dr. Morhaf Al Achkar
Lung Cancer survivor, Family Physician, UW Medicine

View Bio

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

View Bio

Adriana Zupa-Fernandez
Global PBRG (People & Business Resource Group) Lead, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

June 11th 2020

Safely Returning to Clinical Trials

SPEAKERS

Upal Basu Roy PhD, MPH
Vice President of Research, LUNGevity Foundation

View Bio

Kathleen Griffin
Executive Director, Partnerships and Digital Engagement, Syneos Health

View Bio

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health

View Bio

Christopher D. Ferris MD, PhD, MPH
Gastroenterologist, Tryon Medical Partners

View Bio

Catherine Owen
Senior Vice President, Major Markets, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Dr. Amy C. Moore
Director, Science & Research, GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer

View Bio

June 4th 2020

Going Virtual: Best Practices for Advocacy Organizations

SPEAKERS

Shwen Gwee
VP and Head of Global Digital Strategy, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Nick Giallourakis
Co-Founder and President, Elephants and Tea

View Bio

Lorna Warwick
CEO, Lymphoma Coalition

View Bio

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health

View Bio

Crista Lopes
Professor, University of California, Irvine

View Bio

May 28th 2020

Coalitions & Collaboration

SPEAKERS

Trudie C A Lobban, MBE
Founder & Trustee, Arrhythmia Alliance, Founder & CEO, AF Association, Founder & CEO, STARS

View Bio

Pat Garcia-Gonzalez
CEO, The Max Foundation

View Bio

Dr. Cary Adams
CEO, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)

View Bio

May 21st 2020

Welcome & Introduction

SPEAKERS

Wayne Eskridge
CEO, Fatty Liver Foundation

View Bio

Seth D. Ginsberg
CO-Founder, Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF)

View Bio

Gary Nolan
Chief Executive Officer, Colab Health

View Bio

Dave Craig
CEO and CoFounder, GRYT Health

View Bio

Cathy Trzaskawka
Executive Director & Head, Global Advocacy, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Catherine Owen
Senior Vice President, Major Markets, Bristol Myers Squibb

View Bio

Andrea Vassalotti
Partnerships & Programmes Director, World Heart Federation

View Bio

November 6th 2020

Insights From the Exchange

SPEAKERS