Washington D.C., December 3, 2019 – Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation (GACCF) www.globalaccf.org, the leading global cancer care organization providing oncology education programs in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), announced today the expansion of its Board of Directors and appointment of Tim Guertin as its new board chairman, as well as welcoming new officers to its Advisory Board https://www.globalaccf.org/about-us/#board.
GACCF cancer care professionals help to implement and oversee lifesaving training courses and workshops that enhance cancer treatment through radiotherapy treatment in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The GACCF Board of Directors includes: Tim Guertin, (Former CEO, Varian Medical Systems), Michael Sandhu (CEO, remediumRT AG), Brady Forseth (CEO, African Community & Conservation Foundation), Tom Ladd (Executive Director, Radiating Hope), Shaney Jo Darden (Founder, Keep A Breast Foundation), Reid Oakes (Global Head, Health Industries HP), Shannon Finley (Founding Partner, Capitol Counsel), and Andrew M. Whitman (Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs, Varian Medical Systems).
“We are excited to have such talented, experienced and diverse professionals on our board, all of whom are committed to our mission in educating medical specialists to treat cancer in areas of the world with limited access to essential medicines and services,” said Tonya Steiner, executive director of Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation. “We are grateful for their leadership. I am confident they will provide invaluable perspectives as we continue our training programs to empower clinicians to provide effective oncology services in their communities and create a core base of local experts.”
GACCF’s goal is to increase global access to cancer treatment education, care, and support for people living with cancer on a global scale, regardless of underlying demographics. GACCF provides high-quality teaching and training in radiotherapy that is helping to address the global burden of cancer in areas that are underserviced, specifically in low and middle-income countries.
It is estimated that by 2030 there will be a projected 23.6 million cancer cases around the world. Most of these will occur in low-and middle-income countries in Asian, African and South American countries that are unable to offer proper treatment and care. Worldwide, 70 percent of all global deaths from cancer occur in LMICs and 60 percent of the world’s total new cancer cases are diagnosed in developing countries.
GACCF Board members:
Tim Guertin is chairman of the GACCF Board of Directors and the former CEO of Varian Medical Systems, a $3B company that is the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of linear accelerators and software for the treatment of cancer. Tim started at Varian in 1976 as an engineer, eventually becoming President of the radiation oncology business and later CEO for six years. He also sits on the board of Acelity, the leading manufacturer of devices that speed healing for diabetic and traumatic wounds. Tim also serves on the Board of Teradyne, which provides systems for testing semiconductors, PC boards, cell phones, and portable computing devices. Teradyne is also a leading maker of ‘cobots’; robots that are designed to work in close proximity to humans. Tim is Chair of the Compensation Committee of the board at both Acelity and Teradyne, and he serves on the Ethics and Regulatory Compliance Committee for Varian. Mr. Guertin has served as a founding member of the board of trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee of the Radiation Oncology Institute, which funds cancer treatment research. He has also served on the boards of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and TechAmerica, advocacy organizations for the high-tech industry. Tim graduated from UC Berkeley with a BSEE in 1972.
Michael Sandhu is a specialist in delivering cancer solutions. He has more than 30 years of experience working for industry market leaders over this period. Michael qualified with a BA(Hons) degree in Medical Sciences in 1984 and, after a short period in the UK public healthcare sector moved into the radiation therapy field gaining extensive experience in worldwide markets outside of the Americas as Vice President Sales and Marketing for these regions with Varian Medical Systems. Michael recently led the Market Access team to develop cancer and radiation therapy solutions in emerging markets for Varian working at ministerial levels of government, and senior levels in UN agencies and key Cancer NGOs. Michael has hosted international workshops on developing advanced cancer solutions for emerging markets.
Brady Forseth has specialized in delivering transformational, long-standing impact on people’s lives in nearly 80 different countries. By establishing partnerships with national and regional governments, health professionals, academic and private organizations, he has helped create sustainable conservation and community-based programs in Africa and across the world. He has held numerous leadership roles on the global stage and through service and leadership in these organizations, Brady has helped empower and connect thousands of people to life-giving programs. As the CEO for the African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF), Brady leads the philanthropic efforts for the community and conservation programs supported by the Grumeti Fund, in addition to other sustainable programs in Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Shaney Jo Darden founded the global non-profit organization Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB) to raise awareness of breast cancer and to encourage prevention and early detection among young people. Shaney Jo is a leading voice in the cultural conversation about breast cancer and her visionary youth-targeted campaigns and programs featuring irreverent messaging, inventive art, cutting-edge pop culture and technology are fueling a paradigm shift among non-profit organizations. Since inception, KAB has expanded globally and has four core programs — Check Yourself, Non-Toxic Revolution, The Keep A Breast Valley, and Treasured Chest. The iconic “i love boobies!” message, one of KAB’s signature breast cancer outreach and awareness campaigns, has become a generational staple for the young people she’s reached. An expert on breast cancer philanthropy, Shaney Jo has received many awards for her innovative fusion of advocacy, art, lifestyle-brand partnerships, and street culture, and in the process has generated substantial funds for Keep A Breast via donations, partnerships, and licensing. She is a recipient of the Yoplait Champion Award, the SIMA Humanitarian of the Year Award, the MySpace Impact Award for Health and Safety. And notably, in 2011, Shaney Jo delivered the keynote speech for TEDxSanDiego’s “The World in Our Grasp”.
Reid Oakes is the Global Head of Health Industries for HP Inc. and is based in Palo Alto, CA. He has more than 20 years in the Healthcare industry focused on innovation and strategic solutions engineering for the Healthcare payer, provider, and life sciences industries. Oakes has held board and leadership positions within standards-setting organizations, industry consortiums, health policy working groups and numerous geography level healthcare collaborations. More recently, his specific areas of interest and focus have been around Healthcare consumerism, improving physician and patient collaboration & engagement, and mHealth.
Tom Ladd is the executive director of Radiating Hope, a volunteer-run, mountain climbing, cancer-cure focused nonprofit organization specifically providing radiation oncology care to patients around the globe. He was born and raised in the Washington D.C area and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in International Relations. Tom played football in college and briefly in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals before sustaining an injury that ended his career as a professional athlete. He then worked in corporate settings before starting his own company with diverse business ventures in real estate, construction, educational media, and logistic solutions. These experiences and his volunteer work have honed his skills in business development, project management, and strengthening communities, which he now applies to furthering the work of Radiating Hope. Having personally lost loved ones to cancer, Tom is committed to helping cancer patients worldwide gain access to treatments and improved cancer care.
Shannon Finley is a founding partner of Capitol Counsel LLC. She brings to the firm nearly 20 years of experience in politics and policy in Washington, D.C. Finley manages Capitol Counsel’s Senate practice where she is known for her strategic counsel on issues ranging from tax to health and politics. Her client base cuts across industries and includes key trade associations, Fortune 100 corporations, non-profits and issue-based coalitions. She was named one of the Top Lobbyists in Washington by The Hill in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Prior to Capitol Counsel, Finley served for eight years as consultant and political adviser to Senator Max Baucus (D-MT). She began her career with Senator Baucus as national finance director for his 2002 re-election campaign and director of his political action committee. After his successful election, she continued her tenure as political director and senior adviser, managing his fundraising operation, providing counsel on political matters, and directing national outreach. Further, she coordinated fundraising events and political support on behalf of the Senator for his Senate colleagues, elected officials in Montana, and party committees. Finley has been involved in numerous non-profit organizations. She has served on the National Selection Committee for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation and was a participant in the 1995 Class of Ambassadors, a leadership program sponsored by Americans for Indian Opportunity in coordination with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. She currently serves on the executive committee for the American Heart Association’s “Heart’s Delight,” and is the chair of the Big Sky Night Committee. Additionally, Finley is a founding member of “Mod Squad,” the Moderate Democrats Political Action Committee, whose mission is to support moderate Democratic incumbents and candidates to the Senate.
Andrew M. Whitman was named Vice President, Government Affairs, for Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in July 2008. In December 2016, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Global Government Affairs. Varian is the world’s leading supplier of radiotherapy products for treating cancer. Varian’s products include linear accelerators, simulators, proton therapy systems, and a broad range of accessories and interconnected software tools for planning, verifying, and delivering the most advanced radiation, radiosurgical, and brachytherapy treatments. Prior to his current position, Andrew served as the Vice President for the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance, a division of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association which represented the medical imaging and radiation therapy manufacturers. In addition, Andrew also worked at the Carmen Group, Inc., a government relations firm in Washington, D.C., where he served as the senior associate for healthcare practice representing healthcare providers on Capitol Hill and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
About Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation:
The Global Access to Cancer Care Foundation (GACCF) offers training, technology, access, and hope; specifically for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in South America, Africa, South, and East Asia. The Foundation’s cancer care professionals help to implement and oversee training courses and workshops in collaboration with local partners such as universities, hospitals or governmental institutions that enhance cancer treatment through radiotherapy treatment. These regional programs aim to overcome the lack of trained professionals who treat cancer patients in the near term. By empowering local faculty to deliver training, the GACCF education programs encourage self-reliance and sustainability. To support the success of these programs, the GACCF provides project management, financial support, and professional teams from within and outside the region. For more information visit: www.globalaccf.org.