The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) has announced the
celebration of its 20th anniversary and the 3rd international symposium
of the association coming up on the 18th to the 21st of October 2017
with the theme: “Prioritizing breast cancer survival in Nigeria”
Meet some of the speakers:
Betty Anyanwau-Akeredolu
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Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is the Founder of Breast Cancer Association of
Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading NGO that is galvanizing action against
breast cancer in Nigeria. BRECAN was started in 1997 after her
experience with breast cancer when she decided to do something that
would bring about positive and lasting change in the Nigerian society
that has deeply entrenched misconceptions about what causes breast
cancer and how it can be treated. She has won numerous awards nationally
and internationally in recognition of her work and commitment in the
fight against breast cancer in Nigeria.
Through her private foundation, BAAF (Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
Foundation) founded in 1995, she has displayed passion in advancing and
promoting literacy in children through programmes such as Reading is
Fun, Essay Competition, Spelling Bee Competition. She is also interested
in advancing the economic status of women, nurturing the interest of
young girls in ICT and solar energy, developing talents in arts and
sports, promotion of improved sanitation in schools and communities,
promotion of quality education for the Deaf, and supporting women’s
participation in politics and gender equity in governance.
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is a graduate of the University of Nigeria,
Nsukka where she obtained BSc. Zoology in 1977 and later on in 1986, she
got her MSc. Fisheries major in Aquaculture from the University of the
Philppines, Iloilo. She is a firm believer in continuing education
regardless of age which she demonstrated by going back to school
(University of Ibadan) in 2016 for Masters in Public Health.
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu nurtured her career as a fisheries expert while
working with the Federal Department of Fisheries and retired voluntarily
in 2005 after 28 years of diligent service.
Presently, she is engaged in commercial fish farming and provides
consultancy services under the business name, Aquatek Farms Ventures. In
addition, she has made a foray into politics since 2007 and active in
the present dispensation.
She is married to Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN and blessed with four wonderful
children and three grand children. She is widely travelled and her
hobbies include reading, gardening, sewing, music, jogging, tennis and
yoga.
Kristen Isabel Hopkins, MD, FRCP, FRCR
Dr. Hopkins is a Radiation Oncologist at The International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. Prior to joining IAEA she was
involved in the development of chemotherapy services in Uganda where she
realized the desperate need to for radiotherapy and its expansion in
sub-Saharan Africa. Her work at IAEA, encompasses provision of technical
advice to member states seeking to develop and enhance radiotherapy
services, coordination of clinical research protocols in radiotherapy in
low and middle income countries and maintain IAEA regulatory and
guideline documents. Presently she supports 12 countries in sub-Saharan
Africa including Nigeria, with a combined population of 330 million, who
a have only 10 functioning government radiotherapy machines, a
situation she is working to change.
Sasha Stanton, MD, PhD
Dr. Stanton is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine
Division of Oncology at the University of Washington and an assistant
member in the Clinical Research Division of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center. She is currently an ITHS KL2 scholar and member of the
University of Washington Tumor Vaccine Group. Her research focuses on
antigen discovery and vaccine design for a ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS) preventative breast cancer vaccine and identifying methods to
modify the breast cancer tumor immune environment. Her clinical work is
with the Breast Oncology group at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Dr.
Stanton earned an MD and PhD in molecular genetics from the Albert
Einstein College of Medicine in New York. She completed her residency in
Internal Medicine at New York Hospital/Weil Cornell Medical Center and
her Hematology Oncology Fellowship at the University of Washington/Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Bridgette Hempstead
Bridgette is the Founder and Executive Director of Cierra Sisters, Inc.
is an African American Breast Cancer organization which uniquely
provides education and advocacy about women’s breast and health issues.
Bridgette’s personal, hands on approach, has and is changing the lives
of women all across the country. Her determination to educate and
empower others comes out of her own experience with breast cancer. A 21
year two time breast cancer survivor, Bridgette received her diagnosis
on her 35th birthday. At that time, she found no resources for African
American women. Therefore, she became the solution, and Cierra Sisters,
Inc. was born. She found that women’s fear of breast cancer was due
largely to the lack of knowledge. As the late author and entertainer,
Earl Nightingale once stated, “Whenever we’re afraid, it’s because we
don’t know enough. If we understood enough, we would never be afraid.”
Inspired by Ms. Nightingale’s words, Bridgette chose the African word
“Cierra” which means “knowing” to identify the community resource and
educational organization which she began in February 1996.
Over the years Bridgette has been featured on, City Stream, Channel 9
KCTS Connects; Channel 4 KOMO Fisher Broadcasting, The Good News about
Breast Cancer; King 5 News with Jean Enerson featuring a unique
door-to-door outreach; K.R.I.Z. Radio with Barbara Laners, Community
Potpourri ; The Seattle Times; A National Health Care forum along with
Teresa Heinz Kerry; Everyday Health News (A leading provider in health
solutions); A documentary on Bridgette’s story through Seattle Theater
Group and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance has also been produced.
Jennifer Dent, PhD
Dr. Dent is the BIO Ventures for Global Health. She has 20+ years of
broad-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience, including
negotiation and structuring of deals, and management of global discovery
and commercial alliances. Jennifer began her career as a sales
representative in Canada working in a variety of positions for Parke
Davis/Pfizer and Genentech. Following the acquisition of Genentech
Canada by Roche, Jennifer held a number of senior management positions
in marketing, life cycle management, global product strategy, business
development, and alliance management at Roche and Genentech in Canada,
Switzerland, New Jersey, and South San Francisco. Jennifer co-founded
Sound Biotechnology, and prior to that, served as Vice President,
Business Development, Marketing, and Sales at CombiMatrix Corporation in
Washington.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a BSc,
and she received her executive MBA at Western’s Richard Ivey School of
Business.
Danielle Matia, MPH
Danielle Matia is a Director at BIO Ventures for Global Health. She is a
native of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with over 20 years’
experience working in global health. She has worked with various
non-profit organizations including Save the Children, Plan
International, and the German International Aid Agency (GTZ) in Africa.
She brings broad experience in global health program development,
administration, implementation, and public/private partnership building.
She has also worked at the CDC, Atlanta as a researcher at the Division
of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Most recently, Danielle was the Region Head for
Africa and Middle East at The Max Foundation where she was responsible
for the implementation of cancer treatment access programs. Danielle
received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from
the UC Irvine and a Master in Public Health from Tulane University. She
holds a Certificate in Project Management from the University of
Washington.
Nixon Niyonzima, MD, MPH, PhD
Dr. Nixon Niyonzima is the Head, Research and Training Directorate,
Ugandan Cancer Institute and a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. His work focuses on building research
and training capacity at the Fred Hutch-Ugandan Cancer Institute
collaboration. Previously he was a member of the Global Oncology Program
at Fred Hutch was he was actively involved in fostering the partnership
and the eventual setting up of the Fred Hutch-UCI Cancer Center in
Uganda. Nixon’s research is focused on genetic editing for HIV cure. He
completed his Medical Degree from Makerere University, MSc in Global
Health at Duke University, USA, and PhD in Molecular and Cellular
Biology at the University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle, Washington.
Kingsley Ndoh, MD, MPH
Dr. Kingsley Ndoh is a consultant to the Government of Ondo State on
Cancer Control, and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Global Health at
the University of Washington. He is also an Affiliate Investigator at
the Vaccines and Infectious Disease Division of the Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch). Previously, he managed the early
and late phase clinical trials for AIDS-related malignancies at the Fred
Hutch Global Oncology Program and also served as a Senior Fellow. His
research and work is geared towards improving healthcare systems in
low-and middle-income countries and to reduce the inequities in cancer
prevention and control between rich countries and low- and middle-income
countries. He served as an Advisor for Women Empowerment Cancer
Advocacy Network (WE CAN), USA, and is a board member of the Breast
Cancer Association of Nigeria and Stand Up to Cancer Nigeria.
Dr Janet Wuraola Ipinyomi
Dr. Janet is Consultant Radiologist and Medical Director of Honeygold
and Maternity, Felele, Lokoja. She is a Medical Graduate of University
of Ibadan, Nigeria and a fellow of royal College of Radiologists. She
has a broad experience in Breast Imaging. She is a passionate supporter
of the campaign for Women’s Health and Girl Child Education. She is
married with children and grandchildren.
Professor Misauno M Ayedima, MBBS, FWACS
Professor Misauno Michael Ayedima , is a Professor of General Surgery
with special interest in surgical oncology. He is the pioneer Head of
the Surgical Oncology unit at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, and
the current Head of Department of Surgery of the University of Jos. He
is a Fellow of the West African College Of Surgeons, dedicated and
involved in training and examination of medical students and resident
doctors. He has trained and mentored ten General Surgical Oncologists so
far. His research interests are in breast cancer and liver cancer, and
have published over 52 articles in both local and international Peer
reviewed journals. He is an IDEA (International Development and
Empowerment) Award recipient of the American Society of Clinical
Oncologists (ASCO), awarded at the ASCO 2013 annual meeting in Chicago,
USA. This award came with a complimentary ASCO membership of 3 years. He
is a co-principal investigator on the D43 HIV- Malignancy grant of the
Jos University Teaching Hospital in partnership with the Northwestern
University in Chicago. On this grant, Professor. Misauno serves as the
chairman of the breast, colorectal and prostate cancer research
subgroup.
Shilpen Patel, MD, FACRO
Dr. Shilpen Patel is a radiation oncologist on faculty at the University
of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and also serves as an
associate professor in the UW Department of Global Health. He
specializes in the treatment of tumors in the thoracic cavity and
gastrointestinal system. He also leads the SBRT program.
He is actively involved in cancer clinical care, education and research
and has served as Principal Investigator on local and national clinical
trials. Dr. Patel joined the UW faculty in 2006 and is board-certified
in radiation oncology. He attended medical school at the University of
Texas and trained at the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of
Maryland for his residency. He leads the thoracic group in the
Department of Radiation Oncology and cares for patients at the Proton
Center, Harborview Medical Center, the SCCA and UW Medical Center.
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