Blog Posts

Isabel Mestres: Heartfelt Farewell Post for a C/Can Colleague

Collage photo of Isabel Mestres and Gvantsa Khizanishvili

Aug 28, 2025, 18:20

Isabel Mestres: Heartfelt Farewell Post for a C/Can Colleague

Isabel Mestres, CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Today I’m doing something I’ve never done before, dedicating a post to a City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) colleague who is leaving. After thinking of how best to thank her for all these years, I felt that public recognition is what she truly deserves.

Gvantsa Khizanishvili MD, MPH joined C/Can in 2018 as City Manager for Tbilisi, one of our first ‘learning cities.’ At a time when our model was still being tested, she helped shape it into something that worked; the successes in Tbilisi carry her mark.

Later, she brought her passion for cancer and global health to the global team, where she led the evolution of our City Engagement Process Framework, documenting lessons, building tools, and creating resources that strengthened our model and made it more flexible, scalable, and impactful.

Beyond designing the framework, she supported all C/Can cities ensuring that the model could be applied consistently while adapting to each unique local context.

But what we’ll miss most is not only her work, but her spirit. Always ready for karaoke, dancing, or simply lighting up the room with her smile, she embodied the joy and hospitality of C/Can. And when emergencies came – even last-minute flights I knew she would be there. That’s how deeply she cares.

Now, it’s her time to fly higher. She feels her mission here is complete, and I couldn’t be prouder. She will be missed, but her commitment, energy, and love for C/Can will always remain part of our story.

Thank you, dear G, G, Gvantsa.”

Isabel Mestres: Heartfelt Farewell Post for a C/Can Colleague