In 2015, the GI Cancers Alliance was established to bring together patient advocacy groups, academic and healthcare centers, and industry partners so that a focus could be put on gastrointestinal cancers a leading cause of cancer deaths around the world. Led by founding CEO Martha Raymond, the organization has grown to encompass a network of over 120 advocacy groups, media outlets, research institutions, care centers, and industry sponsors from around the world.
In addition to its robust partnerships, the GI Cancers Alliance has published patient-reported outcomes research and identified emerging topics like the unmet needs of GI cancer patients and the importance of biomarker testing and education.
With a goal of continuing to expand its global network and impact, the GI Cancers Alliance has added leadership and expertise to its team while refining its vision for the future.
New Staff
Danielle Ripley-Burgess has joined the team as Chief Operating Officer of the GI Cancers Alliance. Ripley-Burgess brings over a decade of patient advocacy experience to the role both as a professional and a 20-plus year cancer survivor. She is an award-winning communications professional, published author/speaker, and has previously served as the Director of Communications and VP of Disease Awareness with Fight Colorectal Cancer. She will work alongside CEO Martha Raymond to continue building strategic partnerships around the globe and creating programs and resources directly informed by PRO research.
Joe Hernand Chichioco, RN, MPH, joins the GI Cancers Alliance as a Health Education Consultant and member of the Medical Advisory Committee. He is a registered nurse and patient-advocacy leader with clinical experience across oncology, rare disease, hematology, and home health. He pairs hands-on clinical practice with medical affairs expertise to elevate patient perspectives across the drug development lifecycle and to drive measurable improvements in care delivery. He will be spearheading the patient navigation program.
Vanessa Ghigliotty, CPN has joined the GI Cancers Alliance as a Community Engagement Specialist. Ghigliotty is a 20+ year cancer survivor, a certified patient navigator, and tireless patient advocate. Vanessa has been honored with several prestigious awards for her advocacy efforts and serves on the GI Cancers Alliance Patient & Caregiver Advisory Board. She will be connecting with partners to identify ways to elevate patient and caregiver needs and ensure patients have access to support services and navigation.
“The growth of the GI Cancers Alliance reflects the urgent need for collaboration across the global GI cancer community. By bringing together advocates, healthcare leaders, researchers, and industry partners, we are creating a stronger collective voice for patients and caregivers worldwide. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and even more excited about where we are headed next,” said Martha Raymond, CEO GI Cancers Alliance
New Board Members
The organization has also added three new board members who each bring nonprofit leadership and healthcare expertise.
“The expansion of our Board of Directors marks a pivotal moment for the GI Cancers Alliance. By bringing together such diverse, multidisciplinary perspectives, we are strengthening our ability to advocate for patients and caregivers on a global scale. This leadership growth ensures the patient voice remains at the forefront of everything we do, as we continue to serve as the collective voice of the global gastrointestinal cancer advocacy community,” said Margaret-Ann Simonetta, PhD Scholar and President of the GI Cancers Alliance Board of Directors.
Andrew Krikorian is a healthcare leader and advocate with over a decade of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in market access and patient care. Currently specializing in reimbursement and access within the gastroenterology therapeutic area at Johnson & Johnson, his career has been driven by a commitment to removing the barriers between life-changing medicine and the patients who rely on it.
With 20+ years of experience leading digital strategy for Health and Life Science organizations, Jenn Spinosa Booth is an IBM Partner who leads the HLS practices for Enterprise AI and SaaS Business Applications. She specializes in accelerating digital innovation and operational excellence to solve complex industry-specific challenges at scale.
Sharon Kong-Perring is a PhD Candidate in Media/Cultural Studies at Birmingham City University, studying the transcultural translation of international popular media. She has extensive nonprofit governance experience, serving as a board member for historical societies and museums. Currently, Kong-Perring works with nonprofit group Adventures in Preservation, which facilitates volunteers for historic conservation projects around the world.
“Joining the GI Cancers Alliance Board feels deeply personal to me. Through my work in the pharmaceutical industry — focused on patient services and advocacy in the GI space — I’ve seen firsthand the challenges patients and families face, and the urgent need for greater awareness and resources. The close connections I’ve built personally and professionally have only deepened my commitment to this community, making this partnership a natural and meaningful next step. I’m truly honored to help drive this mission forward,” said Andrew Krikorian
Renewed Vision
With additional staff and board leadership in place, the GI Cancers Alliance is poised to pursue its vision: A united, global network dedicated to the GI cancer community.
“It’s pretty amazing to see where this organization has grown in a little over 10 years, and we are excited for what the next 10 hold for us,” said Danielle Ripley-Burgess, COO. “We know GI cancer cases are on the rise around the world, especially in young adults, yet significant gaps in research, equity, and patient support exist. We want to help bring patient voices to the forefront and unify groups through collaborations so that together, we can make progress.”
With the future in focus, the GI Cancers Alliance has refined its mission: To convene and amplify voices within the global gastrointestinal cancer community through collaboration, education, and research so that GI cancer patients around the world are informed, supported, and heard.
It’s honored to be established as the strong, collective voice for the GI cancer community.
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