Global Health Dialogues with Princess Dina Mired: Episode 5: Isabel Mestres
In this episode of Global Health Dialogues with Princess Dina Mired, Isabel Mestres, CEO of the City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), shares how cities in low- and middle-income countries are leading the way in building sustainable, equitable cancer care systems.
- Isabel discusses her journey from the private sector to global health, and how her leadership helped turn C/Can from an idea into a global movement.
- The episode unpacks the C/Can model—a locally led, data-driven approach that brings together governments, healthcare institutions, and civil society to address gaps in urban cancer care.
- Topics include donor alignment, health system fragmentation, long-term sustainability, and how political will and local ownership are critical for lasting impact.
- Special guest Mark Middleton, CEO of Icon Group, joins to discuss how C/Can partnerships have supported oncology nursing education in Rwanda and beyond.
A powerful discussion on why equity in cancer care must begin with local leadership, long-term planning, and trust in communities to own their future.
This episode is powered by Amgen.
Isabel Mestres is the CEO of City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) and a founding member of the organization. As former Director of Global Public Affairs, she played a pivotal role in transforming more than 70 projects across 13 C/Can cities into engines for expanding access to quality cancer care. Prior to this, Isabel held leadership roles at the International Union for Cancer Control, where she served as Director of Membership and Partnership Development. There, she led the development of an award-winning membership growth strategy and built a sustainable, high-impact public-private partnership model that drove a tenfold increase in corporate, civic, and public sponsorship engagements.
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