A Conversation About Listening, Partnership, and Hope

I'm grateful to share the cover story recently published by CancerWorld magazine.

My sincere thanks to Dr. Knarik Arakelyan, Managing Editor of CancerWorld, for her thoughtfulness, kindness, and extraordinary care throughout the interview process. She created an environment where it felt less like an interview and more like a meaningful conversation. I am deeply grateful for her professionalism, compassion, and remarkable ability to tell stories that honor the people behind them.

Although this article shares parts of my personal journey that I have rarely spoken about publicly, I hope readers see something much bigger than my story. I hope they see the extraordinary progress our global oncology community has made by embracing partnership, listening to lived experience, and recognizing patients as essential partners in research, care, and innovation.

The principles discussed throughout this interview continue to guide our work at the GI Cancers Alliance and the Raymond Foundation as we collaborate with patients, advocates, clinicians, researchers, industry, and professional societies worldwide to improve gastrointestinal cancer care.

This work has never been about one individual. It has always been about the patients, caregivers, advocates, clinicians, researchers, nurses, industry partners, and professional societies who choose to work together to improve the lives of others.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey over the past four decades. It has been the privilege of my lifetime.