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Toronto, Ontario, October 1, 2021 – Marking its fifth anniversary this year, the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition today has announced significant developments in its evolution as an international network committed to changing the future of ovarian cancer for all women.
Announced earlier this month, the Coalition is partnering with the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) on a study of unprecedented scope and scale. The Every Woman Study™️: Low- and Middle-Income Edition will look at the experiences of women with ovarian cancer living in settings that for a number of reasons are not sufficiently understood usually go under-recognized, and are often medically and otherwise underserved. With up to 30 countries taking part, results from this year-long study will provide crucial evidence and insights in countries that are projected to bear the greatest burden in terms of incidence and mortality over the next twenty years.
Following her retirement as CEO of Ovarian Cancer Canada, Elisabeth Baugh will also be stepping down as Board Chair of the Coalition this December, a position she has held since the organization’s inception 5 years ago. Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer in the UK will take over the helm, supported by two Vice-Chairs, Jane Hill of Ovarian Cancer Australia and Robin Cohen, CEO of the Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Of the change, Ms Baugh says, “although no longer Chair I will remain an active member of the Board, and am excited to continue the work that we started over 10 years ago with the establishment of World Ovarian Cancer Day. Our invaluable early partnerships led to the formal creation of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition several years later. Starting with 30 partner organizations to now close to 200, we have come so far in such a short space of time. We look forward to the future as we scale up our efforts to ensure that no woman – no matter where she lives – is left behind in the fight against this disease.”
As a result of a concerted effort to diversify the Board of Directors, part of that future includes the invaluable knowledge and expertise brought to the Board by two recent appointees, Runcie CW Chidebe of Pink Blue in Nigeria, and Rafe Sadnan Adel of Cancerbd.net in Bangladesh. Both highly accomplished, their experience and perspectives will strengthen the Coalition’s commitment to health equity and the global ovarian cancer community, from low- to middle- to high-income countries.
Another milestone will be reached as plans are already underway for the 10th World Ovarian Cancer Day. On the heels of the most successful campaign to date – with over 18 million people reached – this 10th iteration will reflect the sea change exhibited by the Coalition and its network over the past two years. On May 8, 2022, the global ovarian cancer community will be called upon to rally together to ensure that no woman is left behind, regardless of cancer type, geography, finances, or situation.
Clara MacKay, CEO of the Coalition sums up the developments this way, “while our accomplishments over the past five years have been great, we are especially excited by the possibilities that lay before us. With a Board of Directors that is stronger than ever, committed strategic partners, like IGCS, and an ever-expanding network of advocates, clinicians, and policy makers, we feel we are truly at the tipping point in our work and that, together, we stand the strongest chance yet of changing the future of this devastating disease”.
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About the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition
Established in 2016, the Coalition is a not-for-profit organization with 145 patient advocacy organization members in 37 countries working to reduce the impact that ovarian cancer has on the lives of women and their loved ones. More information can be found on www.worldovariancancercoalition.org
For more information contact:
Phaedra Charlton
Director of Communications and Marketing
World Ovarian Cancer Coalition