Leadership & Governance

Susan Thornton is the CEO of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, and was elected Chair of the Board of Lymphoma Coalition on 31 January 2018. She has also served as a Founding Board Member/Vice Chair of the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations and Vice Chair of the Coalition of Skin Diseases. 

Prior to joining the CLF as CEO, she served on the Board of Directors and provided consulting services to the Foundation. Susan spent over 25 years in the healthcare technology field, holding various positions in consulting, marketing and sales.

Co-Founder of Lymphoma Philippines in 2016, a non-profit organization advocating for better healthcare access for lymphoma patients, Anna is currently in-charge of creating the communications strategy and implementing campaigns within the organisation while also being involved in its strategic direction and growth.

As a trained digital marketer who has worked in various industries (fashion, pharma, gaming, e-commerce, non-profit, entertainment, hospitality, etc.) for almost a decade, her expertise is producing creative materials that resonate within the patient community. For instance, her efforts have grown Lymphoma Philippines’ online Facebook community to over 1600 members and 3000 followers. Her experience was put to good use when Anna joined the first Lymphoma Coalition Community Advisory Board (CAB) in Asia-Pacific in 2021, focused on health literacy.

Pete serves as Chair Emeritus for the International Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) and is based in the USA. Pete was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) in 2003, which led him to begin volunteering. For 20 years, he has been a board member in various roles. His efforts have focused on growing the worldwide membership to ensure those affected by WM have reliable information and are connected to a supportive community. He has been instrumental in developing and implementing website and social media tools, directing global marketing and communications for the foundation, and planning and coordinating annual Educational Conferences for patients and caregivers. Furthermore, he assists in the development of patient databases, including serving as a collaborator in the global, patient-led WhiMSICAL Registry developed with lymphoma clinician-researchers. Pete’s professional background includes extensive work in developing and managing financial accounting systems, as well as teaching accounting and computer science at the undergraduate university level. He pioneered a “service-learning” component for IT courses, enabling students to provide volunteer IT services to local non-profits. He holds a Master of Business Administration and completed the course work for a Doctor of Philosophy in Public and International Affairs

An active volunteer with Lymphoma Action since 2012, Debbie is a member of the Insight Panel, helping to offer valuable feedback and a unique perspective on the charity’s plans and activities; the Reader Review Panel, reviewing patient information and ensuring that it is easily accessible to all; as well as being involved in the creation and delivery of its Live Your Life survivorship programme. She also acts as an ambassador, sharing her story and representing Lymphoma Action at community events. Debbie has been a member of the Lymphoma Coalition Community Advisory Board (CAB) from its inception in 2019, as well as other educational activities with pharmaceutical partners, helping to shape clinical trials and patient support programs with her well-articulated fair and balanced insights.

Debbie previously worked in the education sector, in primary and secondary schools, specifically assisting students with special educational needs. Hence, she is passionate about the accessibility of information and the role it plays in equitable care, as well as ensuring everyone has a voice. 

Meghan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF), a role she has held since 2014, leading its strategic direction and operations. A lymphoma patient advocate since 2008, she previously served as the Foundation’s Chief Program, Policy and Communications Officer.
Under her leadership, LRF’s organizational revenue increased by 50%, became an early adopter of new technologies, grew overall research investment and launched awareness efforts for underserved patient populations and established several global scientific initiatives. A major achievement included the development of federal regulation that prioritized rare disease product development within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Her current leadership roles include service on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Artificial Intelligence in Oncology Task Force and National Cancer Institute Lymphoma Steering Committee. She is also a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine Hematology Board and the External Advisory Board of Hodgkin Lymphoma International Study for Individual Care Consortium (HoLISTIC).
Meghan is deeply committed to equal access to healthcare. Prior to the Foundation, she held positions at Columbia University Medical Center, the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, and as a Legislative Aide for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Dr Frederik Vernimmen is a radiation oncologist with over 40 years of experience. While no longer in clinical practice, during his career he practiced in South Africa, Ireland, and Belgium, where he continues to be registered. Dr Vernimmen was also an Associate Professor and Head of Division of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the Tygerberg Campus of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. He has supervised and trained residents and fellows in radiation oncology, including some from other African nations to ensure they had the best skills to treat those in their own countries. He has authored numerous scientific articles in his area of radiotherapy and presented at national and international meetings. Dr Vernimmen has been a reviewer and editorial board member for leading radiology journals and has held leadership positions in various health-related committees and boards.

Now retired from practice, he currently serves on the board of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma vzw, one of Lymphoma Coalition’s Member organisations in Belgium.

Sharon is CEO of Lymphoma Australia. With her 20 years of experience in the field, she has developed a deep understanding of lymphoma, patient experiences, and the broader policies of healthcare systems. Sharon has been a health consumer representative in several stakeholder meetings and committees in Australia and internationally, with the most recent appointment being a newly created Commonwealth Government committee to co design with the government and Medicines Australia recommendations for ensuring the patient voice is appropriately recognised within the health care system. Sharon also works closely with the clinical community, including the successful nurse education and engagement program to upskill all nurses caring for lymphoma patients and to connect them to Lymphoma Australia services for their patients.

Prior to her current role, Sharon worked with a private health insurance company in relationship and strategic management and was also a physical education teacher and Director of a Sport and Recreation Company. Sharon is extremely passionate about ensuring all Australians have equitable access to information and medicines.

Dr. Clara Chamba, MD., MMed is a haematologist, faculty member, and Head of Haematology at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). With over 15 years of experience, her career focuses on advancing equitable access to quality diagnostics and care for people with blood cancers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
She is a Founding Member of the Blood Cancer Foundation of Tanzania (BCFT), volunteering her expertise to shape treatment guidelines, advise on advocacy strategies, guide awareness campaigns, and develop patient resources. This work ensures patients and families are better informed and supported.
Her clinical focus complements her advocacy by establishing diagnostic platforms, strengthening laboratory systems, and fostering partnerships to expand treatment opportunities.
Dr. Chamba’s research centers on blood cancer genomics and developing precision diagnostic tools, such as circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a biomarker for lymphoma in children and young adults. She is the Principal Investigator for key lymphoma studies, including “Global Health Outreach to Improve Outcomes of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in sub-Saharan Africa” and the “Assessment of ctDNA Changes After Cycle 2 of Treatment in Burkitt Lymphoma (ASH-GRA).

Lorna was appointed CEO of the Lymphoma Coalition in December 2018, to provide vision and leadership for the 83-member strong organisation, having previous been the Coalition’s Director of Strategic Communications and Engagement. Lorna has successfully held senior leadership roles in health charities for more than twenty years and has a diverse background in patient advocacy, mission development, communications, and strategic planning.

Her efforts have been focused on haematological cancers since 2003, at a national (Canada) and global level. Lorna is recognized and respected for strong leadership skills, breadth of knowledge, critical thinking, and patient-focus.

A self-identified data wonk, the rich data procured from the biennial Lymphoma Coalition Global Patient Survey on Lymphomas and CLL allows Lorna to truly understand and report on the global patient experience, by subtype, by therapy area, by geographic area, by gender and by age.

As a result of her years of experience in evidence-based advocacy and especially in the haematology field, she is frequently asked to present on patient experience, emerging trends and important issues in the lymphoma and CLL landscape. 

Patricia joined Lymphoma Coalition as co-CEO, working alongside CEO Lorna Warwick. Patricia brings more than 15 years of non-profit leadership and healthcare advocacy in the blood cancer community, having held senior executive roles across fundraising, marketing, operations, strategy, and organizational transformation at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. 

Her career in patient advocacy began in the lymphoma space as Regional Director for Quebec and Marketing Director with Lymphoma Canada, where she helped establish the organization’s Quebec presence and launched its first bilingual national patient conference. Having also been personally touched by lymphoma within her family, Patricia brings both deep professional expertise and personal commitment to global patient leadership. 

Known for her collaborative and relationship-driven leadership style, Patricia excels at multi-stakeholder problem solving and bringing diverse global perspectives together around a shared purpose. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management from Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business, post-degree studies in Project Management from McGill University, and is bilingual in English and French. Patricia is dedicated to honouring Lymphoma Coalition’s strong foundation while driving the next era of global advocacy to improve the lives of people affected by lymphoma and CLL worldwide.