The Public Interest Group on Cancer is proud to celebrate its 5th anniversary.
We have been active since May 2021, and undersigned impact public engagement and advocacy activities – take a look:
Author: sevtapsavas
Farewell message by the ACC PAC
After 2 years and 3 months of working together, sadly the ACC PAC (Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee) is coming to an end due to lack of funding.
During this time frame, our committee worked tirelessly to connect patient stories, scientific and medical knowledge, and priorities with the general public, scientists, clinicians and funders.
We are very proud of our accomplishments. Below you will find a summary of our work.
It has been an honour to advocate for you.
We wish you healthy and happy days – whatever happens, please remember that one day we will eliminate cancer via science and medicine.
Our key accomplishments:
MANUSCRIPT in PREPARATION
- Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Judy Donovan Whitty, Stephanie Howlett, John King, Cyndi Corbett, Jennifer Coish, Pauline McIntyre, Beverly Pausche, Angela Hyde, Marcelo F. Martinez, Cara MacInnis. “See the person and not just the tumor”: Cancer research ideas for Precision Medicine through the patient lens (in preparation)
PUBLISHED PEER-REVIEWED MANUSCRIPTS
- Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Aaron Curtis, Beverly Pausche, Jennifer Coish, John King, Cyndi Corbett, Marcelo F. Martinez, Judy Donovan Whitty, Sharon Jennings, Cara MacInnis, Angela Hyde. Cancer, Precision Medicine, and Atlantic Canada: A priority setting exercise by the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee. Discover Health Systems, 2025, 4, 27.
- Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Aaron A. Curtis, Marcelo F. Martinez, John King, Cyndi Corbett, Judy Donovan Whitty, Gilles LeBlanc, Beverly Pausche, Jennifer Coish, Angela Hyde, Cara MacInnis. Patient advisory committee engagement in a precision medicine-focused public oncology conference: Case report of lessons learned. Journal of Primary Care and Community Health. 2026;17.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS MADE
- Sevtap Savas, Aaron Curtis, Angela Hyde. The Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisor Committee (ACC PAC) – Creation and Goals for 2024. ARCC 2024 Conference, May 16-17, Ottawa, Canada (oral presentation by Savas)
- Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Aaron Curtis, John King, Jennifer Coish, Sharon Jennings, Marcelo Fabian Martinez, Cyndi Corbett, Cara MacInnis, Judy Donovan Whitty, Beverly Pausche, Gilles LeBlanc, Pauline McIntyre, Angela Hyde. ACC PAC: A pan-Atlantic Canada patient and family advisory committee for Precision Medicine and cancer. CAPO 2025 annual meeting Toronto, Canada April 23-25, 2025 (poster presentation by Savas) Published in Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(4), 241; https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/4/241
- Georgia Skardasi, John King, Judy Donovan Whitty, Beverly Pausche, Jennifer Coish, Cyndi Corbett, Cara MacInnis, Gilles LeBlanc, Marcelo Fabian Martinez, Aaron Curtis, Sevtap Savas. Goals, accomplishments, and future plans of the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee. CCRC (Canadian Cancer Research Conference), Calgary, Alberta, Nov 2-4, 2025 (oral presentation by Skardasi and Coish)
ACCEPTED CONFERENCE ABSTRACT
MEDIA ARTICLES and INTERVIEWS
- Nov 27, 2023. “The Atlantic Cancer Consortium is inviting cancer-affected individuals to sit in their Patient Advisory Committee”. Saltwire/Telegram Letter. By Sevtap Savas and Aaron Curtis. https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/opinion/letter-the-atlantic-cancer-consortium-is-inviting-cancer-affected-individuals-to-sit-on-its-patient-advisory-committee-100915618/
- April 10, 2024 “New pan-Atlantic Canada Patient Advisory Committee on precision medicine in cancer“. Saltwire LETTER by Aaron Curtis, Sevtap Savas. https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/opinion/letter-new-pan-atlantic-canada-patient-advisory-committee-on-precision-medicine-in-cancer-100955167/
- March 3, 2025. Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi. Telegram – Saltwire “LETTER: Public virtual conference to focus on cancer in NL set for March 15” https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/letter-public-virtual-conference-cancer-nl
- April 3, 2025. Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Aaron Curtis. Telegram – Saltwire LETTER “Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee reflects on its successful year”, https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/letter-atlantic-cancer-consortium-patient-advisory-committee-reflects-on-its-successful-year
- July 2, 2025. “Good things happening in cancer research, cancer care”. Telegram – Saltwire – OP-ED. https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/op-ed-good-things-happening-in-cancer-research-cancer-care/ By Georgia Skardasi, Sevtap Savas.
- March 4, 2025. Sevtap Savas.Interviewed by Jen White, CBC Morning, St. John’s “A virtual conference in mid-March is focusing on the human side of cancer research and treatment” https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-56-st-johns-morning-show/clip/16131711-a-virtual-conference-mid-march-focusing-human-side-cancer
- March 12, 2025. Georgia Skardasi. Interview by Paddy Daly – Open Line “Public Conference – Cancer is Personal: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada” https://omny.fm/shows/open-line-with-paddy-daly/openline-wednesday-march-12th
- March 14, 2025. Sevtap Savas. Interviewed by Gerri Lynn Mackey for the Tim Powers Show – VOCM. “Public Conference – Cancer is Personal: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada” https://omny.fm/shows/timpowers/the-tim-powers-show-friday-march-14th
- March 27, 2026. Beverly Pausche, Georgia Skardasi, John King, Stephanie Howlett, Cyndi Corbett, Jennifer Coish, Judy D. Whitty, Sevtap Savas. Saltwire / Telegram LETTER. “Science borrows a page from art: Farewell message by the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee.” https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/letter-science-borrows-a-page-from-art-farewell-message-from-the-atlantic-cancer-consortium-patient-advisory-committee
PUBLIC RECAPS
- April 2, 2025. Georgia Skardasi and Sevtap Savas, MOH CCN website. Recap: Cancer is Personal: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada public conference. https://www.marathonofhopecancercentres.ca/impact/story/recap–cancer-is-personal–humanizing-precision-medicine-in-atlantic-canada-public-conference
- May 27, 2025. Georgia Skardasi, MOH CCN website. Patient partner recommendations for precision medicine and addressing cancer’s impact in Atlantic Canada https://www.marathonofhopecancercentres.ca/impact/story/patient-partner-recommendations-for-precision-medicine-and-addressing-cancer-s-impact-in-atlantic-canada
- April 10, 2026. Sevtap Savas, Georgia Skardasi, Stephanie Howlett, John King, Judy D. Whitty, Beverly Pausche, Pauline McIntyre, and Cyndi Corbett. “Open letter from the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee”. https://www.marathonofhopecancercentres.ca/impact/story/open-letter-from-the–atlantic-cancer-consortium-patient-advisory-committee
PUBLIC WEBINARS ORGANIZED
- Nov 25, 2025 Speaker: Dr. Alexi Surette. Moderator: Gilles LeBlanc. Le consortium atlantique contre le cancer, le biobanquage et le reseau des centres de cancérologie Marathon of Hope du TFRI. 12 :30 – 1:30 pm NST. A virtual, free and public webinar organized by the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZofHfMOr0E&t=1976s
- Nov 28, 2025 Speaker: Dr. Sherri Christian. Moderator: Sevtap Savas. The Atlantic Cancer Consortium, Biobanking, and the TFRI Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. 12 :30 – 1:30 pm NST. A virtual, free and public webinar organized by the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaekKVNQi9I&t=261s
PUBLIC CONFERENCE ORGANIZED
Cancer is Personal: Humanizing Precision Medicine in Atlantic Canada (March 15, 2025)
ACC PAC YouTube CHANNEL
Currently 19 recordings are posted for free, public access.
The Public Interest Group on Cancer invites interested folks to their study!
under construction
The 2nd scholarly manuscript by the ACC PAC is now published
We are pleased to note that we – the Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) – have just published our 2nd scholarly paper!! 💓
In this paper, we describe our experience with organizing a Public Conference on Precision Medicine (March 15, 2025) for Atlantic Canadians, self-reflections, feedback received and lessons learnt for future public partnerships and conferences
Take a look!!
What an impressive track-record – The ACC PAC was formed in Jan 2024, and this is our second manuscript peer-reviewed and published freely available to global audience
Congrats everyone – hope more to come!
New study on patient-partner experience is recruiting!
We are conducting a pilot study on patient and public partnerships in Newfoundland and Labrador!
Please see the poster below – if you are interested in participating in this study, please proceed to the link for further information and participation: https://mun.yul1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4ZpWYf6SqoLk4vA
A couple of definitions from the link:
For this study:
• Patient means that you are someone affected by a health issue. A caregiver or a family member of a person with a health issue is also called a patient.
• Public means that you are a member of the general public. You may or may not be a patient.
• Partner means that you are a part of a team. This team may be conducting a research study. Or, it may be designing and delivering an initiative, such as a program, planning session, consultation session, townhall, or public engagement event.
Other terms can also be used to define partners. For example, they may be called an advisor, council member, project team member, interest group member, or committee member.
• As a patient and public partner in the team, you work together with other team members. You may have equal rights or responsibilities for the work done together.
Community report for 2025 by the Public Interest Group on Cancer
Happy 2026 everyone!
Here is a little summary of our accomplishments for the past year – hope you will enjoy this video clip.
We wish you a wonderful 2026!
Sevtap
We have a logo!
Dear folks,
We are pleased to share our group’s logo with you!
We loved how it shows togetherness and feeling of community that we have been experiencing and seeing around us.
Happy New Year!
©Public Interest Group on Cancer.
ACC PAC webinars have started
The Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee (ACC PAC) is proud to note that it has started its webinar series.
In the first two webinars, the committee focused on the research done by the Atlantic Cancer Consortium.
The first webinar was delivered by Dr. Alexi Surette in French and the second one was delivered in English by Dr. Sherri Christian.
You can access these presentations here:
Better days ahead.
Cancer and young individuals: An advocate’s point of view
I am pleased to share with you my pre-recorded speech delivered as part of the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance conference (CCRC) held in Calgary, Canada between Nov 2-4, 2025.
Sadly I could not make it there in-person, but I am glad I had a prerecorded speech that could be played during the session.
You can access it here freely.
Better days ahead.
Sevtap Savas, Nov 5, 2025, St. John’s
Exceptional Leadership in Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Award
I am excited to note that I will be receiving the Exceptional Leadership in Patient Involvement in Cancer Research Award by the Canadian Cancer Research Alliance (CCRA) in Nov 2025.
Congratulations to all awardees – what a great cohort of folks who are dedicated to make a difference at the cancer front!
I am so happy to bring this Award to Newfoundland and Labrador, and Atlantic Canada.
This prestigious and national award goes to you folks: Community in #NewfoundlandAndLabrador and in #AtlanticCanada, my collaborator colleagues and assistants, and our funders who transformed me into a public communicator and engager.
Over the last 6 years, together we have been working very hard to make a difference in the lives of people, families, and communities affected by cancer.
The Public Interest Group on Cancer Research has been particularly strong voice in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was formed and sustained by funding provided by the Office of Public Engagement in St. John’s, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Sadly, this wonderful unit, its excellent staff, and its funding do not exist anymore. This is just one example of how the budget cuts impact the community in NL – no one wins here.
The Atlantic Cancer Consortium Patient Advisory Committee is another successful partnership albeit being a young one (formed less than 2 years ago). I thank our funders/MOHCCN for making our work and committee a possibility.
NLSUPPORT has always been there to give us a hand – I cannot thank its wonderful staff.
Among all the units I am associated with at Memorial University, it has been my clinical colleagues at the Discipline of Oncology, who have fully supported and understood what I have been trying to do in my engagement work. Special thanks go to them.
I thank Quality of Care NL for nominating me for this award, and public partners, leaders, and colleagues supporting my nomination.
I always question where my heart and mind are. Nowadays they are with my family. My mom, Nimet Altunbas, died of cancer four years ago. My sister, Mehtap Savas, is a long term survivor of cancer. I would die for them.
I work very hard to make a difference in the lives of people affected (or will be affected) by cancer – I have no regret for working hard, failing, getting up, getting burnt out, and succeeding along the way. My only regret is that my family has not benefited and will not benefit from my hard work. From my young age on, they supported my ideals and not even once complained about me being away from them (since age 11). I proudly note that my sister Mehtap is my biggest supporter, as she understands the gap we have been addressing together with public partners in the lives of people affected by cancer.
Last, I am Turkish and I am an immigrant to Canada. This award is a testament to immigrants’ abilities and contributions to the society and academia in Canada. If there are other immigrant folks out there who would like to start public and patient engagement, please just go ahead – future is brighter.
My commitment to make things better for the next person and family affected by cancer is continuous. Please join me in supporting them in any way you can.
With gratitude
Sevtap Savas, PhD. Oct 21, 2025 St. John’s
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In case you are wondering what we have been doing with public partners, here is a short summary
- We have been spending a lot of time creating ideas, figuring out, conversing, and overcoming hurdles to do so
- We have been reaching out to the public, engage with them, and share knowledge with them
- We have been designing studies and public engagement activities to benefit the public
- We have been advising researchers and other stakeholders
- We have been organizing public events and conferences
- We have been publishing all learnings at both the academic and public levels, so that anybody could benefit from our experiences
- We have been learning how to best work together
- We continuously progressed and evolved – we even started a public podcast on cancer with currently 28 episodes!
You can read my full award interview here: https://www.ccra-acrc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025_Interview_SSavas_EN.pdf and listen to a snap shot of it in the YouTube video below.