Board of Directors

 

Teresa is an 12 year stomach cancer survivor and a 6x cancer survivor, currently going through treatment. Teresa also has Lynch Syndrome, a genetic syndrome that makes her a high risk patient for many types of cancer.

In 2011 she was diagnosed with Stage 2B adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Teresa had a laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy followed by chemo and radiation. At the time there was very little in the way of support or awareness for this disease, so she wanted to change that.

In 2016 she co-founded My Gut Feeling - Stomach Cancer Foundation of Canada. The Foundation is the first and only non-profit organization dedicated to stomach cancer in the country. The Foundation was the first ever patient advocacy organization to present at the International Gastric Cancer Congress in Prague in 2019. My Gut Feeling has also established November 30th as Stomach Cancer Awareness Day in Canada and internationally.

Teresa’s volunteer work as the Chair of the organization has allowed her to support patients, survivors and caregivers so that no-one has to go through the journey alone. She currently sits on various provincial, national and international research projects as a patient advocate, and has spoken at numerous symposia and conferences, with the aim of strengthening the patient voice and bringing awareness to stomach cancer.

Teresa has 20 years of experience in the non-for-profit world, and 14 years of governance, strategic and administrative experience in the cancer sector directly. She previously volunteered at St. Michael’s Hospital, Carmelina’s Home, and Caritas School of Life. Teresa holds an Honours BA in History and Literature from the University of Toronto. She is married and lives with her husband in Toronto.

Teresa Tiano
Chair, Co-Founder

Ramin comes from a rich executive management background with a strong record of leadership. He served as an Executive Director in the not-for-profit and charitable sector. Ramin's workhas spanned from community and non-profit to engineering, research and biomedical, mining, energy and computing technologies. Today Ramin works as a creative professional and as a caregiver he shares his expertise and focuses on MyGutFeeling as a volunteer and Board member.

Ramin Deravian
Director

Christine Brezden-Masley, MD PhD FRCPC is a practicing Medical Oncologist and the Director of the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital as well as the Medical Director of Cancer Program for Sinai Health System in Toronto, Canada. She obtained her PhD in Medical Biophysics at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and her Medical Degree from the University of Toronto. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and senior scientist for the same Clinical Research Group at the Lunefeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute for Sinai Health System in Toronto, Canada.

Dr Brezden-Masley is the founder of the COMET (Community Oncologists of Metropolitan Toronto) Clinical Trials Consortium, a web-based virtual network promoting cancer clinical trials throughout the Toronto region. She treats both breast and gastrointestinal (colorectal and gastric cancers) malignancies, which are her major areas of research interest. Her main area of clinical research is cardiotoxicity from cancer therapy and she has been the Co-Chair of the Annual Canadian Cardio-Oncology Network meeting, a collaborative national meeting improving cardiac heath in patients with cancer and is currently the President of the Canadian Cardio-Oncology Network. She is also on the Board of Directors of ReThink Breast Cancer, a national advocacy and support network for young women with breast cancer.

christine brezden-masley director

Ramandeep Singh Bagga is the VP - Global Procurement at Apotex , a role he has held for four years. Prior to that he was the VP - Global Business Development.

I

Ramandeep Singh Bagga Director

Katy is a ten-year stomach cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2011 when she was 21 years old. She underwent a total gastrectomy with both chemotherapy and radiation (Macdonald Protocol). At the time of her diagnosis there were no stomach cancer organizations in Canada. Frustrated by the lack of support, Katy reached out to others virtually. Her pursuits to help others led her to find Teresa. My Gut Feeling originated through their ongoing peer-to peer support. Katy is a Physician Assistant in Toronto, she holds an Honours BSc in Health Sciences and Psychology. She has volunteered with multiple cancer organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Gilda's Club and Trillium Hospital Mississauga Cancer Centre. Her cancer experiences allow her to relate to her patients and provide patient-centered care.

Katy is a 13 year stomach cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2011 when she was 21 years old. She underwent a total gastrectomy with both chemotherapy and radiation (Macdonald Protocol). At the time of her diagnosis there were no stomach cancer organizations in Canada. Frustrated by the lack of support, Katy reached out to others virtually. Her pursuits to help others led her to find Teresa. My Gut Feeling originated through their ongoing peer-to peer support.

Katy is a Physician Assistant in Toronto, she holds an Honours BSc in Health Sciences and Psychology. She has volunteered with multiple cancer organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society, Gilda's Club and Trillium Hospital Mississauga Cancer Centre. Her cancer experiences allow her to relate to her patients and provide patient-centered care.

Katy Kosyachkova
VICE-Chair, Co-Founder

Emma has been a freelance bookkeeper for over 30 years.

She has enjoyed working with a number of not-for-profit and charitable organizations, professionally as well as volunteering her time wherever needed.

She joined the Board in 2017 to help raise awareness for the disease

Emma Bernardo
Director

Iris Sawicki was thrown into the world of cancer when she became a cancer wife and full time caregiver when her 35 year old husband, Jakub was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

She lives in Amherstburg, Ontario with her two year old son, JP and beloved dog, Lucy. By day she is involved with her husband's medical practices, volunteers in hospice care and spends her time healing from the loss of her husband alongside family and friends.

The human connection has become a joy blueprint for her and she hopes that she can connect others going through the same unfair circumstances with the intention that they can feel less alone.


IRIS SAWICKI director