The PAN Foundation announces its 2025 Patient and Family Advisory Council
Today, the PAN Foundation announced its 2025 Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) members. The PFAC includes 14 members, each of whom have received support from the PAN Foundation as a patient or serve as a family member, friend, or caregiver to someone who has. In this role, they serve as key ambassadors and advisors to the work of the PAN Foundation by sharing key insights and feedback related to healthcare access, equity, and affordability issues.
The following new members join the PAN Foundation’s PFAC in 2025:
Margaret (Peggy) Carter is from Virginia and lives with ocular and generalized Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic and progressive rare neurological disease. She loves spending time with her three grandkids and her dog Buckeye, playing on a shuffleboard league, and scrapbooking.
LaShonda Ellis is from New Jersey and, since 1997, has lived with systemic lupus nephritis, a lifelong, chronic disease affecting multiple body systems. During her limited free time, she enjoys spending time with family, baking, shopping, and creative projects.
Tim McDonald is from Florida and is a stage 4 colorectal cancer survivor and liver transplant recipient. He enjoys traveling with his wife and spending time with his grandkids.
Beatriz Restrepo Gomez is from Washington and, since 2020, has lived with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She loves dancing, reading, traveling, movies, and is passionate about helping anyone in need.
PFAC members continuing to serve in 2025 include:
Bill Allen (Maryland): since 2004, he’s lived with prostate cancer. He enjoys gardening, golfing, and spending time with his grandchildren and family.
Phyllis Bass (Texas): since childhood, she’s lived with rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic disease that affects the joints. She previously worked in human resources as an analyst and manager.
Gaytha Davis (Texas): she’s the wife and caregiver of PAN grant recipient Michael Davis. Together, she and Michael have four adult children and three adult grandchildren.
Michael Davis (Texas): he lives with inflammatory bowel disease. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering and is active in his faith community.
Joan Durnell-Powell (California): since 2014, she’s lived with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is a rare blood disorder. The disease is also known as a form of blood and bone marrow cancer. She is a patient advocate who also serves in several roles with local and national civic organizations.
Jennifer Matsuda (Washington): she’s the wife and caregiver of PAN grant recipient Scott Matsuda. She and Scott enjoy traveling, gardening, and spending time with their grandkids.
Scott Matsuda (Washington): since 2012, he’s lived with leukemia, which is a blood cancer. He and his wife, Jennifer, own a photography company.
Tony Newberne (North Carolina): he’s a 10+ year survivor of a highly aggressive form of myeloma. He is a certified personal trainer and dietary manager who enjoys spending quality time with his partner and working in his vegetable garden.
Michael Riotto (Pennsylvania): since 2011, he’s lived with multiple myeloma. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast who truly believes in living life every day to the fullest.
George J. Valentine (Texas): since 2002, he’s lived with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which is a blood cancer. He previously worked for over 40 years in the information technology sector.
“The people we support through our financial assistance, advocacy, and education initiatives are some of the most resilient, inspiring individuals I’ve ever met, and the members of our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) are no exception,” said the PAN Foundation’s Chief Mission Officer, Amy Niles, who leads the work of the PFAC. “Their willingness to use their own healthcare journeys and lived experiences to help others is a testament to their character and passion for others. Through the work of our PFAC, we continue our longstanding commitment to putting the people we serve first in all we do, and I am honored to work alongside them as we accelerate access to affordable, equitable healthcare.”
In 2025, PFAC members will leverage the connections they have within their communities to increase awareness about charitable patient assistance foundations like the PAN Foundation. PFAC members will also use their lived experience as patients, caregivers, and family members to help inform the work of the PAN Foundation, and to advocate for policy solutions that increase access to care for people nationwide. Finally, they will help identify others who are interested in supporting the PAN Foundation’s mission of accelerating access to care.
About the PAN Foundation
As a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, the PAN Foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most and empowering patients on their healthcare journeys. We provide critical financial assistance for treatment costs, advocate for policy solutions that expand access to care, and deliver education on complex topics—all driven by our belief that everyone deserves access to affordable, equitable healthcare.
Since 2004, our financial assistance programs have helped more than 1.2 million people to start or stay on life-changing treatment. In addition, we’ve achieved major policy victories that increase access to care, mobilized patient advocates to call for change, and educated people nationwide on critical healthcare-related topics. We’re committed to working towards a future where equitable health outcomes are a reality for all. Learn more at panfoundation.org.