Ann Brazeau is CEO of MPN Advocacy and Education International
abrazeau@mpnadvocacy.com
Since 2005, Ann has worked tirelessly in the MPN Community to better the lives of MPN patients and caregivers. Prior to starting MPN Advocacy and Education International, Ann was vice president of the MPN Research Foundation. There she assisted with the development of domestic and international MPN Patient Support Groups and continues to do so. She has hosted the Michigan support group since 2008. Ann was the first person to begin a dialogue and pursue the further exploration of specific issues women face who have myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, or essential thrombocythemia. In 2013, she launched the Women and MPN initiative which includes an annual program focused on women but open to all MPN patients and caregivers. As an MPN advocate, she represents Vietnam veterans with MPNs and supports all research being conducted in pediatric MPNs. She focuses on identifying the needs of MPN patients and through active grassroots efforts, research, and collaboration, effectively delivers the solutions that close the gap to access to education. She coordinates numerous educational symposia bringing experts in the field to the patients and caregivers and coordinates visits to cancer center hematology groups where she presents updated MPN initiatives. Ann initiates and maintains relationships with all MPN key opinion leaders including researchers, Industry decision makers, physicians, FDA and CDC and attends all pertinent conferences and meetings.
Prior to her work in MPNs, Ann was President and Founder of Corporate Communication Solutions where she provided consulting services to Fortune 500 companies and non-profits focused on healthcare policy issues. She assisted with the creation of an international girl’s leadership program for a global women’s project. In 1998, her client base grew to include hospitals and organizations grappling with how to better serve the uninsured and underserved populations in their communities. Specific concerns centered on the rise in breast cancer, prostate cancer, and obesity in children whose socioeconomic status fell below the poverty level.Ann assisted in the creation of programs for those groups that included screening and referral services in their neighborhoods and on the job. She also created an End of Life and Eldercare Resource handbook for HR departments.
Staff
Natalie Giocondo, President
Ngiocondo@mpnadvocacy.com
Natalie is returning to MPN Advocacy and Education International where she previously acted as the assistant director of special projects. Former owner of Out of the Box Learning a small business that provided education and advocacy for neurodiverse individuals and their families as well as Balanced Me an online yoga therapy practice offering one-on-one yoga sessions that addressed issues such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, and other physical and psychological disalignment. She has an MS in psychology from Arizona State University and is a registered yoga and meditation instructor. She will be heading up a new MPNA&EI initiative called Mindfulness Practices Now (MPN) that addresses the psychosocial needs of the MPN community. She will also be facilitating monthly online patient and caregiver support groups. In addition to patient engagement, her focus will be on strengthening MPNA&EI relationships and overseeing policy and procedures.
Mallory Timm, Associate Director
timm@mpnadvocacy.com
Mallory assists with the communication and technology aspects of the organization. She is in charge of all of our email communications with patients, physicians, and our organizational and industry partners to ensure all data is correct and understandable to the MPN Community. Prior to joining MPN Advocacy & Education International, Mallory worked for community participatory programs as the Program Manager in Pontiac and Lansing, Michigan to help raise awareness of the health crises facing underserved and uninsured populations and played a vital role in establishing the community needs and assessments for these ‘ Prescriptions for Health’ programs. She received her Master of Science degree from Oakland University in Social Psychology with a concentration in behavioral health.