BIOGRAPHY
Felicia M. Knaul is a cancer survivor and an academic with over 130 publications. She is Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, Director of the Harvard Global Equity Initiative, and co-Director of the Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries. She lead authored the report “Closing the Cancer Divide”. She is also Senior Economist at the Mexican Health Foundation with extensive experience in designing and evaluating healthcare systems. Felicia founded the Mexican non-profit Cáncer de Mama:Tómatelo a Pecho to promote research and advocacy in Latin America, and published a testimonial book.
MOTIVATION FOR JOINING THE UICC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
I will bring extensive research and policy experience in global health and cancer. My skills as a health economist, health systems practitioner, advocate and policy advisor in various contexts are of particular relevance to the UICC Board of Directors.My contributions to UICC have always sought to forge links between health systems experts, broader organisations working on health systems and UICC to promote relevant institutional partnerships globally, i.e. linking efforts of the WHO-ADG for Family, Women’s and Children’s Health with that of UICC. The Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries (GTF.CCC), which I co-directed, has been most appreciative of UICC’s participation. I have engaged with UICC leadership and staff on institutional strengthening activities, conducted significant institutional analysis on UICC in the GT.CCC report, made recommendations to help strengthen the Board of Directors through developing country representation, and more broadly contributed to the strategy to increase general membership. Through my advocacy efforts and from my academic base, I have pushed forward UICC priorities, i.e. through joint work with GAPRI to reduce the cancer divide. I have actively participated in and drew leaders to the World Cancer Congress and the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, as well as represented UICC at global meetings. I strategised with UICC around the UNHLM-NCD, including through NCD Child. I have promoted the dialogue between UICC, Mexican policy-makers and civil society organisations and helped organise and participated in the World Cancer Day event in Mexico with the Minister of Health.