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The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) Executive Team is a group of dedicated professionals, some of whom have been personally touched by the disease, who bring significant experience and expertise to leading the organization from major nonprofit and for-profit companies in the United States. Our national office is in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and our Executive Team works together remotely from across the United States.
Julie M. Fleshman, JD, MBA
President and Chief Executive Officer
In her nearly 25 years of leadership at PanCAN, Julie Fleshman has been a global catalyst for change in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Her commitment began after she lost her dad to the disease, just four months after his diagnosis at the age of 52. Fleshman wanted to know why more wasn’t being done – why her dad and thousands of other patients were offered no treatment options and sent home to die.
The pancreatic cancer landscape back then was quite dismal when her dad was diagnosed. Very little was known about the disease, only a handful of researchers were studying it and the five-year survival rate was just 4%.
In 1999, Fleshman was hired as PanCAN’s first employee, became its first Executive Director in 2000 and in 2004, became President and CEO.
Under her leadership, PanCAN has grown from a staff of one with annual revenues of $228,000 to an employee team of over 175, raising more than $50 million annually.
During Fleshman’s tenure, advocacy and grassroots efforts have expanded to nearly 60 affiliates nationwide and yielded a 1075% increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research, and the organization has invested over $235M in research to date.
Fleshman encourages collaboration and convening leading experts and stakeholders in the field – researchers, healthcare professionals, industry and key opinion leaders, patients, volunteers and supporters. This provides the opportunity to build a continually expanding community across the country who are focused on accelerating progress for patients.
In addition, Fleshman is a founding member and the Chair of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, an international group of more than 90 pancreatic cancer patient advocacy organizations representing over 38 countries with a goal to work together to raise awareness and educate the public about pancreatic cancer.
Fleshman is sought after as an expert by the national media including The New York Times, CNN, PBS, Headline News, CBS News and ABC News, as well as local press throughout the country. Fleshman addresses diverse stakeholder groups including industry, patients, scientists, donors and volunteers and she is often on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress about the importance of the federal investment in pancreatic cancer research.
Fleshman holds her JD and MBA degrees from Santa Clara University and a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also studied abroad at Oxford University and in Tokyo, Japan.
Fleshman has been honored for her leadership and dedication in the fight against pancreatic cancer by many organizations, including being named Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal. She uses her time serving on advisory committees and other boards related to cancer research and care.
The pancreatic cancer landscape back then was quite dismal when her dad was diagnosed. Very little was known about the disease, only a handful of researchers were studying it and the five-year survival rate was just 4%.
In 1999, Fleshman was hired as PanCAN’s first employee, became its first Executive Director in 2000 and in 2004, became President and CEO.
Under her leadership, PanCAN has grown from a staff of one with annual revenues of $228,000 to an employee team of over 175, raising more than $50 million annually.
During Fleshman’s tenure, advocacy and grassroots efforts have expanded to nearly 60 affiliates nationwide and yielded a 1075% increase in federal funding for pancreatic cancer research, and the organization has invested over $235M in research to date.
Fleshman encourages collaboration and convening leading experts and stakeholders in the field – researchers, healthcare professionals, industry and key opinion leaders, patients, volunteers and supporters. This provides the opportunity to build a continually expanding community across the country who are focused on accelerating progress for patients.
In addition, Fleshman is a founding member and the Chair of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition, an international group of more than 90 pancreatic cancer patient advocacy organizations representing over 38 countries with a goal to work together to raise awareness and educate the public about pancreatic cancer.
Fleshman is sought after as an expert by the national media including The New York Times, CNN, PBS, Headline News, CBS News and ABC News, as well as local press throughout the country. Fleshman addresses diverse stakeholder groups including industry, patients, scientists, donors and volunteers and she is often on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress about the importance of the federal investment in pancreatic cancer research.
Fleshman holds her JD and MBA degrees from Santa Clara University and a BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also studied abroad at Oxford University and in Tokyo, Japan.
Fleshman has been honored for her leadership and dedication in the fight against pancreatic cancer by many organizations, including being named Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal. She uses her time serving on advisory committees and other boards related to cancer research and care.
Pamela Acosta Marquardt
Founder
In 1996, Pamela Acosta Marquardt lost her mother to pancreatic cancer following a six-month battle. After discovering there was no organization that dealt with pancreatic cancer, Marquardt became determined to do something to ensure that patients and families had a place to turn to for information, resources and hope.
In November 1998, she produced the An Evening with the Stars gala in Beverly Hills, by rallying and bringing together celebrity families who had lost loved ones to the disease. The gala was the first-ever major fundraising event for pancreatic cancer. Event proceeds funded the first early detection lab for pancreatic cancer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In February 1999, she founded the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network with the goal of it becoming a beacon of hope for those touched by the disease.
Marquardt served on the board of directors of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network prior to joining its staff full time in 2007. A devoted advocate and tenacious leader within the pancreatic cancer community, she is also a highly regarded public speaker, regularly addressing the organization’s mission and its goal of creating a brighter future for pancreatic cancer patients.
Previously, Marquardt was Executive Director of the American Heart Association in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, where she oversaw fundraising and development. She also served in a vice president capacity in various industries, including industrial metal recycling, where she developed marketing strategies and operational systems for a leading scrap metal company, and in fashion, where she oversaw private-label management and design, as well as site procurement and store design.
As an avid animal advocate, Marquardt also works with rescue organizations to help place animals in happy homes and served on the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care Board of Directors.
In November 1998, she produced the An Evening with the Stars gala in Beverly Hills, by rallying and bringing together celebrity families who had lost loved ones to the disease. The gala was the first-ever major fundraising event for pancreatic cancer. Event proceeds funded the first early detection lab for pancreatic cancer at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. In February 1999, she founded the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network with the goal of it becoming a beacon of hope for those touched by the disease.
Marquardt served on the board of directors of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network prior to joining its staff full time in 2007. A devoted advocate and tenacious leader within the pancreatic cancer community, she is also a highly regarded public speaker, regularly addressing the organization’s mission and its goal of creating a brighter future for pancreatic cancer patients.
Previously, Marquardt was Executive Director of the American Heart Association in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, where she oversaw fundraising and development. She also served in a vice president capacity in various industries, including industrial metal recycling, where she developed marketing strategies and operational systems for a leading scrap metal company, and in fashion, where she oversaw private-label management and design, as well as site procurement and store design.
As an avid animal advocate, Marquardt also works with rescue organizations to help place animals in happy homes and served on the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Care Board of Directors.
Anna Berkenblit, MD, MMSc
Chief Scientific and Medical Officer
Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Anna Berkenblit, MD, MMSc is responsible for the organization’s overall scientific and clinical strategy, including PanCAN-sponsored studies, research grants, health data, business development, and patient services, to align with the organization’s goal of improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.
Dr. Berkenblit brings over two decades of experience in clinical development of novel anticancer therapies in the life science industry. Most recently, she served as chief medical officer at ImmunoGen, where she led the development of ImmunoGen’s novel, wholly owned product candidates, including ElahereTM, which recently received full approval by FDA for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Prior to that, Dr. Berkenblit was senior vice president, clinical development at H3 Biomedicine, and vice president, head of clinical research at AVEO Oncology. She also held positions of increasing responsibility at Wyeth/Pfizer, becoming vice president, neratinib asset team leader in the Pfizer Oncology Business Unit. Over the course of her career, she has led the clinical development of oncology products spanning early testing to registration trials.
Dr. Berkenblit earned an MD from Harvard Medical School, and an MMSc in the clinical investigator training program at Harvard/MIT Health Sciences & Technology. Dr. Berkenblit completed her internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and went on to a hematology/oncology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she stayed on staff to focus on clinical research in GYN and GI malignancies. She also led the Phase I oncology clinical trial program as part of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, prior to transitioning to industry.
Dr. Berkenblit brings over two decades of experience in clinical development of novel anticancer therapies in the life science industry. Most recently, she served as chief medical officer at ImmunoGen, where she led the development of ImmunoGen’s novel, wholly owned product candidates, including ElahereTM, which recently received full approval by FDA for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Prior to that, Dr. Berkenblit was senior vice president, clinical development at H3 Biomedicine, and vice president, head of clinical research at AVEO Oncology. She also held positions of increasing responsibility at Wyeth/Pfizer, becoming vice president, neratinib asset team leader in the Pfizer Oncology Business Unit. Over the course of her career, she has led the clinical development of oncology products spanning early testing to registration trials.
Dr. Berkenblit earned an MD from Harvard Medical School, and an MMSc in the clinical investigator training program at Harvard/MIT Health Sciences & Technology. Dr. Berkenblit completed her internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and went on to a hematology/oncology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she stayed on staff to focus on clinical research in GYN and GI malignancies. She also led the Phase I oncology clinical trial program as part of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, prior to transitioning to industry.
Jill Davis
Chief Growth Officer
As Chief Growth Officer, Jill Davis is responsible for PanCAN’s growth strategy and trajectory. Her role oversees fundraising, community engagement, volunteer relations, and marketing, with goals to increase public awareness of the organization, acquire new constituents, and bring new avenues for fund development.
Davis joins PanCAN from a nearly nine-year tenure at Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger and poverty in the United States where she served most recently as Chief Resource Development and Growth Officer. In her role at Share our Strength, Davis was responsible for fundraising and marketing and led the organization to raising more than $130 million annually as childhood hunger spiked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before her work at the Share Our Strength, Davis held marketing leadership roles with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation where she oversaw communications and marketing to advance the organization’s brand identity and revenue generation opportunities. She also worked for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in a variety of roles, including as the National Program Marketing Director.
Davis earned a B.S. in Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Alabama.
Davis joins PanCAN from a nearly nine-year tenure at Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger and poverty in the United States where she served most recently as Chief Resource Development and Growth Officer. In her role at Share our Strength, Davis was responsible for fundraising and marketing and led the organization to raising more than $130 million annually as childhood hunger spiked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before her work at the Share Our Strength, Davis held marketing leadership roles with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation where she oversaw communications and marketing to advance the organization’s brand identity and revenue generation opportunities. She also worked for ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in a variety of roles, including as the National Program Marketing Director.
Davis earned a B.S. in Marketing and Public Relations from the University of Alabama.
Sudheer Doss, PhD
Chief Business Officer
Sudheer Doss, PhD, is responsible for business development activities associated with PanCAN’s scientific and medical affairs programs. Doss oversees a team that establishes industry relationships, brokers strategic partnerships and manages collaborative programs to drive PanCAN’s research and clinical initiatives forward. He is also responsible for creating and executing the organization’s health data/AI strategy for all patient data generated from PanCAN’s scientific and medical affairs initiatives.
Doss previously worked as director of the precision medicine practice for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). For more than a decade, he led PwC consulting engagements to develop and execute precision medicine strategies for stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. Doss’ educational background in science – specifically genomics and bioinformatics – and his professional experience in strategic and operational initiatives in precision medicine, make him a natural fit with PanCAN’s multitude of innovative scientific and clinical programs.
Doss is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received a PhD in human genetics and bioinformatics and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics.
Doss previously worked as director of the precision medicine practice for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). For more than a decade, he led PwC consulting engagements to develop and execute precision medicine strategies for stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. Doss’ educational background in science – specifically genomics and bioinformatics – and his professional experience in strategic and operational initiatives in precision medicine, make him a natural fit with PanCAN’s multitude of innovative scientific and clinical programs.
Doss is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received a PhD in human genetics and bioinformatics and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular genetics.
Anat Kendal
Chief Financial and Business Operations Officer
As Chief Financial and Business Operations Officer (CFBO), Anat Kendal is responsible for finance, risk management, data, and overall business operational strategy to ensure PanCAN’s success and to drive organizational long-term value. Kendal acts as the liaison with the CEO and the Board of Directors on all financial and business operations matters and serves as the staff liaison to the Audit and Investment and Risk Committees.
Kendal joined PanCAN from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York City, where she held the position of Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration. In her role at ADL, she handled finance, in addition to real estate, technology and administration.
Before her work at the ADL, she spent 10 years at the American Heart Association where she served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations and CFO for the Northeast region. Prior to that, her professional experiences include positions at Merrill Lynch, the nonprofit American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Kendal serves as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Finance Committee of the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation of NJ. She is a member of the Project Management Institute of NJ Community Outreach Committee.
She holds a BA in Accounting and French from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a MA in Taxation from Seton Hall University. She is a licensed CPA and holds Project Management and Certified Financial Planning certifications.
Kendal joined PanCAN from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York City, where she held the position of Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration. In her role at ADL, she handled finance, in addition to real estate, technology and administration.
Before her work at the ADL, she spent 10 years at the American Heart Association where she served as Senior Vice President of Business Operations and CFO for the Northeast region. Prior to that, her professional experiences include positions at Merrill Lynch, the nonprofit American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Kendal serves as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC) and the Finance Committee of the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation of NJ. She is a member of the Project Management Institute of NJ Community Outreach Committee.
She holds a BA in Accounting and French from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a MA in Taxation from Seton Hall University. She is a licensed CPA and holds Project Management and Certified Financial Planning certifications.
Lynn Matrisian, PhD, MBA
Chief Science Officer
As Chief Science Officer, Lynn Matrisian brings extensive experience and passion for cancer research, combined with business training, to provide strategic direction for the scientific aspects of the initiatives and activities within the Scientific & Medical Affairs team toward the goal of improving outcomes for those facing pancreatic cancer.
Prior to joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Matrisian put her scientific training to work for 25 years leading a research laboratory dedicated to understanding cancer metastasis. She has published more than 250 original scientific articles and trained more than 30 young scientists who have gone on to join the fight against cancer in the academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, government and nonprofit sectors.
Matrisian was the founding chair of the department of cancer biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, the president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a special assistant to the director of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. She was elected to the AACR Academy, which recognizes and honors distinguished scientists whose major scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer.
In honor of her distinguished contributions to the field of cancer biology, Matrisian was named 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. This stands out as a notable lifetime achievement within the scientific community.
Matrisian received a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.
Prior to joining the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Matrisian put her scientific training to work for 25 years leading a research laboratory dedicated to understanding cancer metastasis. She has published more than 250 original scientific articles and trained more than 30 young scientists who have gone on to join the fight against cancer in the academic, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, government and nonprofit sectors.
Matrisian was the founding chair of the department of cancer biology in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University, the president of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a special assistant to the director of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. She was elected to the AACR Academy, which recognizes and honors distinguished scientists whose major scientific contributions have propelled significant innovation and progress against cancer.
In honor of her distinguished contributions to the field of cancer biology, Matrisian was named 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow. This stands out as a notable lifetime achievement within the scientific community.
Matrisian received a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.
Edwina Mossett, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Chief People, Technology and Culture Officer
Edwina Mossett, Chief People, Technology, and Culture Officer, possesses over two decades of executive leadership experience, specializing in fast-growing, high-energy, creative, and emerging industries. In her current position at PanCAN, she spearheads the strategy, development, and execution of all human resources programs, talent management, and culture alignment to drive business objectives, technology initiatives, and people-centric endeavors.
Mossett, a dynamic and seasoned force in high-tech, operations, and human resources, is known for her successes in building and scaling top-tier cultures and organizations. Before joining PanCAN, she served as the Vice President, People Business Partner at Beachbody, LLC, infusing innovation into every aspect. Her career encompasses significant executive achievements, including the role of Senior Vice President of Human Capital at Spectrum Athletic Clubs and Vice President of Human Resources & Administration for the groundbreaking entities Applied Minds and Virgin Records America. She’s grateful for a career that spans from fostering an environment to support the iconic rise of the Spice Girls to the trailblazing creation of Metaweb Technologies and, ultimately, the impactful power of "Sparkle Spirit" in creating a world where all pancreatic cancer patients can thrive!
Mossett holds a BS degree in business administration from Biola University and completed Pepperdine University’s Executive MBA program. She holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications, and a Strategic Management Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
Mossett, a dynamic and seasoned force in high-tech, operations, and human resources, is known for her successes in building and scaling top-tier cultures and organizations. Before joining PanCAN, she served as the Vice President, People Business Partner at Beachbody, LLC, infusing innovation into every aspect. Her career encompasses significant executive achievements, including the role of Senior Vice President of Human Capital at Spectrum Athletic Clubs and Vice President of Human Resources & Administration for the groundbreaking entities Applied Minds and Virgin Records America. She’s grateful for a career that spans from fostering an environment to support the iconic rise of the Spice Girls to the trailblazing creation of Metaweb Technologies and, ultimately, the impactful power of "Sparkle Spirit" in creating a world where all pancreatic cancer patients can thrive!
Mossett holds a BS degree in business administration from Biola University and completed Pepperdine University’s Executive MBA program. She holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications, and a Strategic Management Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
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