Newfoundland and Labrador Division Board of Directors
Cyril Abbott - Board Chair
Cyril Abbott is originally from Bonavista and spent most of his adult life operating a family business in Alberta. While there he was heavily involved in various volunteer positions, serving as Chair for the Family and Community Services Society, the Economic Development Board, Chamber Director and President, among others. These were all in the Town of High River where he also served two terms as Town Councillor. He returned to Newfoundland in 2010 to act as caregiver for his father who passed away in 2012 from cancer. Six months before in 2011 his eldest sister also passed away from cancer. Cyril currently lives in Gander with his wife, Pam, and operates a clinic focusing on pain relief for people suffering with both acute and chronic pain. He is excited to be part of the Board and humbled to be following in the footsteps of so many other dedicated Board chairs over the years.
Dr. Michael Woods - Past Chair
Dr. Woods is a molecular geneticist in the Faculty of Medicine at Memorial University. One of his primary research interests is in the genetics of colorectal cancer, specifically studying the population of Newfoundland and Labrador. He obtained his PhD from Memorial University in 2001, thereafter receiving a Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the National Cancer Institute of Canada to study colorectal cancer genetics at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Toronto. During this time he was diagnosed with testicular cancer but has been cancer free for the past 6 years. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for 3 years.
Kerri Blundell - Treasurer
Kerri is a Chartered Accountant and works at Johnson Inc. in St. John’s. Kerri started her career at Ernst & Young LLP and has over five years of public accounting experience, working with a variety of clients ranging from not-for-profit to publicly-traded. Kerri is originally from Random Island, Trinity Bay and moved to St. John’s in 2002, where she pursued a Bachelor of Commerce (Co-operative) degree at Memorial University. Kerri joined the Board of Directors, as Treasurer, in 2012 and is delighted to contribute to this wonderful organization.
Fr. Don Leonard
Fr. Leonard has been a Roman Catholic priest for the past 5 years in the Diocese of Corner Brook-Labrador. Among his duties is chaplaincy at the Corner Brook Hospital where he is blessed to daily minister to people with cancer at all stages of treatment. He was married for 34 years (his wife Mary died of breast cancer in 2003) and they have 6 grown children. He taught High School in Corner Brook for 30 years prior to retiring in 1998. In 1999, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. And so began his battle. By the grace and mercy of God, and through the work of medical staff in London- Ontario, Moncton- New Brunswick, and here in Newfoundland, he still survives while dealing with the pain and suffering inherent in the surgeries and treatments he needed to defeat the cancer and keep living.
Lisa Adams
Lisa Adams has worked 20 years for EH and other legacy boards in progressive management positions. At present she is the Project Leader/Consultant-Commission of Inquiry for Eastern Health where she liasions with executive team, government, patients and community stakeholders in rolling out the recommendations of Justice Cameron’s report. Lisa is also a doctoral candidate in Nursing at the University of Alberta where her research interests are in seniors, mental health and administration. She is a certified health executive, has CNA certification in psychiatric, mental health nursing, has just been awarded an EXTRA research fellowship with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and is currently doing another fellowship with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Lisa Adams is a recent breast cancer survivor herself and can appreciate full well, the perils of living with such a disease.
Stephen Reid
Stephen Reid is the Director, Marketing and Communications for the Research & Development Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Stephen recently returned to Newfoundland and Labrador after working for the past couple of decades in a variety of senior marketing and communications roles in organizations such as the Ontario Medical Association, MasterCard and MedicAlert. Stephen joined the board in 2012 to honour and support his family members who lived with cancer.
Andre Clair
Andre Clair is a St. John's native and is currently a lawyer with the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal. He holds bachelor degrees in education and science from Memorial University and a bachelor of laws degree from the University of New Brunswick. He joined the board in 2013 and is delighted to contribute to this cause..
Sharon Smith
Sharon Smith is a graduate of Memorial University, receiving both a Bachelor and Masters degree in Nursing. Sharon recently retired from Eastern Health where she had over thirty years of service, the last seven were spent as the director of the Provincial Cancer Care Program. She is currently the President if the ARNNL Education and Research Trust, and is the Chair of the Diagnosis and Clinical Care Advisory Committee with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer..
Boyce Turnbull
Bio to follow.
Jim Burton
Bio to follow.
Agnes McCarthy
Bio to follow.
Allan Skanes
Bio to follow.