Who We Are.
Our Founders.
The Founding 7 – Allen Lee, Anita Figueras, Colleen Sturdivant, Ildiko Medve, Ivy Elkins, Jill Feldman and Teri Kennedy. The EGFR Resisters patient advocacy group was started by Teri in an effort to push for research. We are fortunate to have such committed individuals from varying backgrounds and experiences.
Our Founders
ILDIKO MEDVE
My name is Ildiko Medve. I am 54 years old and I live with my family in Providence, Rhode Island. Prior to my diagnosis of stage 4 EGFR positive lung cancer, I was working full time in health care as a nephrologist. I was diagnosed in 4/2016 with Lung Cancer after noticing shortness of breath with jogging. Biopsy showed adenocarcinoma, EGFR,exon 19 deletion with bone and brain metastasis. Initial treatment was Tarceva from 5/2016 to 2/2017.
Bone and brain metastasis were resolved and stabilized, however the lung primary lesion progressed in 1/2017 and I was placed into a trial for T790M mutation, dual trial of Tagrisso/ Navitoclax so far with good response. I am being followed by Dr. Janne in Boston( Dana – Farber). I view my personal goal in EGFR Resisters as a health care professional consultant. I am not an oncologist, I do not give personal medical advice. Our goal is to form a caring community for EGFR+ Lung cancer patients and promote new research and studies to make this disease chronic and cured.
IVY ELKINS
My name is Ivy Elkins and I was diagnosed at age 47 with EGFR-positive stage IV lung cancer that had metastasized to my bones and brain. I have been treated successfully with targeted therapy medications since my diagnosis, thus allowing me to lead an active life and handle my lung cancer as a chronic disease. I receive my treatment at the University of Chicago and live in the Chicago suburbs with my husband Ben and my two teenaged boys. I have an undergraduate degree in English from Princeton University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
I have been involved with the LUNGevity Foundation as a patient advocate since diagnosis. I am a dedicated advocate for lung cancer research as well, having served as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program, completed the AACR ScientistSurvivor program, acted as faculty for the ASCO/AACR Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, and participated in the program committee for IASLC’s Chicago Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology. In addition, I frequently share my patient perspective with the media and with pharmaceutical companies involved in lung cancer treatments.
As one of the founding members of the EGFR Resisters Patient Group, I recognize that new treatments are desperately needed for patients who have developed resistance to currently approved targeted therapy medications. It is my hope that many patients will join forces with the EGFR Resisters in order to become a strong voice to encourage new research and clinical trials in this field. Through my advocacy work, I attend many conferences and meetings, allowing me to spread awareness of the work of the EGFR Resisters to medical professionals and fellow patients.
JILL FELDMAN
COLLEEN KENNEDY STURDIVANT
As the only caregiver founder of the EGFR Resisters group, I am inspired and committed to give a voice to the valuable and often shadow role of the caregiver in lung cancer advocacy. I recently came across a quote “Someone said to me, I don’t know how you do it. I replied, because I don’t have a choice.” This rang true to me because unlike the other founders, I have a choice and I choose to fight, not because my life depends on it but because their lives do. I am also part of this effort to support my sister, Teri Kennedy as she continues to thrive with Stage 4 EGFR lung cancer. Its been 2 plus years of ups and downs but with the help of this group, I see hope for many more days, months and years of hope.
While it was quite a shock to have my sister, a young “never smoker” to be diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, our father, his sister and his brother all died of lung cancer within 3 years of each other, starting in 2007. They were considered “former smokers” and through their diagnosis and cancer story, we experienced the shame of the stigma as well as the lack of treatment options. I don’t want anyone else to feel as helpless as they did, either as caregiver or patient. No one deserves to get cancer. Everyone deserves the best treatment options available until a cure is found. In the meantime, we will work hard to make lung cancer a chronically managed disease. While we are focused on EGFR and its eventual resistance to targeted therapies, our message pertains to all lung cancer patients.
Besides being a lung cancer advocate and caregiver, I am a technology consultant/professional living in the Bay Area with my husband, two teenage children and our dog. Along with Allen Lee and Reinhardt Designs services, I am the point person for this EGFR Resisters website.
TERI KENNEDY
Teri passed peacefully on June 29, 2019. She was the inaugural member of the EGFR Resisters and initiator of our group after having a conversation with a researcher in California about the need for a patient group focused on new and improved treatments for those with EGFR+ lung cancer. She then reached out to Anita Figueras, and together they located and connected with the other co-founders of the EGFR Resisters.
Teri was an incredibly dedicated lung cancer advocate. She had a strong relationship with Bonnie Addario and the GO2 Foundation, doing annual fundraising walks and participating in Living Rooms and panel discussions. Teri represented the EGFR Resisters and presented our group’s posters for the past two years at the IASLC Targeted Therapy Forum in Santa Monica. At this event in 2018, Teri made the initial connection with Champions Oncology, leading to the EGFR Resisters’ ongoing PDX model project in collaboration with Champions and GO2 Foundation.
ANITA FIGUERAS
Anita Figueras, our co-founder, passed away on June 27, 2019. Anita lived with EGFR+ lung cancer for approximately 5 years and was dedicated to her advocacy work. If it weren’t for Anita, the EGFR Resisters would not exist today. Anita connected with Teri Kennedy early in 2017 about creating the EGFR Resisters, and the other co-founders were brought on afterwards.
Anita was incredibly proud to be part of our grassroots patient-driven initiative and thrilled that we have been able to grow to over 1300 patients/caregivers in 30+ different countries in her lifetime. She was instrumental in getting Project PRIORITY, our survey of those living with EGFR+ lung cancer off the ground, and was a fantastic moderator for our group. Anita kept us all on our toes and organized, taking minutes during our Founder telephone calls and making sure we followed an agenda. Her accounting and non-profit background were critical to our success.
The EGFR Resisters are dedicated to continuing our work to improve patient outcomes and accelerate EGFR+ lung cancer research in Anita’s memory. We love you, Anita!
