Standing Together to Advance Pancreatic Cancer Research, Funding, and Awareness

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(From left) Nick Pifani of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN); Nevena Damjanov, MD, of Penn Medicine; Nader Hanna, MD, FACS, FSSO, of Jefferson Health; Christopher Cann, MD, of Fox Chase Cancer Center; Sanjay Reddy, MD, FACS, of Fox Chase Cancer Center; Janice Hudnell-Davis; and Rahul Shinde, DVM, PhD, of The Wistar Institute.

“By standing together, we can change the story of this disease.” It’s a sentiment reflected not only in the presentation slides, but in the people who gathered on March 20 for the 2025 PurpleStride Philadelphia Leadership Breakfast. Presented by the Philadelphia Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) and hosted by Fox Chase Cancer Center, the event brought together researchers, clinicians, and advocates from across the Philadelphia region for discussion and networking.

The event helped to kick off fundraising and awareness ahead of PanCAN’s signature event, PurpleStride—set for Saturday, April 26, 2025—in cities and towns across the country. In Philadelphia, this annual walk to rewrite the future of pancreatic cancer will take place at Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park. The Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center will have a team at the walk.

“I feel passionately about advocating for patients and families facing pancreatic cancer. Both the leadership breakfast and the PurpleStride walk present important opportunities for us to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, to highlight the need for greater funding, and to connect with many in the pancreatic cancer research and advocacy community to further progress,” said Sanjay Reddy, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery; Marvin S. Greenberg, MD, Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Surgery; and Co-Director, The Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute.

The leadership breakfast featured remarks from Janice Hudnell-Davis, who shared her patient experience, as well as a panel discussion with the honorary co-chairs of PanCAN PurpleStride Philadelphia 2025:  

  • Nader Hanna, MD, FACS, FSSO, Professor of Surgery; Enterprise Surgeon Leader for Surgical Oncology; Vice Chair for Cancer Services; Director, Division of Surgical Oncology, Jefferson Health
  • Nevena Damjanov, MD, Section Chief, Hematology/Oncology, VA Medical Center; Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; Professor of Clinical Medicine (Hematology-Oncology), Penn Medicine
  • Christopher Cann, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Gastrointestinal Cancer Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center
  • Rahul Shinde, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center, The Wistar Institute

“It was a privilege to host the leadership breakfast at our institution for yet another year, and we are looking forward to a great turnout for the upcoming walk,” Reddy said. “As leaders in pancreatic cancer care, we continue to drive advances in the field. We are grateful for the opportunity to share our expertise with our regional colleagues and for the support of so many in the community as we all stand together to advance treatment for this devastating disease.”

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

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