The PAN Foundation announces its 2024 Patient and Family Advisory Council 

Today, the PAN Foundation announced its 2024 Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) members. The PFAC includes 11 members, each of whom have received support from the PAN Foundation as a patient or serve as a family member, friend, or caregiver to someone who has. In this role, they serve as key ambassadors and advisors to the work of the PAN Foundation by sharing key insights and feedback related to healthcare access, equity, and affordability. 

The following new members join the PAN Foundation’s PFAC in 2024:  

• Bill Allen is from Maryland and, since 2004, has lived with prostate cancer. He enjoys gardening, golfing, and spending time with his grandchildren and family.  
• Gaytha Davis is from Texas and is the wife and caregiver of PAN grant recipient Michael Davis. Together, she and Michael have four adult children and three adult grandchildren.  
• Michael Davis is from Texas and lives with inflammatory bowel disease. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering and is active in his faith community.  
• Tony Newberne is from North Carolina and is a 10+ year survivor of a highly aggressive form of myeloma. He is a certified personal trainer and dietary manager who enjoys spending quality time with his partner and working in his vegetable garden.  
• Michael Riotto is from Pennsylvania and, since 2011, has lived with multiple myeloma. He is an avid health and fitness enthusiast who truly believes in living life every day to the fullest.    

PFAC members continuing to serve in 2024 include: 

• Phyllis Bass is from Texas and, since childhood, has lived with rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic disease that affects the joints. She previously worked in human resources as an analyst and manager.   
• Joan Durnell-Powell is from California and, since 2014, lives with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is a rare blood disorder. The disease is also known as a form of blood and bone marrow cancer. She is a patient advocate who also serves in several roles with local and national civic organizations.    
• Sue Greene is from California and lives with rheumatoid arthritis (since 2003) and atrial fibrillation (since 2013), which is a type of heart disease. She is a lifelong biking enthusiast. 
• Jennifer Matsuda is from Washington and is the wife and caregiver of PAN grant recipient Scott Matsuda. She and Scott enjoy traveling, gardening, and spending time with their grandkids.    
• Scott Matsuda who is from Washington and, since 2012, lives with leukemia, which is a blood cancer. He and his wife, Jennifer, own a photography company.    
• George J. Valentine is from Texas and, since 2002, has lived with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which is a blood cancer. He previously worked for over 40 years in the information technology sector.   

“The individuals we support here at the PAN Foundation are remarkable, resilient people, and the members of our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) are no exception. Their dedication and passion for using their own healthcare journeys and lived experiences to help others is truly inspiring,” said the PAN Foundation’s Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, Amy Niles, who leads the work of the PFAC. “Our PFAC reflects our longstanding commitment to putting our patients and their families and caregivers first in all we do. Through this diverse group of patients, family members, friends, and caregivers, we aim to ensure their voices are heard and valued as we sustain and grow our critical work.” 

In 2024, PFAC members will leverage the connections they have within their own communities to increase awareness about charitable patient assistance foundations, like the PAN Foundation, and the role they play in helping to address patient access, affordability, and equity challenges. In addition, PFAC members will use their lived experience as patients, caregivers, and family members to help inform the work of the PAN Foundation, now and moving forward. 

Learn more about the PAN Foundation’s PFAC members.

About the PAN Foundation   

The PAN Foundation is an independent, national 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to helping federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications.    

Since 2004, we have provided more than 1.1 million underinsured patients with $4 billion in financial assistance. Partnering with generous donors, healthcare providers, and pharmacies, we provide the underinsured population access to the healthcare treatments they need to best manage their conditions and focus on improving their quality of life. Learn more at panfoundation.org.