Judy Needham, Chair Emeritus, Patient Representative Committee Wednesday, May 07, 2025 It was an honour to recognize Judy Needham with the Excellence in Clinical Trials Conduct – Patient Engagement award for her unwavering commitment to patient engagement at CCTG. Judy joined CCTG as a Patient Representative in May 2012 on the Breast Site Committee and became the Chair, CCTG Patient Representatives Committee, in 2014, she successfully led the PRC for over 10 years stepping down this year. Judy discusses her motivation, "I have learned that there are many motivations for people or groups of people to do what they do, and throughout my career and volunteer work I have had the privilege of working alongside inspiring individuals. However, you, the research community, including both researchers and patient partners, have stood out far beyond any as a source of motivation. Everything you do, so passionately and selflessly, is with the aim of making things better for others. Your unwavering commitment to improve the lives of others has been a guiding force for me, and I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute my visions and ideas to this meaningful work. I also reflect back on the last 10 years with huge admiration for the power of collaboration and the collective impact when individuals work together towards a common goal. There is so much that you have accomplished, however, still so much to do, but I know you will do it." Judy is a breast cancer survivor and recently a caregiver for a close family member with bladder cancer. Professionally, she is retired from a corporate marketing career as Director of Campaign Planning. She chose early retirement after her cancer journey and began her long-standing volunteer work with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, organizing the first National Corporate Team for the CBCF Run for the Cure. Judy also led a project to develop patient facing materials distributed by surgeons in British Columbia that would help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients understand key junctures and decision points in their journey. These materials were subsequently taken up by for five provinces. She has a volunteer history with CCS and CCSRI in grant panels and Scientific Advisory Councils. Currently, In addition to her volunteer responsibilities with CCTG, Judy has volunteer responsibilities with 3CTN Scientific Portfolio Committee, BC Cancer Provincial Research Advisory Committee, and her local Abbotsford Cancer Centre.
