Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Join us in welcoming a new patient representative, Tracey Kitz who will be supporting the Hematology Committee.Tracy Kitz is an optometrist living in Edmonton, Alberta, who dedicates herself to understanding and meeting the needs of her patients every day. In 2009, her mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, followed by a stem cell transplant in 2014. “Clinical trials can provide patients with alternative treatment options when conventional methods no longer work and help to advance the treatment of cancer on a broader scale,” says Tracy.Throughout her mother’s treatment, Tracy served as the primary caregiver—managing daily care, preparing meals, driving to medical appointments, and supporting her younger sister. That experience deeply shaped her perspective. Tracy believes it’s essential for researchers to see patients as real people with full lives beyond their diagnoses. She thinks that patients should be able to live their lives and receive treatment for their illness—cancer treatment should support their health, not overshadow their life.
