Paula Kim

Paula Kim, Founder and President, Translating Research Across Communities (TRAC) and Principal of Paula Kim Consulting is recognized locally and internationally for her work in advocacy and bridging the gap between the research community and those with whom they must collaborate to accelerate research that benefits patients.

Ms. Kim’s father died from pancreatic cancer in 1998, just seventy-five days after his diagnosis. Throughout her dad’s illness and afterwards, she used the internet to connect with researchers, patients, and families affected by pancreatic cancer. The tremendous need for improvement in patient services, early detection, treatments, awareness, and research funding for the disease was evident. Her lack of knowledge and experience in advocacy, public policy, and research did not diminish her determination to make a difference. In 1999, she co-founded the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), the disease’s first and only national patient advocacy organization, serving as Chair and CEO between 1999 and 2004. During her tenure, PanCAN developed the first national programs for pancreatic cancer in patient services, national grassroots volunteer awareness, and privately funded career-development grants.

Ms. Kim’s involvement with the patient, research, agency, and industrial communities is an important focus of her efforts and she was recently honored with the 2006 Society of Surgical Oncology James Ewing Layman Award, the 2004 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Public Service Award and the 2004 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Partners in Progress Award.

In addition to her professional work, Ms. Kim maintains longstanding commitments to volunteer service that preceded PanCAN and continues with service to the National Cancer Institute, the Food and Drug Administration, as well as with many researchers, cancer centers, and organizations around the world.