Letter fromChief ExecutiveOfficer
Dear Friends,
Onbehalf of everyoneengagedwith themissionof theCutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, we thank you for
your generous support.Whether it is througha financial donationor gifts of timeand talent, eachandevery
personhas aprofound impact on the lives of thosearound theworld sufferingwithcutaneous lymphoma.
Thepast year has beenanactiveone for theCLF.Wearemorecommitted thanever to serving theneeds
of cutaneous lymphomapatients bypromotingawareness andeducation, advancingpatient care, and
facilitating research.Wecontinuedour long-standing initiativeof hosting liveprograms deliveredaround the
country, culminatingwith the3rdAnnual 2-Day EducationConference in SanDiego. Close to100people
gathered together tohear fromclinical experts about thediseasebasicswithmanyopportunities for everyone
tomakenewconnectionswithotherswho sharea similar journey.Oneof theadditional programhighlightswas
attending the first-ever International DermatologyPatientOrganizationConferenceheld inVancouver, Canada
incollaborationwith theWorldCongress of Dermatology. This conferencebrought together patient leaders
fromaround theglobe to share ideas, insights andhear fromadvocacyexperts about newways todeliver
muchneeded support topeople livingwith skindiseases.Out of thismeeting, anewworldwideorganization
was establishedcalled the International Allianceof DermatologyPatientOrganizations thatwill serveas an
umbrellagroupwhosemission is to raiseawareness of thechallenges of people livingwith skindiseaseand
advocateat theglobal health level on their behalf.
Anexciting second year of ourCLARIONS ResearchAwardprogramculminated in renewal of the first two
awards andadding twouniquenewawards. Tae JinKim, PhD from StanfordUniversity School ofMedicine,
project is investigatingOptical imagingof electron radiotherapy topromoteuniform total skin irradiation,
and Sergei Koralov, PhD, fromNewYorkUniversity School ofMedicine, project is deciphering the roleof skin
microbiota inCTCLpathogenesis,Weare thrilled tohave the financial capacity to support these researchers
and their importantwork.
This year also saw somechanges in two long-termmembers of our Boardof Directors. After 16 years of
dedicated service, Dr. Stuart Lessinhas steppeddown fromactiveBoard service. Asmanyof you know, Dr.
Lessinwas integral ingetting theCLFoff thegroundandwill continue to serveasChair of the ScientificReview
Committee. BoardPresident, Chris Shipphas alsodecided to stepdown fromhis long-termBoard serviceover
the last 10+ years.Wearegrateful toDr. LessinandChris for theirmany years of committed serviceandwish
themwell.
BoardMember, Joe Eischens, Esquire, stepped forward to takeon the leadership roleof BoardPresident. As a
patient himself, Joe, likemanyof us, is incurrent treatment for his cutaneous lymphomawhile livinganactive
professional lifeas anattorney servingpeoplewhohave suffered fromdiscriminationalongwithenjoying time
withhiswifeand twochildren. Hebrings to theBoardapassion for helpingus createa sustainable infrastructure
so that everyonewho is diagnosedwith this raredisease, wherever they live, can find support hereat theCLF.
Weare thrilled tohave Joe step into this critical volunteer position.
Susan Thornton, CEO
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