The 2024 Mark R. Clements Award announced at the 11th Annual Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation Conference

The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation announced its 2024 Mark R. Clements Award honorees at its annual Salt Lake City, Utah conference. The award winners were honored for significantly supporting patients and helping advance cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) research. They were also honored for their significant contributions in supporting patients and advancing progress in treating cholangiocarcinoma. The Foundation is pleased to award its highest honor to John McDonald for Excellence in Community Impact, Katie Glenn for Excellence in Volunteerism, and Dr. Katie Kelley for Vision, Innovation, and Collaboration.

“John, Katie G., and Katie K. demonstrate a commitment to CCA patients. We are so grateful to them and the countless hours they have selflessly given. It is my honor and a real pleasure to present the 2024 Mark R. Clements Award to these outstanding individuals whose contributions to the Foundation and the cholangiocarcinoma field are almost too numerous to list. This award is special because it is the highest honor given by the foundation each year. Congratulations to John McDonald, Katie Glenn, and Katie Kelley, ” said Stacie Lindsey, Foundation CEO and Founder.

John McDonald of Taylor, TX, understands the importance and meaning of a community. He was a caregiver to his wife, Michelle, who passed away from cholangiocarcinoma. After the devastating loss of his wife, he rallied his friends and family and, eventually, the greater community around the cause of raising funds to improve research efforts and treatments for cholangiocarcinoma. He never wants anyone else to feel his loss - his selflessness makes a difference in many lives.

Since 2018, John has been the driving force behind one of CCF's most enduring community fundraisers, Michelle's Hot Peeps Beat CC 5K. Through his dedication, John has raised over $67,000, cementing his event as one of the longest-running and most significant fundraisers in the Foundation's history.

“John's influence on the cholangiocarcinoma community is immeasurable. With Michelle’s memory always at the forefront, driving his passion for helping others, John demonstrates how our collective efforts can lift each other in our most difficult times,” said Candace Tise, CCF’s Community Fundraiser & Events Manager. “John is a friend to the entire CCF community. His resilience, compassion, and dedication to CCF's mission make us proud to give him the Clements Award for Community Impact.”

Motivated by a deeply personal connection to the cause, Katie Glenn’s journey as a volunteer is marked by a desire to make a difference. Driven by her father's journey with the disease, Katie embraces every opportunity to serve. Her involvement spans the Foundation's work, from the inception of a fitness initiative called Team CCF that raises funds and awareness to mentoring and awareness activities.

As a high school teacher, Katie seamlessly integrates her altruistic spirit into her everyday life, channeling her energy and enthusiasm into volunteer efforts. Her creation of Team CCF, born out of her passion for running and dedication to the cause, has evolved into a program for educating the public about CCA. In memory of her father's courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma, Katie Glenn continues to honor his legacy.

“Katie is compassionate and always ready to pitch in for help,” said Meredith McGuffage, CCF’s Community Fundraising & Events Coordinator. “Katie is involved and well-versed in all areas of the Foundation. She wants to give back and help others because she knows exactly what they are dealing with; she has been in their shoes. She wants to do as much as possible for all patients and caregivers.”

Dr. Katie Kelley, a professor of clinical medicine at the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, UCSF, specializes in cholangiocarcinoma. She was co-chair of CCF’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for three years, helping pave the way for hiring CCF's first Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Kelley's research includes developing novel clinical trials to identify new treatments for patients; she is one of the most highly sought-after key opinion leaders in this field, having regularly published and presented key data and outcomes. Her commitment to patient-centric research and compassionate care of her patients is well known and respected throughout this community.

“Katie has spent much of her professional life focusing on cancer of the liver, including biliary tract cancer, specifically cholangiocarcinoma,” said Dr. Juan Valle, CCF’s Chief Medical Officer. “Katie has been the lead author recently on the Keynote 966 study, which has given us a new

treatment option: Immunotherapy for patients with advanced disease. We’ve also co-authored the ESMO guidelines and some other publications, and I think this really speaks to Katie’s collaborative approach with colleagues.”

The Mark R. Clements Award for Vision, Innovation, and Collaboration is the highest honor awarded by the Foundation each year. As a cholangiocarcinoma patient himself, Mark Clements was truly the inspiration and driving force around the creation of this Foundation. Before Mark passed away, he wished to create something that could help others have the kind of support he did. These awards in his namesake reflect the umbrella of hope that covers this community.