FOUNDER

In 2010 Oded’s daughter was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of cancer at the age of 9 months. The family’s journey to save her life took them across the world through uncharted territories with very little information to lean on.

Following his experience, Oded started the MyChildsCancer.org information portal to share the unique knowledge Oded had gathered during his journey to save his daughter’s life with other parents who just started their own difficult journey with pediatric cancer. Parents started calling in for advice and support and that’s how today the organization features a team of 15 staff members as well as hundreds of volunteers across the U.S and Israel, finding life-saving information for ~60 children a year. In 2012 Oded ran a 60K run in NYC to raise awareness for his charity.

In his day-job, Oded is a senior business executive who specializes in international business development. For the past 20 years, Oded has been working mainly with Israeli technology companies on scaling in the U.S. Between 2010 and 2016, Oded was appointed by the Israeli Government as the head of business development for Israel’s High-Tech industry in the U.S, serving as the Deputy Economic Minister to North America.

Oded has B.A in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and speaks 5 languages. He has three daughters, one of whom is a childhood cancer survivor.

HEAD of HAYELED SHELI (MyChild’sCancer Israel)

Natalie brings over 15 years of experience as an investment professional, with a solid network in the Israeli high-tech and venture capital sectors.

Currently serving as a General Partner at Viola Growth, Natalie's journey with the firm began in 2008 as an Associate. Swiftly advancing to Principal in 2013, Partner in 2016, and General Partner in 2021, she plays a crucial role in the fund's leadership.

Viola Growth is known for supporting Israeli-related companies during their expansion, backed by institutional and strategic investors globally. Natalie actively contributes to the success of portfolio companies, including RapidAPI, Guesty, Buildots, Thriver, and Pyramid.

Before Viola Growth, Natalie was Director of Investor Relations at Evergreen Venture Partners aiding in raising a $200M fund. Her earlier role as an Attorney at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel involved overseeing international agreements.

Natalie holds an MBA from Tel Aviv University and LLB and BA degrees in Laws and International Relations from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Her dream is to spread the word and the vision of MCC/HS in Israel to as many people as possible and be able to help families that unfortunately face childhood cancer.

Avital has more than 15 years of experience in the oncology space. She holds a PhD in cancer biology from NYU, School of Medicine where she studied the mechanisms that drive cancer to spread.

During her graduate and post-doc studies Avital has authored and co-authored several studies in leading scientific journal, with significant contributions to understanding the disease. Avital is a medical communications professional and has worked in the field for several years working with both pharmaceutical companies and academics.

During those years she has gained deep knowledge of drug clinical development and the clinical trial world. In 2017 Avital co-founded TrialJectory, a startup company that uses advanced technology to match cancer patients with clinical trials. She is currently heading TrialJectory’s medical affairs team.

Toby Bressler is a Registered Nurse and holds a PhD in Philosophy and Nursing and is Board Certified in Oncology.

She currently serves as the Director Of Nursing and Clinical Quality with the Mount Sinai Health System and an Assistant Professor for Medical Oncology with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Bressler is a Fellow and the Vice Chair of the Nursing Section in the New York Academy of Medicine; Vice President of the Orthodox Jewish Nurse’s Association; an elected officer in the American Nurses Association; Chair of the Eastern Nurses Research Society Palliative Care Research Interest Group and served as a Jonas Policy Scholar.

Toby holds leadership positions in national and local healthcare associations and has authored articles, book chapters, and has presented locally and nationally on a variety of topics related to oncology, nursing leadership and public policy regarding health disparities.

Mike Kasdan is an attorney, law professor, writer, and social justice and mental health advocate. He is a partner in the intellectual property group of Wiggin and Dana LLP. He also teaches as an adjunct law professor at NYU School of Law as well as Seton Hall Law School. Mike is also a writer, editor and in leadership at The Good Men Project, where he serves as Director of Special Projects. He is also the founder and Chief Enthusiasm Officer of Lawyering While Human, which focused on mental health and well-being in the legal profession.

In the non profit space, in addition to serving on the board of MyChildsCancer, Mike previously served on the Board of CityScience, where he was Chairman and led development efforts. He is also on the Advisory Board of genEquality.

Mike is the father of two wonderful children and lives in Maplewood, NJ.

A Chief Medical Officer at Zentalis Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Winkler brings to MyChild'sCancer 19+ years of experience and expertise in Global Clinical Development and Medical Affairs in multiple Pharma and Biotech companies as an executive.

During this time Dr. Winkler led and achieved multiple global regulatory approvals of oncology therapies in multiple geographies, USA, Europe, Japan etc. as well as brought multiple compounds thru the IND process (Investigational New Drug) from pre-clinical research to first in human clinical trials, proof of concept, pivotal studies and beyond.

Robert has experience in oncology, rare orphan genetic diseases as well as multiple other therapy fields in designing and executing clinical studies, regulatory interactions, new formulation, pre-clinical and IND enabling studies, pharmacology, pharmacovigilance, and business development experience.

Dr. Winkler received his MD, cum laude, and BSc from The Hebrew University & Hadassah. Medical School in Jerusalem, Israel.

Ms. Rosa Ailabouni is the managing partner of RMA Strategies, LLC. An executive with over 22 years of experience, she advises and assists C-suite and senior management clients in commercial, government, and non-profit organizations in the United States and abroad. She works with companies on strategic development & implementation, business process improvement, and change management for business transformation and IT modernizations.

Ms. Ailabouni is also the founder of BuckeyeThon. BuckeyeThon is a student-led organization based on the campus of The Ohio State University that creates awareness and raises funds for children with cancer and blood disorders.

She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

I worked in the communications industry until we moved to Tokyo, Japan in 2007, where I served as liaison for Israeli prisoners and detainees on behalf of the Israeli Embassy. In 2011, we moved to Singapore where I worked at the Jewish International School as the Head of Operations. In 2020, we moved to the US, I’ve been volunteering for a first aid mental helpline and proudly raising two young daughters, a dog, and a bunny with my husband, Gal. I’m an enthusiastic vegetarian and lead a Cruelty Free life towards animals and the planet. In my role at MCC, I will lead all support services and connect with families as they navigate cancer and treatment. .

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Born and raised in Israel, Inbal moved to the US in 2005 to work at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations in NYC, and served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Permanent Representative for 5 years. In 2015, Inbal joined the Israeli-American Council (IAC), an American nonprofit organization that represents and serves the Israeli & Jewish American communities across the country. Inbal worked there as a Development Coordinator and later on as the Executive Assistant to the CEO. Inbal Joined My Child’s Cancer in 2020, as the organization’s Development Officer. She now lives in Closter, NJ and raises 3 young boys with her husband, Nadav.

RESEARCHER

Polina Weitzenfeld is a scientist at the laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Immunology at the Rockefeller University in New-York City. She holds a Ph.D in cancer biology and immunology and a B.Sc in medical sciences, both from Tel-Aviv University, Israel. During her graduate studies, she focused on mechanisms that lead to dissemination of breast tumor cells and formation of remote metastasis. Following graduation, she was head of clinical trials at “Biop Medical”, an Israeli medical device start-up company, developing a device for early detection of cervical cancer.

CEO of HAYELED SHELI (MyChild’sCancer Israel)

Varda, is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in marketing, sales, and executive leadership.

Her distinguished career includes serving as the CEO of Sodastream – Israel, Tango (a subsidiary of Clal Industry), and the VP of Marketing at Largo Computers and University of Derby.

Varda's multifaceted skills encompass strategic and business development consulting, as well as fostering fundraising initiatives and investor relationships. She plays a crucial role in supporting patients and their families, engaging in research collaborations with academic institutions, and liaising with the Pharma and regulatory sectors to introduce drugs into the Israeli health basket.

Varda holds an M.B.A. and a B.Sc. in Biology from Northeastern University, Boston.

OPERATIONS MANAGER

With strong background in operations and programming, Tali brings valuable expertise to our organization.

She began her career as a Financial Analyst at OSL Shipping and Development before deciding to focus on raising her children.

During this time, she took charge of enhancing large-scale fundraising initiatives for her community and children's school.

Tali holds a Master's degree in International Affairs from Columbia University and a BA Honors from the University of Natal Durban.

Tali lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan trying to stay a step ahead of her two teenage sons.

FAMILY COORDINATOR

Christina Katanov, Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, blends scientific expertise with a Family Consultant diploma from the Adler Institute, embodying a unique fusion of knowledge and compassion.

Influenced by her niece's battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), Christina, now part of a dedicated team, is determined to support families facing the challenges of a child's cancer diagnosis. As a mother of two, she and her husband, Alex, draw from their own experiences in navigating the joys and trials of family life in Israel. Christina's commitment lies in extending empathy and understanding to those in need through MyChild’sCancer.

Mariana currently supports the Tumor Advisory Committee. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition Sciences, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A highly trained clinical dietitian, she specialized in the intricate domains of oncology and gastroenterology at Schneider Hospital in Israel. Mariana is also a certified yoga instructor and an advocate for a holistic approach to health.

Born in Argentina and raised in Israel, she and her husband relocated to New Jersey where they are raising their three children. Outside of her professional commitments, Mariana takes pleasure in the simple joys of life. She finds solace at the beach, indulges in literary pursuits through books, and, in keeping with her Argentine heritage, maintains a fervent passion for soccer.

Mariana brings a wealth of expertise, a holistic approach to health, and a resolute optimism that make her an invaluable asset to our organization and a source of inspiration to those she serves.