Jack Whelan

Jack lives in Andover MA with his wife Jan, has three ‘fabulous’ daughters and sons-in-law and proud grandparents of twin girls. Jack’s is the principal of a small business focused on Information Technology (IT) investment research coming from industry as a career Sales VP. Diagnosed in 2007 with an active Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia a rare lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma for which there is no cure yet, Jack has participated in four Clinical Trials at Dana Farber Cancer Institute, (DFCI) the most recent, a novel targeting biologic agent has worked nicely. He is also treated at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (BWH).

Jack has first hand experience with many aspects of Clinical Trials and has had a front row seat traveling the road to Personalized Medicine which is still under construction. Jack encourages all patients to explore what treatment options might be available in Clinical Trials as we begin to benefit from the promise of personalized medicine, genomics-based therapy giving patients the right medication in the right dose at the right time.

During treatment at DFCI and BWH over the past six years, Jack has developed close professional and personal relationships with these physicians, nurses and medical pros. He volunteers with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as event speaker helping recruit for Team in Training and Light the Night and has presented at local LLS’ support groups. He’s a legislative advocate volunteer for LLS, recently helped convince state lawmakers to pass the much-needed Oral Chemotherapy Parity bill; now advocating for Biosimilar clarification, Step Therapy and Specialty Tiers resolution. He regularly participates in lobbying efforts and testifies at the state house, wrote stories for Massachusetts newspapers, conducted email and phone call campaigns to state senators and representatives. See his story in Cancer Today Magazine www.tinyurl.com/CT-Whelan

He’s a member of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) completed this year’s Scientist-Survivor Program. He is also active with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and completed the Research Advocacy Network Focus on Research Scholars in conjunction with the ASCO 2013 Conference. As an e-Patient with a busy 2013 calendar, you may find Jack speaking at advocacy, healthcare, medical education and similar events around the United States.