Advancing Leadership, Expanding Impact: MBTN Board Governance Advisor and Collaborator Consortium Leaders Step Into National and International Spotlights!

The Meningioma Brain Tumor Network, Inc. (MBTN) is proud to celebrate two extraordinary leaders whose professional achievements continue to elevate our mission, strengthen our coalition, and expand the reach of survivor‑thriver–centered advocacy across disciplines.

In early fall, Dr. Ekokobe Fonkem, DO, Board Governance Advisor and long‑standing champion of equitable brain tumor care, assumed the roles of Vice Chair of Neurology and Chief of Neuro‑Oncology at the University of Arizona Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Fonkem’s appointment represents a significant milestone in neuro‑oncology leadership. His work has long focused on culturally responsive care, multidisciplinary collaboration, and improving outcomes for patients with complex neurological conditions, including meningioma. His new positions place him at the forefront of shaping clinical excellence, research innovation, and patient‑centered standards of care at one of the nation’s leading cancer centers.

For MBTN, Dr. Fonkem’s leadership strengthens our ability to:

• Advance equity‑driven clinical and research initiatives.

• Expand partnerships with academic and medical institutions.

• Elevate survivor‑thriver voices in governance and care design.

• Promote evidence‑based, culturally competent neuro‑oncology practices.

His continued guidance as a Board Governance Advisor ensures that MBTN remains grounded in clinical integrity while pushing forward a bold, equity‑centered agenda.

This season also marked a significant achievement for Ms. Tina Deguire McDonald, MBTN Collaborator Consortium Member, who headlined a presentation at the Dyslexia Canada Conference. There, she showcased the work of POPARD (Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders), a leading provincial program in British Columbia that supports children, families, and educators navigating autism and related neurodevelopmental differences.

Her presentation highlighted:

• The importance of early, accessible, and culturally competent screening.

• The role of interdisciplinary collaboration in supporting neurodiverse learners.

• POPARD’s innovative outreach and training model across British Columbia, Canada.

• How community‑based programs can reduce diagnostic disparities and improve long‑term outcomes.

Ms. McDonald’s leadership underscores the interconnectedness of brain health, learning differences, and early intervention—an alignment that resonates deeply with MBTN’s commitment to equity across the neurological spectrum.

Collectively, their achievements this fall reflect the growing influence of MBTN’s leadership ecosystem and the power of survivor‑thriver–centered advocacy to shape conversations across healthcare, education, and public policy.

We applaud Dr. Fonkem and Ms. Deguire McDonald for their continued excellence, and we look forward to the impact they will continue to make—within MBTN and across North America and Canada.