Adult Advisory Council
Meet the Members
Ellen R. Frank, PhD
Ellen R. Frank, PhD, forged her career in biotechnology for over 25 years, eventually becoming the North American president for the world's third largest biotech company. She also dedicated her time to mentoring development of new companies with entrepreneurs through her board position with the Massachusetts Technology Development Corp., a non-profit organization.
Ellen was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in December 1996. She was forced to retire due to progressive symptoms and her declining immune function. After failing the most promising triple combination chemotherapeutic regimen, she pursued her last option, a bone marrow transplant. A donor drive in her town produced hundreds of new registered marrow donors, but it did not produce a match, unfortunately. Miraculously, her match finally came from a woman in Sweden. Recovery from leukemia is proceeding well; however, the onset of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) has posed a serious series of complications that will last 5-10 years post transplant. cGVHD has dramatically impacted her ability to perform activities of daily living and her quality of life. She participates in long-term research studies on cGVHD with the NCI, NIH, and National Bone Marrow Registry.
After over 10 years as a patient at Dana-Farber, she has logged over 1,000 hours in the Dana 1 clinic and infusion area. Ellen has joined the Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council to do whatever she can to improve conditions for patients at Dana-Farber and to support those with cGVHD.
Ellen participates in ACE training sessions with new employees, the interim Dana 1 Infusion expansion committee, and the planning for Dana-Farber's new satellite facility at South Shore Hospital.
She has been married to her husband Steve for 30 years and has two brilliant, handsome and amazing sons, Morgan (16) and Justin (13). Ski racing drives the family life as Morgan is a Junior Olympiad racer and Justin is ranked first in his category in the northeast. It has been exceedingly difficult to be forced to refrain from physical participation with her boys on the mountain or even wait in the crowded ski lodges due to cGVHD, but she tries to compensate with gourmet meals when they come down from the mountain.
As with many cancer survivors, her life has changed in every way, from fast track executive to a full-time patient. Every day is precious.
