Scott Kennedy

For seventeen years, I’ve developed and led the mission research and patient navigation programs at Solving Kids’ Cancer (SKC), an organization I co-founded. Under my direction, the organization focused on developing and advancing patient-centric research programs for children and families impacted by High-Risk childhood cancers that included neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, ETMR, DMG/DIPG, ATRT, HGG’s and osteosarcoma.  I worked directly with multiple stakeholders including principal investigators, research consortium leaders, life science industry leaders and childhood cancer nonprofit organization leaders on the research program side of the mission and parents on the patient navigation side.  I’ve greatly admired the work, programs and leadership of PBTF since the time I was introduced to the organization many years ago through collaboration on targeted research and advocacy initiatives. I love that it’s a national organization with a “big family” feel and has a four-pillar approach to the mission that includes a full suite of programs to support patients and families and be there every step of the way.  I’ve always dreamed of scaling the critical work that nonprofits do in our space to a much larger degree so we can collectively serve the mission better. I also feel passionately that the cause of pediatric brain tumors is special among all childhood cancers and has the greatest unmet needs.

My son Hazen also had a high-risk pediatric cancer (neuroblastoma) and will always be my forever 5-year old boy who inspires me every day.   I worked at Pfizer for many years, which taught me so much about how working on a high-functioning team focused in a specific disease area, and aligned on delivering benefits to patients, can make tangible impact on lives.  I live in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan (the north country) near Lake Michigan, sand dunes and miles of forests. We love it here while always being honorary New Yorkers (our previous home).   My wife teaches 2nd Grade, and our daughter is a freshman in high school.  When not rooting for her in rowing, we spend time biking, baking and going to concerts.  I’m a collector of classic bicycles and old vinyl records and love to travel with my family.