Ron McKerrow, Chair

Ron McKerrow is a visionary who brings his strategic, operational and business management experience in the healthcare sector to lead the ARC Board of Directors.

Ron McKerrow is a visionary who brings his strategic, operational and business management experience in the healthcare sector to lead the ARC Board of Directors. Ron has held a number of senior positions in the healthcare sector including Senior Vice President and CIO at the Children's and Women's Health Business Development at the Provincial Health Services Authority. He is currently the Principal of Concilio Consulting a health care consulting company. Ron has also served on the Boards of the Medbuy Corporation and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists. Ron believes that,

"If we want a World Without Arthritis we need research."

As a Pharmacist and a person with arthritis, Ron knows the true costs of arthritis to patients and the healthcare system. He has been an ARC Board Member since 2005 because he believes that people with arthritis are underserved and research is the key to managing, treating and ultimately preventing this debilitating disease. Ron is determined to ensure that ARC continues to be a national centre for arthritis research by putting ARC's strategic plan to action, looking for opportunities to expand and working with Universities partners and the arthritis community.

Céline Pitre, Vice Chair

Céline Pitre is a passionate leader who uses her entrepreneurial spirit and experience to Co-Chair the ARC Board. She is a principal of Céline Interiors Inc. a creative agency offering interior design services to corporate, retail, hospitality and private clients. Céline is committed to positively shape the environment we live and work in. She is also an active member of the Interior Design Institute of BC and Canada and serves as Advisory Board Chair, Kwantlen University College, Interior Design Program.

Céline's own diagnosis of osteoarthritis in 2003 brought her to ARC, first as a member of the Consumer Advisor Board and then in 2006 as a Board Member. Having benefited from the knowledge and research ARC provides, Céline states,

"The fact that I can get out of bed is proof that the research ARC does makes a difference."

Living with this debilitating disease Céline knows that because of research people with arthritis can now continue to be active participants in their lives. She is driven to help ARC grow and become a stronger, more independent organization so that its world-class research scientists have the support they need to continue their leading-edge work.

Joe Atkinson, Finance Chair

Joe Atkinson has served with ARC since it's inception in 2000 as a member of the finance committee and became a Board Member in 2007. He has been in the finance industry for 30 years working with franchises, charities and professionals. Joe's current position is Manager, Commercial Banking with CIBC.

Joe has committed his time to ARC because he feels that arthritis doesn't have the profile it needs and the talented research scientist at ARC deserve more support. By providing his financial knowledge and expertise he allows others to focus on the areas they excel at. Through his work on the Board Joe has met many people who suffer from this debilitating disease, he is inspired by how they fight to live normal lives. Joe states,

"A cure may happen, but in the meantime we need to continue finding ways to help those living with this disease."

He believes in 'little cures' – the ability for people living with arthritis to do everyday things, which others may take for granted. Joe serves on ARC's Board because he is determined to see the organization and its researchers continue to do their life changing work.

Daniel Parlow, Director

Dan Parlow is a lawyer, entrepreneur and adventurer. He is currently a Partner at Kornfeld Mackoff Silber LLP. Dan's practice has spanned corporate, business and high technology law. In addition, he is the co-founder of an ecommerce business, mytripjournal.com and an avid traveler.

After being introduced to ARC by a colleague Dan was impressed by the dedicated staff, research scientist and Board Members. Dan joined the Board in 2010 and hopes to make a difference by providing legal advice as well as funding, operations, strategic planning and business. Dan is driven to make a difference in the lives of others. When referring to ARC he says,

"I believe the work ARC does is of great service."

Besides his interest in the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Dan sits on the Board of Directors and the governance committee of Operation Eyesight Universal, which provides eye care, and blindness prevention services in India and sub-Saharan Africa. He also serves as an Advisor of the Vancouver Learning Centre, a partnership of excellence in learning.

Marilyn McCaig, Director

Marilyn McCaig is an educator and community volunteer. She was instrumental in the creation of ARC's Calgary office and our collaboration with the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, where she is the Chair of Community Partners and the Strategic Advisor Board. Marilyn showed further support by joining the ARC Board in 2010.

She received her Bachelor in Education from the University of Calgary in 1976 and taught in both Calgary and Vancouver for several years. Marilyn has been involved in many volunteer projects, including: 1988 Olympic committees, Teen pregnancy education programming with The Junior League of Calgary, Canada Olympic Park Board member, Chair of the Board Governors of Strathcona Tweedsmuir School (STS), and a member of the Canadian Educational Standards Institute (CESI). She is currently a STS Foundation member.

When asked why she is passionate about arthritis Marilyn replies,

"When you see children suffering with arthritis who can't play soccer because they could break their leg; how can you not support preventing this disease?"

After meeting the skilled and passionate research scientists and staff at ARC Marilyn was compelled to join the team believing that the people and the work they are doing really does make a difference and deserves to be supported.

Rona Radler, Director

Rona Radler is a philanthropist with a love for the arts. She has dedicated herself to supporting her community and provides countless hours serving on the Board of Directors for many Vancouver charities.

Rona was asked to be a Director on the ARC Board by past Board Chair, the late Peter Paul Saunders and she has held this position since 2000. She has also been on the Board of the Vancouver Opera for 18 years, is Vice Chair of the Vancouver Academy of Music and is on the Executive Committee of Endeavour Society. She was on the board of the Joffery Ballet of Chicago, and presently is on the Joffery Ballet Women's Board.

Rona has chosen to devote her time and support to ARC because she believes in the research being done and acknowledges the challenges of gaining the funding required in order to keep the best scientists fighting this disease. Rona explains,

"Arthritis can happen to anyone. We need to build an understanding of the suffering caused by arthritis and the potential of the research being done to gain more support."

She feels that there is always hope for a cure and her work will help ARC move towards this goal.

Cheryl Koehn, Director

Cheryl is a national arthritis advocate, a community leader and published author. In November 2000, Cheryl founded Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) and its JointHealth™ family of programs. She has served as a consumer representative on the Canadian Arthritis Network's (CAN) management and research and development committee, as well as chair of its Consumer Advisory Council (CAC). Cheryl has also serviced as a Board Member of The Arthritis Society, BC and Yukon Division.

As a 20-year survivor of rheumatoid arthritis Cheryl has devoted herself to ensuring the inclusion of people with arthritis in all decision-making processes related to the field of arthritis. Cheryl states,

"It is through the invaluable work of ARC and it's research scientists that all Canadians living with arthritis will survive and thrive!"

Cheryl joined the ARC Board in 2011 and brings the arthritis consumer's perspective as well as an extensive background of contributing to decision-making processes at government, research institutions, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations across Canada and internationally.