About

Mission

Yemanja’s mission is to save the lives of women through screening and early diagnosis of breast and cervical cancer, to prevent the development of advanced stages of these two diseases. We achieve this by establishing partnerships with local governments, community groups and public and private hospitals and clinics to empower women in the fight cancer.

Vision

Our vision is a world where every woman has access to life-saving services for the prevention of cervical cancer and timely diagnosis of breast cancer. To this end, we support the education and increased awareness of these cancers in women and their communities as well as providing support for screening and early detection.

President and Founder

Toyin Shonukan, MD, MPH

Dr. Shonukan is a US board-certified Hematologist and Oncologist with extensive experience in global clinical research, therapeutic development, and Public Health.

After graduating from Medical School in Nigeria, she completed her post-graduate training while serving the local communities at Columbia University and New York University. She continued to provide medical care at Indian Reservations in the Dakotas and at St. Francis Hospital in Zambia. 

Upon returning to the US, she took on increasingly senior teaching responsibilities at SUNY, Cornell University, and the University of Miami.

Joining international pharmaceutical companies such as Novartis, Takeda, and E. Lilly, she led multi-disciplinary teams that advanced clinical development programs targeting breast cancer, lymphoma, beta-thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease, and others. Additionally, her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals.

While completing a Master’s degree in Public Health from Boston University, she investigated opportunities to enhance women’s cancer care in Nigeria. 

This reflection and her diverse experience have culminated in the founding of the Yemanja Cancer Care Initiative, whose aim is to reduce the disproportionate burden of cancers affecting women in underserved populations, through health education, screening, and scientific research.

Board Member 

Olujimi Akindele Esq

Olujimi “Jimi” Akindele Esq is a legal and financial consultant with international experience in New York, Dar es Salaam Paris and Nairobi, working with diverse organizations including Fortune 500 companies, large research institutions, startups, inventors, non-profits, international donors, development finance institutions, utility companies, and governments. 

Mr. Akindele is a clean energy and climate finance professional working to extend access to finance, as well as climate adaptation and mitigation interventions in rural Africa. Jimi has also leveraged his background in life sciences to support the patent portfolio management of international biotech, pharmaceutical companies, and research science institutions.

Jimi graduated with a BA in Philosophy and a BS in Biology from Stanford University in 2005. In 2009, he earned his JD from Fordham University School of Law. 

Jimi has also accrued certifications from the Frankfurt School of Business and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business in Climate and Renewable Energy Finance and Asset Management, respectively. Jimi is admitted to the New York State Bar.

Board Member

Khandan Baradaran PhD

Khandan Baradaran, Ph.D. has 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including positions in regulatory affairs, quality control, and quality assurance. 

She is currently Vice President of Regulatory CMC at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical. Dr. Baradaran received her B.A. degree in molecular biology from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in virology from Harvard University.

Dr. Baradaran’s interests include sponsorship of more than 20 women in Afghanistan, the DRG, and Nigeria to improve health and economic standing through education via Women for Women International. She has also served as a volunteer and team lead on the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association for over 10 years.

In addition to Yemanja, Dr. Baradaran is currently serving a 3-year term on the Addgene Board of Directors.

Board Member 

Patrick Haslett MD

Patrick Haslett trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases, and immunology in the UK and USA. He spent the first part of his career practicing general medicine in rural Zambia. 

Subsequently, he was engaged in research into the immunology of infectious diseases at NYU Medical Center and Rockefeller University in NYC, with a focus on HIV and mycobacterial infection. 

Most recently, he has spent over 15 years in the biotechnology industry, directing both preclinical and clinical research efforts in a wide range of genetic, metabolic, and immunologic diseases.

Board Member 

Philippe Samama PhD

Philippe leads the New Product Strategy & Planning function at Sangamo Therapeutics, a developer of Cell and Gene Therapies. In prior roles, he directed various commercialization activities in such pharmaceutical companies as Shire, Roche, and Takeda. 

He has helped advance several therapeutic programs directed at solid tumors and hematological malignancies. He holds a Ph.D. from the Université Pierre & Marie Curie and an MBA from New York University.