Jo-Anne 'EC'  Evans Coleman PhD, EdD, CNP, Founder, Meningioma Brain Tumor Network, Inc (MBTN), a   501c3 nonprofit organization, is a survivor/thriver of a Right-Wing Spheno-orbital Meningioma (with cavernous sinus involvement) brain tumor. The establishment of MBTN harbors on     Dr. EC’s vision for the usage of interprofessional collaborative services, that directly address the numerous diminished quality of life psycho-social aspects of living with/surviving a brain tumor, that are encountered by meningioma patients, survivors/thrivers, and the effects on care partners, and families.

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Founder, Dr. EC,  is superiorly qualified to lead this organization. She has over 30 years of  executive leadership, administrative, and management experience, working within institutions of higher education, and entrepreneurship in both non-profit and private sectors, as a healthcare practitioner,  and as an independent contractor for various business, industry, and government agencies. In 2015, nine (9) months post her craniotomy and cranioplasty,  she became a Minnesota State Advocacy Leader for the National Brain Tumor Society, where she annually testifies on Capitol Hill for congressional funding that continuously supports brain tumor treatment and research.

 

Highlighting her interest in advocacy is the drive garnered from her challenges when she was afflicted with

a Grade 1 spheno-orbital meningioma and is now a brain tumor pioneering staunch voice for the "lived experienced" survivor/thriver.  Through her work at MBTN, she is building a platform for improved pre and post-operative assessments, treatments, and services to better determine meningioma brain tumor survivor/thriver health-related quality of life outcomes.