Experienced Nonprofit Leader Succeeds Retiring Founder Mindy Mintz Mordecai
(BALTIMORE, MD—February 11, 2026) — The Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Alyssa O’Driscoll as the organization’s next Executive Director following a national search, ushering in a new chapter for the national nonprofit founded in 2009.
O’Driscoll brings over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, mission-driven strategy, and stakeholder engagement. Motivated by the cancer diagnoses of several family members—including a loved one with esophageal cancer—she has a deeply personal connection to the mission.
Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of health, advocacy, and organizational development, focusing on building sustainable systems that expand impact and amplify the voices of those most affected, particularly in the rare cancer space. She has held leadership roles at leading healthcare and advocacy organizations, including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Intermountain Healthcare, The Assistance Fund, and the Sarcoma Alliance.
As Executive Director, O’Driscoll will take the helm and lead ECAN into its next chapter—building on the strong foundation created by its founder while advancing the organization’s mission to improve outcomes for patients and families affected by esophageal cancer through education, advocacy, and research support.
“The Board is confident that Alyssa O’Driscoll is the right leader for this moment. We look forward to the thoughtful leadership she will bring as we expand our impact and advance our mission,” said John Lipham, MD, Chair of ECAN’s Board of Directors. “On behalf of the Board, I want to express our deep appreciation to Mindy Mintz Mordecai for building such a strong foundation for the organization.”
“I am honored to step into this role,” said O’Driscoll. “ECAN has earned deep trust within the esophageal cancer community, and I am excited to work alongside patients, caregivers, researchers, clinicians, and partners to strengthen our impact and accelerate progress.”
“Alyssa brings a wealth of experience and concern for patients that makes me confident and hopeful as I pass the ECAN torch,” said ECAN founder and President Emeritus Mindy Mintz Mordecai.
Alyssa O’Driscoll holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of DeVry University, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard University’s Division of Continuing Education. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.
About the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN)
ECAN’s mission is to save lives by 1) promoting prevention and early detection by raising awareness that reflux disease can cause esophageal cancer, 2) supporting medical innovation to prevent, detect, and cure esophageal cancer, and 3) providing patients and families with trustworthy medical information and compassionate support.
Advocacy by the ECAN community has resulted in more than $20 million in additional esophageal cancer research funding over the past five years. ECAN successfully advocated with the National Cancer Institute to include esophageal cancer in its groundbreaking genome-mapping project known as The Cancer Genome Atlas, the findings of which resulted in multiple FDA approvals for immunotherapy for esophageal cancer patients. ECAN published the Guide for Patients with input from leading doctors across the nation, which is available as a free download at Get-Checked.org. For more information, visit ecan.org.