About Us | International Society for Children with Cancer

History

Since our founding in 2004, ISCC has grown from a small organization helping children in Iran to an international nonprofit dedicated to fighting pediatric cancer globally. Over the last 20 years, we've provided critical medical care, support, and resources to thousands of children.

Meet our Board of Directors and Advisory Board

Meet the dedicated individuals who work with ISCC. Our Board of Directors and Advisory Board members are compassionate professionals committed to the fight against childhood cancer.

Ali Yeganeh

Director

Alexandre Rasouli, MD

Director

Azam Abdollahi

Vice-chair

Behdad Eghbali

Director

Babak Larian, MD

Director

Haida Mojdehi, Esq

Secretary

Javad Karbassizadeh, PhD

Ph.D. MAHAK Hospital Founder ISCC Director

Khosrow Assadi, MD

Treasurer

Mohammad Farzaneh

Director

Negin Tafazzoli Mohammadzadeh

Director

Nima Gharavi, MD

Director

Paddi Sharifian, Esq

Director

Saideh Ghods

MAHAK Founder / ISCC Co-founder / Director

Somme Sahab

Director

Toska Zomorrodian, MD

Director

Anoosha Shirazi, MD

Advisory Board

Afreh Khazaee, PharmD

Advisory Board

Alireza Taffazoli, MD

Advisory Board

Fattaneh Abbaszadeh Tavassoli, MD

Advisory Board

Flor Bahadori

Advisory Board

Gholamreza Mohammadzadeh, MD

Advisory Board

Guity Yeganeh, MD

Advisory Board

Hamid Ghahari

Advisory Board/ East Coast Rep.

Hossein Amir-Arjomand

Advisory Board

Homa Javid

Advisory Board/ Washington Rep

John Alagha

Advisory Board

Kamran Mohanna, PhD

Advisory Board

Kimya Rezaei

Advisory Board

Malakeh Zahedi, DDS

Advisory Board

Maryam Famourzadeh

Advisory Board

Masi Mokhtari Hashemian, DDS

Advisory Board

Masoud Kaveh (DBA Matthew Kaveh)

Advisory Board

Mohsen Sharif

Advisory Board

Neda Semsar Rofougaran

Advisory Board

Najmeh Moussavian

Advisory Board

Nazila Shams

Advisory Board

Negar Shahbaz

Advisory Board

Niloofar Fakhimi

Advisory Board

Panteha Abdollahi, Esq

Advisory Board

Saeed Partow

Advisory Board

Shahin Saless, PhD

Advisory Board

Shahpour Javadizadeh

Advisory Board

Shirin Ghafouri, PharmD

Advisory Board

Sohrab Riahi

Advisory Board

Testimonials

Paddi Sharifian

I am a full-time mom of two active boys, and consider myself very fortunate to volunteer with such an amazing organization. My son once asked me, "mommy why do you care? Why do you care about those kids?” Such innocent questions, but it really made me think about why I do this. I told him I volunteer because I want to make a difference in a child’s life.

It seems that MAHAK, a children’s cancer organization, has always been a part of my life, but I wasn’t able to help them directly. For the past 18 years, my family and I have donated money to MAHAK. Once ISCC was founded, I had the ability and privilege to personally get involved with MAHAK. I attended several ISCC fundraising events. Last year, I volunteered at the Bazaar, a Persian new year’s celebration fundraiser, which was a life-altering experience. The energy and camaraderie in the room was contagious. Everyone worked with so much love for the children suffering from cancer.

A few months later, I was contacted by Showleh Tolbert, ISCC’s executive director, to be part of the committee for the 2011 Bazaar. As a committee member, I realized that the Bazaar could not happen without each and every one of our volunteers. These caring individuals worked tirelessly to make decorative eggs, candles, homemade jam, pickles and a variety of Persian desserts. There were others who worked at the ISCC office day and night, helping us to prepare for the big event. It is our compassionate and dedicated volunteers that made the Bazaar a success.

Azam Abdollahi

For the past four years, I have had the privilege and fortune of serving as a volunteer for the International Society for Children With Cancer.

What prompted me to join ISCC was personal experience -- in 2008, my beautiful grand-daughter spent 54 days in the hospital, struggling each day to survive. I felt first-hand the pain of watching a child I love suffer; I felt the anxiety and helplessness of standing by and waiting with nothing more than hopes and prayers. Fortunately, my story had a happy ending.

Since then I have been committed to working towards helping ease the strains on children suffering from cancer and their families. These children and families are trying to cope not only with the emotional burdens of serious illness, but also the financial strains of treatment. ISCC works towards alleviating both.

Since becoming a volunteer with ISCC, I have twice visited MAHAK hospital in Iran. There, I saw the children and families that ISCC works for. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. I expected to visit a typical charity hospital, with muted walls and a sense of heaviness. Instead, I witnessed caring doctors and nurses with smiles and encouraging words, walls decorated with children's artwork, and a highly specialized pediatric hospital offering the latest technology for detecting and treating pediatric cancer.

In essence, I saw hope. It revitalized me and reminded me of the impact that ISCC has on the lives of these special children and their families. I encourage anyone visiting Iran to take the time and go to the MAHAK hospital - I am confident it will have the same impact on every visitor.

I feel very blessed to be able to volunteer with such an amazing organization and work with a group of people who put such heart and energy into this humanitarian effort. I hope to be able to do more with ISCC in the future, and be as helpful as I can be. For I have realized that whatever energy I contribute, I get back so much more.

Shahrzad Ardalan

I consider myself very fortunate to have been a part of ISCC. It is a blessing to be on the giving end and just receive the pleasure of serving the children with cancer. One can only imagine what they go through and for me being a part of this team and creating the possibility to help them has helped me live a fulfilling life.

Do you have an experience with ISCC to share?

Please email info@iscc-charity.org