Meet the Team

Joelle AbouKhalil: Patient Advocacy Lead, PARSGO; Boardmember of the Network against Gynecological Cancer in Sweden; Founder of Matealda

As an International Affairs/Political Science Graduate with years of experience in non profit organisations, my passion is to mentor & empower youth and women. After my mother’s passing due to ovarian cancer, it was only inevitable that I would become a women’s health & patient advocate. Having been her caregiver, I became more aware of the significant role patient advocates & advocacy groups play in enhancing the care & clinical practice in the medical field. Bridging gaps, breaking taboos & building more interdisciplinary collaborations between medical professionals, patients & caregivers is something that I look forward to addressing more of in my role as Patient Advocacy Lead at PARSGO.

As a daughter and granddaughter of strong women who lost their lives to gynecological cancer, I’m very dedicated to not only raising the voice of other women who struggle with these diseases but also of their families.

Xezal Derin places great importance on diversity in medicine. She is currently completing her residency in gynecology and obstetrics and is working on her doctoral thesis.

As an active member of the Pan-Arabian Research Society of Gynecologic Oncology (PARSGO), Xezal is dedicated to research and education regarding gynecologic cancers in the MENA region and Africa. Within PARSGO, she is part of the core team, coordinating tumor boards and contributing to the research, education, and social media teams, making her an all-rounder in various initiatives.

As a young resident, Xezal Derin is passionately committed to shaping the medical landscape. Her goal is to provide culturally sensitive and high-quality care to all women.