Riyad Elbard has been a dedicated advocate in the thalassemia and rare disease communities for over 25 years. He served as President of the Thalassemia Foundation of Canada (TFC) and currently holds the position of Immediate Past President. In this capacity, he continues to play a pivotal role in steering the organization’s mission to support and fund thalassemia research, treatment, patient services, public awareness, and education.
Since 1998, Riyad has been serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Thalassemia International Federation (TIF). In recognition of his longstanding commitment, he was appointed Honorary Board Member in 2018.
Beyond his work with TFC and TIF, Riyad has been a Board Member of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders since 2015. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Network for Rare Blood Disorder Organizations from its inception in 2004 until 2022.
A passionate and outspoken thalassemia patient himself, Riyad has consistently acted as the patient’s voice at forums and meetings at national, regional, and international levels. His advocacy has been instrumental in building and maintaining strong collaborative networks with partners and stakeholders, including health authorities and hospitals.
