Our Team
Krishnan Family Foundation
Parvathy Krishnan
Executive Director
Parvathy is a Rare Disease Specialist and healthcare professional with a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition and deep expertise in patient advocacy and caregiver education. Her work is driven by personal experience—after both her children were diagnosed with multiple rare and ultra-rare diseases, she committed her life to empowering others to advocate for themselves regardless of diagnosis or geography. She is a strong proponent of patient- and family-centered care, with a particular focus on mental health for children with complex medical needs and their caregivers. Parvathy has held leadership roles across hospital boards, industry groups, and community organizations, advancing quality patient and family engagement. She has extensive experience managing teams, building strategic partnerships, and breaking barriers in advocacy, especially in DEI-centered initiatives. Parvathy serves on national and international boards, including the UDN Foundation and Team Telomere. She is also the Executive Director of the Krishnan Family Foundation, which is dedicated to research, scientific advancement, and patient/family support for CMMRD, a rare genetic cancer predisposition syndrome.
Yash Krishnan
Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator
Yash Krishnan is a 16-year-old cancer warrior and the Advocacy and Public Policy Coordinator at the Krishnan Family Foundation, where he champions the patient voice in policy and public discourse. Diagnosed with Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency (CMMRD), a rare genetic condition that predisposes him to multiple cancers, Yash brings a deeply personal perspective to his work, advocating for those navigating complex medical and systemic challenges. Driven by his lived experience, Yash works to ensure that healthcare and policy decisions reflect the needs and realities of rare disease and pediatric cancer patients.
Aryana Halburnt
Social Media Manager
Aryana is an 8th grader from Cary, NC. Aryana serves as our amazing Social Media Manager. With creativity and dedication, she helps keep our community informed and connected. Aryana is a wonderful volunteer who brings passion, energy, and a big heart to every project. We’re proud to have her as part of our team!
Board Members
Candi Bush
Board Member
Candi Bush is a Special Services Consultant for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, focusing on Children’s Special Health Care Services. She previously served as Director of the Family Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs and as Executive Director of Parent to Parent of Southwest Michigan. Candi is an experienced leader and advocate, serving on several state and national boards, including the Parent to Parent USA Board of Directors. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including the AMCHP Emerging MCH Professional Award and Outstanding Alumni of the Year from Western Michigan University. She is also a mentor and faculty member for Michigan’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program. In 2023, Candi was diagnosed with colon cancer after learning she had Lynch syndrome, a genetic cancer predisposition; her two sons were later diagnosed as well. Now a survivor, she is committed to raising awareness and advocating for education around genetic conditions. Candi lives in Michigan with her family and enjoys time in nature, yoga, gardening, and traveling.
Meghan Fox
Board Member
Meghan Fox is a Certified Child Life Specialist with extensive training in the developmental, emotional, and physical impacts of illness and injury on children and families. She spent 13 years at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, NC, supporting children and families through diagnosis, trauma, chronic illness, and grief. Currently, Meghan serves as the Program Director at the Me Fine Foundation, where she provides emotional support and financial assistance to families facing medical crises at North Carolina Partner Hospitals. Her work centers on building resilience during some of life’s most challenging moments. Meghan is especially passionate about advocating for children with rare diseases and helping families navigate grief, loss, and major life changes. She carries with her a guiding piece of advice once given by a patient: “always see the beauty in everything.” This perspective continues to shape her personal and professional life.
Anand Swamy
Board Member
Anand Swamy is the EVP and Head of Tech and ISV Ecosystems at HCLTech, where he leads seven business units and is part of the executive leadership team. Under his direction, these units have grown more than elevenfold in the past five years, driving transformative digital strategies for global clients. With extensive experience across sales, consulting, and alliances, Anand bridges the gap between strategy, technology, and execution to deliver impactful results. He has held leadership roles supporting Fortune 500 companies and fostering a customer-centric, collaborative culture. Anand holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing and completed an executive leadership program at Harvard. He is passionate about using disruptive technologies to improve lives and is deeply committed to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration. Anand also advocates for childhood cancer and diabetes awareness through his nonprofit work. Based in Boston, he’s a marathon runner and avid fan of Formula 1 and the NFL.
Sam Rose
Board Member
Sam Alexandra Rose is a published author currently undertaking her PhD in creative writing and cancer survivorship. She has CMMRD and has had three different types of cancer – colon, duodenal and uterine. Sam is the Patient and Public Involvement Manager at the charity Bowel Research UK and previously spent ten years working in digital marketing.
Sonal Bhuta Halburnt
Board Member
Sonal is currently the Associate Scientific Director of Genomic Medicine at Parexel, a Clinical Research Organization. Sonal has over 20 years of experience in clinical project management, clinical operations, and clinical trial execution. She is a seasoned manager specializing in regulatory audits, vendor management, informed consent management, and sample tracking. Her expertise also includes managing grant application processes and pharmacogenetics project management, focusing on biomarkers and drug development programs.
Clayton Zook
Board Member
Clayton Zook is a devoted father and passionate advocate driven by the legacy of his daughter Kirah, who was diagnosed with CMMRD. A product of inner-city Detroit and shaped by his military service, Clayton brings discipline, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose to his work. After losing Kirah and being diagnosed himself with Lynch Syndrome, he committed to turning his pain into purpose by supporting others facing similar battles. Though new to the Krishnan Family Foundation board, Clayton is dedicated to serving families impacted by rare genetic conditions with unwavering drive and compassion. He honors Kirah’s strength and spirit through his advocacy, determined to carry forward her legacy. His mission is rooted in a belief they once shared: “God gave this to us because He knew we could handle it—and someone else might not.” That belief now guides his every step.
Sonal Bhuta Halburnt
Board Member
Sonal is currently the Associate Scientific Director of Genomic Medicine at Parexel, a Clinical Research Organization. Sonal has over 20 years of experience in clinical project management, clinical operations, and clinical trial execution. She is a seasoned manager specializing in regulatory audits, vendor management, informed consent management, and sample tracking. Her expertise also includes managing grant application processes and pharmacogenetics project management, focusing on biomarkers and drug development programs.
Advisors
Melissa Edwards
Advisor
Melissa Edwards currently serves as the Project Manager for the International Replication Repair Deficiency Consortium (IRRDC). Melissa initially joined the consortium in 2016 as a project coordinator, where she had the privilege of working directly with many our amazing patients and their families. Recognizing the transformative power of their experiences, she transitioned into the role of project manager, where she currently oversees both local and international collaborations, while also managing key components of the consortium’s infrastructure. She is strongly committed to ensuring that our patients and families serve as the cornerstone to all aspects of our clinical and research program and is incredibly excited to join the Krishnan Family Foundation as an advisor.
Vanessa Bianchi
Medical/Scientific Advisor
Dr. Vanessa Bianchi is the Program Manager for the International Replication Repair Deficiency Consortium (IRRDC) at The Hospital for Sick Children. With a focus on tackling the aggressive cancer predisposition syndrome CMMRD, Vanessa manages an international clinical study and biorepository with over 600 participants from 50 countries. Her leadership has led to transformative outcomes for CMMRD patients, including the development of novel diagnostic tools, assessment of surveillance protocols, and identification of genomic biomarkers for immune-based therapies. Vanessa‘s commitment to patient advocacy and her role in shaping program strategies demonstrates her dedication to advancing research and improving patient outcomes in the field of oncology.