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The Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation

Fahima Dossa, MD, PhD, FRCSC

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Dr. Dossa is an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Computational Biomedicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Following completion of her fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, she completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Sarcoma Surgery at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, Italy. She has both clinical and academic focuses in the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcomas, including optimizing patient selection for multimodal treatment strategies and investigating novel data-driven methods to enhance the feasibility of rare cancer research.

Dr. Dossa is a member of the Sarcoma Disease Site Working Group of the Society of Surgical Oncology and co-chair of the Clinical Trials Committee of the Transatlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG).

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Dr. Cote is a medical oncologist with at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies (Phase I), the Center for Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Oncology and the Stephan L. Harris Center for Chordoma. His primary research interest is in developing novel agents for connective tissue malignancies through translational studies and early phase clinical trials.

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Megan was diagnosed with a desmoid tumor in 2023. She had a previous diagnosis from 2020 of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, so was familiar with being an oncology patient, but the rarity of desmoid tumors came with a new set of obstacles. Megan was first introduced to DTRF at a patient-led fundraiser, and she began being actively involved with DTRF after the Together We Will weekend in 2025. She jumped right into peer-2-peer fundraising and hosting local fundraising events. In December of 2025, Megan joined the DTRF Ambassador program to help bring purpose to her desmoid tumor journey.

She has her Bachelors of Science in Clinical Exercise Science from Grand Valley State University and has 5 years of experience in the medical field, 5 years of experience in the fitness world, and has been involved with volunteering throughout her life. Megan is very passionate about the non-profit space and serving communities, with experience being a Vice President of a small non-profit and a founder of a first year girl’s rugby team. Throughout the years, she has gained skills in advocacy, fundraising, project leading, event planning, and coaching. 

There are so many things out of our control as desmoid tumor patients, but one thing that is in our control is using our voices to help spread awareness and be an advocate. This is something that is at the heart of Megan’s drive to help serve DTRF and the desmoid community.

Megan lives in west Michigan and enjoys spending her time with her parents and four younger siblings. She enjoys being close to the lakeshore to enjoy Lake Michigan sunsets and is an avid reader.

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Cristabelle De Souza, PhD is an Instructor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she leads a translational research program dedicated to the study of tumor microenvironment biology and the engineering of novel therapeutic antibodies. Her work resides at the intersection of immunology and pathology, with a specific focus on the signaling circuits between cancer-associated fibroblasts and the innate immune system that drive progression in aggressive solid tumors.

As a Principal Investigator supported by the Desmoid Tumor Research Foundation (DTRF), Dr. De Souza is spearheading the development of first-in-class therapeutic strategies for fibrotic tumor models. Her research investigates the mechanisms of stromal-immune reprogramming, seeking to leverage these pathways to halt tumor growth and improve patient outcomes. Her technical expertise includes high-dimensional spatial proteomics, patient-derived organoid modeling, and complex 3D co-culture systems, enabling her to move discoveries from the laboratory bench toward preclinical validation.

Dr. De Souza’s career is marked by the development of significant intellectual property, including three patents for therapeutic strategies such as an anti-CD63 program and a recycling anti-Osteopontin (OPN) antibody. She has been selected for highly competitive leadership and innovation programs, including the Emerson Consequential Scholars Program and the 50 Years VC Fellowship. In addition to her research, she serves as a dedicated mentor and instructor at Stanford, where she has trained over 30 scientists and clinicians in tumor microenvironment biology and translational therapeutics.

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Katie first connected with the DTRF within a week of her own desmoid tumor diagnosis in 2023. Since that moment, the Foundation has been a beacon of light for her. That personal connection fuels her deep commitment to advancing DTRF’s mission to find a cure for desmoid tumors and improve the lives of patients.

Katie brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience, including service as an executive director, board member, and founder of organizations in the U.S. and Latin America. She is skilled in strategy design, fundraising, team development, and building organizational systems that promote sustainability and impact. Known for her creative and mindful leadership style, Katie draws on practices of deep listening, collaboration, and courage to strengthen the communities and causes she serves.

She holds a master’s degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University and a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Spanish from the College of Wooster.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Katie has called Colorado home for over 25 years where she lives with her husband, Bryan, and two incredible sons, Phineas and Leo. Katie enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She is also a passionate traveler with deep ties to Mexico and Guatemala, and is always ready for a conversation about books, civic engagement, or her favorite Peloton workouts.

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Tom is an attorney in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he has practiced since 2019. Tom finished his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan in May 2013 and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School in December 2019.

Tom is a mid-level associate in the firm’s Complex Litigation and Trials group. He previously clerked for the Honorable Philip M. Halpern, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Tom’s practice focuses on securities class actions, high-stakes breaches of contract, mergers and acquisitions disputes, international arbitrations, and government investigations.

Tom has long-running philanthropic fundraising experience with the Autism Alliance of Michigan and maintains a robust pro bono practice, where he has secured substantial settlements for clients in a number of civil rights cases.