Our Staff
Our team is dedicated to finding a cure for pancreatitis, and we work collaboratively to make progress toward this important goal. With diverse expertise and a shared passion for advancing medical research, we strive to develop new treatments and therapies to make a difference in the lives of those affected by this disease.
Megan Golden
CEO, CO-FOUNDER
Megan Golden is the co-founder and CEO of Mission:Cure, which is using outcome-based financing and impact investing to demonstrate a new model for curing disease, beginning with chronic pancreatitis, a devastating disease afflicting her younger brother.
She also serves as a Voting Member of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) New England Comparative Effectiveness Public Advisory Council, which provides independent appraisals of the benefits and costs of medications and other health interventions.
Megan has 25 years of experience developing and launching innovative programs in multiple fields including criminal justice, child welfare, mental health, and eldercare, as a senior executive at the Vera Institute of Justice and at the Institute for Child Success. Significant projects include helping South Carolina use Pay for Success financing to fund a $30 million expansion of early childhood services to low-income families (the largest Pay for Success project in the world), leading a major reform of New Orleans’ criminal justice system in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and creating a successful alternative to detention for people in immigration proceedings.
Megan has also published extensively on Pay for Success financing and performance measurement. She served on McKinsey & Company’s advisory group for its work on Social Impact Bonds, and as a Fellow at the New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, where she taught performance management and directed the Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service.
In 1994, Megan was awarded a White House Fellowship. She has a BA in political science from Brown University and a JD, magna cum laude, from the New York University School of Law.
Lola Rahib, PhD
VICE PRESIDENT OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
Lola Rahib oversees Mission: Cure’s scientific efforts to drive the development of the most promising and effective therapies for pancreatitis. She has extensive experience in strategically leading and bringing scientific and clinical programs to success.Â
Prior to joining Mission: Cure, she was the Director of Scientific and clinical affairs at Cancer Commons, where she led the development and implementing of a Virtual Tumor Board (VTB) program with a knowledge base learning system for pancreatic cancer patients.
At the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, she led scientific research and initiatives including a molecular profiling program, a patient registry, and an early detection initiative. In addition, she has authored many publications that have contributed to the field of pancreatic cancer.
She also spent a few years in the private sector as a scientist for multiple biotech companies. Lola has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and an MS and PhD in biomedical engineering from UCLA.
Shruthi Meera Shankar
CONSULTING PROJECT MANAGER: PATIENT EDUCATION PROGRAM
Shruthi Meera Shankar is our Consulting Project Manager for Mission: Cure’s Patient Education Program. Based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and hailing from India, she brings a unique perspective to her role. Having personally experienced the challenges of living with pancreatitis, Shruthi deeply understands the importance of patient-focused outreach.
Her education and experience in the food and beverage industry, particularly in operations, quality, safety & risk management systems, and project management, have honed her ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders. With a diverse learning background encompassing nutrition and behavioral science, public health, and integrated mental health practices, she brings a holistic approach to her work.
As the “Chief Listening Officer” between the patient community and various stakeholders, Shruthi strives to bridge the gaps in the healthcare system and provide valuable resources to those affected by pancreatitis while supporting our efforts to find a cure.
Sara Svendsen
Director of Development
Sara Svendsen is the Director of Development at Mission: Cure, leveraging her expertise in fundraising, event management, marketing, and operations. Passionate about promoting equity and access in the health arena, Sara is dedicated to advancing Mission: Cure’s initiatives in ending pancreatitis.
Previously, Sara served as Executive Director at Matthew Hill Foundation, Inc., renowned for its impactful No-Shave November cancer fundraising campaign. During her tenure, Sara revitalized the peer-to-peer fundraising program, ushering in a new era for the initiative. As Executive Director, Sara oversaw daily operations, including administrative and financial management, as well as spearheading marketing, design, donor outreach, and partnership development efforts. Her leadership at MHF was marked by innovative initiatives to enhance user engagement, such as introducing gamification with earnable badges in the peer-to-peer fundraising platform. Sara also implemented scalable strategies to support volunteer-led community events.
In 2020, Sara earned a Masters in Nonprofit Management (MNM) with distinction from DePaul University, complementing her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Health with an emphasis in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina. She has received accolades for her leadership and service, including recognition from the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society for Public Service.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys exploring Austin, TX with her French Bulldog, Lola.
Eric Golden
CO-FOUNDER
Eric Golden is an investment banker, entrepreneur, and advocate for those coping with pancreatic disease. After being diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in 2012 and witnessing the often-tragic toll of the disease, he decided to make fighting such conditions a life focus.
He is a co-founder of Mission: Cure, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for pancreatitis within 10 years; Chairman of the Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research (CAPER); and a board member of the National Pancreas Foundation. He has testified in front of the FDA and regularly speaks to patients, physicians and researchers about his experience with pancreatic disease.
Professionally, Eric is the Founder and Managing Director of Fluential Partners, a boutique investment bank, Chairman of mobility startup Exokinetics, and a board member of several other ventures. Previously, he has served in roles ranging from CEO of a startup to General Counsel of Panavision and the Washington Football Team. Eric earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an A.B. from Brown University.
Daniel Morgan
PORTFOLIO MANAGER
Daniel Morgan manages Mission: Cure’s potential treatments and therapies for pancreatitis patients. Dedicated to advancing research, Daniel collaborates with various teams to explore innovative approaches to disease treatment, using his expertise to contribute to the ongoing success of Mission: Cure.
Daniel graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cornell University, where he earned a B.S. in Biological Engineering with a focus on Molecular & Cellular Engineering. As an undergraduate, Daniel interned at Mission: Cure and served as a Research Scientist at Stellate Therapeutics and in the Ilana Brito Lab at Cornell University. At Stellate Therapeutics, he was responsible for defining the mechanism of action for a novel neurodegenerative therapeutic. Daniel’s work in the Brito lab mainly explored protein-protein interactions in the human gut microbiome for potential diagnostic and therapeutic uses.
In December 2023, Daniel earned an M.Eng in Biomedical Engineering from Cornell University. During this time, he worked on developing a Silent-Speech Device using AI to translate EMG signals into speech for patients who have lost the ability to speak.
Daniel also serves as the Cornell Class of 2023 annual fund representative after a record-breaking term as their Senior Class Campaign Chair.
Isabel Aguirre
PROGRAM ASSOCIATE
Isabel Aguirre is Mission: Cure’s Program Consultant. Isabel is a recent graduate of Brown University, with a degree in Public Health and International and Public Affairs. Isabel has managed various public health and education initiatives.
She was a research assistant on a project reviewing family-based interventions for opioid use disorders among youth and young adults. Isabel also interned with Bloomberg Philanthropies’s Public Health team, where she worked on research projects for various global health initiatives. As a coordinator with a local college readiness organization in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona, she has also gained experience in nonprofit management and program coordination.
Isabel currently volunteers with a local health advocacy group in Tucson and is passionate about creating more equitable systems in the U.S., particularly within health and education.
Olivia Zeiden
Marketing and Communications Associate
Olivia Zeiden is the Marketing and Communications Associate at Mission: Cure. She leads the organization’s media strategy, manages social media, and engages with the community to raise awareness about chronic pancreatitis and Mission: Cure’s initiatives.
Olivia graduated from Tufts University with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering. During her studies, she interned at the City of Hope Priceman Lab, focusing on T-cell immunotherapy research, and at the USC Keck School of Medicine Roussos Torres lab, working on oncology research.
Lise Colbert
Research Intern
Born and raised in New York City, Lise is finishing their B.S. in Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry at CUNY Lehman College, graduating this fall. Their academic journey is driven by a passion for health equity and the human body’s complexities, coupled with a commitment to translating their education into solutions for real-world challenges. At Mission: Cure, Lise is eager to contribute to groundbreaking research that seeks to find a cure for Chronic Pancreatitis—a reflection of their broader goal to blend scientific research with meaningful public health outcomes.
Looking ahead, they are preparing to pursue an MD/PhD. This path will allow them to integrate clinical patient care with their advocacy for systemic healthcare changes, especially for underserved populations. They aim to not only treat individuals but also shape the healthcare policies that impact communities at large.
Shania Persaud
Nonprofit Management and Policy Intern
Shania Persaud is a rising senior at Baruch College/Macaulay Honors College, majoring in Operations Management and Consulting. She is passionate about healthcare and committed to making a positive impact on others. Last summer, she interned at Havas Health & You, a healthcare advertising agency, where she served as a Project Management Intern and co-led a nonprofit marketing campaign.Â
This past winter, she studied abroad in London, learning about the National Health Service and exploring ways to improve hospital efficiency. This summer, she looks forward to working with Mission: Cure as a Nonprofit Management and Policy Intern, advancing efforts to find a cure for pancreatitis.
Julian Morales
Research Intern
Julian Morales is a research intern at Mission: Cure. Julian is a recent graduate from Macaulay Honors College at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and majored in forensic science with a concentration in criminalistics. During his collegiate career, Julian has worked on cancer research, looking into the effect of microRNAs in the development of breast cancer in underrepresented communities, and genetic biostatistics to explore the under-examined evolutionary trends within microRNAs and how they contribute to the development of human uniqueness.Â
Since 2022, Julian has also worked as a college mentor, supporting highschool students in their journey towards higher education. Pursuing his passion for giving back to the community through science to ensure health equity, Julian is excited about the critical work being done at Mission: Cure towards its goal to improve patients’ lives.Â