Who we are

members of the Upstage Lung Cancer board
Board members gather outside for a meeting.

Upstage Lung Cancer is a volunteer-run nonprofit founded in 2007. Some of us are lung cancer survivors; some are the friends and the family of the many whose lives have been affected by lung cancer; some are dedicated physicians who care for our patients diagnosed with lung cancer; and some are members of the Arts community who are committed to fighting lung cancer. Our aim is to use musical and theatrical entertainment to raise funds to accomplish our mission. Read our founder’s story.

Our Vision

To advocate for early detection in lung cancer – our vision is to help increase detection and diagnosis rates by 50%.

Our Mission

  • To promote awareness, advance understanding, and remove the social stigma of lung cancer.
  • To raise funds for research and innovation in early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer.
  • The first cancer charity to exclusively use music and the performing arts to accomplish our mission.

Our Values

  • Integrity: Committed to honesty, fairness and transparency
  • Responsibility: Accountable to say what we’ll do and do what we say
  • Teamwork: Celebrate working together in a positive, collaborative, and constructive way
  • Caring: Maintain passion in all our efforts and events

Our Organization at a Glance

Board Members

Executive

Hildy Grossman, founder and president
Hildy GrossmanFounder & President
Sumati Ram Mohan
Sumati Ram-MohanVice President
Anna Muse, ULC Board member
Anna MuseTreasurer
Jessica Newman, Clerk
Jessica NewmanClerk

Board of Directors

Dale Appel
Dale Appel
Sachi Badola
Sachi Badola
Marcia Barron
Lauren Coye, board
Lauren Coye
Ben Glickman
Ben Glickman
Karen Hamel
Karen Hamel
Susannah Hill
Susannah Hill
Ethan Rawl, Board
Ethan Rawl
Niccole Schaible
Niccole Schaible
Claire Shafer, ULC Board member
Claire Shafer
Jim Swaim
James Swaim
Don Warnock
Donald Warnock

Advisors

Crispin Weinberg
Crispin WeinbergSenior Advisor
Susan Gessner
Susan GessnerDevelopment Advisor
Jacy Dawn Valeras, Digital Marketing Specialist
Jacy Dawn ValerasDigital Marketing Specialist

Medical Advisory Board

Francine L. Jacobson, MD, MPH
Thoracic Radiologist, Brigham & Womens Hospital

Andrea McKee, MD
Lahey Medical Center

Deborah Morosini, MD
Pathologist and Patient Advocate

Jacob Sands, MD
Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Lecia V. Sequist, MD
Thoracic Oncologist and Researcher, Mass General Hospital

Form 990

CAUSE OF DEATH: Lung Cancer

Dashiell Hammett

Dashiell Hammett

Author, Political Activist

May 27, 1894 - Jan 10, 1961
Vincent Price

Vincent Price

Actor, Art Collector and Consultant

May 27, 1911 - Oct 25, 1993
Dana Reeves

Dana Reeves

Actress, Activist for Disabilities

Mar 17, 1961 - Mar 6, 2006
Andy Kaufman

Andy Kaufman

Performance Artist/Entertainer

Jan 17, 1949 - May 16, 1984
Linda Lavin

Linda Lavin

TV’s “Alice” and Tony Winner

Oct 15, 1937 - Dec 29, 2024