Christa Kerkorian is vice president of Patient Advocacy at Day One Bio, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing new, more effective, and safer treatments for children with cancer. Day One’s clinical programs are focused on pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG) and other pediatric and adult solid tumors. Christa joined Day One in 2021 to establish the Patient Advocacy function and support Day One’s clinical programs in pLGG, as well as to lead outreach and support for the broader pediatric cancer patient community. Her approach to patient advocacy has centered around establishing trusting, long-lasting relationships with patients, families, and advocates, elevating their voices, and facilitating community and capacity building to advance shared goals.
Prior to joining Day One, Christa spent 6 years at Agios Pharma, where she led Patient Advocacy in oncology and rare genetic diseases. Her work with these communities included grass-roots and grass-tops partnerships and bringing communities together with pharma for long-term collaboration. Before joining Agios, Christa spent nine years in Managed Care at Genentech. Her areas of expertise were patient access and communications, first with Genentech’s patient assistance programs and then in managed care marketing.
