We’re thrilled to share some incredible news.
At this year’s NL Health Innovation Summit 2025, The Heather Cutler Foundation’s Volunteer, Rayah Vokey, presented CareCircle Connect NL alongside NL Health Services’ very own Julia Parsons.
Out of 84 submissions, CareCircle Connect NL was selected as one of the top three finalists in the Cancer Care Track — and will now receive funding to launch.
Developed through collaboration between The Heather Cutler Foundation and NL Health Services’ Julia Parsons, this initiative is designed to bridge some of the most critical gaps in rural and psychosocial cancer care.
CareCircle Connect NL will help caregivers and people living with cancer—including those facing pancreatic cancer—access centralized tools, community supports, and mental health resources, all in one simple, easy-to-use platform.
“Our goal is to reimagine how we connect cancer patients, families, and care teams—especially in rural Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Christopher Cutler. “This proposal represents what happens when empathy meets evidence, and local expertise drives national impact.”
Julia Parsons, a registered social worker with NL Health Services, specializes in Mental Health and Addictions and is completing her Master of Social Work. Her academic work focuses on young adults affected by cancer, a field shaped by her own experience supporting her fiancé through treatment.
She was joined by Rayah Vokey, a Behavioural Neuroscience Honours Student at Memorial University and dedicated volunteer with The Heather Cutler Foundation. Raised in Clarenville, Rayah’s early experiences in rural health inspired her vision of becoming a physician dedicated to underserved communities.
“This initiative shows how local collaboration can lead to meaningful, scalable innovation in cancer care,” said Julia. “It’s about making psychosocial support more accessible, personal, and connected—no matter where someone lives.”
For those of us advocating for stronger national standards in pancreatic cancer care, CareCircle Connect NL represents real, measurable progress. It’s the kind of compassionate, community-driven innovation that gives hope to families across Newfoundland and Labrador—and beyond.
Thank you to everyone who’s signed, shared, and supported this petition. You’re helping turn advocacy into action.
Together, we’re showing that when compassion meets innovation, change happens. 💜 Watch the presentation below.