Dr. Vera Packard is originally from Brazil, where she earned her Medical Degree, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas De Pernambuco, Brazil, and specialized in breast disease, particularly in breast cancer at Guys Hospital in London. In her home country, she worked in private practice in addition to the University Hospital for 20 years.

Dr. Packard has a deep commitment to women’s health issues which inspired her to found a nonprofit organization devoted to breast cancer awareness in 1997 in Brazil. With over 20 years’ experience in nonprofit leadership, Dr. Packard became the Executive Director for the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation where she led a talented, dedicated staff on a mission to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors in the San Francisco Bay Area. She joined Lazarex Cancer Foundation as its Executive Director in October of 2017 and is committed to its mission and success.

The Lazarex Foundation provides supporting services for late stage cancer patients to find and participate in clinical trials. Vera believes in communities coming together to help each other. She has served as president of her former Rotary club in Brazil and was a leader in the medical community in Natal, Brazil. She is currently on the board member of Wardrobe for Opportunity, an organization that helps men and women find a job, keep a job and build a career.

Vera is excited to join The Latino Cancer Institute Board of Directors because, being a Latina, she deeply understands the cultural behavior of this community. She believes she can add value to this emerging organization with the combination of her experience as a doctor in Brazil and knowledge about the nonprofit sector in America she has acquired in the past 10 years.

Vera is married to Mark, and has a beautiful family. Their daughter Mac, and son Tiago, with his new wife Georgea, are all proud to call Northern California home.

Notable Awards & Recognition:
“Outstanding Business Woman” presented by the American Business Women’s Association Bay Area Council; “Ruby Award” presented by the Soroptimist 24-680 Club from Walnut Creek, CA; “1 of the 100 Women of Influence” presented by the Silicon Valley Business Journal.