Community Champion: Caitlin Brammer
We are honored to introduce you to Community Champion Caitlin Brammer. She is a long-time volunteer and a legacy caregiver of her mom, Judy. After losing her mom to cholangiocarcinoma, she became a dedicated volunteer as a Research Advocate. Since 2023, she’s found a unique way to connect with our community through her art by designing an art piece for the annual conference.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a clinical research professional based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I work with the Infectious Diseases of Immunocompromised Hosts team at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. My work is primarily focused on infectious epidemiology and outcomes for pediatric oncology and transplant patients—a field I am deeply passionate about. I’ve always believed that rigorous, data-driven research is the most powerful tool we have to improve the lives of our most vulnerable patients. While I currently hold a Master’s in Medical Sciences, I am excited to begin an MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics this fall to further enhance my team’s research and ensure our findings translate into better real-world outcomes for the children and families we serve.
How have you been involved with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation?
I have been incredibly grateful to serve the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation in many different capacities over the years. My journey began as a Research Advocate, a role that remains the heart of my involvement today. However, my passion for holistic support led me to join the CARE Team, specifically tasked with creating the Wellness for Life program. Though the program was live for about a year starting in 2021, the time and energy I poured into its initial development and launch remain incredibly meaningful to me.
Since 2023, I’ve also found a unique way to connect with our community through my art. I now have the honor of designing the large-scale collaborative art piece for our annual conference, which in-person attendees can color together throughout the event.
Whether I am helping organize the Light it Green database, conducting outreach to healthcare providers, or personally thanking our donors, I remain deeply committed to this foundation. I am always looking for ways to bridge the gap between clinical research and the shared, human experience of the community we serve.
What has been the most meaningful part of your involvement?
While every aspect of my involvement has been rewarding, the most meaningful part has been the opportunity to transform a personal history of loss into a source of hope and connection for others. I lost my mother to Cholangiocarcinoma while I was in college, and years later, my family faced this disease again with my paternal grandfather. My work with the foundation has been a vital part of my own healing process, helping me navigate and process that grief in a productive way.
The collaborative art pieces I create for the conference hold a particularly special place in my heart. What started as a simple project has evolved into a deeply detailed and intentional tradition that I look forward to every year. As I design these pieces, I view them as a way to honor my mother and grandfather—especially my mom, who was an artist herself. Creating something beautiful for this community allows me to feel a continued connection to them, and seeing the community bring those pieces to life through color is a powerful reminder that we are all in this together.
What message would you like to share with others in the cholangiocarcinoma community?
My message to this community is that you are part of a movement that is moving toward hope every single day. To those navigating a diagnosis or supporting a loved one: stay curious and stay empowered. Research is the bridge to our future, and because of the progress we are making together, more and more patients are surviving and thriving.
Please know you don’t have to carry the weight of this journey alone. Whether you are a patient, a caregiver, or a researcher, we are a community built on shared strength. Just like the art we color together at the conference, our individual stories are unique, but when we join forces, we create a powerful momentum. You are the heart of why we do this work, and your resilience fuels our commitment to turning research into cures. Keep leaning on one another—there is immense power in our connection and our progress.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I just want to express my deepest gratitude to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Having the opportunity to contribute through both clinical research advocacy and art has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. I am constantly inspired by this community’s resilience, and I am honored to stand alongside you as we work toward a future where this disease is a thing of the past.