Living the Mission Award

Shinya Suzuki, MS, PhD, JOP

Organization: National Cancer Center Hospital East
Location: Japan

Shinya Suzuki is a chief pharmacist at the National Cancer Hospital East in Japan. His first work experience was “a community pharmacist” in a small city in Japan, after he graduated from pharmacy school in 2004. After he became a board-certified oncology pharmacist (Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist, Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences-certified Oncology Pharmacist, Board Certified Senior Pharmacists) in 2013 after he finished his residency at the National Cancer Hospital East in 2011. During the clinical work experiences, Shinya earned his master’s degree (clinical pharmacy) in 2005 and his Ph.D. degree (medical sciences) in 2020 from the University of Toyama.

Shinya has been one of the board members of the Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Oncology (JASPO), which has over 5,000 members, since 2016, and a chair of the External Relations Committee which includes the International Communication Committee. He is one of the young board members of the society. He candidate to the position because he wanted to make international communications committee in the JASPO.

Shinya’s research interest is evidence of clinical pharmacy service because he is a clinical pharmacist at the most important cancer center in Japan. His major research articles about the area are follows: “The impact of pharmacist certification on the quality of chemotherapy in Japan” (Int J Clin Pharm. 2016;38(5):1326–35), ”Chemotherapy regimen checks performed by pharmacists contribute to safe administration of chemotherapy” (J Oncol Pharm Pract, 2017;23(1):18-25) and “A nationwide survey of hospital pharmacist’s interventions on polypharmacy in palliative care in Japan” (J Pharm Health Care Sci. 2019;5:14, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40780-019-0143-5). He is one of the famous clinical pharmacists in head and neck cancer area in Japan, because his hospital is well known for the area and has authored many textbooks in the area as a clinical pharmacist. He is also interested in community health care coordination since he himself was a community pharmacist in the past and one of the missions of JASPO are same. The JAPSO has a board certification program of ambulatory pharmacy care in oncology and its role is getting more important in Japan. His major research articles about the area are follows: “Multicentre prospective observational study on community pharmacist interventions to reduce inappropriate medications” (Int J Pharm Pract. 2022;30(5):427-433), “A nationwide survey of community pharmacist contributions to polypharmacy in opioid-using and non-using cancer patients in Japan” (Biol Pharm Bull. 2019;42(7):1164-1171)” and “Evaluation of community pharmacist ability to ensure the safe use of oral anticancer agents: a nationwide survey in Japan” (Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2017;47(5):413-421).

Memberships of professional societies are as followed: International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) (board member 2015-2016, Research committee member 2016-), European Society of Oncology Pharmacy (ESOP) (delegate member 2014-), Japanese Society of Pharmaceutical Health Care and Sciences (delegate 2021-).

Shinya’s mission is “Make differences through JASPO’s activities” and his vision is “Any Contributions for All Cancer Patients”.

George Patrinos, PhD

Organization: University of Patras School of Health Sciences
Location: Greece

George P. Patrinos is Professor of Pharmacogenomics and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in the University of Patras (Greece), Department of Pharmacy and holds adjunct Professorships at Erasmus MC, Faculty of Medicine, Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and the United Arab Emirates University, College of Medicine, Department of Genetics and Genomics, Al-Ain (UAE). Also, since 2018, he is currently Co-Chair of the Global Genomic Medicine Collaborative (G2MC). He served for 12 years as Full Member and Greece’s National representative in the CHMP Pharmacogenomics Working Party of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

George is currently Director of the Laboratory of Pharmacogenomics and Individualized Medicine, the first officially established academic laboratory on pharmacogenomics in Greece and Head of Division of Pharmacology and Biosciences. His group has keen interest in research covering disciplines from wet and dry lab and public health genomics projects, all focusing on pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. In particular, his research interests involve discovery work and clinical implementation of pharmacogenomics, focusing in particular in psychiatry but also cardiology and oncology, genomics of rare disorders and transcriptional regulation of human fetal globin genes. Moreover, George’s group is internationally recognized for its involvement in developing National/Ethnic Genetic databases to document the genetic heterogeneity in different populations worldwide and of genome informatics tools to translate genomic information into a clinically meaningful format. Also, George’s group has a keen interest in public health genomics to critically assess the impact of genomics to society and public health.

George has more than 300 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, some of them in leading scientific journals, such as The Lancet, Nature Genetics, Nature Rev Genet, Nucleic Acids Res, Genes Dev. Also, he has co-authored and co-edited more than 15 textbooks, among which the renowned textbook “Molecular Diagnostics”, published by Academic Press, now in its 3 rd edition, while he is the editor of “Translational and Applied Genomics” book series. Furthermore, he serves as EditorIn-Chief of the prestigious Pharmacogenomics Journal (TPJ), published by Nature Publishing Group, Associate Editor and member of the editorial board of several scientific journals, such as Human Mutation, Human Genetics, Human Genomics, Pharmacogenomics, etc and has been a member of several international boards and advisory and evaluation committees.

Apart from that, George is the main co-organizer of the Golden Helix Conferences, an international meeting series on Pharmacogenomics and Genomic Medicine with more than 50 conferences organized in more than 25 countries worldwide.

Kashyap Patel, MD

Organization: Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates
Location: United States

Kashyap Patel, MD is the CEO of Carolina Blood and Cancer Care Associates. He has a practice with 8 providers. He is the President for the Community Oncology Alliance. He interacts regularly with the US congress and Senate as well as CMMI, White House on healthcare policy related issues for cancer patients. Dr Patel has carried out capitol hill briefing on topics ranging from Precision Medicine to PBMs and he has also testified in the state senate as well as has briefed senate and house staff on multiple healthcare related issues. His name has been entered in permanent congressional records on 12/14/22 for his contribution to the healthcare.

He is a consultant Medical Director for the Blue Cross Blue Shields of SC. He is also the Medical Director of the International Oncology Network. He is the author of a book published by the Penguin Randomhouse India, www.betweenlifeanddeath.org.

He is Associate Editor in Chief of the EBO publication of the American Journal of Managed Care. He has a special interest in health care disparities, value-based care, and the end-of-life care. He has had extensive research experience in the field of oncology and has published and/or presented over 100 articles/abstracts in journals and/or meetings (nationally and internationally). He has had ASCO merit awards during fellowship and Living the Mission Award and Lifetime achievements awards from national cancer associations (ACCC, NCODA). In India he had worked both as a journalist and photojournalist. He has started a foundation to support uninsured cancer patients -No One Left Alone (NOLA); https://www.nooneleftalone.org/

He has been interviewed and have featured in multiple national media including Washington Post, New York Times, CBS news, NPR just to name a few.

Distinguished honors:

• 2022 Nominee; Ellis Island Medal of Honor
• Living the Mission Award NCODA
• Associate Editor In Chief, AJMC-Evidence Based Oncology
• American Society of Clinical Oncology Research MERIT AWARD-2002, 2001
• 2023 Fellow of Association of Community Cancer Centers
• Executive Council Member, NCODA International Chapters
• Associate Professor, VCOM, Spartanburg

Victor Lisboa, MD

Organization: Hematologist | OncoClinicas
Location: Brazil

Victor Lisboa is a Hematologist from Brazil. He was born in Salvador-Bahia, where he graduated in Medicine at the Federal University of Bahia in 2010. After his graduation, he decided to volunteer for the Brazilian Army, and spent 1 year as one of the general practioneers of the medical ward at the Army´s Salvador General Hospital. Victor passed the exams for the specialization in Internal Medicine (2012) at São Paulo University (USP) and moved to Ribeirão Preto (São Paulo). Victor passed the following exams for the specialization in Hematology at the same institution and continued at USP – Ribeirão Preto for the next 2 years (2014 and 2015). In 2015, Victor spent 1 month at Germans Trias y Puyol Hospital in Barcelona-Spain.

In 2016, Victor returned to Salvador, Bahia, and started to work in 3 different institutions, where he still works nowadays. Victor treats onco-hematologist outpatients at Nucleo de Oncologia da Bahia (NOB), one of the oncology Clinics of the Oncoclinicas do Brasil group. Victor is one of the Hematologists at the HHemo Blood Bank, where he treats benign blood diseases, discuss about Transfusion Medicine, aspirate/biopsy and analysis bone marrow smears. Victor is also the coordinator hematologist of the medical ward and Transfusion Agency of Teresa de Lisieux Hospital.

Victor´s main area of interest is chronic lymphoproliferative diseases. He also likes treating chronic myeloproliferative diseases. He´s jobs are mainly at private medicine.

Christine Lariviere, BPharm

Organization: Lariviere et Massicotte Pharmacies, Inc.
Location: Canada

Dynamic, innovative and passionate, Christine is recognized for her inclusive, multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to pharmacy practice, with a focus on creating synergies between hospitals and community pharmacies, which improves service to patients in Quebec. As a pharmacist with 30 years of experience at all levels of the pharmaceutical supply chain, Christine is committed to providing a high level of service and care to patients with an inclusive approach to improve patient experiences and health outcomes. As well, she has always been able to provide excellent results, establish solid industry relationships, while constantly acquiring the knowledge and expertise necessary to deliver optimal performance.

At Pfizer, she stood out for the quality of the programs and training courses for pharmacists she created, as well as for her client relationships (chains and banners, and pharmacy faculties across Canada).

As Director, Professional Activities at Groupe Jean Coutu inc., she contributed to improving the professional image and services of the chain’s 300 branches and 1,500 pharmacists.

Her effectiveness stems in part from her vast experience as a lead pharmacist in the community pharmacy sector, Director of Professional Activities for Quebec’s largest pharmacy chain and from her roles as National Manager Pharmacy Programs and Services and National Customer Manager Pharmacists –Pharmacies at Pfizer.

In 2015, along with her partner Hélène Massicotte, Christine acquired a pharmacy (LMP)with a specialized vocation, primarily in oncology.There she developed an innovative concept that offer her team’s expertise in oncology to all the community pharmacists across the province ofQuebec. Since the pharmacy does not dispense any other medications(neither over-the-counter nor prescription)other than complex drug therapies, LMP allows family pharmacists who do not feel comfortable dispensing these types of products to their patients to work with LMP’s pharmacists. Community pharmacists can then, with their patients’ consent, transfer prescriptions for any specialized treatments to their colleagues at LMP who will then dispense them, and provide follow-ups and supervision as required, both from a clinical perspective and from an adjudication and relation with insurers perspective. This way, community pharmacists benefit from expert pharmacists who can take care of the single specialized treatment, while remaining in charge of their patients’ other medications. LMP pharmacists maintain the communication continuum with the community pharmacy, the medical team, and of course the patient.As well, LMP pharmacists ensure that patients’ family pharmacists have all the supportive treatments on hand that patients may need during their treatment.

Christine has published several articles and possesses teaching experience in two Quebec universities. Over the years, she has been involved in several committees of provincial, national and international pharmaceutical associations.She has recognized skills in personal management, client relations and business development. She excels in the art of stimulating interest in a given topic and motivating her colleagues and audiences. Her openness to new ideas and trends allows her to combine rigour with creativity. She has extensive knowledge of the healthcare sector and firmly believes in a multidisciplinary and intradisciplinary approach to practice. An associate clinician, Christine enjoys involving her trainees in various clinical projects that are often times cutting-edge.

Natasha Khrystolubova, RPh, BCOP

Organization: Rx To Go | Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Location: United States

Natasha Khrystolubova is the Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services at Rx To Go, the medically integrated pharmacy for Florida Cancer Specialists& Research Institute(FCS). Natasha is actively involved in the development and management of innovative clinical programs to optimize oral oncology medications across the statewide practice, with a primary focus on patient medication adherence and persistence on therapy. As a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist with a graduate certification in Precision Medicine from the University of Florida, Natasha takes a lead role in developing, implementing, and expanding comprehensive clinical education on drug efficacy, safety, and side effect management. Natasha’s responsibilities include participation in the FCS Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee, Precision Medicine Advisory Board for Amerisource-Bergen, collaboration with the FCS Informatics team, and working closely with pharmaceutical companies on launching new oral targeted therapies in oncology.

Natasha’s clinical expertise has allowed her to make significant contributions to advancing the position of Rx To Go and FCS towards excellence and prominence. She is a well-respected, exemplary leader within community oncology and has a great vision for patient care in a community-based, real-world setting.

Natasha graduated from the Medical Institute/ Pharmacy faculty in Irkutsk, Russia. She received her pharmacy license in the US in 1996. Prior to joiningFCSin 2011, Natasha held clinical pharmacist and leadership positions in hospitals and home-infusion specialty pharmacy settings. She is a member of several professional pharmacy associations, including NCODA and HOPA, and serves as an advisor to help develop standard guidance and practices for managing the use of oral medications in cancer care.

In her spare time, Natasha enjoys jogging, reading a good thriller, listening to podcasts, traveling the world, and cycling in Europe.

Steven Bloom, BPharm

Organization: Transgene
Location: United States & France

Steven Bloom is a seasoned executive with 35 years of experience across multiple health care business models. Steve started his career at Eli Lilly and Company where he worked in many senior level roles including PROZAC USA Marketing Leader and Executive Lead in Corporate Affairs, which included patient advocacy and allied development. Steve left Lilly to help start up companies Inflexxion (addiction services) and Pharmetrics (health outcomes and patient level analytics) build and scale their business models as the executive responsible for Commercial Planning, Corporate Development, and Corporate Strategy. Pharmetrics was subsequently acquired by IMS Health in 2005. Steve joined ZIOPHARM Oncology (ZIOP) as SVP of Corporate Development and Commercial Planning and led the effort to build a business in both the sarcoma and lymphoma disease areas. Steve then served as Chief Strategy Officer at VERASTEM Oncology (VSTM) where his team led the effort to acquire duvelisib, which was approved by the FDA in September 2018 for CLL and FL. Steve was the Chief Business Officer at Boston Pharmaceuticals where he helped the company with commercial and business development strategy. He currently serves as Vice President and Chief Business Officer of Transgene, a biotech company that designs and develops virus-based immunotherapuetics against cancer. Steve graduated from Northeastern University College of Pharmacy in 1984 and has been an American Cancer Society Road to Recovery driver since 2008. Steve is President and Director of the CLL Society based in Chula Vista, CA.

Khalid El Bairi, MD

Organization: Cancer Biomarkers Working Group
Location: Morocco

Khalid El Bairi is the primary investigator of OVANORDEST studies and the founder of The Cancer Biomarkers Working Group, and he is currently pursuing clinical and translational research in medical oncology. He has published many peer-reviewed articles in the field of predictive and prognostic cancer biomarkers to improve survival outcomes in several WoS and Medline-indexed journals. His research focuses particularly on biomarkers for digestive and gynecological cancers such as ovarian and colorectal malignancies. He is currently a member of various international scientific societies such as the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO), and the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). He is also an editor and reviewer for more than 40 academic journals and a guest editor for several special issues on emerging topics in gynecological cancers such as platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. He is alsohighly interested in teaching evidence-based medicine, clinical research methods, and publishing ethics to medical and PhD students and was selected for the 70thLindau Nobel Laureate Meeting as a young scientist. He is also involved in “global oncology” initiatives through providing free training to young researchers across LMICs. He joined the ASCO Trainee & Early Career Advisory Group as a member for the 2022-2023 term.

Shreya Badhrinarayanan, MD, FRSPH

Organization: Genentech (Roche)
Location: United States

Dr. Shreya Badhrinarayanan is the Lead Medical Director for Clinical Development Oncology at Genentech, a subsidiary of Roche. In this role, she provides strategic direction for the development of new Immuno-Oncology drugs by leading cross-functional teams and conducting medical monitoring of clinical trials. Prior to her current position, she served as a Physician with the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, where she made significant contributions to clinical and research initiatives.

Thriving in the field of medical leadership and management, Dr. Badhrinarayanan received the Edward Jenner Award from the NHS Leadership Academy. To further her passion for teaching, she served as an Honorary Lecturer in Medical Education and Simulation at the University of Adelaide Medical School, Australia. Her wide range of interests varies from AI in health care to D&I initiatives that have been embodied through her contributions to print and media as well as at conferences across the globe. In addition, she is the editor/reviewer of numerous high-impact journals including the British Medical Journal.

For her work and commitment towards public health, Dr. Badhrinarayanan was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, UK. She received her medical degree from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, UK with numerous accolades. In her spare time, she volunteers as a part of the UCSF medical team supporting sporting events across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Marko Skelin, MPharm, PhD

Organization: General Hospital Sibenik
Location: Zagreb, Croatia

Marko Skelinis a Clinical Pharmacy specialist working in the hospital setting. He obtained the PhDdegree in the field of Biomedicine and Health (Pharmacy) at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry. Also, he is Assistant Professor at the Medical faculty in Rijeka and external expert of Croatian drug agency. He is a member of the Board of Directors of European Society for Oncology Pharmacy and member of the general assembly of European Cancer Organization.Marko Skelin has experience in medication therapy management and he has been involved in the projects promoting the EU development of integrated cancer care.He has publishedmore than 30 articles with some of them publishedin top peer-reviewed medical journals, e.g.NEJM, JAMA, JAMA Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Stephen Ziter, MBA

Organization: NCODA
Location: Albany, NY

Stephen graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy and Heath Sciences with a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. He received his MBA in Healthcare Management from Clarkson University. After graduation, Stephen spent several years developing and implementing medical scribe programs throughout New York State. In March of 2018, Stephen accepted a position as the Associate Manager of Stakeholder Engagement at NCODA, Inc., where he oversaw the development of several new organizational resources, including NCODA’s Treatment Support Kits, NCODA’s print publication Oncolytics Today, and NCODA’s College Engagement initiative which includes Professional Student Organization chapters, elective oncology APPE rotation, as well as NCODA’s two fellowship programs. In his current role as Director of Operations, Stephen leads a diverse team and is responsible for the development of a comprehensive patient-centered communication strategy. He coordinates with NCODA organizational leadership, team members and external stakeholders.

John Marshall, MD

Organization: Otto J Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Georgetown University
Location: Washington, DC

Dr. Marshall received his training at Duke University, the University of Louisville, and Georgetown University. Dr. Marshall is an internationally recognized expert in new drug development for GI cancer, with expertise in phase I, II, and III trial design, and has served as Principal Investigator for more than one hundred clinical trials throughout his career. While he has an interest in many areas of cancer research, his primary focus is on the use of precision medicine in treating cancer. Dr. Marshall has become an outspoken advocate for GI cancer patients and the importance of clinical research participation. In 2009, he established the Otto J Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancers, an organization solely focused on improving the lives of GI cancer patients through innovative research, personalized medicine, and focused advocacy. In 2015, Dr. Marshall both established and directed the Precision Oncology Alliance, a national alliance established to study the impact of molecular profiling on cancer research, value and outcomes. He currently is serving as the Oncology CMO for Indivumed, creating a global precision medicine research network. In 2020, he and his wife published “Off Our Chests, A Candid Tour Through the World of Cancer”. In 2022, he became the inaugural Physician Executive Director of the MedStar Washington DC Integrated Hematology Oncology Division.

Xylina T. Gregg, MD

Organization: Utah Cancer Specialists (UCS)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah

Dr. Xylina Gregg is a physician partner of Utah Cancer Specialists (UCS), Salt Lake City, Utah, and is Medical Director for UCS’ Laboratory and Imaging Services. She is the current President of the Society of Utah Medical Oncologists (SUMO) and is the 2022-23 Chair of the ASCO State Affiliate Council. She graduated Summa Cum Laude at Baylor University and with High Honors at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. After completing a fellowship in Hematology Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she was a recipient of an American Society of Hematology (ASH) Travel Award, Dr. Gregg was an Assistant Professor at UAB and a member of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. She subsequently joined Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, a multi-specialty clinic in Houston, Texas, where she was Hematology/Oncology Section Chief, Cancer Liaison Physician for the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer and was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Gregg has served on the ASH Committee on Practice, as the Utah Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee Hematology Representative, and as a Blood reviewer. She was Co-Chair of the NCODA Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 meetings. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and major Hematology texts, including multiple editions of Williams’ Hematology and Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice.

Scott Freeswick, PharmD, MS

Organization: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Location: New York City, New York

Scott Freeswick, PharmD, MS is currently Vice President/Chief Pharmacy Officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and has been in his current role since 2015. Prior to this role, Scott was Associate Director of Chemotherapy Practice & Investigational Drug Service at MSK, where is he has been most of his career. Scott serves as Vice Chair of Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers Pharmacy Group, is a Member of NCCN Pharmacy Directors Forum, Chair of Vizient Oncology Network and serves on the New York Blood Center Institutional Review Board. He is from the New York City area and earned a BS in Pharmacy from St. John’s University, a MS in Drug Regulatory Affairs from Long Island University, Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, and a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the University of Kansas. His areas of interest include Biosimilars, Site of Care, and Research.

Gurjyot (Gury) Doshi, MD

Organization: Texas Oncology
Location: Houston, Texas

Dr. Doshi treats various cancers including breast cancer, lung and colon cancer as well as other cancers. In addition, she treats benign and malignant blood disorders. Prior to joining Texas Oncology in 2010, Dr. Doshi was an assistant professor in the Division of Oncology at The University of Texas in the Texas Medical Center.

Dr. Gury Doshi is associate chair of the genitourinary committee of US Oncology Research. She joined the genitourinary committee program in 2012 and has quickly risen as a leader serving as US Oncology Research principal investigator for multiple studies and as a top enroller to clinical trials year after year. Her special interest is in treatment of genitourinary tumors; prostate, kidney and bladder cancers. She conducts clinical research trials at her Memorial City office. Her research publications include a review on sequencing therapies in metastatic renal cell carcinoma, and the use of morphoproteomic analysis to determine selection of therapy in kidney cancer.

Luis Campos, MD

Organization: Oncology Consultants
Location: Houston, Texas

Dr. Campos is the Founder and current President of Oncology Consultants in Houston, Texas. He served as President of the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology from 2008-2010. He is also a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Texas Medical Association, Harris County Medical Society, Fort Bend Medical Society, MD Anderson Associates, and the Peruvian American Medical Society.

Meg Butler, PharmD

Organization: Clearview Cancer Institute
Location: Huntsville, AL

Meg is currently the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations at Clearview Cancer Institute (CCI) in Huntsville, AL. CCI is Alabama’s largest community oncology practice with 23 Hematology/Oncology doctors, over 35 advanced practice providers, and 12 locations across north and central Alabama. Meg graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Biomedical Science and a minor in Italian. Meg then received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Harrison School of Pharmacy in 2011. After graduation, Meg worked as a CVS for 5 years. In 2015 she joined the CCI team as a staff pharmacist and in 2019 she was promoted to Ambulatory Pharmacy Manager at CCI. As the Ambulatory Pharmacy Manager, Meg managed the medically integrated pharmacy (MIP) at CCI. Meg has guided the pharmacy through ACHC, URAC and NCODAs pharmacy accreditations. Meg also controls the business side of the MIP by overseeing/handling the payments from insurers and managing drug contracts through the GPO. in January of 2023 she took over as Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations at CCI. She still manages the MIP and serves as the supervisor of the prior authorization department, patient advocate team, patient assistance coordinators, and manages the IV pharmacies at all locations. An integral part of her job is building and managing regimens within the EHR at CCI, managing the internal pathways for CCI, and answering clinical questions.

Martin Whalen, MBA

Organization: Bristol Myers Squibb
Location: Sweden

Marty Whalen is General Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb’s European Union (EU) cluster where he leads the full BMS portfolio and PnL across 10 countries currently based in Stockholm, Sweden. Marty joined BMS 9 years ago in 2014 where he has served in several commercial roles across access, marketing, and sales. The majority of roles whilst at BMS have been in the Oncology and Hematology space where he has led, launched and grown numerous assets across the immuno-oncology, multiple myeloma, and myeloid clinical areas.

Prior to BMS, Marty led the Managed Care group at Essilor of America, a Vision / Optical company based in Dallas, Texas. Prior to that Marty spent 17 years at Pfizer where he started his civilian career in sales and held numerous commercial positions of increasing responsibility across the managed care, marketing, and general management functions.

Marty is a graduate of The United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the US Army as a field artillery officer. He received his MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas. Marty and his wife, Shelley, of 27 years have three sons.

Other than spending his time with Shelley and their sons playing sports and being outdoors, Marty volunteers his time and energy to The V Foundation for Cancer Research where he serves on the advisory board as well as other community and veteran focused initiatives at BMS and throughout Buck’s Country, Pennsylvania.

Stacey McCullough, PharmD

Organization: NCODA
Location: Tennessee

As the Chief Pharmacy Officer at NCODA, Stacey leads strategic initiatives meticulously crafted to align with the organization’s mission of building a patient-centered, medically integrated community. Her operational expertise and clinical acumen enable her to seamlessly integrate clinical insights into NCODA’s initiatives, ensuring a forward-looking approach focused on maximizing the benefits of cancer treatment for every patient. Stacey’s role exemplifies her ability to bridge clinical services with organizational objectives, fostering synergy for long-term success in improving patient outcomes and ensuring access to essential medications.

During her tenure at Tennessee Oncology, as Senior Vice President of Pharmacy, Stacey spearheaded transformative initiatives that significantly elevated patient care standards. She played a pivotal role in pioneering a centralized specialty pharmacy program, securing vital accreditations, and driving integration efforts. Stacey’s dedication to continuous learning and professional development fostered a top-performing team and ensured consistent revenue growth. Her active engagement in industry-wide initiatives, including serving on national advisory boards, advocacy on legislative initiatives, and her consultative roles with leading oncology firms underscore her profound impact on shaping strategic conversations and practices within the healthcare landscape.

Stacey’s thought leadership continues to drive positive change across the industry, advocating for innovative solutions to address the nuanced challenges of oncology care and championing patient-centric care. Through strategic leadership, collaborative partnerships, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, she aspires to continually creating collaborations and resources to improve cancer care delivery and patient outcomes.

Patrick Connelly, MBA

Organization: NCODA
Location: Michigan

Patrick (Pat) Connelly serves as the Chief Development and Strategy Officer at NCODA, a pivotal role that sees him shaping the organization’s growth strategy and long-term objectives. With a deep-seated belief in the potential of the pharmaceutical sector, Pat consistently endeavors to cultivate enriching collaborations between NCODA members and pharmaceutical partners, aiming to elevate patient outcomes via enhanced education.

In his role, Pat oversees multiple core divisions, such as Business Development, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Member Events, and Partner Agreements.

His journey prior to NCODA spanned a diverse 25 years in the pharmaceutical and biotech arenas. At Takeda Oncology, he served as the Head of US Strategy and Operations. As a part of the US Oncology Leadership Team, he had purview over areas like Launch Excellence, Marketing Operations, Digital Operations, and Learning and Development. His experience at Takeda also includes a notable tenure as a National Sales Leader. During these years, Pat was actively involved in nine oncology product launches and contributed to several post-acquisition integrations, demonstrating adaptability and commitment. Beyond Takeda, Pat amassed experience across functions in companies such as Millennium Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson.

Educationally, Pat boasts an MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Leadership from Oakland University and a BS from Hillsdale College. Off the professional grid, Michigan is where he calls home, enjoying moments with his family and passionately supporting blood drives as a regular donor.

Desi Kotis, PharmD

Organization: UCSF Health
Location: California

Dr. Desi Kotis is Chief Pharmacy Executive for UCSF Health System and Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs for UCSF School of Pharmacy.

Dr. Kotis received her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at the University of Illinois, where she also received her Doctor of Pharmacy. She completed a pharmacy residency at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Kotis was appointed fellow of ASHP in 2013 and received the President’s award from the Illinois Council Health System Pharmacists in 2015. She was also the recipient of the 2017 Pharmacist of the Year Award from Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists. Dr. Kotis is also serves as Vice Chair of the Illinois State Board of Pharmacy.

Dr. Kotis is a strategic academic medical center leader in hospital pharmacy management. She has been integral in expanding the role of the pharmacist and pharmacy technician into a comprehensive patient centered model in line with the ASHP PAI. She just completed her 3 years as Chair of the Vizient Academic Medical Center Pharmacy Network.

Peter Hillmen, MB, CHB, PHD

Organization: Apellis Pharmaceuticals
Location: United Kingdom

Professor Peter Hillmen is an Emeritus Professor of Haematology at the University of Leeds and since May 2022 has been employed by Apellis Pharmaceuticals. He qualified in Medicine at Leeds University Medical School in 1985 and completed his general medical training in Leeds in 1988. He then spent 5 years specialising in hematology at the Hammersmith Hospital including completing a PhD on the pathophysiology of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) under the supervision of Professor Lucio Luzzatto. He returned to Leeds in 1994 and was appointed Professor of Haematology at the University of Leeds in 2013. Professor Hillmen’s research interests include both paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Understanding the pathophysiology of CLL and developing novel therapies for the disease has been an interest of his since 1995. His group pioneered the use of measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment in CLL. He Chaired the NCRI CLL sub-group between 2002 and 2018 and Chaired the NCRI Haematological Oncology Research Group, which oversees UK trials in leukemia and related conditions, from 2017 to 2022. Prof Hillmen led the initial trials of eculizumab in PNH from 2002 and subsequently established the UK National PNH Service. He has been the Chief Investigator of many Phase I-III CLL Trials since 1996 including recently the NCRI FLAIR Trial. He was the Chair of the International PNH Interest Group (IPIG) and of the Executive Committee of the Global PNH Registry from 2004 to 2022. He is a member of the International Workshop on CLL (iwCLL) and was the Chair of the iwCLL Executive from 2019 to 2023. He has published over 250 papers mostly on PNH and CLL. In 2017 was awarded the Binet-Rai Medal for his outstanding contribution to CLL research and in December 2022 he delivered the Ernest Beutler lecture at the American Society of Hematology meeting recognizing his 30 years of research into PNH and complement inhibition.

Kim Le, PharmD

Organization: National Pharmacy Services
Location: United States

Kim Le, Pharm.D. is the Vice President, Clinical Pharmacy Services for National Pharmacy Services and provides executive business line leadership, direction, innovation, strategic planning and oversight for all national clinical pharmacy services and programs, quality, national drug use management initiatives and outcomes research, national pharmacy medication quality and drug intelligence and strategy. In the role, she is responsible for the development and execution of overall business line strategies to meet current service expectations; member growth and business expansion needs on both a regional and national basis. Dr. Le has a wide range of pharmacy experience, from her experiences as a Director of Pharmacy and Investigational Drug Services for USC Norris Cancer Hospital and Director of Value Engagement at TESARO, as well as, Health System Medication Safety and Informatics Officer and Core Formulary and Specialty Care Supervisor for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. She has also served as Director of Pharmacy at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and began her pharmacy clinical career as an oncology pharmacist at Saint Joseph Hospital in Orange, CA. Kim has developed expertise in pharmaceutical budgeting and forecasting, formulary development, pharmacy operations, investigational drugs, and the development and implementation of models for tracking and assessing drug use effectiveness and affordability. Kim received her Doctor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Science from Washington State University and completed a pharmacy residency at Desert Regional Medical Center.

Yen Nguyen, PharmD

Organization: Oncology Consultants
Location: Houston, TX

Yen obtained a PharmD from the University of Texas in Austin and BS from Texas A&M University in College Station. Being a pharmacist for 20+ years, her pharmacy background consists of PBMs, hospital, mail-order, retail chain, and community oncology. She was awarded three years straight as the fastest growing pharmacy in sales for the Southwest Region of over 140+ stores at Kroger. She then followed her passion of oncology by joining Oncology Consultants in 2006 as their in-office dispensing pharmacist. Fast forward, Oncology Consultants is now the largest independent physician private practice in Houston with 22 oncologists and 15 clinical sites. Since then, she has started 2 additional specialty pharmacies with dual specialty accreditation with URAC and ACHC designation in the same year. Yen was one of the original Advisory Members for Specialty Oncology Network for ION and currently serves on the Executive Board of National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA) and Community Oncology Pharmacy Alliance (COPA). She is the brainchild behind the NCODA’s Cost Avoidance Waste Tracker, NCODA Financial Assistance Tool, and the NCODA logo. She previously served as the Digital Strategist for NCODA. She is currently appointed to serve on the Public Policy Council for the Texas Pharmacy Association. Yen has extensive knowledge on GPOs, payer contracts, credentialing, pharmacy process and buildouts. In her spare time, she hobbies are golfing, fishing, and fooding.

DALLAS LAWRY, DNP, FNP-C, AOCNP

Organization: UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica Hospital
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Dallas is an oncology nurse by trade and by heart. She graduated from California State University Channel Islands with her BSN in 2014 and has worked at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, CA since then. During this time, she has spearheaded quality improvement projects that have been presented across the country, she has published an article on chemotherapy desensitization, and has led groups of nurses overseas to volunteer in providing basic medical screenings to the Tibetan Buddhist refugee population in India.

Her nursing niche is oncology and palliative care, where she fiercely advocates for patients along the entire trajectory of cancer care, from diagnosis to survivorship or hospice. Her passions include symptom management, increasing access to care, and improving the death literacy of communities through end-of-life education.

Dallas is at the forefront of her career, recently graduating with her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Loyola University New Orleans (2021). She implemented a novel referral program to increase access to cancer support services for oncology patients in Southern California for her DNP project. She has received the Nurse Scientist of the Year (UCLA, 2018) and the Nightingale Award (Loyola University New Orleans) for her commitment to the profession of nursing. She hopes to work in either palliative care or oncology as she embraces her new role as a nurse practitioner. She lives in her hometown of Ventura, CA, where she is surrounded by family.

Elzbieta Senkus-Konefka, MD, PhD

Organization: Medical University of Gdańsk
Location: Poland

Elzbieta Senkus-Konefka is an Associate Professor at the Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland. She graduated from the Medical University of Gdańsk and finished training in Radiation Oncology in 1998 and in Medical Oncology in 2004. In 1995 she obtained a PhD on brachytherapy of cervical cancer.

Her main scientific interests in breast cancer include molecular basis of this disease in high-risk patients and special phenotypes of breast cancer. She is a Faculty Member for Breast Cancer of ESMO and ESO and was involved (2015-2020) in developing international guidelines for early and metastatic breast cancer as the Section Editor of ESMO Guidelines Committee.

Since 2009 she is a Specialty Editor for “The Breast” and has been actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including courses organized by ESTRO, ESMO and ESO. She also served on Scientific Committees and/or Consensus Expert Panels of ESMO, European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) and Breast Cancer in Young Women (BCY) conferences. Since 2013 she is a member of the Steering Committee and in years 2017-19 served as a Secretary of the EORTC Breast Cancer Group.

She is involved as a leader or partner in research projects supported by national (Medical Research Agency, National Science Center) and international (Horizon 2020, COST) grants.

She has contributed to over 150 peer-reviewed publications, 20 book chapters and was a co-editor of 2 textbooks. Cumulated impact factor of publications: 1257; 11087 citations, h-score 44 (Scopus database, viewed Dec. 13, 2022).

She has two sons of 27 and 25. Her hobbies include traveling, skiing and designing jewelry.

Michael Reff, RPh, MBA

Organization: NCODA
Location: Cazenovia, NY

Michael Reff, RPh, MBA, is the Founder & Executive Director of NCODA. NCODA is the first patient-centered organization dedicated to shaping the value proposition for medically integrated oncology practices. NCODA supports a membership of over 6,000 healthcare practitioners employed at over 1,000 practice settings. Michael established The Patient Rx Center at Hematology/Oncology Associates of Central New York, a medically integrated oncology pharmacy service focused on positive patient experiences with oral oncolytics.

Michael serves on the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Oncology Medical Home Certification Program Task Force and served on their Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Steering Committee. He also served on the Association of Community Cancer Centers’ Editorial Board, Government Affairs Committee, National Renal Cell Cancer Advisory Committee, and Dispensing Pharmacy Project Committee. He shares his passion for patients through delivering presentations and publishing articles addressing the importance of the continuity of care for oral oncolytics. Michael has extensive pharmaceutical industry experience, spanning many disciplines including oncology research, corporate compliance, international supply chain and biologics manufacturing.

Neal Dave, PharmD

Organization: Texas Oncology
Location: Dallas, TX

Neal Dave is the Executive Director of Pharmacy for Texas Oncology which
oversees both oral and IV medications. Neal joined Texas Oncology in 2005
and has previously held roles as a Pharmacy Manager and Area Pharmacy
Manager. In addition, he is currently on the US Oncology’s P&T Exec Committee
and has been a member since 2018. Neal earned his PharmD degree from the
University of Texas.

Robert Ashford

Organization: NCODA
Location: Bloomsburg, PA

Rob Ashford is the current Director of Membership and Corporate Partner Strategy at NCODA. Prior to NCODA, Rob worked in various roles in diagnostics and oncology at Bayer Healthcare for 15 years. At Bayer, Rob worked across all oncology brands, having responsibility for community and academic centers and he was also responsible for national accounts as well as GPO responsibilities. During that time, he earned several national and international awards. Prior to joining Bayer, Rob worked for 23 years in the clinical setting, most of which was at The Bloomsburg Hospital, Geisinger Health System. While there, he worked as part of a multidisciplinary team and led the deployment of new imaging, diagnostic and therapeutic testing, as well as other initiatives in the radiology setting. Rob earned his bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University (PA), and also studied at the Imaging Science Institute at Charité Hospital in Berlin, Germany.

Carol Hemersbach, CPhT, BSHCA

Organization: Arizona Blood and Cancer Specialists
Location: Tucson, AZ

Hi, my name is Carol Hemersbach and I have been a pharmacy tech since the typewriter days, yes, that gives away my age. I started as a volunteer with the Red Cross when I was 13 years old at the local base hospital pharmacy. We had an assembly line, starting with the typing of the label, then would pass over to the fillers, and then there was someone handing out the prescriptions. On a busy day, we filled over 1000 prescriptions. I then went to a couple of retail pharmacies, where I was fortunate enough to have met Paul McCartney, that was so amazing, such a nice guy. My next venture out was in to the hospital pharmacy where I started as a clerk then worked up to technician (certification was not a requirement at that time) and then started working in Admix. We did not have a chemo hood, so we actually mixed chemo on the countertops as it was safer for the mixer (I can hear the gasps now).

I then moved out of state from Arizona to South Carolina where I was recruited to a Home Infusion company to do mixing and run the company. We also contracted with a local oncology office to do their chemotherapy admixtures, which is where I realized my love of Oncology. I moved back to Arizona and was hired on to a large oncology office to mix chemo and was given the extra duty of taking care of all the Prior auths and financial assistance for all oral oncolytics. We then opened up our own MID and was excited to be chosen to take care of our patients in a new way. I also obtained my bachelor’s in health care administration in 2018. I then moved to a new company where I was asked to initiate the MID program from the ground up and opened our first store in September 2020, since then opening up two other sites. I am currently the Supervisor for our MID.

I have also taken up a love of powerlifting and currently hold the state record for my age/weight class in deadlifts. I will be competing nationally in July in Vegas.

NCODA has been a huge part of my career and I am so grateful to be part of such an amazing organization that truly cares about patients. I have learned so much from others and NCODA has helped shape me and provide me with the knowledge needed to run the MID successfully, but more importantly, take care of cancer patients with compassion and empathy. OPTA is an amazing opportunity for growth as a technician within the oncology field. With so many members, there is just so much knowledge for us to learn from each other and bounce off one another so that we, as oncology pharmacy techs, can further provide the highest quality of care to our patients.

Kirollos S. Hanna, PharmD, BCOP

Organization: Minnesota Oncology & Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Location: Maple Grove

Dr. Hanna is board certified by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties in Oncology Pharmacy and Pharmacotherapy. He received his doctorate of pharmacy from Florida A&M University, completed his general residency at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, TN and his oncology residency at St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute, Boise, ID.He is currently the Director of Pharmacy at Minnesota Oncology and an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. Dr. Hanna serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology (JADPRO).Dr. Hanna’s research interests are focused on B-cell malignancies and genitourinary cancers. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed manuscripts in various journals including Pharmacotherapy, AJHP, Drugs, JOPP, AJMC and JHOP.Dr. Hanna is a Board member of NCODA. He is also an active member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, Association of Community Cancer Centers, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Advanced Practitioner Society For Hematology and Oncology.

Lucio Gordan, MD

Organization: Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Location: Gainesville, FL

Dr. Lucio Gordan earned his medical degree from the State University of Londrina College of Medicine in Londrina, Brazil, and later completed his internship and residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. After finishing his residency, Dr. Gordan was awarded a fellowship in Medical Oncology/Hematology at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. He is Board-certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine.

Currently, Dr. Gordan serves as President and Managing Physician at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) and practices at the FCS Gainesville Cancer Center. Having served in his previous role as Chief Medical Officer for Therapeutics and Analytics, Dr. Gordan continues to drive precision oncology efforts within the practice through analysis of real-world data, innovative technology, and research. This is Dr. Gordan’s second term as President and Managing Physician, having previously served the statewide practice from 2018-2021.

He also serves as a member of the Executive Council for the National Cancer Oral Dispensing Association (NCODA) and the FCS Executive Board.

As a cancer researcher and the recipient of research grants, Dr. Lucio Gordan is actively engaged in early and late clinical trials. His work has been published in several peer-reviewed journals. He serves on the editorial board of several oncology journals. Dr. Gordan is currently in charge of the development of Digital FCS, real-world evidence division at FCS (PRECISE), therapeutics decisions, and dynamic decision-support tool among other tasks. In 2013, Dr. Gordan was awarded the prestigious FRIST Award from the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) in recognition of his service in the Gainesville community. He is the co-chair of Humanitarian Initiatives at COA supporting national and international crises and received the 2022 FCS Humanitarian Award, recognizing his efforts on global, national and local scales.

Frequently, he participates in national and international meetings as a speaker and key thought leader. Married and the father of one child, Dr. Gordan enjoys traveling, reading, working in his horse farm and photography.

Latha R Radhakrishnan, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP

Organization: University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System | UIC College of Pharmacy
Location: Chicago, IL

Dr. Latha Radhakrishnan is a clinical oncology pharmacist at the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System and a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Pharmacy. She is board certified in both oncology pharmacy and pharmacotherapy.

Dr. Radhakrishnan has been an invited lecturer and presenter at numerous international and national events. She has served on several committees for various regional and national pharmacy organizations, including the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA) and the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA). She has been an active member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc. since 2007, where she has served as international president from 2015-2017. Currently, she holds the position of chairperson of the international past presidents advisory committee.

Dr. Radhakrishnan received her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she also completed her primary care residency. She completed her pharmacy practice residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi.

Lance Ortega, MBA, BSN, RN, OCN

Organization: Texas Oncology
Location: Dallas-Fort Worth, TX

Lance is an Executive Director at Texas Oncology. He has oversight over the entire state which encompasses over 200 sites of service and almost 2,000 clinical professionals, which includes advanced practice providers, dietitians, genetic counselors, nurses, and social workers. He possess over a decade of oncology experience, and his dedication to bettering patient care while increasing staff engagement & satisfaction leads him in all of his pursuits.

William Mitchell, MD

Organization: Southern Oncology Specialists
Location: Charlotte, NC

Dr. Mitchell received his undergraduate degree Magna Cum Laude at Marshall University. Furthering his education at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completing both his internal medicine residency and fellowship at Wake Forest University’s Bowman Gray School of Medicine. From 1994 to 1995, he was Chief Fellow of Oncology. He previously was the Chairman of Oncology for Novant Health Huntersville and assisted the Internal Medicine Residency Program for Oncology Rotation for Carolina’s Medical Center. William Mitchell founded Southern Oncology Specialists in 2010. With the opening of that first location, he has grown his practice into a vertically integrated private practice serving patients in five locations. He enjoys spending time with his family and has a passion for live music.

Sara Eisenhart, CPhT (Member-at-Large)

Organization: American Oncology Network
Location: Gettysburg, PA

Sara has been a pharmacy technician for 15 years. She has worked several years in retail, hospital, and in a medically integrated dispensing pharmacy before becoming part of the Patient Assistance Team with AON Pharmacy. She has a personal connection to oncology and patient assistance due to her late uncle’s battle with cancer. Sara states that it is incredibly rewarding to help patients obtain their medication for little to no out of pocket cost.

Sara has been a member of NCODA and OPTA since 2018. She has served on the NCODA Spring Forum Planning Committee, she is currently on the OPTA Leadership Committee, and sits on the editorial board of the OPTA Review. She has a fiancé and is a mom of two boys. In her free time, you can find her cooking/baking or archery hunting.

Austin Cox, PharmD

Organization: Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Location: Florida

Austin Cox provides leadership and oversight for the development of strong relationships with pharmaceutical companies and other trade partners to meet the needs of FCS physicians and patients now and into the future.

Integrating his pharmacy and medical drug experience, he focuses strategic decision making to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of contracting programs. Austin also provides leadership to ensure compliance with pharmacy and medical boards as well as OSHA and other regulatory standards for safe, efficient and cost-effective medication use across the statewide practice.

Austin received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy in Auburn, AL and began his career as a staff pharmacist with Walgreens Pharmacy in Birmingham, AL. Prior to joining Florida Cancer Specialists in 2022, he served as Medically Integrated Pharmacy Manager with Alabama Oncology in Birmingham. In that role, he assisted in the establishment of an in-house pharmacy dedicated to meeting the specialized needs of cancer patients as well as those on blood disorder medications. He spearheaded business development and helped to achieve URAC accreditation and ACHC with Oncology Distinction certification within two years.

Actively involved in NCODA, he is the current Co-Chairman of the Corporate Council and a member of the Executive Council. He is a frequent presenter and panelist at industry summits and conferences.

James Gilmore, PharmD

Organization: Georgia Cancer Specialists
Location: Atlanta, GA

James Gilmore, PharmD is the Chief Pharmacy and Procurement Officer with American Oncology Network. Dr. Gilmore’s responsibilities include overseeing all pharmacy and procurement functions for the network. After earning his PharmD degree from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, Dr. Gilmore received advanced clinical training in neonatal, pediatric and adult pharmacokinetics from Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta. Dr. Gilmore is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology, the Atlanta Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a reviewer for Community Oncology and Advances in Therapy, and has co-authored over 65 published articles, abstracts and book chapters.

Ray Bailey, RPh

Organization: Florida Cancer Specialists
Location: Fort Myers, FL

Ray has been Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Services of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute since 2010. He is responsible for overseeing the operations of Florida Cancer Specialists’ Oncology Specialty Pharmacy, Rx To Go, including financial management, business development, new drug access, purchasing contracts, and overall formulary management. He served as a Staff Pharmacist at Naples Community Hospital, owner of a pharmacy in Pine Island, FL, and President/Chief Executive Office/Owner of OptionCare of Southwest Florida. Ray joined FCS as Pharmacy Manager. From 2005 to 2007, he served as General Manager of Walgreens/OptionCare of Southwest Florida. Ray serves as a member of Advisory Board at RT Oncology Services Corporation. Licensed in the state of Florida since 1981, he is active in numerous professional organizations, including the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists, the national Community Pharmacist Association and the Florida Pharmacy Association. Ray earned his bachelor and graduate degrees from the University of Georgia.

Alicia Barnes, CPhT

Organization: AON
Location: Spokane, WA

Alicia Barnes, CPhT – Alicia has been a pharmacy technician for 7 years. She worked several years in retail before moving to Summit Cancer Centers in Spokane, WA as their Oral Chemotherapy Technician in their Medically Integrated Dispensary in 2018. In May of 2021, Summit Cancer Centers merged and became part of the American Oncology Network. With that merger, she came onto the Patient Assistance Team with AON Pharmacy. She has taken a huge liking to oncology as it is always changing and challenges her in new ways with every patient. In the past she has worked on prior authorizations, dispensing, patient assistance, IV Chemo preparation, as well as many of the IOD administrative duties. Currently, her main priority is to obtaining medications for patients at no cost. Alicia states that it is truly one of the most gratifying positions she has ever held and there is nothing better than those tears of joy when telling a patient that they will be able to receive their medication at no out-of-pocket cost to them.

Alicia has been a member of NCODA since 2018 and has participated on several committees, written articles for Oncolytics today, and participated in several PQI’s. She is also a mom of two human boys and two fur babies. You can often find her on the sidelines of some sporting event for her boys or camping somewhere in the mountains with my husband.

Sam Abdelghany, PharmD, MHA, BCOP

Organization: Executive Director of Oncology Pharmacy Services, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New
Haven Health
Location: New Haven, CT

Sam Abdelghany is the Executive Director of Oncology Pharmacy Services at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Health. Prior to his current role, he was the Coordinator of the Investigational Drug Service, where he supported Yale investigators conducting NIH, pharmaceutical, or Yale-sponsored clinical studies. Sam received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University Of Connecticut School Of Pharmacy and completed a residency in Oncology at Yale-New Haven in 2001. He also completed a Masters of Health Care Administration degree from Ohio University School of Management. He currently serves on various committees including the Yale Cancer Center Protocol Review committee, Yale University Science and Safety Committee, and the Yale University Institutional Review Board, as the Chair of the oncology board. Sam’s current research interest areas are real-world data with cancer therapies and oncology health economic and outcomes research.

Robert “Bob O” Orzechowski, MBA, SHRM-SCP

Organization: Lancaster Cancer Center
Location: Reading, PA

Bob has over forty years of increasing responsibility and varied experience in the hi-tech defense industry and health care. For the past twenty-nine years, Bob has worked in all aspects of medical practice management and consulting for various private groups, primarily as Chief Operating Officer for private hematology & medical oncology practices. Currently, he is COO for Lancaster Cancer Center, Ltd. He has authored numerous articles and presented to audiences nationally and internationally on business, HR, and management topics. He is on the Executive Council for the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association and various professional editorial and advisory boards.

He is a member of the International Society for Human Resource Management and the local SHRM affiliated Berks County Chapter #179 for over 33 years. For Chapter 179, he’s held all officer positions multiple times, including President twice, held several committee Chairs, and leads the Chapter’s professional certification study groups. He is also a subject matter expert for the SHRM Learning System. Bob was an Adjunct Instructor at local colleges for over 20 years, teaching business, management, and HR college credit courses. He produces and hosts a live 1-hour cable television show covering HR and business management topics.

He is a decorated combat veteran, having served three tours of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps as a machine gunner and infantry squad leader. Upon his Honorable discharge, he received his BS degree from The Pennsylvania State University and his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He also earned a Paralegal certificate and is a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

Randy Erickson, RN, BSN, MBA

Organization: Utah Cancer Specialists
Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Randy is currently the chief executive officer of Utah Cancer Specialists, leading Utah’s largest community oncology practice, consisting of 16 medical oncologists, 3 radiation oncologists, 17 advanced practitioners, and 1 supportive care physician. The practice continues to grow and has over 250 employees spanning 11 locations. It also offers medically integrated dispensing and has a robust research program: community-focused, research-driven.

Prior to Utah Cancer Specialists, Randy worked for 18 years at UPS (United Parcel Service) in operations, health, and safety and ultimately as the Region Occupational Health Manager in Louisville, Kentucky, directing a department responsible for the occupational health of over 20,000 employees.

Randy is a Registered Nurse and earned his BSN in 1995 from Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah, and his MBA from Regis University in Denver, Colorado, in 2009. Randy is married to his wife of 29 years, has four daughters and five grandchildren, and lives in Riverton, Utah.

Stacey McCullough, PharmD

Organization: Tennessee Oncology
Location: Murfreesboro, TN

Stacey McCullough, PharmD, is the Senior Vice President of Pharmacy for Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, one of the nation’s most prestigious community-based oncology practices. She works with executive and clinical leadership in synchronizing business acuity to clinical excellence and developing strategy for system implementation across multiple clinical sites. A passion for patients and collaboration with payers, pharma, and technology has catalyzed her successful and innovative approach to the development of Park Pharmacy, a medically integrated URAC and ACHC accredited pharmacy.

Dr. McCullough is a member of the Pharmacy advisory board (COPA) for Community Oncology Alliance (COA), the executive council for National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA), ASCO, and Tennessee Pharmacy Association (TPA). She serves on the editorial board for Pharmacy Time’s Directions in Oncology Pharmacy and has presented at national COA, NCODA, PCOC, AVBCC, AJMC, ASCO Quality, and numerous GPO and pharma conferences. She is published in Direction in Oncology, AJMC, and JOP, has been interviewed for NPR, presented posters and abstracts at NCCN and ASCO Quality, and is actively engaged in numerous advocacy and advancement efforts and integration of pharmacy practice.

She received her BS and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Auburn University and completed pharmacy practice residency at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville.

Paul Chadwick

Organization: Florida Cancer Specialists
Location: Fort Myers, FL

Paul is the CPO for Florida Cancer Specialists with responsibilities and oversight for the in-clinic IV drugs and our Medically Integrated Oral Specialty Pharmacy. Prior to joining FCS he worked for ION Solutions in may roles for the GOP including Account Manager, East Coast Director, and Director of Sales and Corporate Services, acting in many different capacities as the liaison between industry and clinical practices. Formerly, Paul was a published pathology researcher and previously a Financial Analyst for an oncology practice in New York City. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of California, San Diego and is currently working on his Masters in Applied Mathematics at Hunter College in New York City.

Austin Cox, PharmD

Organization: Retail Pharmacy Manager, Alabama Oncology
Location: Birmingham, AL

Austin has been a pharmacist since 2006, when he received his PharmD at Auburn University. He has over eleven years of experience in retail pharmacy. In 2016 he assisted in the establishment and currently manages Alabama Rx, a retail dispensing pharmacy for Alabama Oncology. Alabama Oncology is a privately owned practice consisting of 22 oncologists across 7 sites in Birmingham, Alabama. Austin is responsible for the clinical aspects as well as the business side of the pharmacy operations, where he is in charge of the development of pharmacy protocols and daily operation procedures. Payer contracts, oral oncolytic education, and drug access are the primary focus of his job.

Mary Anderson, BSN, RN, OCN

Organization: Norton Cancer Institute
Location: Louisville, KY

Oral Oncology Nurse Mary is a graduate of the University Of Kentucky College Of Nursing. She has over 30 years’ experience in oncology at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, KY. She started her career in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant before caring for the adult oncology population in the outpatient sector. In her current role, Mary serves as the oral oncology nurse navigator for the Norton Cancer Institute. Mary collaborates with the Norton Specialty Pharmacy and the interdisciplinary staff in the institute’s 8 outpatient clinics. She co-developed and oversees the nursing oral chemotherapy process, educates staff and provides ongoing support and education to patients taking oral oncolytics. Mary is past- President of the Greater Louisville Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society. She authored chapters for the 2018 edition the of Oncology Nursing Society’s Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy Guidelines and Recommendations for Practice, including the chapter on oral adherence. Mary is a community champion in the ONS Oral Adherence virtual community. She also has a strong interest in advocating for patients and her profession, having participated in the first ONS Capitol Hill Days in September 2016.

Luis Raez, MD, FACP, FCCP

Organization: Memorial Cancer Institute
Location: Pembroke Pines, Florida

Luis E. Raez is the Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute (MCI)/Memorial Health Care System. He is also the Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program. He is the immediate past President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) and CoDirector of the MCI/FAU Florida Cancer Center of Excellence designated by the Florida governor, one of the five cancer centers in Florida. He is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Florida International University (FIU), Visiting Professor of Medicine at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru, and Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). He was an Associate Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health, and a Co-Director of Thoracic Oncology at Sylvester Cancer Center/University of Miami for 10 years (2001-2011). He has expertise in medical oncology in lung cancer and head and neck cancer. He designs phase I-III clinical trials with new chemotherapeutic agents and combinations. In addition, Dr. Raez does translational research and clinical research. He has been funded by NCI and the pharma industry. He has given oral presentations and lectures in national and international meetings in the US, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. He has been the Chairman of the IASLC Latin American Group (LATAM) since 2018; Chair of the IASLC Membership Committee from 2015-2018; International Chair of the IASLC-Latin-American Meeting (LALCA) since 2014; Chairman for the “Miami Best of ASCO” since 2014, Chair and Founder of the “Miami Cancer Meeting (MCM)” since 2002, Co-Chairman at the “Puerto Rico Fall Cancer Symposia (FCS)” since 2010.

He is one of the founder members of the Oncology Latin-American Association (OLA). He is American Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. He is board eligible in Hematology. He is a member and serves in several committees at AACR, OLA, ESMO, ASCO, IASLC, ALLIANCE, NCCTG, ACCP, ACP, ACSG, SLACOM, FLASCO, among other institutions.

Rajiv P. Panikkar, MD

Organization: Geisinger Cancer Institute
Location: Bloomsburg, PA

Dr. Rajiv Panikkar is Chair of the Geisinger Cancer Institute, a multispecialty oncology practice serving the majority of central and northeast Pennsylvania. He leads several large clinical practice groups across 11 hematology/oncology, 6 radiation oncology, and 4 palliative medicine sites in the state. He also serves as the Principal Investigator of Geisinger Cancer Institute’s National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) award, a collaborative network designed to conduct oncology clinical trials and generate new knowledge through cancer care delivery research.

In 2016 he led the establishment of the Center for Oncology Research and Innovation (CORI) to align oncology research, innovation, analytics, and education. CORI maintains a broad and growing project portfolio that involves the conduct of clinical trials, cancer care delivery research, advanced data analytic programs, care redesign implementations, and a focus on patient and family engagement. In addition, he leads the clinical oncology programs, which leverage Geisinger’s high-quality patient care, fully-integrated healthcare system, large, stable patient population, advanced electronic health record, and clinical data warehouse to advance cancer care while developing novel value-based delivery models.

Benjamin Lowentritt, MD

Organization: Chesapeake Urology Associates
Location: Towson, MD

Benjamin Lowentritt, MD, serves as Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Robotics and Director of the Prostate Cancer Care Program at Chesapeake Urology. Dr. Lowentritt has been selected as a “Super Doctor” by his peers in The Washington Post Magazine and a “Top Doctor” in Baltimore magazine numerous times. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Baltimore City Medical Society and is President of the AUA, Mid-Atlantic Region.

Stuart Genschaw
MHA, MBA

Organization: Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan
Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Stuart Genschaw is the Chief Executive Officer for Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan (CHCWM). The practice has numerous locations throughout West Michigan. He serves on numerous local, state, and national boards, such as Community Oncology Alliance (COA). He is an active consultant and advisor to physician practices and pharmaceutical companies. Stuart received his MHA from Western Michigan University and MBA for the University of Colorado.

Nancy J. Egerton, PharmD, BCOP

Organization: New York Oncology Hematology
Location: Albany, NY

Dr. Egerton earned a BS from Niagara University and a BS and PharmD from the Albany College of Pharmacy. She attained her Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy in 2006. Dr. Egerton is currently employed as Area Manager of Pharmacy Services for New York Oncology Hematology (NYOH) in Albany, NY. She is responsible for managing the practice’s chemotherapy infusion program, stem cell transplant, investigational products for research/clinical trials, and in-office dispensing of oral therapies. Dr. Egerton has extensive experience in collaborative discussions with managed care organizations related to clinical pathways, therapeutic interchange, and contracting for the dispensing of oral oncolytics at the practice level. Dr. Egerton has authored several articles and presented at various meetings on topics related to cancer therapeutics and patient management in the outpatient setting. She also serves on the US Oncology Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Collaborative Care subcommittees.

Jonas Congelli, RPh

Organization: HOACNY
Location: Syracuse, NY

Jonas graduated from Albany College of Pharmacy in 1989 and has practiced as an oncology pharmacist for almost all that time. He has a broad range of oncology experience ranging from hospital inpatient, outpatient, and community oncology practice. He currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy Services for Hematology Oncology Associates of Central New York (HOACNY), a large multi-specialty community oncology practice with four practice locations, 17 physicians, and 260 employees. Pharmacy services at HOACNY include clinical drug information management by oncology pharmacists, infusion chemotherapy delivered from USP 797 certified clean rooms, oral chemotherapy and supportive medications dispensed from The Patient Rx Center, our physician dispensing department, and clinical research support with protocols provided through the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Barry D. Brooks, MD

Organization: Medical Director of Oral Oncolytics, Texas Oncology
Location: Dallas, TX

Barry Brooks is a physician shareholder who specializes in medical oncology and hematology, working in Texas Oncology, the world’s largest community oncology practice with 430 oncologists. Dr. Brooks is a founding member of Texas Oncology and currently serves as chairman of P&T for TOPA. Texas Oncology is part of the US Oncology Network and Dr. Brooks has served as its physician lead on the US Oncology drug contracting committee since 2005. He has been a member of the executive committee of P&T for US Oncology since 2005 and served as chairman of P&T from 2011 until 2019. He currently serves as Medical Director for Oral Oncolytics for McKesson Specialty Health and the US Oncology Network. Dr. Brooks was a founding member of the US Oncology’s Pathways Task Force which was the originator of putting clinical pathways into everyday use in oncology practice. He is a member of the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA) executive committee and is an active member of the US Oncology and Texas Oncology legislative political action committees where he advocates for the interests of community oncology. He is also a member of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). Dr. Brooks still sees patients about half time and spends the rest of his time talking to drug manufacturers, providers, and pharmacists about all aspects of oncology medications. When he is not working, Dr. Brooks can be found on his golf course or in the water with a fly rod in his hand.

Lucius Daniel, PharmD, ACE

Organization: Karmanos Specialty Pharmacy
Location: Troy, MI/p>

Lucius Daniel, PharmD, ACE, has been a member of the Karmanos Cancer Center since March 2018, and has diverse pharmacy background with experience in medical affairs/market development in the pharmaceutical industry. Lucius earned his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Wayne State University and completed his Doctor of Pharmacy studies at the University of Florida-Gainesville. He began his career in the pharmaceutical industry with Eli Lilly and Company, and later transitioned Merck and Company as the Regional Health Science Associate covering a large geography in Michigan. Lucius also has experience in retail pharmacy and before joining, the team at Karmanos Cancer Center held a position at McLaren Oakland as the 340(b) Program Manager. Since joining the specialty pharmacy team at Karmanos, Lucius has been involved in establishing the initial activities with specialty pharmacy. These activities range from oral oncolytic product procurement within limited distribution networks, to involvement with all planning activities associated with bringing KSP online. Additionally, he has been able to forge strong collaborative relationships with all the MDT teams at Karmanos Cancer Center Network. He has also been instrumental in helping the KSP team manage oral chemotherapy with a focus side effect management, improving medication adherence, and aiding care teams by documenting clinical information back to MDT care teams. Lucius has spearheaded development of policies/procedures, established clinical pharmacy protocols with physicians that have been useful in prior authorization processes and aided in reducing treatment gaps for inpatient hematology cases. He has compiled documentation for URAC accreditation, streamlined processes related to workflow and prescription order processing, created a protocol to identifying oral oncolytic copay funding mechanisms and developed the current KSP workforce.

Brandi Gudwien, CPhT

Organization: Alabama Oncology
Location: Birmingham, AL

Brandi Gudwien, CPhT (Member-at-Large) – Brandi is a patient advocate and a nationally certified pharmacy technician with a master’s in public health. She has three years’ experience in an oncology practice setting, as well as three years’ experience in specialty pharmacy. As someone who has lost a loved one to cancer, Brandi understands how important it is to have a multidisciplinary team willing to help navigate what can sometimes feel like the unknown. She loves being a part of that caring system for her patients.

Teri Roberts, CPhT (Member-at-Large)

Organization: Arizona Oncology
Location: Prescott, AZ

Teri is an Oncology Pharmacy Technician, Admixture and Oral Medications at Arizona Oncology. She has been there for 14 years. Teri has her Certified Pharmacy Technician Certificate from Yavapai College & a Medical Records Specialist Degree from Arizona Institute of Business and Technology.

Linda Grimsley, CPHT

Organization: Virginia Cancer Specialists
Location: Fairfax, VA

Linda Grimsley is a Certified Pharmacy Technician working as a Retail Pharmacy Supervisor who works with patients to provide quality, ethical and lasting care. Linda assisted in the development and success of the In-Office Dispensary (IOD), now Retail Pharmacy, at Virginia Cancer Specialists. Her current focus has been cost effective medication management programs, therefore, creating and implementing work processes to ensure patients are able to expeditiously start treatment with the minimal out-of-pocket medication expense. Linda believes that we are not here just to treat a person’s cancer but the entire person which often includes financial support. Linda has worked in a pharmacy setting for 15 years and is licensed in Virginia and Maryland along with being Nationally Certified by PTCB. Linda holds an Associate degree in Pre-Pharmacy and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Joel Sanchez

Organization: Kelsey-Seybold Cancer Clinic
Location: Houston, TX

Joel Sanchez is the designated person of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic Cancer Services, Joel received his bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University of San Carlos in 1993 and since then he started working as retail pharmacist in 3 different countries, (Philippines, Qatar, Bahrain), he had worked as procurement pharmacist in London, UK for 13 years, since moving to the United States, he had been working as pharmacy technician. Joel is involved in the implementation of USP 800 by writing new SOPs and maintaining USP 797 standards, training, audits, and competencies for all staff.

Emily Zimdars, BA, CPhT (Member-at-Large)

Organization: M Health Fairview
Location: Minneapolis, MN

Emily is a Business Operations Coordinator at M Health Fairview for the Ambulatory/Oncology Infusion Pharmacies in Minneapolis, MN. Emily provides support for four hospital and academic based outpatient infusion pharmacies/clinics, and an oncology infusion finance team. Emily has been with M Health Fairview for 4 years and has previous experience with compounding and preparing intravenous and injectable medications, as well as managing compounding pharmacy technicians. She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of Saint Benedict and completed a post – baccalaureate Public Health Certificate at the University of Minnesota.

Christine Robinson, CPHT

Organization: Clearview Cancer Institute
Location: Huntsville, AL

Christine Robinson is a Clinical Data Analyst at Clearview Cancer Institute, where she performs data mining, analysis, and interpretation of results. Christine has experience working as a Lead Pharmacy Technician for over 10 years. In her spare time she loves to be outdoors with her two children and golden retriever, Ruby.

Becki Tinder, CPHT

Organization: The Ghosh Center IOD
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Becki Tinder, CPhT (Chair) – Becki has been a pharmacy tech for over 25 years in just about every possible setting. Currently, she serves as the Director of Dispensing Services at The Ghosh Center IOD in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Her role includes managing all operations of the medication dispensary, prior authorizations, financial assistance, and all mixing of the chemotherapy for their infusion center.

She has a passion for being able to help others, especially during difficult times in their lives. “If I can help to relieve the stress of one patient, for even one moment of this journey, then I have succeeded,” states Becki.

Michelle Taymuree, PharmD MBA

Organization: Sutter Health
Location: Lafayette, CA

Dr. Taymuree earned a BA from UC Berkeley and PharmD and MBA from the University of Maryland. Dr Taymuree is currently employed as Oncology Manager, Pharmacy Services for Sutter Health, system wide. Sutter Health, a not for profit organization, serves over 100 communities and provides coordinated care to 3 million lives in Northern California. Dr Taymuree is responsible for managing Clinical Pathways, authoring guidelines and policies and developing pharmacy initiatives. She serves as the liaison for pharmacy between Sutter Health’s medical oncology providers and nursing. Her previous experience includes community oncology, community pharmacy and pharmaceutical industry. At her previous community oncology medical group, Dr Taymuree developed and managed a MID as well as infusion services.

living the mission award

Living The Mission Award

Living the Mission Nomination Criteria

How We Choose Our Award Recipients

Submit your nomination using the form below before midnight on September 13, 2024! This award will be presented at our 2024 International Fall Summit.

Living the Mission Nomination Form

past recipients

2023

2023

2022

2022

2021

Michelle Phillips, PharmD, BCOP

2021

Kashyap Patel, MD, CEO

2020

Natasha Olson, PharmD

2020

Elizabeth Bettencourt, MSN, RN, OCN

2019

Nora Hansen, CPhT

2019

Britny R. Brown, PharmD, BCOP

2018

Neal Dave, PharmD

2017

Julie Watson, PharmD

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