Ralph V. Boccia, MD, FACP:  Dr Boccia is Medical Director for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Bethesda, Maryland, and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He is also Chief Medical Officer for the International Oncology Network (ION), and serves as chairman for ION’s Medical Advisory Panel. He is a member of the American Oncology Network and its Advisory Board and is the Medical Director for its clinical research program (AOR). Dr Boccia completed training in internal medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)– affiliated hospitals. His hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant fellowships were completed at the combined UCLA-VA Program and the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology, medical oncology.  He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the American Society of Hematology. With his vast experience and research, Dr Boccia has published more than 200 articles in journal such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology, New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer, Blood, Annals of Internal Medicine, Lancet, and Oncology amongst others. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and has been voted into Washingtonian’s Best Physicians in Washington and Consumers’ Checkbook’s Guide to Top Doctors in Washington, DC every year since 1992.

Dr. Michael Byrne joined Tennessee Oncology in 2022 where he led the successful launch of the Tennessee Oncology Cellular Therapy Program – one of the first community oncology-based programs.  In July 2025, he was named the Medical Director of Cellular Therapy for One Oncology, a managed services organization, with over 30 hematology/oncology practices in the United States.  

Outside of cell therapy, Dr. Byrne oversees the practice’s malignant hematology tumor board and is the lymphoma research lead in the Tennessee Oncology Greco-Hainsworth Centers for Research. He received his medical degree from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Erie, PA).  He went on to complete an internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland, OH), fellowship at the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL), and advanced fellowship in blood and marrow transplantation at the University of California San Francisco (San Francisco, CA).

Dr. Gary Simmons received his medical degree from University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed his residency in Internal Medicine as well as his subspeciality training in Hematology/Oncology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. His clinical interest includes malignant hematology (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma), stem cell transplant, CAR T-cell, and cellular therapies to treat malignancies. 

During his residency and fellowship, he won numerous awards including the Nationally recognized Arnold P. Gold Humanism and Excellence in Teaching in 2011 and again 2013. He was named Resident of the year in 2012 and won excellence in Teaching in 2013. During residency and fellowship, he received numerous awards for excellence in scholarship and during his fellowship he was selected as chief fellow. 

He joined the Massey Cancer Center Stem Cell Transplant Program at VCU in 2016 and during this time he continued to receive awards for excellence in Teaching and served as a researcher, administrator and clinician in the cellular immunotherapies and transplant department. He was promoted to medical director of the ambulatory clinics in cellular therapy in 2020 and helped establish new care delivery models that improved patient safety in quality outcomes in the program. In 2022, he was promoted to associate professor.  

He is well known for being a leader in the development and excellence of CAR T-cell treatments and program building. He serves as the Medical Director for McKesson Cell and Gene Therapy program and has been instrumental in bringing CAR T cells to the community in Hampton Roads. VOA is one of the first stand-alone community CAR T cell programs in the country under his leadership performing all CAR T Cells in the clinic along with several other cellular therapies to treat cancer. 

Dr. Simmons as a leader in CAR T-cell research served as a principal investigator on many cellular therapy trials and has an extensive publication record of abstracts and papers and has presented his work at American Society of Transplant Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and American Society of Hematology (2019, 2020). 

He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and oncology and is an active member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Society of Transplant Cellular Therapy (ASTCT). 

Dr. Simmons has seen the transformational opportunity of cellular therapy and is passionate about access to this therapy for all that need it. He also has a master’s in health care administration (MSHA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) which he uses to better the lives of patients with cancer focusing on therapy delivery, safety, and quality outcomes.   

In his spare time, he enjoys being a father to his five children and running ultra-marathons. He has completed several 100-mile runs and once ran 100 miles on a treadmill in 27 hours. 

Rose Gerber is a nationally recognized cancer advocate and cancer survivor. Her experience includes appearing on national television (MSNBC) to speak about cancer care, meeting with legislators in Washington, D.C. on cancer policy issues, and developing cancer programs. Rose was brought to the COA team to develop its patient advocacy program. One of her first accomplishments was to add an advocacy track to the annual conference, making the meeting one of the few that brings together physicians, administrators, and advocates. She serves as an invited member on national patient advocate panels, steering committees, and cancer coalitions. Rose has also served as a consumer reviewer on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs – Department of Defense Breast Cancer research panels.

Rose has been a featured cancer survivor for various cancer organizations’ media campaigns, including the national About Clinical Trials initiative. She has appeared on the cover of the national publication, Breast Cancer Wellness magazine, and was honored as the National Breast Cancer Leader of the Year. In addition, she has been a guest speaker for CURE magazine’s podcast in the episode titled, From Cancer to Capitol Hill. She has been the keynote speaker at multiple national and state conferences. Rose served for five years as a grant reviewer, speaker, and educator for Susan G. Komen and co-founded and managed a breast cancer-mentoring program for Eastern Connecticut Hematology & Oncology in Connecticut. Collaborating with community health workers and nurses, Rose also gained an understanding of disparities in health care. Rose taught breast health education to diverse populations including Muslims, Haitians, Asians, Hispanics, African Americans, and young mothers.

Rose has a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and two bachelor’s degrees. Rose is also a graduate of the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s esteemed Project Lead programs: Clinical Trials, Science Institute, and Quality Care. Prior to her advocacy work, Rose worked for NBC-TV in Los Angeles, California. A mother with young children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she is now a long-term survivor and applies her personal experience as a cancer survivor with her advocacy knowledge to educate and train cancer patients and cancer survivors on how various national cancer policy issues impact their local patient care. 

Dr. Emily Touloukian is a medical oncologist and hematologist practicing at Coastal Cancer Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A native of Bloomington, Indiana; she received her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and her medical degree from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Internship and Residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois and subsequently her Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan. Dr. Touloukian is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Medical Oncology, Hematology and Internal Medicine.

In addition to serving as President and CEO of her practice, she is a past President of the South Carolina Oncology Society and the immediate past President of the Medical Society of Horry County. Dr Touloukian is on the Board of Directors on the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and is the medical co-chair for the COA Patient Advocacy Network. She is on the Board of Directors of OneOncology where she is active in the leadership of the organization. Additionally, she is the immediate past Chair of the ASCO State Affiliate Council and serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Carolina Cancer Foundation.

Harsha Vyas, MD, FACP is the President and Founding Physician of Cancer Center of Middle Georgia, an independent community oncology practice providing comprehensive hematology and oncology care across rural Central Georgia. His mission is to ensure that high-quality, compassionate, and affordable cancer care remains accessible close to home for underserved rural populations.

Dr. Vyas completed his Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship at the Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center at East Tennessee State University, where he served as Chief Medical Resident. He earned his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India. He is board certified in Hematology and Medical Oncology.

A nationally recognized advocate for community oncology, particularly rural cancer care, Dr. Vyas serves as National CPAN Co-Medical Director for the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and was named an Advocacy Champion by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for advancing rural healthcare policy. He regularly engages state and federal lawmakers on issues affecting independent oncology practices and patient access to care.

Dr. Vyas is published in peer-reviewed journals and actively involved in clinical research. He established the clinical research division at Cancer Center of Middle Georgia, expanding access to emerging therapies for underserved and underrepresented rural patients. He also lectures widely on cancer awareness and serves on advisory panels focused on community-based oncology care.

In 2022, he founded Athena Oncology, LLC, a multi-state network of 32 independent community oncology practices designed to strengthen purchasing power, leverage data analytics, and advance sustainable aggregation models that preserve physician-led care and practice autonomy. He currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Athena Oncology.

He also founded the Cancer Foundation of Middle Georgia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting indigent cancer patients in his region.

Dr. Vyas lives in Dublin, Georgia, with his family and remains deeply committed to strengthening community-based cancer care nationwide.

Robert has extensive experience in healthcare management, developing strategic plans and directing financial, operational, and clinical initiatives.  He is currently the President of the National Cancer Treatment Alliance (NCTA) a national network of community oncology practices whose focus is to contract directly through value-based agreements with health care purchasers for oncology services.  Prior to joining NCTA Robert was the CEO of Dayton Physicians, where he merged 3 independent Physician practices (Medical Oncology/Radiation Oncology/Urology) to create a large multi-specialty practice.  

Robert received his Bachelor of Science in Education from Bowling Green State University, Master of Science in Hospital and Health Service Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Nursing Degree from Excelsior College.

Robert is married with three children and enjoys travelling, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. 

Jenn Misora is a healthcare technology executive with more than 20 years of experience leading customer strategy, service line growth, and operations across the healthcare ecosystem. As Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Turquoise, she is responsible for ensuring customers realize measurable value from the company’s products and for shaping the company’s long-term customer engagement strategy.

Turquoise is building the operating system for healthcare contracts and payments, connecting pricing data, contract intelligence, and revenue cycle workflows in one unified system so providers, payers, employers, and life sciences organizations can move from administrative complexity to clear, actionable transactions. As a member of the Turquoise executive team, Jenn works closely with leadership stakeholders across the industry to help organizations move beyond regulatory compliance toward the strategic use of transparency data to inform contracting strategy, benchmarking, and market positioning.

Jenn previously held leadership roles at companies such as HCA Healthcare and Healthgrades, where she led initiatives spanning service line strategy, consumer research, patient experience, and growth operations. Her experience across provider systems and digital health platforms gives her a broad perspective on the evolving dynamics between providers, payers, and health technology organizations.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Jenn is a lead volunteer with her local municipal animal shelter, where she fosters kittens and helps educate families and volunteers caring for vulnerable animals.

Alti Rahman is the Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at American Oncology Network. He holds a dual Masters degree in Business and Healthcare Administration and is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt. 

His career in healthcare started as a mental health case worker. Those powerful experiences shaped his pursuit of a career in healthcare administration where he felt there was a tremendous gap in medical interventions and pursuit of public health goals.

Prior to joining AON, Alti spent 15 years at Oncology Consultants, a successful community oncology practice in Houston, TX, pursuing value-based care and continuous innovations around operational, cost and quality improvements. 

Alti holds additional supplementary roles including: Board Member of COA (Community Oncology Alliance) and Chair of the Patient Centered Innovation Committee for COA.

Alti believes that the future of healthcare involves a multidisciplinary and unapologetically collaborative approach keeping the patient at the center of all decisions. 

Mark has spent 10 years in healthcare services, focused on scaling organizations that provide an alternative to high-cost health systems. At Vantris, he focuses on building products that enable employers to partner with community practices that deliver high-quality care to patients in a more convenient setting at significantly lower cost than the consolidated hospital systems. In addition to Vantris, Mark is the Director of Development at Astera Cancer Care in New Jersey.

Prior to Vantris, Mark led operational and growth teams across outpatient radiology, musculoskeletal care, and specialty veterinary medicine.

Mark holds a BA from Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Katherine Baker is a practicing medical oncologist and Medical Director of Value-Based Care at Tennessee Oncology. In this role, she leads some of the many care innovation efforts of the practice to provide high quality, patient-centered care. As a Georgia native, she received her undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia and her medical doctorate at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She completed her internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. In June 2024, she completed fellowship training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, during which time she served as chief fellow for two consecutive years. She also received a Master of Management in Healthcare from the Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management.  In addition to her role at Tennessee Oncology, Dr. Baker is an active board member of the Tennessee Oncology Practice Society and the Community Oncology Alliance Fellows Board.

John has practiced law for 34 years, exclusively for health care clients since 2001.  He advises health care systems/hospitals, physician practices, individual physicians, suppliers, and other health care providers/businesses.  He has advised hundreds of graduating fellows, residents, and experienced physicians regarding their employment arrangements.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Indiana University Bloomington’s Mauer School of Law.  Prior to forming his own firm, he worked as United States District Court law clerk, Trail Attorney in the United States Department of Justice, for a national wholesaler, for Cardinal Health, and for three different law firms.  He is a husband, father of three, and shares a home office with two joyful Golden Retrievers.

Katie Alexander is an adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner specializing in the care of adult oncology patients in the Columbus, Ohio and surrounding region. Katie began her career in 2002 in the surgical intensive care as a staff nurse. She then worked over a decade in the care of the post trauma and post surgical patients. She graduated from Mount Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio in 2014 with a Masters in Nursing with a focus in Adult Gerontology Acute Care. She began working exclusively in oncology in 2016 at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center-James Cancer. In 2019, she joined the community oncology realm, moving to the Mark H Zangmeister Cancer Center and American Oncology Network.

Working with 10 physicians and 6 other Advanced Practice Providers, Katie has found her true home in community oncology care. Her passion for compassionate, evidenced based care has been truly recognized while at the Zangmeister Center. Katie’s work includes education for medical marijuana patients; intimacy issues in the hematological/oncology patients and care of the LGBTQAI population. Katie also functions as the Regional Advanced Practice Provider Coordinator for American Oncology Network (AON); providing onboarding support, education and development of Advanced Practice Providers throughout the entire AON network.  

When not working, Katie enjoys spending time on her mini farm with her husband and children; reading; gardening and baking.

Shannon Brown serves as the Helpline Manager and Lead Navigator at the Cancer Support Community. With more than 15 years of oncology and pediatric social work experience, she is passionate about providing psychosocial support and developing innovative programs that improve access to care and health outcomes.

Driven by her lived experience as a cancer survivor, Shannon is committed to serving the cancer community and considers it an honor to walk alongside people on their journeys. Her prior work experience includes roles at the American Cancer Society, Dell Children’s Blood and Cancer Center, and Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center. Most recently, as Director of Family Programs at Children’s Cancer Partners, she oversaw the delivery of high-impact services for thousands of families across the Carolinas.

Shannon resides in South Carolina with her family and dog, Harvey. Always up for an adventure, she loves to travel, collect hobbies, and attend as many concerts as possible.

Christine Pfaff, MBA, RPh, is the Director of Clinical Initiatives at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). As director of clinical initiatives, she uses her background in community oncology clinic and pharmacy operations to support independent practices that are navigating an increasingly complex health care landscape. She guides COA’s industry-leading peer-to-peer network for medically integrated pharmacy teams in independent community oncology and urology practices across the country, the Community Oncology Pharmacy Association (COPA). In addition, Christine supports COA’s work on payment reform, educational initiatives, and employer engagement through the National Cancer Treatment Alliance (NCTA).

Prior to joining COA, Christine practiced as a licensed pharmacist and health care executive for over 15 years, leading community oncology operations and pharmacy services across a multi-state region. In her previous role as Senior Regional Director of Operations for the American Oncology Network, she oversaw clinical and business operations across Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

Christine’s career spans leadership roles in clinical pharmacy, practice operations, and strategic development, with a strong track record in expanding services, enhancing patient outcomes through value-based care programs, and spearheading cross-functional collaboration. Her expertise includes pharmaceutical contracting, budget management, referral development, and compliance with USP and NCCN standards.

A respected voice in oncology care innovation, Christine serves on the Ohio Board of Pharmacy and the Pharmacy Times Oncology Editorial Board. She previously was a member of the COPA board. She holds an MBA from Franklin University and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from The Ohio State University. Christine currently resides in Columbus, Ohio.

Abra Kelson is a dedicated oncology social worker and healthcare leader with nearly a decade of experience advancing health equity and psychosocial care. She currently serves as Director of Quality & Value-Based Care at Northwest Medical Specialties (NWMS), where she leads program development, strategic planning, and multidisciplinary initiatives to improve patient outcomes across the oncology continuum.

At NWMS, Abra’s clinical and leadership work have driven successful funding efforts, securing critical resources to implement the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and food provision programming. She previously served as Program Director for the Cancer Support Community at NWMS, overseeing educational, wellness, and psychosocial support programs and services.

Megan Underwood, PharmD, BCOP, serves as Director of Pharmacy at Illinois CancerCare in Peoria, Illinois, where she leads oncology pharmacy services across multiple clinic sites. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Southern Illinois University in 2019 and has since focused her career on advancing clinical excellence and operational innovation in oncology pharmacy practice.

Megan specializes in optimizing medication utilization, implementing biosimilar and cost-effective treatment strategies, and aligning pharmacy services with value-based oncology care. She has led numerous initiatives to enhance workflow efficiency, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and improve access to high-quality treatment for patients with cancer.

A dedicated leader and advocate for the evolving role of pharmacy in oncology, Megan is passionate about developing high-performing teams and advancing patient-centered cancer care.

Dr. Casey Chollet-Lipscomb is a practicing radiation oncologist in Nashville, TN. She trained at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and now specializes in both breast and gynecologic malignancies. In addition to her clinical work, she serves as the Executive Vice President for Physician Services at Tennessee Oncology, leading medical oncology, radiation oncology, diagnostic imaging, and supportive services development. She very smartly married a medical physicist so that her 2 young kids are guaranteed boring dinner conversation for life.

Justin Rousek serves as Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Partners of Nebraska, where he oversees overall management, operations, and financial strategy. He works closely with physicians and leadership to ensure the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered cancer care and to strengthen the sustainability of independent community oncology.

Prior to joining Cancer Partners, Justin held a healthcare leadership role within a large hospital system, where he focused on improving healthcare delivery, operational performance, and system-wide efficiencies. He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Justin earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, as well as a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Administration from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His technical and healthcare leadership background has helped position Cancer Partners as one of the most comprehensive community oncology practices in the region.

Dr. Balch has more than 22 years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector spanning multiple advocacy areas including access and affordability, health equity, prevention and early detection, and cancer research. He became CEO of both PAF and NPAF in 2013 and has served as a member of both Boards of Directors since 2007. From 2006-2013, he served as Vice President of the Preventive Health Partnership -- a national health promotion collaboration between the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, and American Heart Association. Dr. Balch currently serves on dozens of selective boards, steering committees, and councils for an array of institutions. Most recently, Dr. Balch was selected as the Chair of the Global Patient Council for the American Patient Representatives Roundtable for the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) after serving as the Co-Chair of the North American Patient Representatives Roundtable.

Dr. Balch recently stepped into the role of Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Clinical Pathways. He has served on the editorial board and as a contributing editor for many years and on the advisory board for the Journal of Oncology Navigation and Survivorship. He is frequently invited to peer review article submissions to various publications including the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Journal of Clinical Oncology, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, and the American Journal of Public Health.

He earned his PhD  from the University of California Santa Cruz, his master’s degree from the University of Texas San Antonio; and his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in San Antonio.

As Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Cancer Support Community, she leads and advances initiatives that ensure that patients, caregivers, and survivors impacted by cancer shape policymaking. Prior to joining CSC, Daneen was the staff lead for the MultiCancer Early Detection (MCED) Consortium’s Health Equity Workgroup and led the Policy and Advocacy team for the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, where she provided strategic direction and policy analysis on issues including mental health, caregivers, and social connection. She also served as Director of Health Care Reform Policy at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where her efforts led to patients receiving in every health insurance plan’s Summary of Benefits & Coverage the details of what services are covered and how many are covered. In addition, Daneen advocated for the availability of language assistance services and/or auxiliary aids and services for limited English proficiency individuals and individuals with disabilities. 

Christine Verini is the Chief Executive Officer of CancerCare, a national nonprofit organization providing free professional support services to people affected by cancer. With more than 25 years of oncology and healthcare leadership experience, Ms. Verini brings strategic vision and expertise to the 80+ year-old organization. 

Ms. Verini transitioned to CancerCare's senior leadership team in 2015 before becoming CEO in 2023. In her leadership roles, she has expanded CancerCare’s programs and strengthened partnerships to improve access to care.

She previously held the position of Vice President of Corporate Communications and Advocacy at Eisai and accumulated extensive experience in marketing and medical roles at Sanofi. Additionally, she has served as Co-Chair of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance’s Awareness Task Force and has undertaken leadership roles with HealthyWomen.

Ms. Verini's leadership has been widely recognized, including being named one of Cancer Health Magazine’s 25: People Who Power Clinical Trials and PharmaVOICE’s 100 Most Inspiring People. These recognitions reflect her impact as a nonprofit leader advancing innovative solutions, compassionate care, and collaborative approaches for the cancer community.

Dr. Fugere is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist. She earned her medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock, where she also completed her internal medicine residency and hematology-oncology fellowship. She now practices at Genesis Cancer and Blood Institute at their Benton, AR (her hometown) and Little Rock, AR locations.

Dr. Richard McDonough is a board-certified oncologist and hematologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, where he practices near Tampa, Florida. He earned his medical degree from the University of Miami and completed his residency in internal medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital. He went on to complete a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.

With a strong background in clinical research, Dr. McDonough has authored several book chapters, published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and presented his work at prominent national and international medical meetings.

As Director of Legislative Affairs and Advocacy for Florida Cancer Specialists, Dr. McDonough has become a leading advocate for cancer patients and community oncology. He works tirelessly to ensure that all patients have access to high-quality, affordable cancer care. He previously served as President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) from 2017 to 2019 and as Treasurer from 2014 to 2017.

At the national level, Dr. McDonough actively engages in shaping oncology policy through his work with the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). He serves on multiple COA committees, including as Co-Chair of the Drug Policy Committee. He regularly engages with members of Congress, federal agencies, and industry partners to advance policies that support community oncology practices and protect patient access to care.

Over the past several years, Dr. McDonough has represented his group and colleagues at both the state and national levels, participating in advocacy meetings, legislative summits, and policy retreats. His leadership extends through his service as Chair of the FLASCO Fellows Committee and Nominating Committee and as a member of the FLASCO Executive Committee.

Through his ongoing advocacy and leadership, Dr. McDonough remains deeply committed to strengthening the future of community oncology and the health policy landscape that supports it.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, Dr. McDonough is married and the proud father of three children. He enjoys traveling and is an avid fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Gator basketball.

MaryLou Eyester Gonzalez is a retired Registered Nurse and six-year survivor of Stage IIB triple-positive breast cancer. Her life has been shaped by compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to family, community, and cancer care.

Over her 34-year nursing career, she served in oncology and homecare, supporting patients and families through their most vulnerable moments. Cancer care was not only her profession, but deeply personal. In 2002, her husband Jack was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while they were raising their young children. His strength and optimism during treatment became a lasting source of inspiration for their family.

In January 2019, MaryLou was diagnosed with Stage IIB triple-positive breast cancer. She faced extensive treatment—including chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and multiple surgeries—with courage and determination. Just one month after completing chemotherapy, she celebrated her daughter Brielle’s wedding on July 7, 2019, and underwent her bilateral mastectomy the very next morning, continuing her fight with remarkable resolve.

Today, MaryLou’s journey reflects a lifetime devoted to healing—as a nurse, caregiver, and survivor. Her story is a testament to faith, family, resilience, and the power of compassionate cancer care.

Angelina Lorello began her journey with New York Cancer & Blood Specialists long before she ever worked there. Before Angelina was born, her father was diagnosed on his 30th birthday with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A tumor was wrapped around his heart, and he was given just three days to live. He was treated in a community oncology setting at NYCBS, where he underwent intensive chemotherapy and radiation. He was cured—but told he would never be able to conceive.

Against all odds, Angelina’s parents later returned to the same office with life-changing news: they were pregnant. Angelina became the miracle baby of NYCBS and her family.

Now, with nine years at NYCBS, Angelina considers her work a full-circle purpose. As a young girl, she was given life because of community oncology, and today she gives back through advocacy and storytelling. She has found her passion in sharing what community oncology truly means to patients and families. In her current role in Patient Experience, Angelina advocates daily for patients and their voices. She serves as a CPAN leader and is the leader of the Patient and Family Council.

Angelina continues to honor her story by advocating for patients and championing the importance of community oncology—because for her, it is not just a career, but a legacy.

“When you have passion within you, the fire never burns out.”

Jeff Mortier brings over a decade of public policy expertise in the healthcare, energy, telecommunications, privacy, and data security arenas and is widely regarded as a trusted voice on Capitol Hill.

Jeff has extensive experience in providing strategic advice and lobbying and policy expertise to executives of fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and non-profit organizations.

Jeff also serves as the Executive Director of the 21st Century Privacy Coalition, where he represents major telecommunications and cable companies.

Prior to co-founding Farragut Partners, Jeff served as a Professional Staff Member on the House Energy & Commerce Committee under Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). In that role, he helped organize the committee’s policy agenda and promoted the Chairman’s legislative priorities including work on online privacy and data security issues. He also served as a liaison to Republican Member offices on the committee and worked directly with Members and senior staff to help them further their policy goals.

Before serving on the Energy & Commerce Committee, Jeff spent five years working with senior Member of Congress Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) where he handled the Congressman’s most important legislative priorities, including health care policy, and served as Rep. Whitfield’s top policy advisor. During his time with Rep. Whitfield, Jeff worked on a number of significant bills including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 and the Food Safety and Modernization Act.

Working with his founding partners, Jeff MacKinnon and Joe Vasapoli, Jeff has built Farragut Partners into a premier DC lobbying firm. A Louisiana native, Jeff resides in Washington, DC with his wife Nicole.

Dr. Wade is a proud Virginian, and proud to be a board-certified oncologist with the Virginia Cancer Institute. He advocates our unique mix of cutting-edge research and compassionate care that make VCI a celebrated institution 
in Central Virginia. His clinical and research interests are pancreatic, lung and colon malignancies.

Dr. Wade is a Richmond native and received his medical training entirely in and around the Central Virginia area. Beginning with a BA from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA in 1995, he returned to Richmond to earn his MD from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in 2001. He then remained at VCU Medical Center to complete both a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in hematology/oncology. He is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology and is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia, the Richmond Academy of Medicine and the American Association of Clinical Oncology. He has been a physician with the Virginia Cancer Institute since 2007. He sees patients at our Mechanicsville location.

Outside the office, Dr. Wade enjoys spending time with his family at their Richmond home. Staying in shape is important to him. You’re likely to find him rooting for his alma mater—UVA—courtside, at the stadium or on television. He’d like to assure his Hokie-fan patients that there are no teams when it comes to cancer treatment. He treats all his patients like family—even Virginia Tech fans.

Dr. Wade’s Patient Care Philosophy:

“It makes me proud that the Virginia Cancer Institute can offer our patients state-of-the-art, cutting-edge, new treatment and still treat every patient like a family member.”

EDUCATION

•BA, 1995, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

•MD, 2001, VCU School of Medicine, Richmond, VA

RESIDENCY

•Internal Medicine, VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA, 2001—2004

FELLOWSHIP

•Hematology/Oncology, VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA, 2005—2007

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS

•Virginia Board of Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, and ABIM Medical Oncology

Sarah Walter has spent the last 20 years working on a variety of issues across the health care spectrum.

From 1994 to 2003, Ms. Walter worked in the Washington office of United States Senator John Breaux (D-LA). Ms. Walter handled a broad range of issues, with a focus on health care policy, while serving as the Senator’s Legislative Director and Chief Counsel beginning in 1999.

In her role as Chief Counsel, Ms. Walter advised Senator Breaux in his capacity as Chief Deputy Whip and as a member of three influential Senate committees (Finance; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Rules). She served as Senator Breaux’s principal advisor in his role as the Chairman of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare and played a key role in the passage of the landmark Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.

Ms. Walter was also involved in passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999, and the Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000. Ms. Walter advised Senator Breaux on several other critical pieces of legislation including the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Act of 2001, the Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2002, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

As the key Democratic staffer for the Senate Centrist Coalition, co-chaired by Senator Breaux and Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, Ms. Walter has built a strong network of associates and policymakers on both sides of the political aisle. In 2007, Ms. Walter was named by National Journal as one of the top Democratic health care lobbyists in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Walter joined Senator Breaux’s office after earning her Masters Degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and working at an Austin-based public affairs firm, Public Strategies, Inc. She worked in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office for a year and a half before becoming projects correspondent in Senator Breaux’s D.C. office in 1994. In 1999, she earned her J.D. with honors from the George Washington University School of Law while working for Senator Breaux.

Ms. Walter joined the firm as a Partner in 2016. She received a B.A. in Communications from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She lives in McLean, Virginia with her husband and three children.