Dr. Bilal Abid is a hematologist and oncologist with expertise in cellular therapy. Dr. Bilal Abid completed residency and fellowships in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and Hematology/Oncology. He also completed a master’s in clinical & translational science, and a basic science post-doc designing CAR T-cells. Dr. Abid's clinical and translational research interests include stem cell transplant, adoptive T-cell transfer, immuno-oncologic cancer therapeutics, and infectious Diseases. Dr. Abid led multi-center research projects, registry analyses, and clinical trials. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, several as a principal investigator in journals, including Lancet, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Cell, JAMA Oncology, Lancet Hematology, and Blood.  

Donald I. Abrams, M.D. is the past chief of the Hematology-Oncology Division at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, an integrative oncologist at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. A Brown University undergraduate, he attended the Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Abrams did his Internal Medicine residency at the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in San Francisco before becoming an Oncology Fellow at the University of California San Francisco as the AIDS epidemic erupted. He was a pioneer AIDS Oncologist and investigator for 25 years. After completing his integrative medicine fellowship at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Abrams has been providing integrative oncology consultations to people living with and beyond cancer since 2005. His integrative oncology interests are in nutrition and cancer, medicinal mushrooms, Traditional Chinese Medicine interventions and cannabis in cancer care. He received funding from the NIH and the University of California Center for Cannabis Research to conduct cannabis clinical trials for 20 years beginning in 1997. He co-authored the chapter on “Cannabinoids and Cancer” in the Oxford University Press Integrative Oncology text that he co-edited with Andrew Weil. He served for 13 years on the NCI PDQ CAM Editorial Board where he helped edit the Cannabinoids and Cancer website. He was a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s committee that published The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Current State of Evidence and Recommendations for Research in January 2017.     

C. Brooke Adams is a board-certified Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Malignant Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. She completed her Doctorate of Pharmacy with research concentration at East Tennessee State University and her PGY-1 pharmacy practice and PGY-2 oncology residencies at Indiana University Health. Dr. Adams is a preceptor for UF pharmacy students, PGY-1 and PGY-2 pharmacy residents and also extensively involved in the education of Hematology/Oncology Fellows and Advanced Practice Providers. She is an active member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacist Association (HOPA), the American Society for Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), and a board member for the Oncology Pharmacist Network (OPN) – Florida Chapter. She recently received the New Practitioner Award from HOPA in 2023 and was a recipient of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 40 under 40 in Cancer award in 2022.

Judy Alberto, MHA, RPh, BCOP is Director of Clinical Initiatives at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), the nation’s only non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting local, affordable, and accessible cancer care. In this role, she supports and promotes the success of community oncology practices participating in clinical and payment reform initiatives.

Working closely with COA’s quality and value team, Alberto seeks to support the design, awareness, and participation in oncology payment and delivery reform initiatives. This includes oncology models from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as participants in the National Cancer Treatment Alliance, a COA-led clinically integrated network engaging directly with employers and payers. Alberto also helps lead the Community Oncology Pharmacy Association (COPA), an 875+ strong peer-to-peer network of medically integrated pharmacies located in independent community oncology and urology practices across the country.

Prior to joining COA, Judy was the director of oncology and investigational drug services pharmacy at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health. She joined Jefferson in 2010, working her way up from patient care pharmacist to her directorship. Prior to joining Jefferson, she worked as a pharmacist at Express Scripts in Bensalem, PA, and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Judy received her pharmacy degree from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Arizona.

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 eight 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) for the Central United States Region; providing onboarding support, education and development of Advanced Practice Providers throughout the entire AON network.

Dr. Ambrad is a board-certified Radiation Oncologist working at Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers in Phoenix, AZ since 2006. Ironwood Cancer & Research Centers is the largest private, physician-owned community oncology practice in Arizona with six comprehensive cancer centers throughout Phoenix. Dr. Ambrad is a senior partner and currently serves as Ironwood's Secretary. Dr. Ambrad graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in Economics in 1993 and earned his M.D./M.B.A. from the Medical Scholars Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine graduating in 1999. He then completed his residency in Radiation Oncology at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in 2004 where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Ambrad is an active educator as a clinical professor at Midwestern University College of Medicine. In addition, he is a principal investigator for several of Ironwood Cancer Center's clinical research trials. Dr. Ambrad is a board member of COA and is passionate about the independence and success of community oncology.

Dr. Babu is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist serving patients in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He earned his medical degree from St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences in Bangalore, India. He completed his internal medicine residency and a hematology & oncology fellowship at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. He is board-certified in hematology and oncology. In 2008, he joined Fort Wayne Medical Oncology & Hematology, a community-based practice that is currently a member of the American Oncology Network, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As a leader in the organization’s research efforts, Dr. Babu collaborates with colleagues to provide cutting-edge treatments close to home. This approach spares patients and families the expense and stress of traveling to research hospitals, a benefit that is both meaningful to families and a source of pride for the team.

As the Director of Research at Fort Wayne Medical Oncology & Hematology, Dr. Babu leads numerous cancer trials, including Phase 1 "first-in-human" studies. He has more than 75 publications in leading journals, including NEJM, JCO, Blood, Lancet, and his work has been presented at ASCO, ASH, AACR, ESMO and others. He is an active member of the Indiana Oncology Society and ASCO. Dr. Babu also serves on the board of Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, and is on the advisory councils of several pharmaceutical companies and research entities.

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. 

Kristen D. Bautz is the Vice President of Government Affairs at Farragut Partners, where she oversees House Democratic relationships and outreach for clients. With over a decade of experience in stakeholder outreach, messaging, fundraising, and working one-on-one with Democratic members of Congress, Kristen is recognized for her ability to set client priorities, cultivate relationships, and execute a mission-oriented strategy.

Prior to joining H&M Strategies, Kristen served as the Senior Advisor and Special Projects Coordinator to Senior House Democrat and Dean of the Florida Democratic Delegation, Debbie Wasserman Schultz. In this role, she spearheaded outreach to the Democratic Caucus and industry stakeholders and acted as the Congresswoman’s Political Director for nearly five years.

Kristen served as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) Senior Director  of Member Outreach. Under Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, Kristen worked directly with Democratic Leadership to advance Democratic priorities, protect (and elect) Democrats across the country, and raise over $34 million from the House Caucus. Kristen also served within 4C Partners, a premier Democratic political strategy and fundraising firm, where she worked for Democrats such as Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05), Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-21), and former Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01).

Kristen got her start in politics by working for now Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York after graduating from the Florida. 

Ruemu Ejedafeta Birhiray, MD, is Partner at Hematology Oncology of Indiana/American Oncology Network and Clinical Professor at the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis. He is also an attending physician in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at St. Vincent Indianapolis. Dr. Birhiray received his medical degree at the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria, followed by a residency and Chief Residency in Internal Medicine at Columbus Hospital in Chicago, Illinois; a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland; and a fellowship in Bone Marrow Transplant at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He is board-certified in Medical Oncology.

Dr. Birhiray is Chair and Founder and Chairman of the Annual Indy Hematology Review and a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. He is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Blood Transfusion and Hematopathology, and his work has been published in such journals as Blood, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Pharmacotherapy. Dr. Birhiray participated in numerous studies on therapies for patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, metastatic colorectal cancer, and metastatic breast cancer, among others.

Marlo Blazer, PharmD, BCOP, is the Executive Director of Clinical Strategy and the Senior Director of Pharmacy Services with Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates (COHA), an independent community oncology practice with 17 medical oncologists, 7 advanced practice providers, and 8 clinical pharmacists, to date. 

In her current role, Marlo is involved in the strategic initiatives related to clinical pathways, value-based care arrangements, evaluation of collaborative alignments, and healthcare market assessments with both internal and external stakeholders. Additionally, she manages pharmacy services at (3) infusion sites and (1) medically-integrated retail pharmacy. Before joining COHA, she was an associate director for a health & economics outcomes research (HEOR) consulting group, and worked as a clinical oncology contributor to projects utilizing real-world data. Marlo also served as a clinical oncology pharmacist for over 10 years at The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Marlo received her BS degree in Pharmacy in 1998 and her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2006 from The Ohio State University. She has been a Board-Certified Oncology Pharmacist (BCOP) since 2008.

Danielle Brown is the Vice President of Clinical Services at Florida Cancer Specialists. Danielle is an Oncology Certified Nurse leader specializing and certified in breast cancer care.  She holds an MBA in Health Care Management from Western Governor’s University & Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University.  She also earned her Lean Six Sigma Green Belt for Healthcare Organizations from The City of Hope. 

Prior to joining FCS, she most recently served at HCA North Florida as the Division Director of Oncology Navigation where she was responsible for the continual development and implementation of the oncology navigation service line, driving profitable service line growth, and improving operations in quality & processes.  

Michelle Brown, MBA, MSN, CRNP is the Chief Operations Officer at Clearview Cancer Institute, where she has dedicated 19 years of service.  Michelle has played an integral role in shaping the organization's operational success and ensuring top-tier patient care. Her dual expertise as both a Nurse Practitioner and an executive leader allows her to bridge the clinical and administrative aspects of healthcare, bringing a unique and compassionate perspective to her work.

Michelle is committed to enhancing operational efficiency while maintaining a focus on patient-centered care. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership, collaborating with teams across the organization to implement innovative strategies that improve service delivery and streamline processes. In her role as COO, Michelle's strategic vision, combined with her deep clinical knowledge, has helped Clearview Cancer Institute maintain its reputation for excellence in cancer treatment and support. She remains dedicated to advancing healthcare practices while ensuring that each patient receives the highest level of care possible.

In addition to COA, Michelle is also active in MGMA where she serves as treasurer and secretary of the ALMGMA board. She also is active with ACCC, APSHO, ASCO, Vistage and American College of Healthcare Executives. Beyond her professional achievements, Michelle is a proud wife and mother to two very active teenagers. She values her family time and enjoys engaging in outdoor activities, particularly camping, and spending time with loved ones. Whether it's exploring the great outdoors or enjoying a quiet moment with family and friends, Michelle believes in maintaining a balanced and fulfilling life outside of her career.

Tammy Chambers is the Director of Contracting and Payer Relations at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a OneOncology practice with multiple locations throughout North Texas. With more than 25 years of experience in managed care contracting, she is currently responsible for The Center’s value-based care strategy. Tammy is on the board of the Coalition of Hematology and Oncology Practices and serves on the COA Payment Reform Committee and the NCTA Contracting Committee.

Melody is the Vice President of Pharmacy Operations for the American Oncology Network (AON), a fastest growing oncology network represents more than 105 physicians, 79 advanced practitioners at 70 locations across 16 states. She oversees pharmacy operations, establishes guidelines and standard procedures, develops drug utilization and formulary initiatives that ensured the cost-effectiveness and optimized therapeutic outcomes throughout the Network.

Melody has over 20 years of clinical and management experiences in pharmacy. Prior to AON, she was the Director of Pharmacy Operations for Florida Cancer Specialists.

Melody received her B.S. in Pharmacy from China Medical University in Taiwan and earned her MBA degree from Tulane University in New Orleans. 

Sheri Chatterson is the Vice President of Payer Relations for One Oncology and United Urology. In her role Sheri leads a team of 7 support practices with payer strategy, payer negotiations, and escalating chronic payer issues and value-based care.  Sheri has spent the last 25 years in a variety of healthcare positions including pharmaceutical sales, administrative leadership of a blood and marrow transplant program, managed care contracting for a large integrated delivery system in MI, managed care leadership positions for three payers including Priority Health, Health Alliance Plan and Molina. Sheri has earned a master’s degree in management and an executive MBA with an emphasis in healthcare. 

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.

Austin Cox leads the development of contract strategy and manufacturer partnerships to support the long-term growth initiatives of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), Rx To Go, its medically-integrated specialty pharmacy, and Pharmacy operations encompassing IV and oral therapeutics.

Austin is responsible for financial oversight, business development, new product access, GPO and distributor engagement, and overall formulary management. He utilizes a wholistic approach to elevate manufacturer partnerships that includes research and real-world evidence collaboration.

Integrating his two decades of healthcare experience and his appreciation for resource programs that increase patient access to affordable therapies, Austin plays a pivotal role in enhancing FCS’ ability to minimize supply chain shortages, striving for little to no disruption to patient care.

Austin received his Doctor of Pharmacy from Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy in Auburn, Alabama and began his career as a staff pharmacist with Walgreens Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to joining FCS in 2022, he assisted in the establishment of Alabama Rx and served for six years as the medically integrated pharmacy manager with Alabama Oncology.

Actively involved with several oncology community partners, Austin is a member of the Executive Council with NCODA and a board member of the Community Oncology Pharmacy Alliance. Austin is a frequent speaker and advisor within the industry.

Simon Dobretsov has devoted more than 18 years to advancing healthcare operations and policy. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has served in leadership roles such as Director of Business Intelligence, Executive Director of Revenue Integrity, and Vice President of Network Strategy. Currently, he is the Senior Director of Network Strategy and Analytics at Highlands Oncology Group.

Simon’s strong technical background and data-driven mindset guide his work in revenue cycle management, contract negotiations, and healthcare advocacy. A passionate champion for patients, he has participated in writing or adapting over 15 laws in Arkansas, often providing testimony at the state capital. Recognized as one of Arkansas Business’s “40 Under 40,” Simon also shares his expertise with future leaders by speaking to MBA classes. His commitment to upholding fair practices and protecting patient rights is a defining hallmark of his career.

Dr Erba is a professor of medicine in the Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy at Duke University. He serves as the Director of the Leukemia Program.  Dr Erba graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He earned his medical degree and doctor of philosophy degree in Biophysics from Stanford University School of Medicine in California. He completed his internship, residency and fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  He has been a clinical investigator for myeloid neoplasms at the University of Michigan (1996-2012), University of Alabama at Birmingham (2012-2018), and Duke University since 2018. He has served as the Chair of the SWOG Leukemia Committee since 2012, member of the NCI Leukemia Steering Committee since 2012, and the Co-Chair of the Senior Scientific Council of the NCI-sponsored MyeloMATCH precision medicine initiative since 2019. 

Wes Falconer is the Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Care Specialists. He holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Capella University, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from the University of Maryland University College.

With over 15 years of experience in healthcare administration, Wes has consulted for numerous physicians, health plans, and medical practices across the country. A veteran of the United States Air Force, he proudly served in Operation Enduring Freedom. He brings extensive expertise in healthcare operations, finance, and strategy and holds a Black Belt in Six Sigma.

For the past eight years, Wes has dedicated his career to developing and implementing value-based care programs and quality pathways, both of which have played a key role in advancing our organization’s precision medicine program. His commitment to high-quality, affordable healthcare has enabled the organization to participate successfully in various value-based care initiatives and establish direct contracts with self-funded employers.

In addition to his leadership in healthcare innovation, Wes is actively involved in clinical and administrative research. He currently serves as a principal investigator with the National Institutes of Health. He is also a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives, where he is completing a fellowship.

Karen M. Fancher, PharmD, BCOP, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Duquesne University School of Pharmacy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Pharmacy and completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, followed by a Specialty Residency in Oncology Pharmacy Practice at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa. She then spent almost 10 years as a Clinical Pharmacist in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Division at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center before returning to Pittsburgh to work with the West Penn Allegheny Oncology Network. Her current practice site is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Passavant Hospital.  She presently serves on the faculty for the ASHP/ACCP Board Certification in Oncology Pharmacy (BCOP) Review & Recertification course, as well as various committees of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA). In addition, she has recently been appointed to the inaugural class of HOPAmbassadors.  Her research interests include chronic leukemias, lymphomas, and ethics in oncology.

Karen and her husband Stewart are the proud parents of two pretty awesome young adults. When she’s not on an adventure with her family, you can find her cooking, reading, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and daydreaming about musical legend Sting.

Nicolas Ferreyros is Managing Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communications at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), the only national organization dedicated solely to preserving and protecting local, affordable, and accessible cancer care. He is responsible for all internal and external communications at COA, including media relations, policy communications, and digital strategy.

A seasoned advocacy and communications strategist with more than 15 years of experience in health care, Nick specializes in developing successful campaigns to address complex issues. He has a deep understanding of the people and processes that affect America’s health care system and has a knack for translating the “wonkery” of health policy into language and concepts that resonate with policymakers, providers, patients, and voters.

Nick has engaged in nearly every major recent health policy issue before Congress and regulatory agencies, including the Affordable Care Act, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, Medicare reimbursement policy, and more. He has worked closely with policymakers on Capitol Hill, the White House, the Department of Health & Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health. Nick’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CBS Evening News, National Public Radio, and other leading national news outlets.

Prior to joining COA, Nick was a Managing Supervisor at GYMR Public Relations, a boutique Washington, DC communications firm specializing in health care, science, and social issues. While there, he oversaw high-profile, award-winning campaigns for clients including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, American Board of Internal Medicine, Consumer Reports, and numerous federal agencies.

A native of Houston, Texas, Nick earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He currently resides in New York City.

Andrea Fetchko is the Director of Communications at the Community Oncology Alliance.

An accomplished communications leader, Andrea brings ten years of experience and a passion for storytelling. She is an expert in developing campaigns that educate the public and other key stakeholders on important health issues. She is well-versed in leading corporate communications, thought leadership initiatives, and media relations efforts for government and health care organizations. Andrea is most passionate about advocacy, health care and science-based work, and her experience spans a wide range of industries.

Prior to joining COA, Andrea served as Vice President at a Washington, D.C. communications firm specializing in health care where she oversaw integrated PR and marketing efforts. Throughout her career she has focused on highlighting the stories of real patients to increase awareness of critical public health issues. In addition, she has overseen high-profile, award-winning campaigns for clients including Medicines360, The Physicians Foundation, WPSI, AstraZeneca, and Be The Match.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Pennsylvania State University. She currently resides in Colorado.

Dr. Doug Flora is the Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services and The Robert and Dell Ann Sathe Endowed Chair in Oncology at the Yung Family Cancer Center at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Headquartered in Edgewood, Kentucky, St. Elizabeth Healthcare currently operates six facilities throughout Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.

Dr. Flora graduated from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1999.  With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, he is a steadfast advocate for whole-person care and medical innovation.  His leadership and vision have led to cutting-edge technology and treatment protocols and improved patient outcomes. 

As the Editor-In-Chief for the pioneering peer-reviewed research journal AI in Precision Oncology, Dr. Flora plays a pivotal role in medical education and research, nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders. His unique perspective is enriched by personal experience as a practicing oncologist, senior healthcare executive, and, most importantly, a cancer survivor. These roles provide distinctive insights into the complexities and challenges faced in oncology care from different angles and drive home the reality that AI tools will allow optimization of every aspect of cancer care, none more urgently than what the patients personally require and deserve.

Dr. Flora is President-Elect of the Association of Cancer Care Centers, is a Board Member of the American Cancer Society, and is a Board Member of the Kentucky Society of Clinical Oncology.  He enjoys international travel with his family in his spare time.

John Fox, MD MHA, is current the Senior Medical Director for the Americas for Illumina, where he is accountable for working with payers and employers to expand access to genomic testing and personalized medicine across oncology, cardiology, women’s health and rare disease.

He served as the Associate Chief Medical Officer at Priority Health from 2000- 2019. He was responsible for technology assessment, policy development, and physician pay-for-performance programs. He was also responsible for multiple benefit innovations, including shared decision making, digital therapeutics, advanced care planning, surgical optimization initiatives, value-based benefit designs and contracts, oncology medical home programs, and personalized genomic medicine initiatives.

In June 2019 he became the Vice President of Clinical Transformation of Spectrum Health Systems, the parent company for Priority Health, and the Executive Medical Director for the West Michigan ACO. 

Dr. Fox earned his BS in chemistry and biochemistry in 1983 from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his Doctor of Medicine Degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, in 1989.  He completed his residency in pediatrics in 1992 and fellowship with the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service in 1996.    

Danielle Geiger is an oncology nurse practitioner who started her nursing career in bone marrow transplant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE.

She is currently in the role of COO at Nebraska Cancer Specialists. She remains actively clinically by overseeing the Autologous Stem Cell transplant and CART programs at NCS.

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. 

Katie Goodman is a seasoned leader in clinical research, currently overseeing American Oncology Network’s present and future clinical research initiatives. With a passion for bridging scientific innovation and clinical trial accessibility to community-based settings, she is dedicated to improving care for oncology patients where it matters most—close to home.

With over 30 years of healthcare experience, Katie has an extensive background in oncology nursing, clinical research, program development, and process improvement. 

For the last 20 years, Katie spearheaded the development of processes that support large networks of community-based, oncology clinical research sites, enrolling more than 500 patients annually in phase 1-3 clinical trials. Katie has led multiple transformative initiatives, including the establishment of fully dedicated phase 1 clinical trial units, implementation of technology solutions that integrated clinical and genomic data for patient-trial matching and support innovation in remote research workforce. 

Katie’s leadership extends beyond operational excellence; she has been instrumental in fostering collaboration between clinical teams, researchers, and technology partners to advance the delivery of cutting-edge oncology treatments.

Shawn Griffin, PharmD, BCOP, is a Health sciences assistant clinical professor in the department of clinical pharmacy practice at the University of California, Irvine School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. He was hired as a founding faculty member within the new Doctor of Pharmacy program and is currently developing both didactic and experiential courses for student pharmacists. Dr Griffin also practices as a board-certified oncology pharmacist within the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy program at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he has worked to create new pharmacist-provided clinical services. His research interests include investigating the role of pharmacists in clinical practice and optimizing the dosing of oncology-related medications in special populations.

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 recognized Fellow of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and a Board member of the National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA). He is also an active member of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and the Advanced Practitioner Society For Hematology and Oncology.

Rhonda Henschel is the Senior Vice President of Payer and Care Transformation for The US Oncology Network, where she leads a team of professionals who support the practices with payer strategy, value-based care transformation, and data and analytics. 

Before joining McKesson in 2019, Rhonda served in various roles at Minnesota Oncology for over 15 years, including Laboratory Manager, Practice Administrator, and Director of Managed Care and Quality. Through these experiences, she found a passion for improving patient outcomes and experience while creating aligned incentives and successful payment models. 

Rhonda earned a BS in Medical Technology from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Hamline University. 

As CEO of Highlands of Oncology in NW Arkansas, Jeff Hunnicutt has demonstrated a passion for creating a work environment where people are engaged and energized to provide outstanding patient care. Specializing in comparative analytics in oncology, Jeff has helped drive the success of his practice by providing an in-depth look into the underlying data that helps give direction to operational decisions. Jeff has been distinguished for his efforts by participating on the Board of Trustees and being recognized as a service fellow for ACCC, serving as ACS Chair in NW Arkansas, serving as a board member with the COA Administrator Network as well as in his previous role as Executive Director of the Quality Cancer Care Alliance (QCCA). Jeff also serves on the Red River Region for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and as the chair for Oncology Supportive Services in NW Arkansas.

In his personal life, Jeff is married with 4 children, living in Bentonville, AR. He and his family are deeply involved in projects to bring quality education to the remote areas of Senegal, Africa, and toward raising awareness for the foster system in their state. 

Liz Hyde MBA, RTT,  has been with Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute for 17 years, she is the Director of Radiation, Imaging, and Special Support Services to include volunteer services and cancer registry.  She received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Oklahoma in Radiologic Technology – Radiation Therapy in 1991 and is a registered Radiation Therapist (ARRT).  She received her initial master’s degree in science from Cameron University in 1996.  She went on to earn her second master’s degree in business administration – Healthcare Administration focus- from Southern Nazarene University in 2018.  She has more than 30 years of experience in the radiation oncology field. Outside of work she  loves the Lord, her family, and Sports!

Dr. Jain is a radiation oncologist with Southeast Radiation Oncology (SERO) in Charlotte, NC, one of the country's largest private radiation oncology groups.  He is double board certified in radiation oncology and clinical informatics.  He is an accomplished physician executive with extensive experience in healthcare innovation, value-based care, and strategic business development.  

He began his career in community oncology, growing a robust multi-state comprehensive oncology service while leading operational and quality initiatives as the medical director overseeing multiple cancer centers. Under his leadership, the practice successfully participated in payor value-based models, achieving positive performance-based outcomes and capturing financial upside. Concomitant with his clinical practice, Dr. Jain served as the Senior Fellow in Oncology Innovation at both the National Cancer Institute and U.S. Food and Drug Administration, leading oncology data-sharing initiatives and partnerships with industry.

Dr. Jain serves on the Board of Advisors for the Duke Cancer Institute, Board of Directors for the
Community Oncology Alliance, and as an Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Medicine. He trained in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and in radiation oncology at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was Chief Resident. He holds an M.D. with highest distinction from the University of Kentucky and an undergraduate degree in economics from Duke University. 

As a gynecologic oncologist, I am a surgeon who specializes in the care of women with cancers of the ovary, uterus, cervix, or vulva. I provide diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care for women with gynecologic cancers. In most cases, surgery plays an important role in the treatment of these diseases. Whenever possible, I use minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic techniques using the da Vinci® Surgical System to help patients recover faster and have cosmetic results.

In addition to my clinical responsibilities at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I am the Vice President of Regional Partnerships, Vice Chair of Surgery for the Regional Network & Affiliates, and the Chief of MSK Monmouth ORs.

Ben Jones currently serves as Senior Vice President of Government Relations & Marketing for the McKesson Oncology & Specialty organization, supporting The US Oncology Network.  In this role, Ben leads the marketing function along with all legislative efforts around access to care in the community setting. Ben has been in some capacity of this role for over 18 years and concurrently serves as the Executive Director of The US Oncology Network political action committee (PAC).  Prior to joining McKesson, Ben spent many years in public policy at the state and federal level, including 5 years with the former U.S. House Majority Leader.  Ben graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in political science and currently lives in The Woodlands, TX.

Autumn Jones is the Director of Radiology Operations for American Oncology Network (AON), where she oversees the daily operations of radiology clinics across the network. With a strong focus on innovation and growth, she plays a key role in developing new radiology departments and advancing radioligand therapy programs. As a Certified Imaging Informatics Professional (CIIP), she also serves as AON’s PACS Administrator, ensuring seamless imaging informatics integration.

With more than 15 years of experience in nuclear medicine and radiology, Autumn has a proven track record of enhancing clinical efficiency, patient care, and program development. Prior to her role at AON, she managed the radiology department at Genesis Cancer & Blood Institute, where she successfully launched a high-volume, high-quality radiology clinic and developed a comprehensive radioligand therapy program. Earlier in her career, she served as a Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist at CARTI Cancer Center, managing nuclear medicine imaging and research initiatives.

Autumn holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at Arkansas State University. She is CIIP certified and maintains certifications in CT, nuclear medicine, and basic life support. She has also contributed to radioligand therapy advisory boards, sharing her expertise to advance cancer imaging and treatment.

Outside of her professional work, Autumn enjoys faith, family, fitness, traveling, and all things outdoors.

Tyler G. Jones, MD, MBA, is an accomplished physician executive and leader in value-based care, behavioral healthcare transformation, and the Collaborative Care Model, an interprofessional care model for those with mental illness. Dr. Jones specializes in healthcare organizational and system consulting and advises startups and investors in behavioral health.

Dr. Jones has served as a Chief Medical Officer for several organizations, including Banner Health, Oregon State Hospitals, and the Department of Behavioral Health in Washington, DC. He has deep experience in both payor-side and provider-side behavioral healthcare. He is currently the Chief Medical Officer for CollaHealth. 

He completed his training at Quillen College of Medicine and Georgetown University and earned an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a practicing board-certified general and forensic psychiatrist. 

Mr. Kelleher, founding CEO of the Employers’ Forum of Indiana, is currently serving again as President and CEO. He holds a Master of Science degree in Economics and has managed health care organizations since completing his military service in 1972. He was one of the founders of the first prepaid group practice in Indiana and served as its Executive Vice President from 1973 to 1986. He then founded HealthCare Options (HOI) and is its president. Since 1986 HOI has developed and managed health care organizations and provided consulting services to health plans, medical groups, hospitals, academic medical centers and employers in 38 states.

HealthCare Options managed the Employers Forum from 2001 until 2015 and was one of the organizers of Quality Health First of Indiana. Quality Health First was a statewide, multi-payer, quality reporting and pay-for-performance program developed and managed by the Indiana Health Information Exchange. Mr. Kelleher was also the program manager of the Central Indiana Beacon Collaborative.

Dr. Syed Zia Khan, PharmD, BCSCP, is the Director of Pharmacy at The START Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Khan is an accomplished pharmacy executive with a track record of driving operational excellence, clinical integration, and innovation across complex oncology pharmacy environments. At The START Center, he authored and implemented practice-preferred pathways within Flatiron Assist to streamline treatment workflows and support real-time clinical decision-making within OncoEMR. He successfully led the organization through ACHC accreditation, securing specialty pharmacy designation and advancing regulatory and quality standards.

Dr. Khan brings deep expertise in EMR optimization, GPO strategy, payer contracting, credentialing, and direct manufacturer engagement. He has overseen the full buildout of sterile compounding facilities and led specialty pharmacy remodels to enhance safety, workflow, and patient access. Through close collaboration with the Nucleus team, he played a key role in designing and executing a real-time virtual inventory management solution that significantly improved medication tracking, inventory visibility, and operational efficiency across clinical sites.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Coalition of Hematology and Oncology Practices (CHOP) and is a founding member of the ION LPP+ Advisory Board. Dr. Khan is also actively involved in advocacy efforts to advance and protect the future of community oncology.

He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of the Incarnate Word and is board certified in sterile compounding. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, playing cricket, swimming, and staying active.

James Lee is the Director of State Regulation and Policy at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). Leveraging a background in government relations and public policy he has influenced critical areas throughout the health care system. His portfolio spans a wide range of issues including the Federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, commercial insurance, state-administered health plans, clinical pharmacy operations, and telehealth policy.

Since joining COA, James established the organization's multistate policy program, empowering independent practice leaders to effectively advocate for policies that support accessible and affordable cancer care in their respective regions. With his guidance, COA members have successfully challenged policies that would compromise patient care, fostered interstate collaborations, and introduced legislation in various state legislatures.

Prior to COA, James served as a government relations manager for one of the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center systems in Southeast Texas. In his role, he led strategic legislative campaigns and served as a liaison between a network of over forty-five facilities serving 190,000 clients and more than seventy-five federal, state, and local policymakers.

A native of the U.S. border with Mexico, James was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, the southernmost region of Texas. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Health Law and Strategy at New York University, and previously earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Houston. James currently resides in the New York City Metropolitan Area, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Richard T. Lee, MD is a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Supportive Care Medicine and Medical Oncology at City of Hope National Medical Center. Dr. Lee serves as the inaugural Director and endowed Chair of the Cherng Family Center for Integrative Oncology and oversees this national program that involves clinical, research and educational programs. As a medical oncologist, he provides routine oncologic care with a focus on gastrointestinal cancers.  Additionally, he provides broad consultative services regarding supportive and integrative cancer approaches. 

Dr. Lee earned his both his B.A. in anthropology and M.D at George Washington University as part of the Seven-Year B.A/M.D. Combined Degree Program. He then completed his internal medicine residency at Stanford, his fellowship in hematology/oncology at the University of Chicago, where he served as chief fellow, and lastly his palliative care fellowship at Northwestern University. Between residency and fellowship, Dr. Lee became a Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan and China. There he attended China Medical University in Taichung, Taiwan to study Traditional Chinese Medicine with a focus on acupuncture. This time abroad helped to cultivate his interest in integrative oncology.

Currently, Dr. Lee is currently building integrative oncology services at the City of Hope in Southern California with plans for expansion to the entire enterprise. His research includes health services research utilizing survey studies exploring both patients’ and clinicians’ perspectives about supportive and integrative services. He also has been exploring the anticancer activities of natural plants, specifically mistletoe and mushrooms, in order to develop new cancer treatments. Dr. Lee has ongoing clinical research evaluating the benefits of acupuncture and meditation. He is the recipient of multiple research grants including from ASCO and the NIH National Cancer Institute. His work has led to over 80 publications including in peer reviewed cancer journals and book chapters and has been an invited speaker to both national and international meetings. Dr. Lee was recently honored with the Medical Visionary Award by the Asia Society of Southern California and as a Fellow of the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

Jonathan Levitt co-founded Frier Levitt, a national healthcare law firm, in 2000. He began his work in the drug supply chain in 2003 when he filed a successful class action lawsuit against a Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM). Jonathan is a leading advocate for transparency and fairness in pharmacy benefits and a prolific trial attorney.

He represents pharmacies, physician-dispensers, provider associations, hospital systems, manufacturers, wholesalers, and plan sponsors. He prosecutes claims against PBMs for fair reimbursement and the recovery of hidden fees. He also advises self-funded plans on pharmacy benefit design and supports state Medicaid audits of PBMs.

As a Certified Civil Trial Attorney, Jonathan is admitted in multiple states and remains dedicated to fairness in the drug supply chain. His settlements and verdicts over the past several years exceed $100 million.

Drew Lovejoy is the Senior Communications Manager at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a non-profit organization dedicated solely to advocating for community oncology practices and the patients they serve.  

As the Senior Communications Manager, Drew amplifies the work of COA and its members. He also leads pitched media efforts for the organization, coordinates partnerships with media organizations, assists with internal and external communications, and helps plan and coordinate COA events, such as the Payer Exchange Summit and Annual COA Conference. 

Prior to joining COA, Drew worked at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, a national nonprofit that advocates for behavioral health care access, and Finn Partners, an internationally recognized public affairs firm. His work at both organizations highlighted successful initiatives to increase public health and secure more resources for health care workers. 

Originally from West Virginia, Drew obtained a bachelor’s degree in English and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from West Virginia University before pursuing a master’s in public relations from Syracuse University. Drew currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland. 

Alia Lynch is an ambulatory clinical pharmacist at UVA Health in Charlottesville, Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from North Carolina State University and her doctor of pharmacy degree of the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She completed her pharmacy residency training at UVA Health in 2015. Her current practice site is the thoracic oncology clinic at UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center where she cares for patients with lung and thymic malignancies. Dr. Lynch’s professional interests include oral anticancer therapy management, comprehensive patient education, and utilization of technology in healthcare. 

Jerrica Mathis leads the federal Government Relations team as Cardinal Health’s VP, Federal Government Relations. Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Jerrica was a director in Crowell & Moring's Government Affairs Group. Based in their Washington, D.C. office, she assisted corporate, trade association, and individual clients with legislative and regulatory advocacy and strategies before Congress and federal agencies. 

Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Jerrica served as a senior government relations manager at a boutique lobbying shop, where she provided government relations support to health care clients, including global health, non-profit patient advocacy, and health professional organizations. She has also served as a project director at the Society for Public Health Education and as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Health Policy Fellow. During her time as a fellow, Jerrica worked on policy issues related to improving the health of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as labor and employer issues, on the U.S. House of Representative’s Committee on Education and Labor and with the office of Representative Donna L. Christensen. Before coming to Washington, D.C., she served in the role of providing technical assistance to state health department chronic disease programs with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors in Atlanta, GA.

Jerrica holds an M.S. in education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a B.S. in public health from Georgia Southern University.

Dr. McAneny is a board‐certified medical oncologist/hematologist based in Albuquerque, Ne Mexico and the co‐founder and CEO of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants. She was the 173rd president of the American Medical Association and used that position to encourage the AMA to file its successful lawsuits blocking the consolidation of large insurance companies and protecting Title 10 funding. Dr. McAneny is a former member of the ASCO Board of Directors, a past president of the New Mexico Medical Society, the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association and the New Mexico Society of Clinical Oncology. In 2012, Dr McAneny received a $19.8 M award from CMMI to create COME HOME, Community Oncology Medical Home, which was the precursor to the Oncology Care Model and many other valuebased care processes for oncology. Dr. McAneny is the co‐chair of the board and one of the Founders of the ONCare Alliance, a network of independent oncology practices across the United States, organized to provide collaborative, cutting‐edge oncology care, to bring clinical trials to community practices, to develop new alternative payment models based on sound data‐driven principles and teach young and mid‐career oncologists how to manage a successful practice. Prior to this, she was a founding member of Oncology Circle, a group of oncology practices using data to promote best practices and contribute data to ASCO’s Practice Net. She also founded New Mexico Cancer Center Foundation which helps cancer patients overcome barriers to care by providing grants to pay for their non‐medical expenses.

Alexa Meara, MD, MS is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Medicine (2008). She completed her internal medicine training at East Carolina University  (ECU) at Vidant Maedical Center (2008-20011), then becoming Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at ECU (2011-2012). She was then recruited as the associate training Program Director for Internal Medicine (2012-2013). She pursued further training in Rheumatology at The Ohio State University (OSU_ from 2013-2015. After completing 2 extra years of fellowship for expanding her research where she completed a Master of Medical Science (2015-2017). She is an Associate Professor of the Division of Oncology and the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at OSU. Currently she directs 2 unique clinics: An immunotoxicity clinic for sequela of oncologic treatments as well as a multidisciplinary vasculitis clinic. Her clinical research is understanding the immune related adverse events second to cancer immunotherapy. Her priority is understanding patients that develop autoimmune side effects from cancer immunotherapy and how to classify and treat the autoimmune sequala while maintaining the antitumor effect of the immunotherapy treatment. 

She also teaches pre-clinical learners how to complete a history and physical as well is a Success coach for residents and fellows through the Graduate Medical Education office. 

Kiana Mehring, MBA is currently Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships - Managed Care at FCS. Throughout her career, Mehring has been instrumental in building strong payer partnerhsips and designing innovative alternative payment models that balance cost & quality. She works with various stakeholders and interdepartmentally to identify performance improvement areas and create strategic business plans. She is dedicated to fostering strong collaboration between payers and providers, ultimately aiming to create sustainable and high-value care solutions. 

Guy Messer leads American Oncology Network (AON’s) radiation and radiology services which includes its Radiopharmaceutical Therapy services. With more than 30 years’ experience Guy has served in a variety of roles gaining a deep understanding of how today’s healthcare is delivered particularly within the diagnostic imaging space.

Prior to joining AON Guy served as Chief Executive Officer of Trident Medical Imaging, a multi-modality diagnostic imaging organization with a primary focus on PET/CT and oncologic imaging. During his tenure at Trident, Guy also served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Sales. In addition, Guy served on the Technical Assessment Committee for Georgia’s Department of Community Health tasked with developing the state’s Certificate of Need Rules for PET/CT scanners and volunteered his services as Chief Financial Officer for the non-profit Outpatient Imaging Coalition.

Guy has been instrumental in developing imaging centers throughout the U.S and his career includes sales management positions with CTI, Siemens, and CYTOGEN. He has served as Director of Nuclear Medicine with a multi-specialty facility and has been published as principal author of peer-reviewed journal articles. He also served as Adjunct Faculty with George Washington University’s Nuclear Medicine Technology program while simultaneously teaching at the US Navy’s Clinical Nuclear Medicine School as Senior Instructor.

Guy received his MBA from Georgia State University and his Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management from Southern Illinois University.

Jen Mettler is the manager of the New Patient Department at Nebraska Cancer Specialists. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree for the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and then went on to earn a dual Masters Degree in Nursing and Business Administration from Nebraska Wesleyan University. 

Jen started her nursing career in inpatient oncology before eventually moving into outpatient oncology over 4 years ago. While working for Nebraska Cancer Specialists she has helped evolve and develop an entire department dedicated to helping and guiding new patients entering the practice. She has been foundational in developing a standard of using registered nurses in a non-patient facing role in order to provide the best possible outcomes and standards for not only the patients coming into the practice but also the providers seeing the patients which in turn sets everyone up for success.

Jen is currently a co-chair of the patient and family advisory council at NCS. Throughout this program, the committee has been instrumental in designing and implementing positive changes throughout the practice. Jen believes there is great importance of receiving input from patients and families to make beneficial changes along with having the patients and families involved in driving those changes. 

Christin Molnar, PharmD, BCOP earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy and subsequently completed a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Residency at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI. After residency, she held staffing and clinical roles in the hospital before joining The Cancer & Hematology Centers in Grand Rapids, MI in late 2017. She held positions in leadership and direct patient care and achieved board certification in oncology in 2022. She is currently the clinical pharmacy coordinator at CHC and is responsible for clinical oversight and coordination for the infusion, specialty retail, and research pharmacy teams. She presently resides in Chicago, IL and prioritizes time with family, friends, and traveling to new destinations.

Dylan Moore brings nearly a decade of experience working closely with Senior House Republican Members. Most recently, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R- IN), Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee on House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Dylan handled a broad range of issues with a primary focus on health care and telecommunications.

He was Congressman Bucshon’s principal advisor to the GOP Doctors Caucus and the House Kidney Caucus and played a key role in the negotiations and passage of the No Surprises Act. Dylan has extensive experience on Medicare reimbursement issues, the Physicians Fee Schedule, kidney care, and diagnostic testing reform, serving as the lead House Republican drafter of the VALID Act.

Prior to Dr. Bucshon, Dylan began his career working for Speaker John Boehner.

Alison Moors is a distinguished HR leader currently serving as Vice President, Human Resource Business Partner for The US Oncology Network. Over her 13-year career at McKesson, she has excelled in strategic HR roles, demonstrating expertise in talent development, change management, and organizational effectiveness. Her collaborative leadership and strategic insights have been key in developing talent strategies that drive business success and foster continuous improvement. 

Her primary client group within The US Oncology Network is Texas Oncology, where she leads a team of over 30 HR professionals ,impacting more than 7,000 employees and 550 physicians. Her leadership ensures that HR strategies align with business goals, optimizing processes and promoting a culture of collaboration and engagement. 

Alison has a deep passion for enhancing the employee and physician experience and is actively pursing higher education to deepen her expertise in this space. She hopes to leverage her learnings to influence a positive culture for the people and organizations she serves.

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.

Shelly oversees Cencora’s federal government relations function by the strategic development and implementation of federal advocacy strategy and activities to support business objectives of the company.  Shelly represents Cencora at industry and political events, industry briefings, trade association and coalition meetings.  She also leads the company’s engagement with federal government officials and influencers.  Furthermore, she leads the federal advocacy center of excellence and closely collaborate with public policy and state government affairs colleagues to ensure a unified federal advocacy approach.

Prior to joining Cencora, she was at Novartis and BIO leading tax policy for over 15 years.  Shelly is a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, Syracuse University College of Law and Georgetown University College of Law.

Brian Mulherin is a hematologist-oncologist at Hematology Oncology of Indiana, a practice within the American Oncology Network (AON).  He’s been in practice since 2012.  He’s an active member of AON’s P&T Committee, and has served as AON’s medical director since January 2024.  He’s the managing partner of his Indianapolis clinic, and is an advisory board member of MiBA (Meaningful Insights Biotech Analytics), a data analytics firm aiming to transform patient care by delivering the highest quality real-world insights to healthcare providers and biopharma partners.  He’s active in expanding research opportunities within AON, and has a special focus on value-based care.  He is a member of ASCO and ASH.  He lives with his wife and four children outside Indianapolis, and in his spare time enjoys playing the piano.

Meagan is the Executive Director of the Association of Cancer Care Centers, where she leads efforts to support and advance cancer programs nationwide. In this role, she collaborates with oncology leaders from both community-based and academic programs to drive innovation and advancements in cancer care delivery.

A seasoned business consultant and strategic advisor, Meagan brings 15 years of experience guiding hospital systems and cancer programs across the country. As a former co-leader of the Oncology Services Practice at ECG Management Consultants, a nationally recognized healthcare consultancy, she partnered with more than 100 hospitals and health systems on initiatives ranging from operational redesign to strategic growth planning and execution. Drawing from her personal experience as a caregiver for loved ones with cancer, Meagan is deeply committed to helping provider organizations navigate the evolving landscape of cancer care.

Ted Okon is a nationally recognized expert on the policy and politics of cancer care. He is quoted extensively in the press, including guest appearances on TV and radio news shows. Ted has testified before Congress on cancer issues and is frequently on Capitol Hill discussing the nation’s cancer care delivery system. Ted’s target areas of expertise include the cost of cancer treatment, health care reform, Medicare reimbursement, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug shortages, and the changing landscape of cancer care delivery in the United States.

Ted has dedicated his career to healthcare business and policy. He has worked for several pharmaceutical companies including Merck and Warner-Lambert, now part of Pfizer, and IMS Health. He co-founded and took public the health care information business Medical Marketing Group. He also founded two oncology companies (an oncology clinical research network and an information network) and has traveled extensively to China, India, Singapore, the U.K., and the Middle East, analyzing and discussing cancer care delivery.

As executive director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), Ted oversees the strategic direction of this non-profit organization dedicated to patients and providers in the community cancer care setting, under the direction of a dedicated board of oncologists and practice administrators. Ted also travels the country speaking to state oncology societies, professional organizations, and companies about the challenges facing the nation’s cancer care delivery system. He has authored numerous articles and studies relating to cancer care policy and politics, reimbursement, and clinical issues.

Ted holds a BS degree from Fairfield University and an MBA from the Carnegie-Mellon University Tepper School of Business. His wife Susan practiced as a certified oncology nurse.

Rebekah Ormond is the Volunteer Coordinator at Clearview Cancer Institute, where she has overseen all Volunteer Programs since 2021.  The Volunteer Programs at Clearview Cancer Institute offer a wide range of patient and caregiver support through their Hospitality Volunteers, Ambassador of Hope, Clerical Volunteers, Hooks for Hope, Musicians with a Mission, Confidence with a Clear View, Peer-to-Peer, and Patient Family Advisory Council serving all thirteen cancer sites in North Alabama.  Before joining Clearview in 2015, Rebekah worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as a Development and Program Services Intern, gaining experience that has served her well during the launch of multiple Clearview Volunteer Programs such as Confidence with a Clear View, Peer-to-Peer Program, and the Patient and Family Advisory Council. 

Rebekah was a member of the Huntsville Hospital Development Council and is currently serving as a board member for The Vine, a local non-profit counseling clinic. Her passion is to connect with others and help her community gain access to compassionate, individualized care, while receiving encouragement and support throughout treatment. 

When she is not working, you can find her exploring the North Alabama area with her husband and three young children, ages four, two, and five months old!

Ray Page, DO PhD FACOI FASCO is Immediate Past President and Senior Advisor at The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, in Fort Worth, Texas and has practiced medical oncology for 27 years. Dr.  Page has been at the forefront of community oncology practice transformation participating in a variety of payment reform models, pathway systems and value-based care initiatives.  As Director of Research, he has been the Principal Investigator over 300 clinical trials and is well published on a variety of cancer related topics. He has a particular interest in healthcare policy and was acknowledged as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Advocate of the Year. 

Dr. Page actively serves many cancer related organizations including ASCO, as prior Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, Nominating Committee, Government Relations Committee,  ASCO Delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, and State Affiliate Council past chair and current Texas representative. He was past President and current Treasurer of the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Page also serves several committee roles with One Oncology.

Dr. Page is an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and has served many leadership roles there and in the local hospital systems. He has received numerous awards and honors in his career.

Dr. Julio A. Peguero is a distinguished oncologist with an impressive track record in cancer research and treatment. As the Medical Director of Research at Oncology Consultants in Houston, Texas, he stands at the forefront of innovative developments in the field. Beyond his clinic work, Dr. Peguero maintains affiliations with several Houston-area hospitals, including the Memorial Hermann Health System Hospitals. His expertise and leadership make him an asset to both patients and colleagues in the medical community.

Dr. Julio A. Peguero began his academic journey at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico, where he earned his medical degree. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Texas Dell Medical School. Furthering his training, he served as the Chief Fellow at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston where he completed his fellowship in Medical Oncology in 2013 in a combined program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center with exposure in Breast Medical Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Phase I training. 

During his fellowship, he also participated in an externship with Dr. Luis T. Campos, President of Oncology Consultants where he cultivated his passion for early phase research, moved to Houston and participated in collaborations with the MD Anderson’s Phase I department. 

Dr. Peguero holds board certifications in both medical oncology and internal medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

In July 2013, Dr. Peguero joined Oncology Consultants, the largest private practice for cancer care in Houston, Texas. He was appointed as the Director of Research, where he spearheaded a competitive clinical research program that gained credibility with pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations (CROs), and other organizations within the oncology healthcare industry.

Dr. Peguero has been a principal investigator in over 200 clinical trials including first-in-human designed. His research contributions have been presented and published at prestigious conferences such as ASCO, ESMO, ASH, AACR, STIC and TxSCO. His work has appeared in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, The Lancet Oncology, and Blood. 

As an early adopter of next-generation sequencing (NGS), Dr. Peguero recognizes its transformative impact on biological sciences. The capacity for massive parallel sequencing offered by NGS opens new avenues for personalized precision medicine.

In addition to his work in Houston, Dr. Peguero is the owner and founder of Zogen, which is the largest distributor bringing innovative next-generation sequencing tests to Mexico and owner of Oncología Consultores en Oncología in Guadalajara, Mexico, which includes a clinical and data research program, recently adding clinics in Queretaro and Tijuana, Mexico.

His professional affiliations include membership in various medical associations, such as the American Medical Association, the Texas Medical Association, the Harris County 

Medical Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Texas Society of Medical Oncology, and the American Society of Hematology, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer and Who’s Who in America.

Additionally, Dr. Peguero is President and Executive Chairman of the Research Company P1 Trials, Inc, a network of world-class, community based, Phase 1 oncology investigative sites capable of performing complex Phase 1 studies. 

As an oncologist, Dr. Peguero specializes in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. He leads a cancer treatment team comprising various healthcare professionals, coordinates treatment plans, and prescribes various types of treatment, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy and clinical research.  His commitment extends to mentoring and training International Medical Graduates (IMGs), offering them valuable hands-on experience in U.S. healthcare as the Director of the Oncology Consultants Academic Program.

Dr. Peguero’s dedication and expertise have earned him recognition from his peers at national and international levels and was recently appointed to the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) Steering Group at ASCO.

Dr. Cassandra (Cassie) Perkey is a board-certified oncology pharmacist and a regional clinical pharmacist for the American Oncology Network. In this role, she provides comprehensive pharmaceutical support to multiple community-based cancer centers across the Midwest. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University, followed by a PGY-1 pharmacy residency at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, and a PGY-2 oncology pharmacy residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. While Dr. Perkey supports the treatment of all cancer types within her region, her primary areas of interest include breast cancer and the expansion of cellular therapy in the community oncology setting.

With over 30 years of oncology-care experience, Jennifer (Jen) Pichoske, MS, EMBA, AOCNP is the Chief Executive Officer for Hematology-Oncology Associates of CNY (HOACNY) in Syracuse, New York. A natural born leader, Jen has a passion for motivating her teams and growing the future. She is an integral part of HOACNY’s success utilizing vision, data and strategy. Jen fosters a culture of respect, state of the art quality care, and integrity keeping the patient at the center of every decision. 

Jen believes in serving her community through volunteer board participation. She currently serves as the board VP for Hospice of CNY and the Finger Lakes. She serves, as a board member for Cancer Connects, and is board treasurer for Breast Care Partners LLC. Nationally, Jen is a member of Community Oncology Alliance board where she enjoys sharing her endless passion for cancer care.

Jen has two sons who are busy student athletes. She enjoys her two rescue dogs, cat, the outdoors, cooking and yoga.

As Director of Practice Support, Shiela Plasencia brings a wealth of knowledge to COA membership. Ms. Plasencia acts as a critical link between practice administrators, distributing insights and tools to improve practice operations and pursue the highest quality care for patients. She also oversees the COA Administrators’ Network, a peer-to-peer network for administrators for practice leaders to share best practices for addressing the unique issues they face.

Prior to joining COA, Plasencia served as director of quality improvement, compliance, and value-based care at Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute (OCSRI), a community oncology practice she joined in 2004. Through her leadership, OCSRI earned the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s QOPI Certification and is one of only two practices in the state of Oklahoma to hold this certification. In 2016, Plasencia joined the Coalition of Hematology Oncology Practices (CHOP) and currently serves as its immediate past president.

Lisa has extensive experience in Oncology in various settings, dedicating most of her time and efforts to Community practice and patient advocacy.  She led Fort Wayne Medical Oncology to become QOPI certified in 2015 and assisted in obtaining ASCO OMH certification in 2024, she launched Indiana’s only CPAN Chapter in 2018, coordinated several Oncology speaking events and advocated locally and at the state and federal levels for Oncology Patient Care. We accomplished expanding our advocacy efforts through involvement and connections associated with the Employers Forum of Indiana and CPAN Sit in my Chair events by inviting Federal, State, and local legislators to the table.  The progress FWMOH achieved at the local and state levels caught the attention of COA and helped build the foundations for the COA Employers forum and COA State advocacy efforts. Lisa’s experience encompasses Inpatient and Outpatient patient care ranging from Peripheral Stem Cell Transplant, outpatient chemotherapy administration into practice management, EMR coordination to Quality care programs such as OCM and VBC programs, data analysis and governmental reporting for the practice. She continues to be a strong voice for patient care in the Community setting. 

Dr. Sucharu Chris Prakash is the Medical Director and an Oncology/ Hematology specialist at Texas Oncology Paris. As the Director of Quality Services and Chair of Texas Oncology Quality Committee, he strives to maintain the highest standards of oncology care across the statewide group. Of note, he led Texas Oncology’s Precision Medicine Testing Initiative to increase biomarker testing in Cancer, and as a result Texas Oncology now tests almost 100% of eligible cancer patients. He is a member of the ASCO Task Force for rural cancer care and has spoken on this matter at various forums. He also moderates a biannual Oncology Congress designed to improve education and awareness among rural oncology providers. As the President of Texas Society of Clinical Oncology, he contributed to increased membership, active advocacy and educational activities for its provider members. As past member of the TMA’s Committee on Cancer, he was involved in cancer policy and coverage issues impacting providers and patients in Texas. As a Principal Investigator for US Oncology Research, he has brought clinical trials to the patients living in rural communities of Northeast Texas.

Lisa Raff, PharmD, MSPharm, BCPS, BCOP is Vice President of Pharmacy Services at OneOncology and is responsible for all clinical and operational matters related to pharmacy services. This includes OneOncology Pharmacy & Therapeutics committee initiatives, the ASCO certified OneOncology Pathways Program, ensuring the adherence to highest standards of efficacy, toxicity, and cost for drug management, as well as responsibility for all corporate pharmacy initiatives. Lisa ensures the coordination of all OneOncology pharmacy services across a network of 20+ community oncology practices, serves as a OneOncology subject matter expert on all pharmacy-related clinical and operational issues and ensures the highest regulatory and accreditation standards possible through specialty pharmacy practices.

Prior to joining OneOncology Lisa has spent over 15 years in various pharmacy settings including the preceding 5 years at Northwest Oncology & Hematology in the Chicagoland area as the Clinical Pharmacy Manager.  Lisa is passionate on focusing how to bring innovative and practice changing therapies to the outpatient, community oncology setting.

Lisa graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from Drake University and her Master of Science in Pharmacy with a Major in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a concentration in Personalized Medicine from the University of Florida.  Lisa completed a residency in Pharmacy Practice and Management and is Board Certified in Pharmacotherapy and Oncology.  

Lisa lives in the Chicagoland area, and enjoys spending time with her husband and very active daughter when not supporting community oncology practices.

Anne Marie Rainey is the Director of Value-Based Care for the American Oncology Network and manages internal quality, government, and value-based care initiatives. She has experience in government quality reporting as a contractor for Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services and Centers for Disease Control. After obtaining her MSN in leadership and administration, Anne Marie transitioned to community oncology. Her work interests include quality metrics analysis, program implementation, health policy, and community oncology advocacy. From her time in oncology, she has several publications about implementation of value-based care initiatives, including Oncology Care Model, and has participated in speaking engagements sharing learnings. She has the privilege of serving on several boards, committees, and task forces with Association of Community Cancer Centers and Community Oncology Alliance to promote best practices and positive impact to community oncology. Anne Marie resides in Alabama with her husband, twins, and dog. She loves volunteering, is an avid college football fan, and enjoys traveling.

Sean Riley is the Chief Information Officer at New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS), where he has led the development of an IT framework that fueled the organization’s growth from 6 to over 100 offices and scaled support for more than 3,000 employees. Beginning his career as a technician and digital marketer at the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), Sean gained a deep appreciation for the transformative power of technology in improving lives. This experience shaped his commitment to enhancing patient interactions and streamlining healthcare processes to drive better outcomes and more efficient digital care experiences.

Sean is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz, where he earned a degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics. He is also CPHIMS certified and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School CTO Program. Dedicated to service, growth, and innovation, he leverages technology to create seamless, patient-centered experiences, ensuring every interaction is meaningful and designed with care at its core.

Kristine Rufener serves as the Senior Director of Congressional Affairs for the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), leveraging her extensive background in health policy. With over a decade of experience in congressional and political affairs roles within healthcare organizations, Kristine possesses a deep understanding of legislative and political processes. 

In her role as head of legislative affairs at ASCO, Kristine is responsible for developing and executing the organization’s strategy to advance policies that improve patient access to cancer care, expand access to treatments and clinical trials, and alleviate administrative burdens for providers. Leading a dedicated team, Kristine actively engages with Members of Congress, trade associations, advocacy coalitions, and political organizations to drive ASCO’s policy objectives. 

Recognized for her impactful contributions, Kristine was named among The Hill’s Top Lobbyists in 2023 and 2024. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI.

Barry Russo, CEO, has been with The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, a private community practice based in Fort Worth, Texas, since 2002.  Barry has over 30 years of healthcare experience – he has worked in academic and community practices as well as academic and community hospitals. The Center has over 60 providers & 400+ employees at 20 facilities in the DFW area.  The Center offers medical oncology, radiation oncology, hematology, gynecologic oncology, breast oncology surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, integrative medicine, palliative care, imaging, laboratory services and retail pharmacy.

Barry is a current board member of COA and Advisory Board of Cancer Care Business Exchange (CBEX) and current member of ACCC, ASCO and TXMGMA.

Barry has an MBA from the University of Dallas and resides in Southlake, Texas.

Susan is the vice president of clinical innovation at AON and oversees the clinical programming function that includes care plan design, care program implementation and monitoring, and clinical integration with payers and providers.

She has over 25 years of experience in healthcare. Previously, she was the executive director of clinical strategy at Oncology Consultants in Houston, Texas, where she developed and implemented innovative clinical strategies and policies that led to the company's growth. Susan has created clinical and operations protocols for all levels of practice to promote quality and value-based care initiatives in both commercial and non-commercial payer populations. She has established an appropriate framework and oversight, including input into growth, strategy, resourcing, and decision-making to innovate around consumer-focused oncology programs. Developing a community-based oncology navigation program and collaborating to implement a fully integrated initiative to address social determinants of health within the practice has been significant in her role.

Susan currently co-chairs the COA Administrators Network Board (CAN), advises the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology (TxSCO) Health Equity & Access Committee, and sits on the COA Health Equity Committee.  

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She also has the Nurse Executive Advanced Certification and has held the Oncology Nurse Certification for 16 years. 

Dr. John Sargent is a co-founder of the BroadReach Group, dedicated to leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to advance global health equity. He advocates for private sector engagement in health development through public-private partnerships and has driven the use of big data, AI, and analytics to improve health outcomes.

Under his leadership, BroadReach launched Vantage Health Technologies, which he continues to steer in addressing healthcare equity in the U.S. His accolades include the 2015 Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the World Economic Forum and the Visionary Leadership Award from Frost & Sullivan. Dr. Sargent has advised major corporations, NGOs, and governments globally and has spoken at prestigious forums like Microsoft Inspire and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Prior to BroadReach, he led strategic planning and clinical operations at the Advisory Board Company. He holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Oxford University, and Harvard Medical School. More about his work can be found at www.broadreachcorporation.com.

Dr. Emily B. Saul is a native of Greenville, Mississippi.  She graduated magna cum laude from Delta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2005.  She worked doing breast cancer research in Baton Rouge, LA prior to attending Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007.  Dr. Saul’s internship and residency were completed at Riverside Methodist Hospital in 2014 in Columbus, OH where she received multiple “Power of One” awards.  Prior to beginning her fellowship in 2015, Dr. Saul was a hospitalist at Riverside Methodist Hospital.  Because of her passion in caring for patients with oncologic and hematologic disorders, she went on to complete a combined fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.  She joined Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates in July 2018 where she currently serves as Vice President and Treasurer along with being a part of the Mentorship Committee.  She is also the Hematology and Oncology Section Chair for Riverside Methodist Hospital.  She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology. 

Sr. Director of Advanced Practice Providers at Columbus Oncology and Hematology Associates. Jennifer is a certified Family and Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner with nearly 25 years’ experience in the field.  She has spent most of her career in the Community Oncology setting as both a managing leader and a practicing NP.   Jennifer is currently responsible for recruiting, training and managing our Advanced Practice Providers.  She has patient care hours, but also sits as part of the Clinical and Administrative Leadership team participating clinical initiatives some of which include value-based care program, bispecific therapy initiation & process and quality improvement initiatives.  Jennifer also works with the Leadership Team and Physician group on strategic initiatives for Columbus Oncology. 

Melissa Shaw, BSN, RN, OCN, has been a registered nurse since 2007 and an OCN-certified nurse since 2012. She has been with Central Georgia Cancer Care since 2009, where she administered chemotherapy for 13 years and served as the lead nurse for the Warner Robins clinic. In her current role as Director of Clinical Projects, Melissa leads the implementation of patient-focused programs and assists with policy development to ensure the practice adheres to best oncology practices. She was instrumental in guiding the practice to achieve ASCO OMH and QOPI certifications in 2022.  In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Melissa is a CPAN Chapter Leader and a member of ONS and ASCO, furthering her commitment to the oncology community. Melissa lives near Macon, Georgia, with her three children, ages 5 months, 5 years, and 8 years. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.

Dr. Nicole L. Stout is the Senior Director of Survivorship and Wellness at the American Cancer Society where she leads national strategic initiatives to advance cancer survivorship as a component of cancer care delivery. Dr. Stout also holds an adjunct research faculty position with West Virginia University School of Medicine and is a member of the WVU Cancer Institute. Dr. Stout’s research focus has been the integration of health care delivery models into clinical practice that expedite identification and management of cancer treatment-related morbidity. She has led national and international initiatives to advance cancer survivorship and rehabilitation through the World Health Organization, the US Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society. Dr. Stout is an internationally recognized expert and leader in the field of cancer survivorship and rehabilitation with over 100 peer review publications and more than 300 national and international lectures. Her work and research have been foundational to developing the prospective surveillance model; using medical and social risk factors, alongside patient-reported information to facilitate early detection and management of cancer treatment-related morbidity. 

Dr. Gurmohan Syali is Co-Chief Medical Officer at NYCBS. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology. Dr. Syali specializes in all adult malignancies with a particular interest in treatments of breast, lung, prostate, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Dr. Syali received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego, and his medical degree from Ross University. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. Dr. Syali received a fellowship in hematology and oncology and a clinical trial research fellowship at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.

Currently, Dr. Syali holds a position as a clinical instructor at Stony Brook University Medical Center with affiliations at various hospitals, including Long Island Community Hospital, Mather Hospital, St. Charles, and St. Catherine Hospital. Dr. Syali participates in various clinical trials conducted at New York Cancer Specialists.

Credentials:  Co-Chief Medical Officer, M.D.

Education & Training

   FACP:    Boston University Medical Center, Boston VA Medical Center

   Residency:    University of South Carolina

   Medical School:    Ross University Medical School

   College:    University of California at San Diego

Milan Thakor is the co-founder and CEO of Colla Health, a healthcare startup with the mission to improve the quality of life of cancer patients by offering relevant, accessible mental health care as an extension of their medical treatment. Milan has led the company from inception to raising venture capital from Menlo Ventures and, with his team, has pioneered the use of the Collaborative Care Model for psychiatric mental health in the community oncology setting nationwide.

Prior to starting Colla Health, Milan co-founded the oncology navigation technology startup Jasper Health, working with NCI centers and health plans, where he led the product and technology teams as Chief Product Officer. Alongside his entrepreneurial career, Milan has been an angel investor in several digital health companies and advises startup companies and accelerators.

Jeffrey Vacirca, MD, FACP, is a renowned cancer physician and visionary leader with extensive experience and commitment to community oncology.

Dr. Vacirca assumed the role of CEO and Chairman of the Board of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists (NYCBS) in 2008 when he helped salvage the previous practice from bankruptcy by the existing shareholders. As a result, after two years, the practice emerged as a stronger unified group of physicians dedicated to reinventing themselves as the premier cancer care deliverers of New York.

He has led NYCBS through an unparalleled period of transformation and incredible growth to grow into the leading oncology practice that now sees nearly a million patients a year throughout more than 30 oncology locations and 35 hospital affiliations.

Dr. Vacirca takes action against key billings, including abuse of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and sequester cuts. He formed the Conquering Cancer PAC, which advocates for cancer patients and, most importantly, strives to ensure access and availability for all patients no matter where they live.

Dr. Vacirca is the past president of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and continues to be a member of their executive committee. He is a co-founder and board member of OneOncology and serves on the board of directors of Caris Life Sciences . and the American Red Cross of Greater New York. Most of his roles in these remarkable companies focus on legislative advocacy for the cost of cancer care and access.

Additionally, Dr. Vacirca serves on the Advisory Board Member for Montecito Medical and is president and co-founder of the National Translational Research Group. He has been part of early funding for some remarkable companies, including Cedar, Thyme Care, and Sherpa Health. In 2016, Dr. Vacirca co-founded Odonate Therapeutics.

Dr. Vacirca is the medical director for Oncology Network Development at Mt. Sinai Health Network and serves on the board of directors for PatientPoint and Annexus Health. Previously, Dr. Vacirca served on the board of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and as the medical director for the International Oncology Network, part of AmerisourceBergen, where he was part of their contracting advisory board for almost 15 years.

In 2014, Dr. Vacirca founded the New York Cancer Foundation, which provides financial assistance to patients undergoing treatment for cancer. He serves as Chairman of the Board.

Dr. Vacirca has received honors such as Humanitarian of the Year by the American Red Cross and its Corporate Leadership Award on behalf of NYCBS. He was awarded the Red Door Award for Leadership and Cancer Advocacy by the Red Door Community and received the Founder's Medalist by The Brooklyn Hospital. Dr. Vacirca also received the Theodore Roosevelt Award for outstanding dedication to patient care and was named Newsday's Top Doctor. He has also been honored for his role in enabling the Long Island Association for AIDS Care staff to bring state-of-the-art HIV testing to New York. In 2023, the Long Island Herald recognized him as a Top Chief Officer.

Georgia, a private practice community cancer center providing Hematology and Oncology care in Central Georgia. His mission is to deliver quality, comprehensive, compassionate care to cancer patients of underserved Middle Georgia. 

Dr. Harsha Vyas obtained his fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, North Carolina, and completed his Internal Medicine residency at the James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee. He also served as Chief Medical Resident during his Residency. He completed his medical training at the reputed Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India. 

Dr. Vyas is Board Certified in Hematology and Medical Oncology, is published in many peer- reviewed journals, reputed online publications, and is actively involved in clinical research. He was instrumental in starting the clinical research division of Cancer Center of Middle Georgia. His efforts have brought emerging clinical research to the underserved and the underrepresented rural patients without needing to travel long distances. He regularly lectures various groups at the community level to educate and raise awareness on cancer-related issues. Dr. Vyas also serves on various advisory panels related oncology care in the community. 

Dr. Vyas is passionate about communicating the importance of preserving community oncology as the way to deliver personalized, high quality, affordable, cancer care close to home with lawmakers. He continues to engage the legislature on a regular basis on various issues important to community oncology.  He was named an Advocacy Champion by The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for his efforts to communicate relevant rural healthcare issues with lawmakers. He currently serves as the National CPAN Co-Medical director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA). 

Dr. Vyas Co-founded Athena Oncology, LLC in 2022 which is a network of nearly 30 independent community oncology practices in two dozen states to better coordinate purchasing of life saving medications, maintain vendor relationships and engage in data analytics to improve efficiencies, eliminate barriers for early adoption of guidelines-based therapy and improve patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner. He currently serves as the CEO of Athena Oncology as well as a member of its Board of Directors.

To better serve the holistic needs of the underserved population, he was instrumental in founding the Cancer Foundation of Middle Georgia (CFMG), a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization serving the needs of indigent cancer patients in middle Georgia. 

Dr. Vyas lives with his family in Dublin, GA. He enjoys morning yoga and meditation, a good game of tennis, the outdoors, catching up on TV shows, and spending time with family and friends.

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.

John Webb (MD, FACS), is a board certified general surgeon at CHI St. Vincent in Hot Springs, Arkansas.This facility serves as a regional referral center for Arkansas, is a level II trauma center, and delivers critical services to an underserved area. A medical graduate from Vanderbilt, he completed his surgical training at UAMS in 2000. Over 25 years he has witnessed the transformation of the hospital/clinic system from a private practice model to a fully integrated system.

He participated in the development of the system’s breast center and trauma program, served as liaison to ACSCOC accreditation, and is currently the medical director of the trauma program while also serving on the state’s Preventable Mortality Committee/QI Program.

These experiences have provided insight in the complexities of navigating health care delivery in a challenging environment encompassing numerous entities and interests from corporate actors, independent providers and government agencies.

Dr. Wilfong is Senior Vice President of Value-Based Care at Thyme Care, the leading value-based care enabler, collaborating with payers and providers to transform the experience and outcomes for individuals living with cancer. He is also a practicing medical oncologist/hematologist, at Texas Oncology in Dallas, Texas. Prior to his role at Thyme Care, he served as Senior Vice President of Payer and Care Transformation at The US Oncology Network and as Vice President of Value-Based Care and Quality programs at Texas Oncology.   

A committed advocate for community oncology, Dr. Wilfong’s mission is to transform cancer care to deliver better outcomes by aligning patient goals and values with treatment options and payment models. In his role at Thyme Care, he is helping define the future of value-based care payment reform, improving care-team coordination, optimizing actionable analytics and improving the quality of patient care. 

While at The US Oncology Network, Dr. Wilfong was instrumental in implementing both the Oncology Care Model and the Enhancing Oncology Model while driving performance in multiple commercial value-based care contracts. He previously led the Value-Based Physician Champion task force for The US Oncology Network and chaired the US Oncology Pathways Task Force. Dr. Wilfong currently co-chairs the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Reform Committee and serves on the ASCO drug shortages committee. He formerly volunteered on the ASCO quality measures task force and the ASCO guidelines committee.  While at Texas Oncology, Dr. Wilfong served as medical director of the COVID-19 Task Force and was the physician lead for their electronic medical record conversion. He has received various teaching and community service awards and has published over 50 papers and abstracts.

In 2003, Dr. Wilfong completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas in hematology and medical oncology. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the same school in 2000, as well as earned his M.D. from there in 1997. He earned a B.S. degree in mathematics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, in 1993.

Dr. Wu is an accomplished hematologist oncologist and healthcare executive passionate about leveraging technology to transform the patient experience and enhance overall healthcare delivery. Prior to joining Cardinal Health, Dr. Wu spent 20 years as a clinical and administrative leader at community oncology practices in New York, Florida and Alabama. She also spent several years in Canada running the country’s third-largest primary, specialty and occupational health group. Most recently Dr. Wu served as SVP, Strategic Initiatives at McKesson, where she led strategic clinical, digital and innovation initiatives for the US Oncology Network.