
Lisa A. Lacasse, MBA
President
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Lisa Lacasse is the president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action
Network (ACS CAN), the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the
American Cancer Society (ACS). She leads an organization of staff in
Washington, DC and across the country in support of laws and policies that
help people fight cancer and advance the ACS’ mission.
Since joining ACS CAN in 2007, Lisa has been integrally involved in helping to
establish a nationwide public health advocacy organization that influences and
shapes public policy at all levels of government. Her passion for representing
the voices of all cancer patients and their families is exemplified in her
leadership.
In her former capacity as deputy president, Lisa managed a broad portfolio in support of ACS CAN’s
advocacy priorities. The focus of her work was on strategic integration and organizational alignment
across the enterprise. Her responsibilities included organizational development and training, volunteer
engagement and grassroots strategy, media advocacy, public policy, finance, governance, human
resources, and all ACS CAN operations.
She oversaw ACS CAN’s One Degree campaign – a three-year grassroots effort calling on Congress to
increase federal funding for medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by $6 billion,
including $1 billion for cancer-specific research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In 2018 – in a
pivotal moment in the fight against cancer – the goal of the One Degree campaign was realized. The
influx of funding will lead to more ways to prevent and detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable
stages, better treatments and new cures.
Lisa and her team were also instrumental in making sure that critical patient protections were included
in the Affordable Care Act so that comprehensive health insurance was available, without
discrimination, for people with pre-existing conditions such as cancer. Since the law’s passage in 2010,
Lisa has led ACS CAN’s dedicated efforts to safeguard these hard-won, lifesaving patient protections.
Lisa received a Master’s of Business Administration from the Wharton School at the University of
Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont. Before joining ACS CAN, she
was the chief financial officer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Research Center, a 242-
bed, clinical research hospital where she was responsible for the planning, formulation, and execution of
a $345 million annual budget. Prior to NIH, Lisa spent several years in senior management at the
University of Maryland Medical System and began her career in the office of the Governor of the State
of Maine.
Lisa lives Bethesda, Maryland. She loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and four
children in her beloved home state of Maine.
Lisa shares her thoughts on patient advocacy, public policy and ACS CAN’s role in the fight against cancer
on her Cancer CANdor Blog and on Twitter at @LLacasseACSCAN.

Maureen G. Mann, MS, MBA, FACHE
Maureen G. Mann, MS, MBA, FACHE is the Vice President of the Lynn Cancer
Institute and Lynn Women's Health and Wellness Institute at Boca Raton
Regional Hospital, part of Baptiste Health South Florida where she is
responsible for the strategic and daily operations of one of the largest cancer
centers in Florida and a comprehensive women’s center that provides more
than 100,000 patient visits and services annually. Prior to joining Boca Raton
Regional Hospital in 2015, Mrs. Mann served in many oncology related roles
in the national, state and local community. From 1999-2015, she was the
Executive Director of the Bienes Cancer Center at Holy Cross Hospital.
In addition to her professional responsibilities, she has been a very active volunteer throughout her 35
year healthcare administration career. She has been an American Cancer Society volunteer for more
than 20 years, including membership on the Florida Division Board of Directors, the Broward County
Board of Directors, and Southeast Area Executive Committee. Maureen is a Past Chair of the Florida
Division Board of Directors and she serves on the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS
CAN) National Board of Directors where she is currently the Chair of the Board. She is also the past
Treasurer of the Oncology Nursing Society Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2017 she received the
prestigious St. George National Award from the American Cancer Society and in 2018 she received the
top national volunteer award from the America Cancer Society Cancer Action Network – the Volunteer
Award for Excellence in Advocacy.
Maureen also served on the national editorial board of the Association of Community Cancer Centers
and she is a past appointee of the Florida State Cancer Plan Council. She served on the Board of
Directors of Gilda's Club of South Florida for 10 years and is a member of Leadership Miami - Class of
1995, Leadership Boca – Class of 2018 and the Junior League of Ft. Lauderdale. Maureen received a B.A.
from Harvard University and M.S. and M.B.A. degrees from the Florida Institute of Technology. Since
graduation she has served on the local Harvard Club Schools and Scholarships Committee annually
conducting off campus alumni interviews for the college. In 2012, Maureen completed her first half
marathon in a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. She also enjoys swimming and traveling the
world with her husband.

Karen M. Winkfield, MD, PhD
Dr. Karen Winkfield is a radiation oncologist specializing in the
treatment of hematologic and breast malignancies. As the executive
director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, she leverages her
expertise as an implementation scientist to focus on improving
health outcomes for underserved populations through communityengaged
research and community-based initiatives; designed
to improve access to healthcare including clinical trials. Dr. Winkfield
obtained her MD and PhD degrees at Duke University and completed
residency at Harvard. Her leadership roles have focused on developing bi-directional communication
between researchers and the community to ensure equitable access to care regardless of race/ethnicity,
geographic location, or socioeconomic status. She is a thought leader espousing the importance of
workforce diversity to improve health equity. Dr. Winkfield was recently appointed by President Biden
to the National Cancer Advisory Board in addition to being elected to ASCO Board.

Jacqueline Y. Beale, MPA, National Ambassador, ACS CAN & Founder, Cancer to Jasm
Jacqueline is a two-time 19-year breast cancer survivor. Her passion
for ensuring access to adequate, affordable, and integrated
healthcare and eliminating health disparities has led her to several
volunteer opportunities and leadership roles. She meets with
legislators requesting funding for research, encouraging the
sponsorship of related bills, speaking at various venues sharing her
story, and advocating for health equality and diversity across the
patient population.
Jacqueline currently serves as a National Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer
Action Network (ACS CAN), Chair of the Black Volunteer Caucus for ACS CAN, a Return to Screening
National Consortium member with the American Cancer Society addressing cancer care and screening,
Breast Cancer Ambassador and Patient Family Advisory Council member for Suburban Hospital, and
Suburban Hospital Foundation Board Member. Jacqueline also serves as a Participant Advisory Board
member for Scaling Social Determinants of Health Screening, Social Support and Anti-Racism Training to
Reduce Inequities in Minority Cancer Survivor Health and Wellbeing in Washington, DC with MedStar
Health Research Institute.
11th Annual ACS CAN National Forum on the Future of Health Care
Speaker Biographies
4
As a patient advocate and speaker, Jacqueline uses her voice, the power of the pen, her experience, and
education, partnering with organizations to further the mission of making cancer a top priority with the
hope of one day finding a cure to eradicate the disease. Jacqueline is the founder of C2JB Consulting,
promoting health education and advocacy. She provides expertise to address issues and support women
diagnosed with breast cancer partnering with organizations such as the Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer
Fund (TDJBCF), Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Brem Foundation.
Jacqueline is a Steering Committee Member with the Black Women’s Health Imperative in partnership
with Friends of Cancer Research and Stand Up To Cancer, helping to increase the participation of Black
women in cancer-focused clinical trials.
Jacqueline received the “Top Volunteer Award for Excellence in Cancer Advocacy” from the ACS CAN
and has served as the volunteer speaker for their Lights of Hope Ceremony in 2018 and 2021. Jacqueline
was invited as Congressman Steny Hoyer’s guest at 2019 State of the Union Address for her advocacy
work. Also, she has been featured on local TV networks (WUSA Great Day Washington, Fox 5, NBC)
along with online broadcasting shows (Bowie and Laurel cable stations), in the Washington Post and
Politico, interviewed by Baltimore radio, Johns Hopkins Medicine News and Publications Newsletter, Self
Magazine, Kheiron Medical Technologies 31 Wishes, spoken on the grounds of the Washington
Monument for the ACS Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, and guest speaker at the Breast
Cancer Health Forum for the National Association of Bench and Bar Spouses, Incorporated.
Jacqueline received her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Master of Arts in Public
Administration from Bowie State University (BSU). She is an Adjunct Professor at BSU and is also a
doctoral student at Walden University. Jacqueline is a native of Washington, DC, and is a current Glenn
Dale, Maryland resident.

Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control
Lisa C. Richardson, MD, MPH, is director of the Division of Cancer
Prevention and Control (DCPC), the largest unit within the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. As director of DCPC, she
works with partners at the national, state, and local levels to break
down barriers to good health and create opportunities for everyone
to live a long and healthy life. Under her leadership, DCPC’s four
foundational programs, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer
Early Detection Program, National Program of Cancer Registries,
National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, and Colorectal
Cancer Control Program, have helped the cancer control community
better understand, prevent and control cancer in all populations. Dr.
Richardson also provides guidance for the Division’s research agenda
that includes the National Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network. A medical oncologist by
training, she has authored or coauthored more than 150 peer-reviewed journal articles examining multisectoral
approaches to improving cancer care access, delivery, and outcomes.

Michellene Davis, Esq., President and Chief Executive Officer, National Medical
Michellene Davis assumed the role of President and Chief Executive
Officer of National Medical Fellowships, Inc., (NMF) in May of 2021.
Founded in 1946, NMF was one of America’s first diversity
organizations and remains the only national organization advancing
health equity at the intersection of wealth and health. It provides
scholarships to Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) medical
and health professions students underrepresented in medicine to
ensure equity of access to culturally competent, high-quality
healthcare. NMF also increases the number of BIPOC clinician
leaders to diversify clinical trials.
Davis is named among Modern Healthcare magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential Minority Leaders in
Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review’s 113 Great Leaders in Healthcare 2022 and Top 50 African
Americans to Know in Healthcare. The National Association of Health Services Executives awarded her
their 2021 Senior Health Care Executive Award.
Davis most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at RWJ
Barnabas Health, the largest academic medical center system in New Jersey and one of the largest in the
nation. She founded Social Impact and Community Investment, an equity-centered, policy-led
community health practice addressing the social and political determinants of health. She was the first
African American in state history to serve as Chief Policy Counsel to former New Jersey Governor Jon S.
Corzine, the first African American and only the second women to serve as New Jersey State Treasurer.
She was the youngest person to serve as CEO of the New Jersey Lottery and also served as a senior
policy advisor in the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
She co-authored Changing Missions, Changing Lives: How a Change Agent Can Turn the Ship and Create
Impact, published by Forbes Books in 2020, which provides a blueprint for those committed to leading
systems change within organizations.
Ms. Davis began her legal career as a trial litigator, is an Honors graduate of Seton Hall University and
holds a Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall School of Law. She holds Executive Education Certificates in
Corporate Social Responsibility from the Harvard Business School and in Social Impact Strategy from the
Wharton School of Business.

Lucienne (Lucie) Ide, MD, PhD, Co-Chair, Health Equity and Access Leadership Coa
Dr. Ide is a healthcare innovator and founder of Rimidi, Inc., brings
her diverse experiences in medicine, science, venture capital and
technology to transforming the delivery of healthcare. Rimidi’s
cloud-based platform provides a comprehensive solution for
healthcare systems to deliver personalized health management
across a continuum of care. Rimidi enables providers to receive a
clear snapshot of each patient's disease status and unique needs by
merging patient-generated and clinical data and provides them
with decision support tools to make individualized treatment
decisions within existing workflows.
Dr. Ide founded Rimidi with the purpose of improving the health of people living with chronic
diseases and the healthcare system as a whole. “Our digital health technology helps health
systems achieve the Quadruple Aim of improved outcomes, better patient experience, lower
overall cost of care, and higher provider satisfaction,” says Dr. Ide.
Prior to starting Rimidi in 2012, Dr. Ide worked as a physicist at the National Security Agency,
Raytheon Systems Corporation and Monarch Capital Partners, a venture capital firm. She holds
a joint M.D./Ph.D. degree from Emory University where she worked on gene therapy for
hemophilia, and completed her medical training at the University of Pennsylvania Medical
College’s Magee Womens’ Hospital in Pittsburgh.
A speaker on women in technology, health equity and digital health innovation, Dr. Ide is a
frequent speaker at health IT conferences and author in leading healthcare publications. Dr. Ide
serves on the Steering Committee for the Connected Health Initiative which advocates for
health policy reform and is Co-Chair of the Health Equity and Access Leadership (HEAL)
Coalition. She has spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with legislative officials to advocate for
reimbursement, regulatory, and legislative change to drive equitable access to digital health
technology and improved patient care. Dr. Ide was named one of the Most Influential Women
in Health IT by HIMSS in 2020. She also serves as a Trustee of Middlebury College in Vermont.
Dr. Ide lives in Atlanta with her husband and their four sons.
Rimidi has been featured in Reuters, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington
Post, Medical Economics, and MobiHealth News, as well as local media, including the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Additionally, the company received a
“Platinum” ranking by BAnalytics as a socially conscious company.

Rhonda M. Smith, MBA, Executive Director, California Black Health Network
Rhonda Smith is the Executive Director of the California Black Health
Network, a nonprofit that works to advance health equity for Black
Californians. Prior to this role, Rhonda was an independent consultant and
led many successful health disparities initiatives for the BIPOC community
focused on developing and implementing community outreach, health
promotion, and health behavior change strategies to close the gap in
disparities.
Rhonda has served in various nonprofit leadership roles that include Consultant/Project Director for the
LiveHealthy OC Initiative, a three-year initiative that aimed to transform the model of care of a network
of FQHCs from a disease-focused treatment model to prevention and wellness model, providing whole
person care approach. Before the LiveHealthy OC Initiative, Rhonda served as the Consultant/Statewide
Project Manager for the Susan G. Komen® Circle of Promise California Initiative, an intensive four-year
effort to identify evidence-based strategies to decrease the high mortality rate of African American
women diagnosed with breast cancer, and address disparities at the system, community, and individual
levels.
Rhonda earned her MBA in Marketing and Operations Management from the Darden School of
Business at the University of Virginia and her B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech.

Rachel M. Fournier, MPA, Principal, Foundation Relations, American Cancer Societ
Rachel Fournier serves as Principal, Foundation Relations, American
Cancer Society, where she is responsible for building philanthropic
partnerships to support research, advocacy, and patient services. After
earning a Master’s in Public Administration, Rachel’s career included
institutional relations roles in academic and community health
organizations in rural and urban settings. Diagnosed with metastatic
breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 38, Rachel was called to channel her twenty years of fundraising
leadership and her learned experience as a “professional patient” and joined the American Cancer
Society in 2020. Rachel is laser-focused on expanding treatment options and advancing health equity to
reduce the mortality of current and future cancer patients. Rachel lives outside Philadelphia with her
husband, Keith, with whom she is guiding their teenage daughter and son to celebrate each day and
embrace a life of service.

Brian S. Englander, MD, Chairman, Pennsylvania Hospital, Department of Radiology
Brian S. Englander, MD is Chairman of the Department of Radiology,
Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Robert E. Campbell Professor of Radiology,
Perelman School of Medicine. After earning his undergraduate degree at
Yale University and his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College, he
completed his internship in internal medicine, residency in diagnostic
radiology, and fellowship in breast imaging at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital. His clinical expertise is all aspect of breast imaging, and he seeks
to address inequities in women’s health with early cancer detection,
diagnosis, and management. In addition, he focuses on global and
population health issues to address disparities in cancer care among underserved and underrepresented
communities locally and globally. He is a Penn Medicine Center for Global Health Scholar, a
founder of the nongovernmental organization Benek Global Health Project, an active member of the
International Health Section for the American Public Health Association, and a 2018 Eisenhower
Fellowships USA Fellow (Mongolia and Israel). He is an active member of his community, proudly serving
on several boards, including the National Liberty Museum. He and his wife are raising their three
children in Philadelphia.

Susan T. Vadaparampil, MPH, PhD, Associate Center Director, Community Outreach,
Since 2018, Dr. Susan Vadaparampil has served as Moffitt’s first
Associate Center Director for Community Outreach, Engagement &
Equity (COEE). In this role, she oversees the Office of COEE daily
functions in support of Moffitt’s commitment to maximize the
Center’s impact in the catchment area and beyond. The Office of COEE
places health equity at the forefront of Moffitt’s research and
outreach efforts by facilitating ongoing and bidirectional exchange of
information and ideas between institutional leadership, faculty and
the community we serve.
Dr. Vadaparampil is also a Senior Member in the Health Outcomes and
Behavior Program in the Division of Population Sciences and a Professor in the Department of Oncologic
Sciences at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. Her research uses a combination of
behavioral science, epidemiology, health services, and clinical perspectives to improve dissemination
and uptake of new cancer prevention and control innovations into clinical practice and the community.
Her work is influenced by transdisciplinary collaboration, focused on health disparities, and contributes
to both the scientific literature and clinical practice. Her current research focuses on genetic counseling
and testing for inherited cancer susceptibility, breast and cervical cancer prevention/early detection,
and reproductive health among adolescent and young adult cancer patients. She has been funded since
2006 through research grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the American
Cancer Society and the Florida Biomedical Research Program. Dr. Vadaparampil has published over 270
scientific manuscripts. She also serves as the Co-Program Director for Moffitt’s Behavioral Oncology
Post-Doctoral Training Program.
In 2019, she was awarded the American Cancer Society’s national St. George Award for over a decade of
distinguished community service and contributions to ACS’s strategic goals in HPV vaccination and
cancer health disparities. In 2020, she was appointed to the National Cancer Advisory Board based on
her scientific accomplishments and leadership.

Thomas A. Aloia, MD, MHCM, FACS, FACHE, Vice President & Director of Oncology Se
Dr. Thomas Aloia, MD, MHCM joined the Ascension Leadership Team on
January 1, 2021, as Vice President and Director of Oncology Services
reporting to Richard Fogel, MD, Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) with Clinical &
Network Services (CNS) and most recently expanded his scope of
responsibility to include Clinical Lead of Surgical Services and VP of the
Maternal Health & Perinatal Medicine Service Line.
Dr. Aloia received his medical degree from the University of California – Los Angeles Geffen School of
Medicine. His postgraduate training included a general and thoracic surgery residency at Duke
University Medical Center and fellowships in Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson and Hepatobiliary
Surgery/Liver Transplantation at the Paul Brousse Hospital in Paris, France. He has received a Certificate
in Healthcare Management from Rice University Jones Business School and Master’s Degree in Health
Care Management from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Dr. Aloia’s clinical expertise is in hepatobiliary surgery, gastrointestinal surgical oncology, minimally
invasive surgery and liver transplantation surgery. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed
manuscripts in the focus areas of surgical outcomes, GI oncology, enhanced recovery and value-based
healthcare. He has served as an ad hoc reviewer for multiple medical and surgical journals and is on the
editorial board of Annals of Surgery and the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
At MDACC he served multiple administrative roles in the areas of patient safety, quality, and outcomes,
including Gastrointestinal Disease Center Medical Director, Executive Director of Network Outcomes,
Chief Quality Officer and Head of the Institute for Cancer Care Innovation.

Chyke A. Doubeni, MD, MPH, Professor of Family Medicine, Director, Mayo Clinic C
Dr. Doubeni is a practicing family physician, and a professor of family
medicine with a joint appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine
at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. Dr. Doubeni is the
inaugural director of the Mayo Clinic Center for Health Equity and
Community Engagement Research and serve as an enterprise leader for
advancing health equity in the communities served by Mayo Clinic. Dr.
Doubeni directs community engagement programs to support the Mayo
Clinic Cancer Center and Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Dr.
Doubeni is also an Arresty Scholar of the Wharton Executive Education Program through a joint Wharton-Deloitte Physician Leadership Academy program.
Dr. Doubeni is a clinical and social epidemiologist with health policy expertise and has lead research at
the interface of social inequities and care delivery demonstrating how coordinated uniform delivery of
evidence-based care closes commonly occurring gaps across the care continuum and can eliminate
colorectal cancer health disparities. That result is the culmination of a career-long endeavor to advance
health equity through research, clinician and scientist training, and health promotion and healthcare
delivery innovations. Dr. Doubeni has lead multidisciplinary research programs on advancing equitable
health-quality care with a focus on delivery of evidence-based preventive services, which has resulted in
over 200 papers, many in top-tier journals (i.e., NEJM, JAMA). This work has informed guidelines, policy,
and practice on the delivery of cancer screening and other preventive services. Dr. Doubeni has also
authored topics on UpToDate, the leading point-of-care online reference resource. Additionally, Dr.
Doubeni is a community-engaged research scientist and serves as a mPI on the Arizona NIH Community
Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities, Co-I on PASC-RECOVER. Dr. Doubeni is also a participant in the Moderna COVID vaccine trial and serves on the writing group for the 3rd edition of the
Principles of Community Engagement.
In 2010, Dr. Doubeni was fortunate to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and
Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. president for early career investigators for
accomplishments in research, mentoring and community service. Dr. Doubeni was also awarded the
Harrison McCrea Dickson, M.D. and Clifford C. Baker, M.D. (endowed) Presidential Professor (with
tenure) at the University of Pennsylvania and received the Sadie Gerson Distinguished Scholar Award
from the University of Pittsburgh.
In addition to his research, Dr. Doubeni served on many national and international panels, including on
the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), where he chaired the Race and Racism Workgroup to
transform the recommendation development process through a health equity framework (JAMA
2020/21). Dr. Doubeni is a member of the National Cancer Institute Board of Scientific Advisors.
Additionally, I co-chair the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) Ad Hoc Working Group on Strategic
Approaches and Opportunities for Research on Cancer Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities and
Underserved Populations. Dr. Doubeni serves as Associate Editor and Section Editor for Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion for the journal Gastroenterology and previously served as Associate Vice Provost for
Diversity at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Dr. Doubeni completed his medical training at the University of Lagos, and later completed residencies
in family medicine at Duke and in preventive medicine (with an M.P.H.) at the University of
Massachusetts. Dr. Doubeni previously served as Chair of Family Medicine and Community Health at the
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.

Francesca Gany, MD, MS, Chief of Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service
Dr. Francesca Gany is the founding Chief of the Immigrant Health and
Cancer Disparities Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Coleader
of the Population Sciences Research Program, and Associate
Director at MSK for Community Outreach and Engagement. She has
served as the PI on several pioneering immigrant health studies and
programs in the areas of cancer prevention, treatment adherence and
quality of life, social determinants of health, language access, cultural
responsiveness, technology and immigrant health, and healthcare access.
Her work has led to the development of long-term policy and
programmatic changes.
Dr. Gany has a strong interest in cultural and linguistic responsiveness in
healthcare. She spearheaded the development of the community-based
participatory African Health, Latino Health, and South Asian Health Initiatives. She has led several
studies to develop capacity around disease risk reduction through innovative multi-level interventions,
disseminated through faith- and community-based organizations, and through Consulates.
She worked with the community to develop the NCI-funded Cancer Awareness Network for Immigrant
and Minority Populations (CANIMP), which responds to the disparities in the use of, and participation of
immigrants in, cancer prevention, detection, and treatment services, and research. CANIMP works with
the West African, Latino, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Haitian, Chinese, Korean, and English-speaking
Caribbean immigrant communities.
Dr. Gany is a PI on the NCI-funded U54 City College of New York / MSK Partnership for Cancer Research,
Training, and Community Outreach, which implements translational research, outreach, and training to
address cancer health disparities. She is also PI on the NY Mexican Consulate’s Ventanilla de Salud-MSK
research program, as well as the NCI-funded Food to Overcome Outcomes Disparities (FOOD) study,
which examines the impact of interventions to address food insecurity on treatment completion, quality
of life, and depression symptoms in people with cancer. The FOOD program grew out of the Integrated
Cancer Care Access Network, a cancer patient navigation program Dr. Gany co-developed.
Prior to joining MSK, Dr. Gany was the founder and Director of the Center for Immigrant Health at the
New York University School of Medicine, the NYU Cancer Institute CORE Center (Cancer Outreach,
Outcomes and Research for Equity), and of the Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Human
Migration concentration in the NYU Global Masters of Public Health program.

Elizabeth Fowler, Ph.D., J.D., Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center f
Dr. Fowler is the Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center). Dr. Fowler
previously served as Executive Vice President of programs at The
Commonwealth Fund and Vice President for Global Health Policy at Johnson
& Johnson. Liz was special assistant to President Obama on health care and
economic policy at the National Economic Council. In 2008-2010, she was
Chief Health Counsel to Senate Finance Committee Chair, Senator Max
Baucus (D-MT), where she played a critical role developing the Senate
version of the Affordable Care Act. She also played a key role drafting the
2003 Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA). Liz has over 25 years of
experience in health policy and health services research. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the
University of Pennsylvania, a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where
her research focused on risk adjustment, and a law degree (J.D.) from the University of Minnesota. She
is admitted to the bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Liz is a Fellow
of the inaugural class of the Aspen Health Innovators Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network.

Diane Nathaniel, Co-Founder, Beat State 3, Inc & Founder, The Village Lighthouse
As a Stage 3 Colon Cancer Survivor/Thriver, Diane participates in cancer
advocacy as a Survivor/Patient Advocate/Speaker. She is an Ambassador
Constituent Team LEADER with American Cancer Society Cancer Action
Network, the legislative arm of American Cancer Society representing the
8th Congressional District governed by Congressman Hakeem Jeffries. In
this role, she meets with members of Congress, is engaged in policy
development and advocates for quality, accessible and affordable
healthcare especially for those affected by cancer and beyond.
Diane is the Co-Founder of “Beat Stage 3, Inc.” a non-profit organization
founded with her best friend Helen L. Collen. Beat Stage 3, Inc. is
dedicated to raising community awareness about cancer health,
screening, and prevention. BS3 promotes image consciousness and renewed self-love for those who
have suffered the ravages of cancer treatments. Our goal is to highlight, and implement health, beauty,
and fashion makeovers to influence positive lifestyle changes and improve self-confidence that often
disappears during and after treatment. Most importantly promoting self-advocacy about one’s health and wellness, reducing poor health outcomes and eliminating disparities through advocacy and health
literacy.
Diane is an Inspirational Speaker with A-Speakers International Bureau. Diane’s talks address a range of
topics that range from cancer health, to life after cancer. Having a personal experience with this illness
has afforded Diane the opportunity to join with a research team of doctors and scientists from S.U.N.Y.
Downstate and S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook Medical Center researching the disparities of GI Cancer in African
Americans. BS3 (Diane) is the Community Liaison and Patient Advocate on many cancer research grants.
Under the umbrella of “Beat Stage 3, Inc.”, “C.A.P.E Events” (Cancer Awareness Protects Everyone) was
created; innovative conversations with the community and medical partners discussing the importance
of cancer prevention and screening in a stress-free environment. Diane volunteers by speaking/tabling
at various health fairs and community events in NYC and other states. Diane felt so strongly about
serving her community that she is enrolled in the Public Health program at S.U.N.Y Downstate Health
Sciences University where she earned an Advanced Certificate in Public Health May 2020.
In March 2020, Diane was invited to be a part of the 1st Meyer Cancer Center Community Advisory
Council for Weill Cornell Medicine. August 2021, Diane was appointed to the American Cancer Society
Cancer Action Network’s 1st Black Volunteer Caucus. Diane is serving on the Education and Training
Committee. In December 2021, Diane was elected to American Cancer Society’s Advisory Board for the
Greater NY Area.
Diane is currently employed by the New York City Department of Education as an Elementary School
Counselor at Public School 11 in Brooklyn NY for the last 15 years. Diane is a Founding board member
for BELA, Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy Charter School for girls EST. June, 2016. Diane became
Board Chair in August 2020. BELA is located in Brooklyn, NY in the Bedford Stuyvesant area in District
16. BELA held commencement for its first graduating class of 50 young women in June 2021. BELA is
proud to celebrate 100 percent of their young women being accepted to college and 98 percent
accepted to 4-year colleges and universities. Diane is a married mother of 3 children Jazmyn 27, Jaelyn
24, and Joshua 20 who she refers to as her 3 Heartbeats. Diane says her advocacy work is for her family
and others who are, have been and will be affected by cancer in the future.

Kirsten Sloan, Managing Director, Public Policy, American Cancer Society Cancer
Kirsten Sloan is Managing Director for Policy for the American Cancer
Society’s Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). In this capacity she manages a
team of six senior policy principals and analysts with a focus on access to
care, accelerating cures, and prevention/screening.
Prior to joining ACS CAN, Kirsten was a Vice President of the National
Partnership for Women & Families with responsibility for the
organization's multi-faceted health portfolio. Kirsten was also Director of
Federal Health Issues for AARP. In that role, she served as chief health
lobbyist and managed a team of senior lobbyists in AARP’s Government Relations Department. Kirsten
and her team worked directly with Congress and the Administration on Medicare, prescription drugs,
long-term care, Medicaid, managed care, and health insurance issues.
Prior to AARP, she was the Legislative Aide for Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA) and was responsible for
health care appropriations and aging issues.
Kirsten Sloan is a graduate of the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. She currently resides in
Washington, D.C.

Jenn Higgins, Vice President, Public Affairs, Guardant Health
Jenn Higgins is responsible for leading and directing the overall government
affairs, patient advocacy, public policy, and corporate communications
functions for Guardant Health (NASDAQ: GH). As a veteran of Washington DC,
Jenn serves as the company’s point of contact with Congress and the
Administration, actively working with key health care stakeholders to help
shape public debate around issues that matter to Guardant Health.

Emily Fitts, Government Business Development Manager, Healthcare, Lyft
Emily Fitts serves as the Government Business Development
Manager for Healthcare at Lyft. Lyft’s mission is to improve people’s
lives with the world’s best transportation. In her role, Emily helps
with the development and implementation of Lyft’s government
relations and public policy strategies to advance the company’s long
term business interests.
Prior to Lyft, Emily served as the Director of The Time in Range
Coalition at the diatribe Foundation, a leading non-profit
organization committed to improving the lives of people with diabetes and prediabetes and to advocate
for action. As the Time in Range Coalition Director, Emily was responsible for shaping the vision,
developing the strategy, and driving the execution of a multi-stakeholder coalition. She facilitated
productive collaborations with influential companies, non-profit organizations, and professional
societies to propel the adoption of Time in Range in clinical care, research, and daily diabetes
management.
Emily is a graduate of Amherst College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

Antonio “Tony” Munoz, Illinois State Senator
State Senator Tony Munoz has committed his life to public service and
giving back to the community, serving his 23rd year as senator of the
1st district. He is a co-founder of the Latino Caucus and serves as the
Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois Senate.
Prior to serving as state senator for the 1st District, he was in the Army
and a Chicago police officer. Munoz has continuously prioritized
protecting first responders and ensuring veterans are taken care of
when they return home. Munoz represents the southwest side of
Chicago and currently serves on the Appropriations, Energy and Public
Utilities, Executive, Insurance and Veterans Affairs Committees.

Jennifer Sherak, MBA, Senior Vice President & President, Specialty Physician Ser
Jennifer Sherak, MBA, Senior Vice President & President, Specialty
Physician Services, AmerisourceBergen
Jennifer Sherak (Jenny) serves as SVP & President, Specialty Physician
Services. In this role, she is responsible for leading
AmerisourceBergen’s physician practice distribution and solutions
businesses, specifically Besse Medical, Oncology Supply, ION
Solutions, IPN Solutions, and IntrinsiQ Specialty Solutions. Jenny’s
focus is to drive the strategic direction for our physician practice
portfolio of services, develop and execute on a comprehensive
strategy for innovation, and optimize the value we deliver to our
customer base.
Jenn has spent the past twenty years using her tenacity and policy knowledge
to help corporate executives navigate a constantly changing legislative and
regulatory landscape. As a lobbyist, Jenn has represented a wide variety of
Fortune 500 health care companies before Congress and the Administration,
serving as Partner with two prominent lobbying firms. She also worked as an analyst and Special
Assistant at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, with an emphasis on Medicare policy.
In between her government service and lobbying, Jenn spent four years capitalizing on her health policy
expertise to advise Wall Street investors and hospital chief executives. As Senior Associate with the
Marwood Group, a healthcare and financial services firm based in New York, she advised over 60
institutional clients on the legislative and regulatory risks to facility-based health care companies. Her
previous experience includes briefing hospital chief executives on the intricacies of the Medicare
Modernization Act of 2003 as an analyst with the Advisory Board Company.
Prior to Washington, Jenn conducted research at Duke University Health System in Durham, NC. Her
projects included developing strategic research in continuous quality improvement for senior
administrators and supporting published academic research on performance improvement in pediatric
trauma stabilization, specifically dosing error in the emergency department setting.
Jenn attended Davidson College where she received a B.A. in Medical Economics and Ethics and
currently serves on the College’s Board of Visitors. She also holds a Certificate in Legislative Studies from
Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute.
Previously, Jenny served as the Global Head of Oncology Pipeline
Commercialization and Business Development at Takeda
Pharmaceuticals. In this role, she was responsible for defining long and short-term growth strategies for
the oncology business unit and ensuring continued business unit growth through maximizing the
innovative global pipeline and leveraging external collaborations and M&A.
Prior to joining Takeda, Jenny was the Global Commercial Strategy Lead for Hematology at Shire
Pharmaceuticals where she led integration efforts from the acquisition of Baxalta and greatly expanded
the global availability of leukemia medicines for patients around the world.
During Jenny’s comprehensive career in the pharmaceutical industry, she has held strategic commercial
positions in oncology with Baxalta, Biodesix, Celgene, Bristol Myers Squibb and Novartis leading US and
global commercial strategy teams and managing product lifecycle planning.

Derek J. Robinson MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM, Vice President and Chief Medical Office
Dr. Derek J. Robinson serves as vice president and chief medical
officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL), where
he is responsible for clinical leadership, care management
operations, and the Institute for Physician Diversity®.
Previously, Dr. Robinson was vice president at Health Care
Service Corporation (HCSC) where he established the Enterprise
Quality and Accreditation department and was responsible for
clinical quality performance, health plan accreditation, and
related operations across multiple states. He established the
HCSC Health Equity Steering Committee and served as chairman
from 2015 to 2021.
Dr. Robinson is an active member of the community and was appointed in 2021 to the Medicaid
Advisory Committee for the State of Illinois. He is a member of the board of directors at the Cook
County Health Foundation and vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees at Xavier University of Louisiana.
Dr. Robinson is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago where he is the 2020-22 chairman of the
Young Leaders Committee. He also volunteers as an official with Illinois Swimming and is a nationally
certified judge with USA Swimming.
Dr. Robinson is the recipient of numerous awards including Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40, 40
Game Changers Under 40 – Ariel Investments, and the 2019 Leadership in Healthcare Award by National
Medical Fellowships, Inc. Savoy Magazine recognized Dr. Robinson in its list of 2020 Most Influential
Black Executives in Corporate America.
An active emergency medicine physician, Dr. Robinson is board certified by the American Board of
Emergency Medicine and holds degrees from Xavier University of Louisiana, Howard University College
of Medicine, and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Stephanie Dyson, Vice President, Head of U.S. Policy & Government Affairs, Brist
Stephanie Dyson is Vice President, Head of U.S. Policy & Government
Affairs at Bristol Myers Squibb. Prior to joining BMS in 2021, she was
the Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs for Biogen.
Mrs. Dyson has had a distinguished career as a health policy strategist
and government affairs executive focusing on a wide array of issue
areas in both the private health sector and government that spans
more than 20 years. She brings a cross-industry perspective, combined
with expertise in executing strategy aligned with business priorities, emphasizing innovative and realistic
strategies for changing markets.