Home / Learn / Comprehensive Cancer Care Services / Shared Decision-Making / Steering Committee

Steering Committee

Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Pharmacist/Assistant Professor, Clinical Research
Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes
Danville, Pennsylvania

Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP, is an assistant professor of clinical research within the Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes, and a clinical pharmacist with hematology/oncology. Dr. Andrick has a particular interest in hematological malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as pharmacy education. His clinical research interests include hematological malignancies/HCT supportive care, vaccines, and the impact of the hematology/oncology pharmacist on clinical and pharmacoeconomic outcomes.

Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and subsequently his PGY1 and PGY2 oncology residency training at Augusta University Medical Center in collaboration with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in Augusta.

Lucy Gansauer, MSN, RN, OCN, CCRP
Director, Cancer Care Delivery Research
Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute
Spartanburg, South Carolina

Lisa Hartle, MS, RN, AOCN, APRN-CNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland

Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil
Newman Family Professor and Deputy Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology
Director, Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, is professor, deputy chair, and residency program director in the Department of Radiation Oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan.

She graduated first in her class from Harvard College and then pursued her medical training at Harvard Medical School. She also served as a fellow in the Center for Ethics at Harvard University and completed her doctorate in social policy at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar.

An active clinical trialist and health services researcher, Dr. Jagsi’s medical research focuses on improving the quality of care received by breast cancer patients, both by advancing the ways in which breast cancer is treated with radiation and by advancing the understanding of patient decision-making, cost, and access to appropriate care. Her social scientific research includes research into issues of bioethics arising from cancer care and gender issues, including studies of women's representation in the medical profession.

Dr. Jagsi is the author of over 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and her research is actively funded by multiple independent grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Doris Duke Foundation, and other philanthropic foundations. She serves on the steering committee of the AAMC's Group on Women in Medicine and Science, the board of directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the steering committee of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, and the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Oncology.

Sandra E. Kurtin, PhD, ANP-C, AOCN
Director of Advanced Practice, Hematology/Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing
University of Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, AZ

Sandra Kurtin, PhD, ANP-C, AOCN, is a hematology/oncology nurse practitioner at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and an assistant professor of clinical medicine and adjunct clinical assistant professor of nursing at the Univrsity of Arizona’s College of Medicine. With over 30 years of experience in advanced practice, her oncology practice focuses on benign and malignant hematological disorders. Her research focuses on health technology engagement, communicative health literacy, and health self-management among older adult cancer survivors, as well as practice transformation to achieve best practice.

Dr Kurtin is a founding board member and the immediate past president of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO), as well as a member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). In addition, she is a member of the executive committee, board of directors and co-chair of the Nursing Leadership Board for the MDS Foundation. She also serves on the Hematology Board for the American Board of Internal Medicine. In addition to these accolades, she has been an associate editor for The Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology since its inception and an editorial board member for JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, ASH News, The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, and the ASCO People Living with Cancer website. She has presented numerous regional, national, and international lectures on oncology-related topics and has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr Kurtin earned her BSN and MS in oncology nursing, her post-graduate certification in geriatric and adult practice, and her PhD in nursing at the University of Arizona. She is also an inaugural Fellow of Advanced Practice in Oncology (FAPO).

Thomas W. LeBlanc, MD
Hematologic Oncologist
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Duke Cancer Institute

Thomas LeBlanc, MD, is a medical oncologist, palliative care physician, and patient experience researcher, and serves as Chief Patient Experience and Safety Officer for the Duke Cancer Institute. His clinical practice focuses on the care of patients with hematologic malignancies, with a particular emphasis on myeloid conditions and acute leukemias including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs / MPDs, CML).

Dr. LeBlanc’s research investigates common issues faced by people with cancer, including issues of symptom burden, quality of life, psychological distress, prognostic understanding, and treatment decision-making. This work aims to improve patients' experiences living with serious illnesses like blood cancers, including the integration of specialist palliative care services to provide an extra layer of support along with their comprehensive cancer care.

Dr. LeBlanc received his medical degree from Duke University in 2006. He also completed his residency and fellowship from the Duke University School of Medicine.

David N. Oubre, MD
Private Practice Oncologist/Hematologist
Pontchartrain Cancer Center
Hammond, Louisiana

David Oubre, MD, founded Pontchartrain Cancer Center in 2005 and is board certified in both medical oncology and hematology.

He is currently the chief of staff at North Oaks Medical Center, and a board member of the St. Tammany Cancer Fund, a charitable organization which provides scholarships to college students affected by cancer. He is the Louisiana representative for the State Affiliate Council for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the immediate past president of the Louisiana Oncology Society. Dr. Oubre has been selected as one of the Top Doctors by New Orleans Magazine and Louisiana Life Magazine every year since 2005, and was the recipient of the 2011 Spirit Award from the American Cancer Society.

Dr. Oubre provides medical and legislative education on behalf of Janssen Biotech, Inc. to physicians and medical societies throughout the United States. In addition, Dr. Oubre is an acting development consultant for IntrinsiQ Solutions, currently developing an oncology specific electronic health records system. He received his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, completed his residency at Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge, followed by a fellowship in oncology and hematology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Mary C. Politi, PhD
Health Psychologist
Associate Professor, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery
Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine
St. Louis, Missouri

Mary C. Politi, PhD, is a health psychologist and an associate professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. Her work aims to help patients and the public understand health information, explore what is important to them when making health decisions, and collaborate to make evidence-informed decisions that meet their needs. She also works with healthcare professionals, public health advocates, and members of the public interested in training in shared decision-making and patient engagement in healthcare. Her research includes a focus on eliminating health disparities by engaging communities with unmet health needs and including them in both research and dissemination efforts.

Jamie L. Studts, PhD
Professor of Behavioral Science
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Lexington, Kentucky

Jamie L. Studts, PhD, is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and assistant director for cancer prevention and control within the Markey Cancer Center. Dr. Studts is a licensed clinical health psychologist, and his interests address behavioral aspects of tobacco-related malignancies. His research develops and tests interventions to promote informed/shared decision-making and behavior change among patients and clinicians regarding prevention, screening, and survivorship of lung and head/neck cancer.

Dr. Studts is the principal investigator of the Kentucky LEADS Collaborative, and he served on the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Forum addressing Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening. He is a fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and a member of the Scientific Leadership Board for the GO₂ Foundation for Lung Cancer and the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, serving as chair of the Survivorship, Stigma, and Nihilism Task Group.

Lalan S. Wilfong, MD
Vice President, Value-Based Care and Quality Programs
Medical Oncologist/Hematologist
Texas Oncology
Dallas, Texas

Lalan S. Wilfong, MD, is a medical oncologist/hematologist and executive vice president for quality programs and value-based care for Texas Oncology. Dr. Wilfong is also a physician leader for the Oncology Care Model for Texas Oncology and a physician liaison for value-based care for McKesson Specialty Health.

His current research interest focuses on aligning quality patient care and value in a community based setting. Other areas of focus include improving patient/physician communications, enhancing end-of-life care, integrating pathways into clinical practice, and improving patient satisfaction.

He co-chairs the Value Based Physician Champion Task Force for The US Oncology Network, serves on the US Oncology Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, and chairs the Pathways Task Force. He also volunteers on the ASCO Quality Measures Task Force and the ASCO Guidelines Committee. He has been honored to receive various teaching and community service awards.

Dr. Wilfong earned his MD and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he also completed a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology.

Partner Organization Representatives

Eucharia Borden, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C
Senior Director, Health Equity and Clinical Services
Cancer Support Community
Philadelphia, PA

Eucharia Borden joined Cancer Support Community (CSC) in February 2020. In her role as senior director, Health Equity and Clinical Services, she is responsible for ensuring that CSC research, program, policy, and operations integrate relevant components of health equity, inclusion, and social determinants of health across all activities. Borden also works with the leadership of the Institute for Excellence in Psychosocial Care to inform the CSC Affiliate Network (including healthcare partners) on best practices in health equity. In addition to focusing on health equity, she is responsible for establishing new headquarters programming and ensuring the highest standard of care for people impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

Prior to joining CSC, Borden worked for nearly 20 years in direct practice with adults living with chronic illness; 12 of those years included patients in acute inpatient and outpatient hospital oncology settings. Borden holds a clinical social work license in Pennsylvania, where she earned her master’s degree in social work from Temple University. Borden earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is a past president of the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) and is recognized as an AOSW Fellow.

Emily Burch
Executive Director
Association of Oncology Social Work

Shelley Fuld Nasso, MPP
Chief Executive Officer
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship

Shelley Fuld Nasso is chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS), where she leads the public policy activities at a time of rapid and fundamental healthcare system change.

Prior to joining NCCS in 2012, Ms. Nasso served in leadership roles at Susan G. Komen, where she leveraged Komen’s grassroots network in Washington, D.C., and state capitals. There she built relationships with policymakers and partner organizations and led a team of staff and volunteers to influence state budgets and legislation. Under her direction, Komen successfully secured $80 million in state funding for cancer screening and treatment for uninsured and underinsured women.

Ms. Nasso and her team also expanded the Komen grassroots advocacy program from a pilot of seven affiliates to more than 100 affiliates across the country engaged in federal and state advocacy efforts. Formerly, she served as director of community philanthropy at The Dallas Foundation and held management positions at communications and technology enterprises.

Andrea Hutton
Co-Chair, Information Task Force
Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance
Community Manager, Breast and Prostate Cancer
PatientPower.info

Andrea Hutton is a critically acclaimed writer, speaker, and patient advocate. She is the author of Bald is Better with Earrings – A Survivor’s Guide to Getting Through Breast Cancer, which was published by HarperCollins in 2015. Her work on breast cancer and women’s wellness has been featured in such varied outlets as The Washington Post, Women’s Health, and Psychology Today. As a breast cancer survivor diagnosed in 2009 with metastatic disease, who has “been there, had that” Andrea Hutton is on a mission to empower and educate women on how to take charge of their own health. She is a graduate of the prestigious National Breast Cancer Coalition’s Project Lead advocacy training program, an Alamo Scholar with the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, a Komen Advocate in Science, and a member of the Dr. Susan Love Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee.

Andrea is a community manager of breast and prostate cancer for PatientPower.info. Additionally, she serves as a consumer reviewer for the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program and a peer reviewer for Komen Research grants as well as being a founding member of the Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Advisory Council. She is a member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance Executive Board and serves as a co-chair of the Alliance’s Information Task Force.

Rena Kass, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery Specialties and Surgical Oncology
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
The American Society of Breast Surgeons

Rebecca Kirch, JD
Executive Vice President for Healthcare Quality and Value
National Patient Advocate Foundation

Rebecca Kirch, JD, provides strategic focus and leadership in bringing the millions of patient and family voices NPAF and PAF represent to the forefront of national healthcare quality improvement efforts.

She previously worked 15 years at the American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. As the Society’s first director of quality of life and survivorship, she orchestrated the development of its national agenda addressing pain, symptoms, and distress experienced by patients, survivors, and caregivers. She created collaborative initiatives in research, programs, and advocacy for integrated palliative, psychosocial, and rehabilitation services, as well as enhanced clinical communication skills.

Rebecca also played a leading role in planning and executing the Institute of Medicine 2015 joint workshop “Comprehensive Cancer Care for Children and Families” and the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine’s Quality Care for People with Serious Illness Roundtable 2017 workshop on “Integrating Patient and Family Voices in Serious Illness Care.” She also serves as Quality of Life and Person-Centered Care’s Task Force co-chair for the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and a board member for children’s oncology care camps.

Ellen Miller-Sonet
Chief Strategy and Policy Officer
CancerCare

Ellen Miller-Sonet leads the strategic initiatives and national policy agenda for CancerCare, the leading national organization providing free, professional support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical, and financial challenges of cancer. She was the principal architect and author of the landmark 2016 CancerCare Patient Access and Engagement report, which reflects the survey responses of more than 3,000 unique people diagnosed with cancer. It laid the groundwork for understanding the true ‘costs’ – physical, emotional, financial – of the cancer experience for patients and families nationwide.

She is currently leading CancerCare’s Patient Values Initiative which builds on this report and is a multi-pronged, long-term project intended to reframe the national healthcare policy dialogue to include what is important to patients and their families, and to make sure that patients’ values and priorities are incorporated into treatment decision-making. This work includes extensive research among providers and patients to better understand the extent to which clinicians solicit and patients articulate their personal quality or life preferences before treatment plans are finalized.

Ms. Sonet frequently speaks and writes about cancer patient experiences and strategies to help them access care and providers deliver the care that is best for each individual patient. She is a steering committee member of Avalere’s Patient Perspective Value Framework initiative, and the National Minority Quality Forum’s Sustainable Healthy Communities Diverse Cancer Communities Working Group.

Prior to CancerCare, Ms. Sonet served for nearly 17 years as vice president of marketing at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where she was an avid patient advocate devoted to understanding the complex nature of healthcare decision-making and the needs of people affected by cancer. Prior to that she worked for pharmaceutical companies, marketing over-the-counter brands.

Lillian D. Shockney, RN, MAS, ONN-CG
Co-Founder and Program Director, AONN+;
University Distinguished Service Professor of Breast Cancer; Professor of Surgery
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD

Lillian D. Shockney, RN, MAS, ONN-CG, is the co-founder and program director at the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) and is a university distinguished service professor of breast cancer and professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. A two-time breast cancer survivor, originally diagnosed in her 30s, Lillie has worked tirelessly to improve the care of breast cancer patients around the world.

Shockney serves on 28 medical advisory boards currently. She has authored 30 books and more than 350 articles on breast cancer, oncology navigation, survivorship, patient advocacy, communicating bad news, end of life, and most recently, chronic illness and complex care. She has received 61 awards—55 national awards and 6 state awards including being inducted into the Maryland Women Hall of Fame, Women in Business Healthcare Trailblazer Award, Johnson & Johnson’s Most Amazing Nurse in America award, National Komen for the Cure’s Professor of Survivorship award, and several national lifetime achievement awards. Her research area of focus is preservation of quality of life for patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Shockney received a master's degree in business administration from the Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Science degree in healthcare administration from St. Joseph’s College, and a nursing diploma from MacQueens Gibbs Willis School of Nursing.

Share

In This Section

Our Supporter

Our Partners

Steering Committee

Partner Organization Representatives