Advisory Committee

A passionate physician, clinical researcher, educator and leader, Dr. Missak Haigentz is chief of Hematology and Oncology at Morristown Medical Center and medical director of Atlantic Hematology and Oncology for Atlantic Medical Group at the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.

Dr. Haigentz is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in cancers of the head and neck, including thyroid cancers, and in lung cancers. As past director of the clinical trials office of the National Cancer Institute-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, Dr. Haigentz has particular expertise in the design and conduct of innovative clinical trials to improve the lives of cancer patients, and he has led several multicenter and national clinical trials. His research has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts, review articles, and book chapters, and he has served on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Haigentz has held several leadership roles, including service as president of the New York Head and Neck Society (2014-2015). Throughout his career, Dr. Haigentz has taken pride in providing compassionate and personalized cancer care.

Dr. Haigentz earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his medical degree from the New Jersey Medical School in 1995. After completing residency training in internal medicine at New Jersey Medical School in 1998 (where he also served as chief medical resident), he received subspecialty fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the New York University School of Medicine. In 2001, Dr. Haigentz was recruited to the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he rose to the rank of professor of medicine (oncology) and otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery.

Sarah Hudson-DiSalle oversees the medication assistance program and reimbursement services for infusion services at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James. She has extensive experience in healthcare information technology, hospitals, managed care, pharmaceutical revenue cycle management, patient access to pharmaceuticals, and healthcare management.

Dr. Hudson-DiSalle earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo and, after practicing pharmacy for seven years, completed her Doctor of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University. She is dedicated to improving patient access and reimbursement services for infusion medications at The James Cancer Hospital.

Ari VanderWalde, MD, MPH, MBioeth, is director of clinical research at West Cancer Center in Memphis, TN. An internationally recognized cancer researcher, Dr. VanderWalde holds a dual appointment with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center as associate vice chancellor of clinical research and assistant professor of hematology/oncology. His primary research is in melanoma and immunotherapy, more specifically on immunotherapy combinations, mechanisms of resistance, and prediction of toxicities.

He previously served as a United States medical lead and clinical research medical director with Amgen, directing U.S. global development of talimogene laherparepvec, a novel viral-based immunotherapeutic that has since been approved by the FDA and EMA for treatment of melanoma. He continues to participate extensively in drug development as a consultant for George Clinical, a branch of the George Institute.

Dr. VanderWalde received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine after graduating cum laude from Harvard University. He completed his internal medicine training at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a joint fellowship in hematology/oncology at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

Laura S. Wood RN, MSN, OCN is an oncology nurse with over 30 years of experience in the care of patients with renal and genitourinary cancers and oncology clinical trial coordination. Prior to leaving clinical practice, Laura was the Renal Cancer Clinical Research Coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center Immunotherapy Education Committee, and the immune-related Adverse Event Tumor Board. She is active in the local and national Oncology Nursing Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer. 

Ms. Wood completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. A national and international lecturer on topics related to oncology nursing.