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Project Leadership

Advisory Committee

Co-Chairs

Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH
Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Associate Medical Director, Dana-Farber at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Boston, MA

Christopher S. Lathan, MD, MS, MPH, is the Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Medical Director of Dana-Farber at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Associate Medical Director of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Network and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Lathan attended medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral training in internal medicine, medical oncology and cancer outcomes research at Boston Medical Center and the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Dr. Lathan also holds a master’s degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health, and a Master’s of Science degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts.

Dr. Lathan’s primary research interests are centered on the effects of race, class, and access to care on cancer outcomes, including racial disparities in lung cancer treatment, differences in somatic mutations across racial groups, perceptions of genetic testing by race and social class, population differences in targetable mutations in non-small cell lung cancer, and factors influencing willingness to participate in bio-banking among black men with and at-risk for prostate cancer. He is a board member of the National African American Cancer Coalition and the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board for the Lung Cancer Alliance. He is a past board member of the Conquer Cancer Coalition, and Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Dr. Lathan also serves on the Health Disparities, Cancer Education and Scientific Review committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Minorities in Cancer Research Council for the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR).

Dr. Lathan aims to bridge the gap between research efforts in disparities and the realities of patient care by developing interventions to increase access to high level quality care, developed in part through a high level of community engagement. He is the founding Faculty Director of the Cancer Care Equity Program at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Director of Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care at Whittier Street Health Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts, a clinical outreach program that aids in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer for patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center, and integrates all three arms of clinical cancer care: prevention, diagnosis/treatment, and survivorship. This effort also provides an opportunity to improve clinical trial accrual among vulnerable populations.

Randall A. Oyer, MD
Medical Director
Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
Lancaster, PA

Dr. Randall A. Oyer is a practicing medical oncologist at the Ann B. Barshinger Cancer Institute at Penn Medicine Lancaster General in Pennsylvania, where he serves as the medical director. Dr. Oyer is also the medical director of oncology, the chair of the Cancer Committee, the chair of the Oncology Physicians Advisory Council, and the medical director of the Cancer Risk Evaluation (Cancer Genetics) Program at Penn Medicine. Dr. Oyer is a member of the Cancer Service Line Executive Committee and the Cancer Service Line Quality Committee at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Dr. Oyer divides his time among patient care, program administration, program development, and community outreach. He works closely with a multidisciplinary team that includes nursing, social work, pharmacy, chaplaincy, and medical specialties focused on strategy, implementation, and patient care. A long-standing active member of ACCC, he served as president from 2020 to 2021. Dr. Oyer is also an ex-officio member of the National Cancer Policy Forum and commissioner of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, where he represents ACCC. Dr. Oyer is a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University School of Medicine, and is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

Members

Thomas M. Asfeldt, MBA, RN, BAN
(Former) Director, Outpatient Cancer Services and Radiation Oncology
Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Sanford Health Cancer Center, Worthington, MN

Thomas Asfeldt, MBA, RN, BAN, served as director, Outpatient Cancer Services and Radiation Oncology for Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls and administrative director for Sanford Health Cancer Center in Worthington, MN. In this role, he was an active leader in integrating and standardizing operations between the radiation oncology services in Sioux Falls and Worthington, and developing rational standards in collaboration with all radiation oncology sites in Sanford Health. He held administrative responsibility for Cancer Program Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer and for the Sanford USD Medical Center Cancer Committee.

Mr. Asfeldt served as the Co-PI, NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) from inception of the NCCCP in 2007 through close of the program in 2014, and was responsible for oversight of all aspects of the NCCCP contract including meeting deliverables and managing contract compliance, administration, and finances.

Prior to joining Sanford in 2005, Thomas worked in Research Triangle Park, N.C., in the biotechnology industry performing program development, client relations, regulatory oversight and hands-on research. He also has extensive experience in the organ procurement industry, coronary intensive care management, and bedside nursing critical care.

Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Nursing, with minors in Biology and Chemistry from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and a Master of Business Administration with Honors from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

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John V. Cox, DO, MBA, FACP, FASCO
Professor of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncologist
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, TX

John V. Cox, DO, MBA, FACP, FASCO, is a practicing oncologist in Dallas, Texas. In 2015, he joined UT Southwestern as the medical director of oncology services at Parkland Health and Hospital System. He completed a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at UT Southwestern and after a stint on the faculty theren, he entered private practice in Dallas – practicing for over 25 years, most of that interval with Texas Oncology, P.A. 

His interests focus on GI oncology and the delivery of care. He is the state of Texas oncology representative to the Texas Carrier Advisory Committee of Novitas. He also served as a member of CMS’ Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee from 2006 to 2010.

Dr. Cox is an active volunteer with ASCO and is a liaison member of the Clinical Practice Committee, which he chaired, 2005-2006. He is a member of ASCO’s payment reform workgroup, and active in ASCO’s efforts to evaluate/codify new practice models. He has served as a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and in January 2009, he became the editor of the Journal of Oncology Practice.

In 2018, Dr. Cox was included in D Magazine's Best Doctors list and was named a Texas Monthly "Super Doctor."

Becky DeKay, MBA
(Former) Executive Director, Oncology Service Line
University Health Shreveport, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center
LSU Health Shreveport

Shreveport, LA

Becky DeKay, MBA, is Executive Director, Oncology Service Line, University Health Shreveport, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, LSU Health Shreveport, Louisiana. Managing a staff of about 100 people, she oversees the functions in 60,000 square-foot Feist-Weiller Cancer Center (FWCC), which houses the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital affiliate program for pediatric patients, adult hematology and oncology, surgical oncology, ENT oncology, digital mammography, diagnostic radiology and CT, two operating rooms, two endoscopy suites, and clinical research. She serves as a member of the LSU Health Shreveport Ambulatory Care Administrative team coordinating nearly 500,000 ambulatory visits annually at LSU Health Shreveport. Ms. DeKay was also a member of the EPIC/Beacon EHR transition team for LSU Health Shreveport prior to and during implementation in November 2011.

Prior to joining Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Becky served for nearly 10 years at CHRISTUS Schumpert Health System in Shreveport beginning as Director of Marketing with responsibility of marketing research, advertising, public relations, and strategic planning. She later was promoted to Vice President of Medical Staff Development, responsible for physician recruitment and retention, credentialing, education, communication, quality assurance, quality improvement, and computer systems to support core functions and information links for physician offices/homes.

Ms. DeKay served as President of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (2014-2015), and previously chaired the ACCC Education Committee.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and a Masters of Business Administration from Centenary College of Louisiana. She has served on various community Boards and chaired numerous development fund raisers.

Andrea Ferris, MBA
President and CEO
LUNGevity Foundation
Bethesda, MD

Andrea Ferris is President and CEO of LUNGevity and a member of the Board of Directors. In this capacity, she is responsible for setting and executing the strategic direction of the organization and its science programs. Ms. Ferris was the Vice President of Strategy and Growth of Decision Lens, Inc. a company she helped launch in January 2005. Prior to joining Decision Lens, Andrea held a variety of management positions at Johnson & Johnson, including Director of Investor Relations, Manager Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions, and Plant Controller. She also spent several years at McNeil Consumer Products, a J&J subsidiary, in marketing and mergers & acquisitions. Prior to her time at J&J, Andrea worked for Lehman Brothers and Coopers & Lybrand in New York City in both Mergers and Acquisitions and as a CPA.

Ms. Ferris served on Washington, DC’s Kennedy Center National Committee of Performing Arts and on the Board of ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) of Metro DC. She has also served on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for DC Metro Boys and Girls Club and has worked with the Ronald McDonald House and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Ms. Ferris received her BS in Economics from Wharton with concentrations in Accounting, Decision Sciences, and Finance. She received her MBA from Wharton with concentrations in Finance and Latin American Studies.

Lovell Jones, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean for Research
Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing
Corpus Christi, TX

Lovell Jones, PhD, is currently a Professor at Prairie View A&M University College of Nursing and Research Professor at Texas A & M University Corpus Christi. Dr. Jones serves as Adjunct Professor at Texas A&M School of Public Health, Tulane University School of Public Health, and Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Jones has more than 40 years of experience in addressing minority health and the health of the underserved. As a scientist, he has also done extensive research into the relationship between hormones, diet and endocrine responsive tumors and has presented his work both nationally and internationally.

Until August 31, 2013, Dr. Jones was a Professor in the Department of Health Disparities Research as well as Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) and Research Professor of Social Work, Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston (UH). He is the Founding Director of the Congressionally- mandated Center for Research on Minority Health (CRMH), which evolved into the joint UH/UTMDACC Dorothy I. Height Center for Health Equity & Evaluation Research. At his retirement from the University of Texas System, he was bestowed the title of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Health Disparities Research at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In April 2014, Dr. Jones was awarded his second Professor Emeritus from the University of Texas Graduate School of Bio medical Sciences.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Jones has either chaired or co-chaired numerous major events regarding the underserved and cancers, including the American Cancer Society South Central U.S. Regional Hearings on Cancer and the Poor and the1st National African Cancer Education meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.

Dr. Jones received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.

Matthew J. Loscalzo, LCSW
Liliane Elkins Professor in Supportive Care Programs;
Executive Director, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
City of Hope National Medical Center
Duarte, CA

Professor Loscalzo has held leadership positions at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, the Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center at the University of California at San Diego, and now at the City of Hope. He has created a number of highly integrated interdisciplinary biopsychosocial programs based on a unique staff leadership model. In October 2014, Professor Loscalzo was recognized with a lifetime achievement award in clinical care by the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS). In August 2015, he received the Jimmie Holland Life Time Leadership Award from the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). His clinical interests are gender medicine; strengths based approaches to psychotherapies, problem-based distress screening and the creation of supportive care programs.

Professor Loscalzo has over 35 years experience in caring for cancer patients and their families. He is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the clinical, educational, and research domains of psychosocial aspects of cancer. He is a President of the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW). Professor Loscalzo has focused pain and palliative care, the implementation of problem-based screening programs, gender-based medicine and problem solving therapies. He is highly recognized and sought after for his strategic mentorship of leaders across disciplines.

He is the PI on two five-year NIH R25E training grants (teaching health care professionals how to build supportive care programs and biopsychosocial screening programs) and a site PI for a new third R25E to teach advanced cognitive behavioral skills. He is also on the editorial boards or a reviewer for a number of professional journals and has more than 100 publications.

James Mulshine, MD
Professor, Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College;
Vice President for Research, Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL

James Mulshine, MD, is Professor, Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College. Previously Dr. Mulshine held positions at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, and the NCI-Navy Medical Oncology Branch. He is an internationally regarded expert in lung cancer.

His research interests include clinical trials in non-small cell lung cancer, tumor immunology (diagnostic or therapeutic applications of monoclonal antibodies); growth factor effects in human lung cancer; information systems; early cancer detection and cancer intervention research, and research facility design and construction.

The recipient of numerous honor and academic awards, Dr. Rush serves on the editorial board or as a reviewer for a number of academic publications, and has authored several hundred articles and books chapters.

Over the course of his career, Dr. Mulshine has chaired, co-chaired, and served as a member of numerous committees, evaluation groups, workshops, and meeting sessions. Most recently, in 2016 Dr. Rush served on the Organizing Committee for the AAMC GRAND Meeting, in Washington, D.C.; and as co-chair of the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC 2016), CT Screening Workshop in Vienna, Austria. He is also a member of the National Photonic Initiative National Technology Road Map Committee.

Dr. Rush received his MD degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine.

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Kathleen Nolan, MPH
Regional Vice President
Health Management Associates
Washington, DC

Kathleen Nolan, MPH, is regional Vice President at Health Management Associates, a leading independent national research and consulting firm in the healthcare industry. She has been actively engaged in the national dialogue during one of the most transformative periods in the history of Medicaid. Her Medicaid reform and innovation expertise includes Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation, managed care expansion, payment reform, delivery system alignment of physical and behavioral health, managed long-term care services and supports, and advances in health information technology.

For 12 years Ms. Nolan served as director of state policy and programs for the National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) and as division director of health for the National Governors Association (NGA) giving her a unique perspective on state policy making. She convened national and state leaders to foster collaboration, find common ground, share promising practices and lessons learned, and advance implementation of health care reform.

Joining NAMD shortly after its launch, Kathleen was instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of the organization. She managed a portfolio of state technical assistance projects on a range of policy and programmatic issues. She led the organization’s efforts to assist states in tackling major Medicaid challenges including behavioral health integration, delivery system reform, ACA implementation, and overall agency leadership. Most recently, Kathleen helped analyze the proposed managed care regulations and began to prepare states for their implementation. She envisioned and managed the annual NAMD State Medicaid Operations Survey which provides insight into how Medicaid directors are managing increasingly complex programs while driving system reform.

Kathleen has also held senior health policy positions with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Institute of Medicine.

She earned her master’s degree in public health from the George Washington University, and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Shawn M. Regis, PhD
Patient Navigator, Associate Research Scientist
Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
Burlington, MA

Shawn M. Regis, PhD, is patient navigator and associate research scientist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Massachusetts.

Dr. Regis has been an invited speaker on lung cancer screening informatics, developing an effective lung cancer screening team, the role of the patient navigator in a clinical CT lung screening program, and other topics related to establishing a successful lung cancer screening program. His current role involves providing ongoing research support for a number of lung-cancer-related clinical trials.

Dr. Regis earned his PhD and MS degress in Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology the University of Massachusetts – Darthmouth, and his BS degree in Biosystems Engineering at Clemson University.

Maureen Rigney, LICSW
Director of Support Initiatives
GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer
Washington, DC

Maureen Rigney, LICSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and currently serves as director of Support Initiatives at the Go2 Foundation for Lung Cancer. In this capacity, she develops concepts, services, programs, and materials designed to address the unmet needs of the lung cancer community. The GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer was formed in 2019 through the merger of two of the most effective and influential nonprofit organizations serving the lung cancer community, the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation (ALCF) and Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA). Previously, Ms. Rigney served as director of Supportive Initiatives for the Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA).

Prior to working for LCA, Maureen supervised intensive case management programs in the Chicago area and the District of Columbia with primarily Medicaid-eligible populations.

Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Departments of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, NY

Cardinale B. Smith, MD, PhD is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology and the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Associate Director for Community, Outreach and Engagement in the Tisch Cancer Institute and the Chief Quality Officer for Cancer Services, Tisch Cancer Center. She is a medical oncologist and palliative care physician whose clinical practice is focused on lung cancer and palliative care. Her research interests focus on doctor-patient communication, evaluating treatment disparities in cancer care, determinants of cancer patients’ quality of care, characterizing barriers to optimal cancer and palliative care and developing approaches to eliminating those barriers among racial and ethnic minorities. Dr. Smith is a 2013 recipient of a mentored research scholar grant from the American Cancer Society to evaluate determinants of disparities in the utilization of palliative care among patients with lung cancer. She was a co-investigator on a Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute grant to teach and enable goals of care conversations among oncologists. Additionally, she is the recipient Sojourn’s Scholar Leadership Grant and an R01 from the National Cancer Institute to evaluate the role of implicit bias among oncologists on minority cancer patient outcomes. Dr. Smith has had numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, and in 2015 was named one of the Top 40 Inspirational Leaders under 40 by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Mark S. Soberman, MD, MBA, FACS
Senior Safety Officer
Ethicon, Inc.

Mark S. Soberman, MD, MBA, FACS, is Senior Safety Officer at Ethicon, Inc.  

Previously, Dr. Soberman served as medical director, Oncology Service Line and chief physician executive, Monocacy Health Partners, and a member of the Board of Managers of the Frederick Integrated Healthcare Network at Frederick Regional Health System in Frederick, Maryland. Dr. Soberman is a past President of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (2017-2018). He is a reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, General Thoracic Surgical Club, American Association for Physician Leadership, American College of Healthcare Executives, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Previously, he served as vice-chair of the Department of Surgery; director, Section of Thoracic Oncology; and director, Section of Thoracic Surgery, at the Washington Hospital Center. He has also held the positions of director, Division of Thoracic Surgery at Georgetown University Hospital and director, Section of Thoracic Surgery at Sibley Memorial Hospital. His academic appointments include Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at Georgetown University School of Medicine and Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr. Soberman earned his undergraduate degree in Biology at Washington University in St. Louis with Eliot Honors, and graduated from the Emory University School of Medicine. After completing a residency in General Surgery at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals, he went on to complete his residency Cardiothoracic Surgery at George Washington University and an advanced fellowship in General Thoracic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

Dr. Soberman has been the recipient of two Alley-Sheridan Fellowships from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, completing executive courses in Health Policy at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. In 2009, he completed an MBA at the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia, receiving a faculty award for academic excellence. In 2014, he attended Professor Michael Porter’s Intensive Value-Based Health Care Delivery Symposium at Harvard Business School.

Dr. Soberman has lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally on topics relating to thoracic oncology and more recently, value-based health care delivery. His professional interests include the study value-based healthcare, innovative care delivery models and innovative payment models, value in oncology, and multidisciplinary cancer care models.

Technical Expert Panel (TEP)

Chair

Thomas M. Asfeldt, MBA, RN, BAN
(Former) Director, Outpatient Cancer Services and Radiation Oncology
Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Sanford Health Cancer Center, Worthington, MN

Thomas Asfeldt, MBA, RN, BAN, served as director, Outpatient Cancer Services and Radiation Oncology for Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls and administrative director for Sanford Health Cancer Center in Worthington, MN. In this role, he was an active leader in integrating and standardizing operations between the radiation oncology services in Sioux Falls and Worthington, and developing rational standards in collaboration with all radiation oncology sites in Sanford Health. He held administrative responsibility for Cancer Program Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer and for the Sanford USD Medical Center Cancer Committee.

Mr. Asfeldt served as the Co-PI, NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) from inception of the NCCCP in 2007 through close of the program in 2014, and was responsible for oversight of all aspects of the NCCCP contract including meeting deliverables and managing contract compliance, administration, and finances.

Prior to joining Sanford in 2005, Thomas worked in Research Triangle Park, N.C., in the biotechnology industry performing program development, client relations, regulatory oversight and hands-on research. He also has extensive experience in the organ procurement industry, coronary intensive care management, and bedside nursing critical care.

Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Nursing, with minors in Biology and Chemistry from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and a Master of Business Administration with Honors from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

Technical Expert Panel

Karyl Blaseg, MSN, RN, OCN
Practice Manager
University of Arizona Cancer Center/Dignity Health
Phoenix, AZ

Karyl Blaseg, MSN, RN, OCN, is the practice manager, University of Arizona Cancer Center/Dignity Health, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Previously, she was administrative director for Cancer Services, Integrative Medicine, and Supportive/Palliative Care at Billings Clinic in Billings, Montana. In that role, she provided leadership and strategic direction for operations, programs, and services associated with the Billings Clinic oncology service line, as well as Integrative Medicine and Supportive/Palliative Care. She was responsible for coordinating efficient and effective departmental operations with a focus on quality, safety, value, and the patient experience.

As a dedicated oncology nurse leader, Ms. Blaseg has presented at a variety of national conferences on the topic of patient navigation including the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, the Academy of Oncology Nurse Navigators, the National Consortium of Breast Centers, the Oncology Nursing Society, the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Program, the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP), Cerner Health, and the Oncology Nurse Advisor.

She has a strong interest in nursing-led research and professional publication. Ms. Blaseg served as the Co-PI for a recent study examining the impact of a nurse navigation program for patients transitioning into survivorship care and is currently the PI for another study exploring symptoms and experiences associated with Aromatase Inhibitor therapy. In addition, she has published a variety of journal articles, authored several book chapters, and was the lead editor for the Oncology Nursing Society’s 2014 publication, Oncology Nurse Navigation: Delivering Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum.

She received her bachelor’s degree with a major in Nursing from Augustana College and her master’s degree in Nursing Education from Clarkson College.

Richard Deming, MD
Medical Director
MercyOne Cancer Center
Des Moines, IA

Richard Deming, MD, is medical director of MercyOne Cancer Center in Des Moines, Iowa. 

He also serves as the chairman of the MercyOne Cancer Committee. Dr. Deming is active in a number of professional oncology organizations including the Iowa Society of Therapeutic Radiology, the State Advisory Council of the American Cancer Society, the Iowa Oncology Research Association, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the Iowa Consortium for Comprehensive Cancer Care.

He is involved in many national, state, and community organizations and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Lane Adams Award by the American Cancer Society for excellence and compassion in patient care and “the one hundred” Award by Massachusetts General Hospital for his work with cancer survivors. He was awarded the Iowa Cancer Champion Award for his tireless advocacy efforts, and last year he received the Iowa Star Award from the Des Moines Register for making a measurable difference within the community, striving to improve the quality of life for families, for our most vulnerable, and for Iowans everywhere.

Dr. Deming is also the founder of Above + Beyond Cancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating the lives of those touched by cancer. Dr. Deming has led cancer survivors on inspirational mind-body-spirit pilgrimages to Mount Everest, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Machu Picchu. He is dedicated to the principals of human dignity, social justice, and compassion. He is inspired by the courage and compassion of his patients and their families. His greatest ambition is to encourage others to pursue lives of meaning, purpose, passion, and compassion.

He received a bachelor’s degree at South Dakota State University and his medical degree at Creighton University.

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Nancy Johnson, MSM
Executive Director/Administrator
Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler
Savannah, GA

Nancy Johnson, MSM, is Executive Director of the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion at St. Joseph’s/Candler. She brings more than 30 years of career experience in the field of cancer services to this role. Her expertise spans from building programmatic infrastructure, managing costs, developing regional programs to successfully procuring awards, grants and philanthropic/foundation funding. Ms. Johnson served as administrative lead for her cancer program’s participation as a pilot site for the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) and continued participation as an NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) site.

Her programmatic infrastructure development covers the complete continuum of cancer services necessary to meet patient care needs as well as national accreditation standards. Ms. Johnson has successfully developed and managed partnership relationships, both formal and informal by working through national, regional and community organizations and physician practices to build cancer center and program alliances. Through an alliance with Harbin Clinic, Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Amos Cancer Center, she co-led the group forward to receive a 2011 “Innovator’s Award” from the Association of Community Cancer Centers for their work in navigation services and metrics monitoring.

She received her MSM degree from Troy University, Columbus, Georgia.

Lead Clinical Research Consultant

Raymond Uyiosa Osarogiagbon, MD, FACP
Director, Thoracic Oncology Research Group;
Director, Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program, Baptist Cancer Center, Memphis;
Research Professor, University of Memphis School of Public Health
Memphis, TN

Raymond Uyiosa Osarogiagbon, MD, FACP, is an active practicing hematologist/medical oncologist at the Baptist Cancer Center in Memphis, Tennessee, an American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. He serves as Director of the Thoracic Oncology Research Group and the Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program at the Baptist Cancer Center. Additionally, he is Research Professor at the University of Memphis School of Public Health in Memphis, and a member of the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

His research focuses on improving healthcare systems, including examination of oncology care delivery models, quantifying the relative survival impact of determinants of quality care in thoracic oncology, and improving the quality of surgical resection and pathologic staging of lung cancer. Current research support includes R01 funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). He is also the Principal Investigator of the Baptist Cancer Center/Mid-South Minority-Underserved National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

Dr. Osarogiagbon is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Workforce Advisory Group, the National Institutes of Health’s Health Services Organization and Delivery (HSOD) Study Section, and the Board of Directors of the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation’s Center of Excellence Program. He is also on the editorial boards of the journals Translational Lung Cancer Research and Journal of Thoracic Diseases, as well as the Chairman-Elect of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Membership Committee.

He received his medical degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and completed Internal Medicine Residency training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in and a Fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of Minnesota.

Model Update Working Group (2023)

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Kelsey Finch, PharmD, BCOP
Oncology Pharmacist Practitioner
Columbus Regional Health
Columbus, IN

Kelsey Finch, PharmD, BCOP, is an oncology pharmacist practitioner at Columbus Regional Health in Columbus, Indiana. Dr. Finch serves as the Clinical Research Coordinator for in-house cancer trials, serves on the Cancer Committee with regards to Genetics and Clinical Research, and is an active member of several committees/boards including interdisciplinary tumor board, pharmacy and therapeutics committee, and USP 800 Compliance Initiative. Dr. Finch is active in several professional organizations, including serving on the Board of the Indiana Oncology Society (IOS), participating as an active member of the IOS policy committee, the Hoosiers for Safe Meds Coalition, and Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association.

Dr. Finch received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. She attained her Teaching Certificate from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, and completed her post-graduate year 1 residency at Columbus Regional Health in Columbus, Indiana. Dr. Finch’s interest in precision medicine led her to achieve the ACCP Oncology Genomics Certificate in 2022.

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Jessie Modlin, PharmD, BCOP
Clinical Oncology Pharmacist
St. Luke’s Health System
Boise, ID

Jessie Modlin, PharmD, BCOP, is a clinical oncology pharmacist in the Oncology Specialty Pharmacy at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute in Boise, Idaho. Dr. Modlin has worked in various areas of oncology, including outpatient infusion and clinical research. She also serves as affiliate faculty with Idaho State University and provides consultation services for ACT Genetics. Dr. Modin is a board member of the Idaho Society of Clinical Oncology. Her interests include symptom management, pharmacogenomics, and financial toxicity. Dr. Modin received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming. She completed her general pharmacy residency at Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Washington, and completed her oncology residency at St. Luke’s Cancer Institute in Boise, Idaho.

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