2021 Advisory Committee

Dr. Nobre is a clinical pharmacy specialist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her primary practice site in ambulatory leukemia and lymphoma is located in the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, where she focuses on oral anticancer medications. Dr. Nombre earned her PharmD degree from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in 2011. She then completed a pharmacy residency at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut in 2012, followed by an oncology pharmacy residency at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in Baltimore, Maryland in 2013.

Dr. Nobre is a member of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), and Maryland Society of Health System Pharmacists (MSHP). She previously served as vice-chair of HOPA’s Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist Self-Study/Webinars Subcommittee. Dr. Nobre is a preceptor for the PGY1-Pharmacy and PGY2-Oncology residency programs at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Dr. Koffman is a well-known doctor, educator, and clinical professor-turned-patient who has dedicated himself to teaching and helping the CLL community since his own CLL diagnosis in 2005. Dr. Koffman believes that his dual roles as a retired physician and patient give him a unique understanding that allows him to provide clear explanations of complex issues, advocate for his fellow patients, and inform his fellow healthcare providers. Besides his medical degree, Dr. Koffman has a master’ degree in medical education. He is a retired family doctor and clinical professor at the Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Koffman co-founded and serves as the chief medical officer and executive vice president of the nonprofit, CLL Society Inc., and he writes a widely followed blog. Dr. Koffman has shared online and across the world his battle with his leukemia, including a failed bone marrow transplant and successes with two Phase 1 trials, including CAR T-cell therapy.

Robyn Brumble has held a variety of roles as a registered nurse for more than twenty years in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. She helps ensure all patients receive the very best care possible, and she incorporates her passion for excellence in patient care into her role with the CLL Society. Brumble has held positions in nursing leadership, patient advocacy, patient education, and nursing academics. She has developed continuing medical education programs (for both physicians and nurses), led non-profit organizations, and she is a published author and editor of medical textbooks. Brumble has also spent time as a legal nurse consultant and expert legal nurse witness.

Brumble enjoys giving speaking engagements at medical conferences, particularly when she is presenting on topics about quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nursing.

Andrea Conners is the executive director of the Patient Empowerment Network (PEN). Prior to joining PEN, she was the head of U.S. consulting for pharmaphorum connect and head of external R&D communications at AstraZeneca. That role marked the culmination of nearly 10 years in global communications at AstraZeneca in the U.S. and U.K. Before that, Conners held corporate communication roles of increasing responsibility at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. 

Conners’ experience spans patient engagement, advocacy, public relations, media relations, developing and delivering communication skills training, social and digital media, and writing for print, web, and multi-media platforms. Throughout her career, Conners has been responsible for creating, implementing, and measuring successful engagement strategies and programs that are at the forefront of communication trends. She has garnered this experience working in patient advocacy, global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, non-profit, and academic organizations in the U.S., U.K., and around the world.