Board of Directors
We would like to thank our board members for their ongoing commitment and dedication to ENACCT!
Members
Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, PhD, MSW, OSW-C, Catholic University of America - Board Chair
Robert Caine, MD, MBA, The Clarendon Group, Ltd.
Bonnie Crawford, MSW, LISW-S, LCSW, My Health Care Partner
Gwen Darien, Samuel Waxman Cancer Foundation
Maria Gonzalez, St. Joseph of Orange - Member at Large
Carrie Jones, Jones Public Affairs
Margo Michaels, MPH, ENACCT - President
Elizabeth (Betty) A. Patterson, MD, FACR - Vice Chair
Louis Pavia, MBA, CareCompanion
Peter "Quake" Pletcher, MBA, Hoosier Oncology Group, Inc. - Secretary/Treasurer
Kristin Reed, Genentech, Inc. - Member at Large
Nila Saliba, University of Virginia Cancer Center
JoAnn Tsark, MPH, Papa Ola Lokahi
Elisa Weiss, PhD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc
Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc, Ph.D. has over more than 17 years of clinical and research experience in the areas of oncology, HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. She is currently an asAssociate pProfessor at the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. She also has a part-time faculty appointment at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. Dr. BrintzenhofeSzoc teaches research methodology, practice evaluation, death, the healthcare specialization integrative seminar at the master's level and introduction to research methodology at the doctoral level. In addition to her academic work, Dr. BrintzenhofeSzoc She presents at local, national, and international conferences on topics regarding social work research in healthcare settings, implications of complicated grief, the importance of clinical trials and the role social work can have in this arena, the use of problem solving intervention in short-term work with chronically ill patients, and social work documentation. She has been published on a range of topics including screening for distress, prevalence of distress by cancer site, the development and testing of instruments for use in healthcare settings, interventions for use with patients and families, and program evaluation. Dr. BrintzenhofeSzoc continues to be active in the Association of Oncology Social Work (AOSW) having held board positions including President, Chair of the Social Work Oncology Research Group (SWORG) and Chair chair of Communications. She was also on the Board of Oncology Social Work Certification. She is also active with the American Cancer Society (ACS) currently as a board member of the South Atlantic Division. Other community activities include the DC Pain Initiative, the campaign for Smoke Free DC (which was a coalition of the ACS and the Tobacco Free Kids and 40 other advocacy and community groups to make DC workplaces smoke free), The Greater Washington Partnership for End of Life and Palliative Care, the Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare, and the Global Access Project.
Robert Caine
Robert Caine, M.D., M.B.A. is a graduate of Yale University School of Medicine and completed his specialty training at Harvard University. He practiced clinical ophthalmology for 25 years as Founder and Medical Director of Access Eye Centers in Fredericksburg, Virginia. While a practicing physician, Dr. Caine participated as Clinical Investigator with numerous multi-national drug companies including Pfizer, Allergan and Pharmacia. He is currently President of The Clarendon Group, Ltd., a real estate investment and management company. Dr. Caine’s business education includes an M.B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary as well as a Master of Science in Real Estate from Johns Hopkins University.
Bonnie Crawford
Bonnie Crawford is a social worker with 22 years of practice in the health care field. Currently, she is the Owner and Clinical Director of My Health Care Partner, a home-based counseling agency, and part-time Program Manager and Clinical Facilitator for Cancer Support Community of Greater Cincinnati. Previously, Crawford served for 9 years as the Program Director for The Wellness Community, and for 12 years as a Child Abuse Team and pediatric hospice social worker at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Crawford received a BA with Distinction in 1980 from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Cincinnati in 1989. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Kentucky and a Licensed Independent Social Worker – Supervisor in Ohio.
Gwen Darien
As a cancer survivor herself, Gwen Darien brings a wealth of personal and professional experiences to her position as executive director of the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation. Prior to joining SWCRF, Darien was editor-in-chief ofCRmagazine and director of the American Association for Cancer Research Survivor and Patient Advocacy Program.Building upon the AACR’s longstanding commitment to fostering partnerships with survivor advocates—and to fulfill its goal of significantly expanding these relationships—the association established the department of Survivor and Patient Advocacy in November 2004 with Darien as its founding director. She was previously the editor-in-chief of MAMM, the country's only consumer magazine dedicated to women with breast and reproductive cancer. Darien is Chair of the NCI Director’s Consumer Liaison Group. She has served as member of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Health, Genetics and Society and the faculties of the AACR/ASCO Methods in Clinical Cancer Research Workshop, American Society of Breast Disease Annual Symposium, Accelerating Anti-Cancer Agent Development and on the advisory board of the Health Advocacy Program at Sarah Lawrence College. She has more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions. She was an adjunct faculty member of the MFA Photography and Related Media Program at School of the Visual Arts (1997-2003). From 1991 to 1995, she was executive director of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE). Darien was also deputy director of P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, New York from 1984 to 1990. Darien is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College.
Maria Gonzalez
Maria Gonzalez has been the Cancer Research Manager at the Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment at St. Joseph Hospital, Orange since November 2006. Prior to 2006, Maria was the manager of the Gastrointestinal Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, CA where she specialized in GI Oncology Trials including surgical modality and vaccine trials. Shortly after coming to SJO in 2007, St. Joseph Hospital of Orange became one of the sixteen participating hospitals of the NCI's National Community Cancer Center Program (NCCCP) where she currently serves as the Chair for St. Joseph Hospital NCCCP Clinical Trials Committee and national co-chair of the NCCCP Clinical Trials Subcommittee. Maria also plays a lead role in the national NCCCP Clinical Trials Minority/Underserved Accrual Workgroup, the NCCCP Clinical Trials Screening and Enrollment Log Workgroup, NCCCP Clinical Trials Best Practices while providing support to the NCCCP Biospecimens Subcommittee and the NCCCP Disparities Subcommittee. AS a graduate of Biological Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles combined with her training in research and healthcare, particularly in the field of oncology, Maria's interest in developing innovative clinical trials accrual strategies, expanding community access to national clinical trials and disparate population initiatives reflects her strong passion for serving the orange county community.
Carrie Jones
Carrie Jones is a veteran communications specialist and healthcare strategist. Carrie’s background blends extensive expertise in public relations and issue advocacy with a unique understanding of how the public sectors interact with today’s capital markets. Prior to founding Jones Public Affairs, Carrie worked five years at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide managing a broad array of pharmaceutical, government and non-profit clients. Over the course of her career, Carrie has developed numerous public affairs initiatives in the areas of advocacy, consumer education, social marketing, policy, product support and launch, image development and media relations. During her career, Carrie has gained considerable experience in the areas of oncology and women’s health. As a senior counselor, she has actively been involved in global third-party development, coalition building, reimbursement communications, grassroots advocacy and product communications. Before joining Ogilvy PR, Carrie worked at Edelman in Washington, D.C. Prior to her agency work, Carrie served as a government affairs associate for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP). While there, Carrie managed senior care issues, including Medicare reimbursement, patient confidentiality, nursing facility quality and inspection, drug pricing and Medicare reform. Carrie was responsible for organizing grassroots efforts on legislative initiatives primarily through preparation of issue papers, action calls and other written communications. A native of North Dakota, Carrie received her bachelor’s degree in mass communication and political science from Moorhead State University.
Margo Michaels
Ms. Michaels is a former education branch chief at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) who for the last 13 years has developed programs to educate cancer advocates, community leaders, and health care professionals about policy and science issues related to cancer and cancer clinical trials education. While at NCI, she developed their Clinical Trial Ambassador Program, NCI's Clinical Trial Education Series, and the Clinical Research: Affiliates Funding Trials (CRAFT) program at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in Dallas, TX. Prior to her work with NCI, Ms. Michaels was the director of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD. Ms. Michaels has extensive experience in project management, outreach, partnership development, and creation of educational materials. She holds an M.P.H. in Health Behavior/Health Education from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health.
Elizabeth (Betty) A. Patterson
Following a residency in Diagnostic Radiology, Dr. Betty Patterson joined the radiology staff of Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she developed an interest in mammography and breast cancer. She was one of the founders of the Pittsburgh Mammography Society and directed the first screening program in Western Pennsylvania, a campaign that became a model for programs throughout the state. Dr. Patterson has served on the board of directors of the American Cancer Society and advisory panels for the National Cancer Institute on Breast Cancer in Minorities, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's African-American Advisory panel, and the Washington State Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership. Dr. Patterson's concern regarding the lack of minority participation in clinical trials and health disparities has resulted in her active participation in: the National Medical Association's Clinical Trial project; serving as a board member of the Intercultural Cancer Council; becoming a member of the Eastern Clinical Oncology Group (ECOG) Advisory Panel, which addresses ways to increase the participation of minorities in clinical trials; and chairing the American College of Radiology Imaging Network's (ACRIN) Special Population Committee. Following her retirement from active practice, she relocated to the Seattle, Washington area where she has continued to be active in promoting breast cancer awareness and screening in minority and underserved women, and addressing health disparities and clinical trials participation. Patterson, M.D. FACR graduated from Howard College of Medicine in 1961.
Louis Pavia
Mr. Pavia has extensive and diverse experience as an executive, consultant and board member and is a frequent author and speaker. Mr. Pavia’s career has been built solving the problems and capitalizing on the opportunities faced by CEOs and Boards. Over the last 25 years he has focused in the life sciences industry including healthcare providers, associations, insurers, and pharmaceutical and related health services companies. As founder and President of CareCompanion since 2000 and as a senior executive with McManis Associates for the previous 22 years, he has had responsible for budgeting and finance, recruitment and development of senior staff, marketing and business development and strategy. Mr. Pavia has facilitated strategic planning processes and driven the implementation of major initiatives with organizations in a wide variety of settings including urban academic medical centers, suburban health systems, statewide integrated delivery systems and community based and rural hospitals; associations; health and malpractice insurers and health related companies. He has prepared feasibility studies and business plans for several new businesses and products. Mr. Pavia has also designed and implemented board and board member self evaluation plans, structured new boards and governing processes.
Peter "Quake" Pletcher
Peter "Quake" Pletcher has been the Executive Director of the Hoosier Oncology Group since October 2008. Quake is very well-rounded and has extensive management experience - everything from running a manufacturing start-up to retail management. Prior to his work with Hoosier, Quake worked at Eli Lilly where he supported oncology drug hunting groups on the finance side. Quake holds a BA from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Southern California. He is an active volunteer with United Way, the YMCA and Fort Harrison Reuse Authority.
Kristin Reed
Kristin Reed is senior manager of advocacy relations at Genetech, Inc. in San Francisco, California. In this position she has led the continued growth and development of advocacy relations, fostered existing relationships, created a focus on patient access and clinical trials, and guided grant making for oncology patient advocacy organizations. Previously, Ms. Reed held several positions with Bloomberg news, the most recent of which was as deputy team leader for the new organization's U.S. health team. Ms. Reed graduated from the University of Virginia with high honors and a Bachelor of the Arts in English and Modern Studies.
Nila Saliba
Nila Saliba works primarily with community coalitions to organize activities related to some point on the cancer continuum—focusing especially on prevention and early detection. She is co-chair of the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia and Manager of Cancer Center Education at the University of Virginia Cancer Center, where she has been for 10 years. Many of her efforts have addressed disparities in African-American and Latino groups in Central Virginia. Her BS degree is in journalism from the University of Kansas. She also serves on the Regional Leadership Council for the American Cancer Society.
JoAnn Tsark
JoAnn currently serves as the Research Director for Papa Ola Lōkahi and Project Director of ‘Imi Hale Native Hawaiian Cancer Network – one of 23 National Cancer Institute funded Community Network Program Centers. At Papa Ola Lōkahi since 1999, she has spearheaded federally-funded programs from NCI, HRSA, and CDC to support programs for cancer prevention and control research and education, and diabetes prevention and control in Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. Additionally, she has supported efforts in cardiovascular risk factor research with Dr. Emmett Aluli and Na Pu‘uwai, Inc. and worked with the Moloka‘i community as a grants writer and program developer to launch their Native Hawaiian Health Care System. Prior to joining Papa Ola Lōkahi, she served as Director of Research Education and Training at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific and Director of the Governor’s Pacific Health Promotion and Development Center which focused on health disparities in Hawai‘i and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific. JoAnn received her Masters in Public Health from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1984 and focused her tenure in Public Health on Native Hawaiian community health and wellness.
Dr. Weiss, a medical sociologist and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, has over 13 years of research experience implementing and evaluating public health interventions. Dr. Weiss’s research has focused on developing new conceptual models and methodologies for evaluating the functioning of inter-organizational and academic-community partnerships, and demonstrating the value of cross-sector and community involvement in addressing complex public health problems. Dr. Weiss was the partnership evaluator for Team Up: Cancer Screening Saves Lives, a national collaborative project of the NCI, ACS, CDC, and USDA that was carried out in six Southern states. She was also Co-Investigator and partnership evaluator for a federally funded community-based participatory research project designed to address health disparities among African American and Latino youth in the Bronx, NY. In addition, Dr. Weiss was PI of a quality improvement study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center that examined physician and institutional barriers to the recruitment of minority patients to cancer treatment trials, and identified internal and external collaborative opportunities for overcoming these barriers. Presently, she is Co-PI of a study recently funded by the NCI that will, in collaboration with ENACCT, explore primary care physicians’ attitudes towards cancer clinical trials and their referral patterns for low-income cancer patients in New York City; the study will use these data to adapt and test ENACCT’s cancer clinical trials education training for primary care physicians. She is also PI of a multi-site pilot study in New York City that examines the socio-economic impact of colon cancer among low-income cancer survivors age 65 and older. Dr. Weiss is integrally involved in efforts at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center to increase access of underserved populations to the institution’s clinical trials. She received her doctorate in sociology from Columbia University.