Staff

Margo Michaels, Executive Director and President

Over the last 15 years, Margo Michaels has developed numerous innovative programs to educate cancer advocates, community leaders, and health care professionals about policy and science issues related to cancer and cancer clinical trials. As the Founder of the Education Network to Advance Cancer Clinical Trials (ENACCT), she is considered a national expert in community-based education efforts around cancer clinical research. Prior to starting ENACCT, she served as Branch Chief at NCI's Public and Survivor Education Branch; as the Lead Consultant to the Clinical Research: Affiliates Funding Trials (CRAFT) program at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (now Komen for the Cure) in Dallas, TX, and as the Director of the National Breast Cancer Coalition's Project LEAD. She holds an MPH in Health Behavior/Health Education from the University of North Carolina School of Public Health.

Natasha Blakeney, Training Manager

Natasha has a diverse background in cancer education and outreach, particularly in reaching medically underserved communities and working with health care professionals to improve recruitment and retention in clinical research. She has professional experience with the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, the National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer, the Sheps Center for Health Services Research, and the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center. Natasha received her MPH in Health Behavior/Health Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Gina Pokrashevsky, Project Coordinator 

Gina graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Public and Community Health. As an undergraduate, she was a member of Eta Sigma Gamma, a public health honorary society that educated local communities about pertinent health issues. Gina has also worked and volunteered with several non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. She is currently pursuing her MPH in Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Judith Blanchard, Project Manager

Judie offers over 25 years of health promotion and health education experience combined with writing and editing expertise. She has worked in the public and private sectors and at the community, state, and national levels and has designed programs and written for highly educated professionals as well as for the average consumer. She has also designed, delivered, and promoted psychosocial programs for cancer survivors, their loved ones, and health professionals and has extensive experience in community outreach. Judie has also developed and delivered a variety of training curricula for health care professionals as well as the following graduate-level curricula: ethical issues in cancer care, introduction to clinical ethics, and patient and community education.  

Suraj Patel, GSK Fellow - Assistant Program Manager

Suraj has held several roles in safety and medical affairs within the pharmaceutical industry over the past 10 years, and has prior experience as a clinical pharmacist.  He is currently a Medical Science Liaison with GlaxoSmithKline focused on the hematology/oncology product portfolio and is with ENACCT as part of GSKs Volunteer Partnership known as Pulse.  Suraj received his PharmD from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia and his MBA from Temple University.