CONNECTICUT CANCER PARTNERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair:
Linda Z. Mowad, Yale Cancer Center
Vice Chair:
Marion Morra, Morra Communications
Secretary:
Vincent Barbetta, CHFC, CLU, AXA Advisors, LLC
Treasurer:
Michelle Wolf, American Cancer Society
Immediate Past Chair:
Andrew L. Salner, MD, FACR, Hartford Hospital
Appointed Members
Richard Everson, University of Connecticut Health Center
Lisa McCooey, Department of Public Health
Linda Mowad, Yale Cancer Center
Andrew Salner, Connecticut State Medical Society
Michelle Wolf, American Cancer Society
Members
Thomas Blank, University of Connecticut
Brenda Cartmel, PhD, Yale University School of Medicine
Patricia Checko, PhD, MPH, MATCH Coalition
Renee Gaudette, Yale Cancer Center
Lou Gonsalves
Thad King, MPH, RS, Chatham Health District
Marion Morra, Morra Communications
Phyllis Osterman, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Robert Piorkowski, MD, FACS, American College of Surgeons, Hartford Hospital
Wayne Rawlins, MD, MBA, Aetna
Susan Richter
Markos Samos, MA, Masantucket-Pequot Tribal Nation
Andrea Silber, MD, Hospital of Saint Raphael
Maureen Smith, RN, MS, Office of the Connecticut Healthcare Advocate
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Thomas O. Blank is Co-Chair of the Education Subcommittee of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership Communications Committee. He is also active in the Survivorship Committee. He is Professor and Director, Center on Aging and Human Development in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. His educational background includes postdoctoral training, Social Gerontology, University of Missouri, after earning his Ph. D., in Psychology (Social), and M.A., Psychology, both from Columbia University. He has recently published two articles on the topic of survivorship, one addressing self-identity and the other reflecting his own unique vantage point as a cancer survivor and cancer survivorship researcher.
Brenda Cartmel is a cancer epidemiologist at the Yale University School of Epidemiology and Public Health where she has worked for over 10 years. Her primary research interests are in the area of nutrition and cancer prevention. Dr. Cartmel recently completed a dietary intervention trial aimed at developing and testing a behavioral intervention to increase fruit and vegetable intake in patients treated curatively for early stage cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx who are at high risk for developing a second cancer. In addition to this trial Dr. Cartmel is participating in a nationwide quality of life study in cancer survivors in which she is studying nutritional supplement intake in patients following diagnosis of cancer. She is also collaborating on an etiologic study of uterine cancer; a study of fat intake and biomarkers of risk for breast cancer; a validation study of a novel method for measuring carotenoids in vivo; and an intervention study to reduce exposure to isocyanates in autobody shops. Dr Cartmel is a Board member and co-chairs the Partnership's Data, Surveillance, and Evaluation Committee.
Patricia J. Checko was the Director of Health at the Bristol-Burlington Health District for 11 years after serving in various positions at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Including Program Director and Section Chief. She has been a lecturer at the Yale Department of Public Health, UConn School of Medicine and Quinnipiac College. She is a recognized expert in tobacco and health issues and serves as Co-Chair of the MATCH Coalition. She also serves on the Tobacco and Health Trust Fund as well as other health related and boards and coalitions. Pat has authored several articles and book chapters.
Richard B. Everson, Director of Cancer Prevention Programs and Deputy Director for Cancer Control and Prevention at the Neag Cancer Center, UConn Health Center, received his medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and completed an internal medicine residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He also completed a medical internship at Stanford University Medical Center and a fellowship in medical oncology at the Medicine branch of the National Cancer Institute. Board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, Dr. Everson completed a Masters of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an emphasis on epidemiology. He served as captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, conducting research for the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and other federal agencies. As a clinician and a researcher, Dr. Everson is interested in helping patients reduce their risk of cancer or a recurrence of cancer.
Renee E. Gaudette is the Director of Public Affairs and Marketing at Yale Cancer Center. In her position, she oversees all the internal and external print, electronic, and media communications for the Center. She is a graduate of the George Washington University and joined the staff at Yale Cancer Center in 1999. Gaudette is the current co-chair of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership's Communications Committee and brings her experience in cancer communications outreach and messaging to the Board.
Lou Gonsalves is an epidemiologist at the Connecticut Tumor Registry, based in the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Her responsibilities include provision of cancer information to researchers, clinicians and health planners, and undertaking cancer surveillance research. Prior to joining the registry in 2007, Lou was Associate Director of Research and Information at the West Midlands Cancer Intelligence Unit, a central cancer registry in the United Kingdom, where her duties included managing the registry's research and information team, and overall responsibility for provision of cancer information to stakeholders (researchers, clinicians, health departments, cancer service planners and the media). Lou is co-chair of the Partnership's Data, Surveillance and Evaluation committee.
Thad D. King is the Director of Health of the Chatham Health District, which serves the towns of East Haddam, East Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough and Portland. A graduate of the University of California, he earned his Master of Public Health in 1992 from the University of Connecticut Graduate School of Public Health. Prior to his present position, he was Director of Health for the Town of East Hampton, Registered Sanitarian in the Town of East Hampton Health Department and Environmental Health Sanitarian for the Chesprocott Health District. A member of the Board of the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health, King brings to the Partnership Board experience in health planning and program development in local health departments as well as in the design and maintenance of databases.
Lisa McCooey is the Co-Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Program, including the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program, at the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Lisa has more than 20 years of experience in directing assessment, surveillance, and evaluation activities for numerous chronic disease and injury prevention programs. Lisa holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Connecticut Health Center.
Phyllis Osterman is currently co-chair of the Hospice/Palliative Care Committee of the CT Cancer Partnership. She is a Patient Services Manager with the CT Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In that role, she provides information, resources and support programs to patients, family members and health care professionals with regard to blood cancers. She earned a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University, a Masters in Education from NYU and a Masters in Professional Studies/Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to joining LLS in 1998, she was a Patient Representative at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for 10 years. Phyllis has been a Hospice Volunteer in Stamford for more than 10 years, and participates in the ÒEleventh Hour VigilÓ Program with VNHC of SW CT. She brings to the Partnership over two decades of working closely with cancer patients, families and community organizations.
Robert Piorkowski is a surgical oncologist and senior staff surgeon at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Pierkowski is also the Connecticut State Chairman for the Commission of Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard setting, and the monitoring of quality care.
Wayne S. Rawlins is the National Medical-Head of Business Planning and Reporting of Aetna's National Board Services and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut Medical School. Dr. Rawlins leads the design, implementation and management of Aetna's industry-leading end-of-life-care program (The Aetna Compassionate Care Program), and heads the Aetna Condition Analysis. He also co-leads Aetna's Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care Initiatives, is the clinical lead for corporate pandemic planning and the corporate clinical lead representing the chief medical officer in crisis and disaster preparedness. Since joining Aetna as medical director for Patient Management Aetna/US Healthcare-Northeast in 1977, Dr. Rawlins has had a number of increasingly responsible positions. Before his employment with Aetna, he was Physician-in-Charge at the Manchester Health Center. Dr. Rawlins graduated in 1980 as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Connecticut Health Center, was Chief Resident at the University of Rochester Associated Hospitals Program and earned a Master of Business Administration in 2001 from the Lally School of Management and Technology at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is certified in Internal Medicine.
Susan S. Richter serves as the Vice President of Quality of Life and Patient Support Systems for the New England Division of the American Cancer Society. She is responsible for the oversight of all ACS patient support programs and services, training of volunteers and staff, strategic planning related to reaching quality of life outcomes. Her particular area of interest is in long-term cancer survivorship, pain and symptom management. She serves as a patient advocate and works to create a change in attitudes and behavior resulting in improved quality of life for patients and family members at all stages of their disease. She has been on staff with the American Cancer Society for twenty-two years, prior to that she served as an ACS volunteer for fifteen years and worked in nursing administration in a large community hospital. She has a Diploma from St. Vincent's Medical Center School of Nursing and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of New Haven.
Mark Samos is a Labor Relations Specialist at Foxwoods Resort Casino and an Adjunct Assistant Professor, Graduate Degree Program in Allied Health at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Mr. Samos has worked as Special Assistant to the Tribal Council Secretary at the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, where he was responsible for planning, grant writing, and health and mental health program development. He was the principal investigator on cancer grants awarded by the Spirit of Eagles at Mayo Clinic, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the National Cancer Institute and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. He established the Northeast Tribal Cancer Advisory Board, to develop cancer prevention, education and survivorship programs for all Native Americans living in the Northeast. He holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Connecticut and is a Connecticut Licensed Professional Counselor.
Andrea Silber a graduate of Oberlin College, received her MD from the New York University School of Medicine. She is Director of the Cancer Control and Early Detection Program of the Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care at the Hospital of St. Raphael. She is also Director of the Wise Woman Program, Director of the Sister-To-Sister Program and Director of Oncology, Yale Fellowship Program at the Hospital of St. Raphael. Dr. Silber served as co-investigator of the STAR Clinical Trial at the Yale University School of Medicine and, from 1987 to 1994, was Director of the Early Detection and Screening Clinic at the Department of Medical Oncology at Yale. She has served as a member of the Health Disparities Committee for the Connecticut Cancer Partnership, is a member of the Breast Cancer Coalition for the State of Connecticut and serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Office of Health and Economic Disparities at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Silber is the recipient of the 2007 American Cancer Society Lane Adams Award.
Maureen Smith is the Director of Consumer Relations at the Office of Healthcare Advocate, State of Connecticut. She focuses on assisting consumers and providers in reaching resolution to their problems with health insurance. A registered nurse, Maureen has clinical expertise in pediatrics, neonatology and gerontology and business experience in managed care. In addition to assisting consumers, Maureen also represents her agency in projects involving healthcare issues. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Ct. Cancer Care Program, member of the Ct. Family Support Council and participates in the Department of Health's Diabetes Program.
Michelle Wolf started with the American Cancer Society in 1993 as a Patient Service Coordinator in the Greater Danbury area. From 1998 through her appointment to State Vice President of Health Initiatives in 2010, Michelle was the Regional Director of Cancer Control and the Area Director of Health Initiatives in Fairfield County, Litchfield County and the Greater Waterbury Area. Wolf is also a trainer for the New England ACS staff on volunteer recruitment, retention and recognition. Michelle has been involved in the Connecticut Cancer Partnership since 2003 and sits on the Early Detection Committee.
