The Research Evangelist

On today's episode, meet Rodney Gillespie . Rodney is a Global executive with broad leadership experience. He is currently the Vice President, Oncology Sales & Marketing, Solid Tumor at The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). Before joining JNJ, Rodney had a thirteen-year tenure with AstraZeneca, including stints in the UK and in South Africa. Rodney has a Bachelor...

On today's episode, meet Laurie Myers. She is Director of Global Health Literacy and Oncology Health Equity at Merck . Laurie got her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Yale , and her MBA in Health Care Management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania . Laurie is a Medical Marketing & Media (MM&M) Top 40 Healthcare Transformer , and she’s a passionate leader of Merck g...

On today's episode, meet Eugene Manley, Jr., PhD , Director, Scientific Programs at the Lung Cancer Research Foundation . He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University , a masters in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin , and PhD in Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology and Biochemstry from Boston University . He's also a Diversity and STEM advo...

On today's episode, meet Dr. David Spigel. Dr. Spigel is the Chief Scientific Officer at Sarah Cannon Research Institute. He also cares for patients as a medical oncologist at Tennessee Oncology. David got his medical degree from University of Tennessee Heath Science Center School of Medicine in Memphis, did his residency at Indiana University School of Medicine and his Fellowship in Hematolo...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Lecia Sequist . Dr. Sequist received her MD from Harvard Medical School and trained in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and in hematology/oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , where she also received an MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health . She joined the faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in 2005 and has...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Nathan Pennell . Dr. Pennell is a medical oncologist, and Director of Thoracic Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic . He is also Vice Chair of Clinical Research for the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute . He's a proud dad and Steelers fan, and a really nice guy. I'm proud to have him on my show.

On today's episode, meet Lisa Cruz, Associate Director, Takeda Oncology . She is responsible for Global and US Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patient Advocacy and Engagements . She has many years of previous experience in HIV advocacy at Bristol Myers Squibb and Janssen. Lisa has degrees from St. Michael’s College and Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University . She lost her fath...

On today's episode, meet Melinda Aldrich, PhD . Melinda is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center . She holds additional appointments in the Department of Thoracic Surgery and in the Department of Biomedical Informatics .  Her research is focused on understanding why there are differences in lung cancer risk a...

On today's episode, meet Jasmine Greenamyer . Jasmine is Vice President, Global Strategic Partnerships at EMD Serono . Her experience spans work driving national and community public health interventions, advocating for health equity, and increasing access to the early detection and treatment of cancer. In her current role she oversees global initiatives including Healthy Women, Healthy Economies,...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Justin Gainor . Dr. Gainor is the Director of the Center for Thoracic Cancers at the Massachusetts General Hospita l. He is also Director of Targeted Immunotherapy in the Henri and Belinda Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies . Justin received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School , did his Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and his Fellowship at Bri...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Christopher Lathan . Dr. Lathan is Chief Clinical Access and Equity Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) , a new institutional leadership position that also adds him to Dana-Farber’s Executive Leadership Team. Chris has been a member of the Dana-Farber staff since joining the Thoracic Oncology Program in 2005. He was appointed the first Faculty Director of Ca...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Inga Lennes. Dr. Lennes is a medical oncologist in the Center for Thoracic Cancers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and specializes in seeing all lung cancers and esophageal cancer. She is also the founder and director of the Pulmonary Nodule Clinic at MGH and works closely with colleagues to study and implement lung cancer screening and improve nodule managemen...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Isabel Preeshagul. Dr. Preeshagul is a Thoracic Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She received her medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and her Master of Business & Science degree from Rutgers University School of Biomedical Sciences. She did her residency at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai-Mo...

On today's episode, meet Dr. David Tom Cooke . Dr. Cooke is the Section Head of General Thoracic Surgery at UC Davis Health System, Task-Force Chair Comprehensive Lung Cancer Screening Program, Vice Chair for Faculty Development & Wellness, and Associate Director Cardiothoracic Robotics Program . He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Medical School , he did his residency at Massachusetts...

On today's episode, meet Cathy Traz and Dave Craig . Cathy is Executive Director, Patient Advocacy at Bristol Myers Squibb . In this role, Cathy leads patient advocacy at BMS , developing and advocating company positions on priority issues to maximize patient access and promoting a strong climate of innovation and the value of innovative medicines, working with advocacy organizations and other key...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Christian Rolfo . Dr. Rolfo is a Professor of Oncology at Icahn School of Medicine and the Associate Director of Clinical Research in the Center of Excellence in Thoracic Oncology at the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai in New York. Previous to his current position, Dr. Rolfo was Director of Thoracic Medical Oncology and the Early Clinical Trials at the University...

On today's episode, meet Alice Berger, PhD . Dr. Berger is Assistant Professor, Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) in Seattle and Assistant Professor, Herbold Computational Biology Program at the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch . She received her PhD from Cornell University, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and her BS in Chemistry fr...

On today's episode, meet Portia Thomas, PhD . Portia is a Meharry Medical College MD/PhD candidate who recently finished her thesis working in the Christine Lovly Research Lab at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center . She presented her work in small cell lung cancer at The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting in 2021. She is an aspirin...

On today's episode, meet Jun Zhang, MD, PhD . Dr. Zhang is a physician scientist at the University of Kansas Cancer Center – the only NCI Designated Cancer Center in the state of Kansas. He went to medical school at Hunan Medical University and has done fellowships at Emory University, Harvard Medical School-Dana Farber Cancer Institute and UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center . His clinical interest...

On today's episode, meet Lauren Machos . Lauren is the U.S. Oncology Opinion Leader Liaison for Renal Cancer, Lung Cancer and Immuno-Oncology at Pfizer She studied Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biolog y at University of New Hampshire and also got her Master's Degree in Public Health from UNH . She is a connector of people and champion advocate for the lung cancer community. She's also a pr...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Jonathan Spicer . Dr. Spicer is Medical Director of the McGill Thoracic Oncology Program at Montreal General Hospital . He earned his medical degree from McGill University, after which he moved to Vancouver and completed his surgical internship at the University of British Columbia . Dr. Spicer completed his training in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the world’s largest can...

On today's episode, meet Drew Moghanaki, MD, MPH . Dr. Moghanaki is a Professor and Chief of Thoracic Oncology at the UCLA Department of Radiation Oncology . He holds a joint appointment at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center where he directs patient care and research for Veterans with lung cancer. Dr. Moghanaki is a graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , compl...

On today's episode, meet Dr. Leora Horn . Dr. Horn is the Global Clinical Head for Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Strategy at AstraZeneca . She leads the company’s global research and development in lung cancer. In her role, she partners with lung cancer teams from across AstraZeneca Oncology to rapidly progress their research and deliver on their commitment to cure more patients with the disease. Be...

On today's episode, meet Aileen Fernandez, PhD. Aileen is a postdoctoral associate at Yale School of Medicine. She received her PhD from Georgetown University in Tumor Biology after receiving her Masters from the University of the District of Columbia in Cancer biology, prevention, and control. Aileen works in the lab of Dr. David Rimm, and her research focuses on identifying and developing biomar...

On today's episode meet Lee Schwartzberg, MD, FACP . Dr. Schwartzberg is a medical oncologist and the Medical Director of West Cancer Center . He is also the Chief Medical Officer at OneOncology , an organization that invests in and collaborates with practices to deliver comprehensive cancer care in communities. A renowned expert in the study and treatment of breast cancer, precision medicine and...