Executive Leadership

Patient Services

• Marcia K. Horn, J.D. President and CEO
• Ashraf Abdel-Ghany, MD, Director, Patient Research Services
• Carmi Fazio, RN, MSN, ONS, Director, Oncology Nursing Services


Carmi Fazio, RN MSN ONS, is a registered nurse currently living and working in Niles, Illinois. Her areas of expertise are in oncology and end of life nursing. As an RN, she has worked in oncology since 2006. She received her Associate degree in 2005, her Bachelor's degree in 2012 and a Masters in Nursing Education in 2016. She graduated as a member of the prestigious Golden Key International Honor Society.

Carmi has received many accolades for her work in oncology including Cure Magazine's Extraordinary Healer Award in 2016, OptumCare/United Health Group (UHG) Superhero Award in 2018, a 2018 worldwide leader in healthcare from the International Nursing Association, and the Diamond Award for top professional in oncology nursing for outstanding achievements as a nurse and a cancer care specialist in 2018. She has completed interviews for the Oncology Nursing Society on the topics of oncology and end of life issues. She has appeared in CURE Magazine and Fra Noi (an Italian publication) for her achievements in oncology nursing. In 2021, as Chair of the Oncology Nursing Council at ICAN, she co-authored a presentation for the 46th Annual Congress of Oncology titled "Improving Patient Understanding of Testing in Precision Medicine with Consistent, Plain Language Testing Terms." Besides her current work with OptumCare/United Health Group, she works with patients at ICAN who seek counseling for symptom management, side effects, pain management, and end of life issues. When she isn't working, Carmi likes to read and spend time with her siblings, mom, dogs, and friend.

• Bonnie O'Day, RN Patient Advocate
  ICAN Patient Advocate Bonnie O’Day is a retired RN, with a background in medical management and the development, implementation, and evaluation of all levels of health and wellness programs. Over the years, Bonnie has delivered a wide range of patient care, including health assessment, behavior change strategy, health enhancement and maintenance strategy through the implementation of safe and effective wellness goals and plans. She has facilitated lifestyle change of patients by enhancing personal health awareness regarding current health situations and lifestyles, and co-creating environments with the patient that support good health practices by assisting the patient with goal setting to align the patents needs utilizing resource management strategies and resources. Bonnie strives to works collaboratively with program resources and physicians to develop treatment plans that facilitate personal wellness through a combination of efforts. Her interest is in researching best practices, research outcomes, and observing the effectiveness and performance of the physician/patient relationship.
• Bat-Zvi  Patient Advocate, Uri Harel Therapeutic Arts Program
• Katina Bland, Patient Advocate and Chair, Speakers' Bureau
  

  Katina Bland, Chair of Health Equity and Patient Access Summits at ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network, was the chief care partner for her beloved husband Martell Bland.  In the last two years of their 20-year marriage, Martell battled EGFR Exon 20 Insertion-mutated Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, with Katina as his chief care partner, working alongside the Exon 20 Group at ICAN.  

  Katina chairs the Speakers' Bureau at ICAN and serves as a member of the Exon 20 Group Advisory Council.  She has served as ICAN's representative to the FDA since 2021. At the Exon 20 Group and at ICAN, her passions are patient advocacy, health equity, and educating clinicians and scientists about underserved patient communities.  Before Martell passed, Katina and Martell founded the Martell and Katina Bland Patient Education Program at ICAN, which is now the organization's central program for ongoing patient and family education in communities of color.
  Martell was one of the original founders of Blacks at Microsoft.

  Initially attending the University of California, Riverside, Katina transferred to Irvine Valley College where she received degrees in Business, Education, and Psychology.  Katina has founded and successfully managed multiple businesses, provided leadership for various boards, and still serves her community.  Together with Martell, they have raised their four active children and she loves spending time with her family.  During her early years of child-rearing, Katina began a successful day care and later homeschooled her children.  Her favorite pastimes are reading her Bible and enjoying in-depth Bible studies, playing games with, and supporting her four kids in their activities, having quiet time with God, and traveling to her favorite resorts for rest and relaxation.

• Andrew J. Brown, Jr., Patient Advocate, Linda Jenckes Public Policy Program
• Michele Tate, Advisor, Patient Empowerment and Community Engagement
  

  Michele Tate is an HLRCC (rare kidney cancer) patient advocate who has been working "one on one" with pan-tumor patients, primarily people of color, to help them understand their cancer diagnosis and navigate the healthcare system. She is focusing her efforts on getting patient advocates at the table early in discussions with researchers and pharma and bringing rare kidney cancer awareness to the Black community to increase the community's interest in considering screening for clinical trials. Michele has served as a reviewer for a Department of Defense CDMRP (Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs) and has been involved in briefing Members of Congress and their health policy staff about the importance of funding cancer research in the rare cancer space.

  She is also active in city government with experience organizing and advocating for equity in housing, education/training, and employment.  

• Kristen Leniz, Chair, Patient and Care Partner Social Media and Chair, Angel Buddy Program
• Susan Johnson, Patient Advocate
  
• Caren Suesserman and Lauren Conley, Patient Advocates and Chairs, Virtual Meetings

Personalized Medicine and Molecular Profiling Issues

• Scott M. Kahn, PhD 
• Eric J. Thompson, PhD
• Shelley B.Blam, PhD
• Stephen Naylor, PhD
• Oscar Puig, PhD

Research Services/Special Patient Programs

Research Services

• Ashraf Abdelghany, MD, Director, Research Projects/Patient Services
• Subashini Sridhar, MS, Associate Director, Special Projects/Patient Services
• Andrew R. Young, III, Director, Global Volunteer Network, Human Resources
• Janet Young, Associate Director, Global Volunteer Network, HR Communications

Patient Services/Research Team Leaders

• Donna Abrantes, BA
• Sanusha Bijj, BS
• Arpan Dahal, BS, MA
• Usama Hantour, MD
• Alison Harford, BA, Advisor
• Sami Hurwitz, BS
• Claudia Reyes, BS
• Madhurim Thapa, MS
• Kelly Wentz-Hunter, PhD

Governmental Relations and Legislative Initiatives

• Steve Horn Chair, State Governmental Affairs

Website Design, Development and Maintenance

• Lynne Cory Director, Website Design and Development
• Kevin Ross Associate Webmaster
• Manuela Grindei Assistant Webmaster
• Mike Seifried Webmaster Emeritus

Graphic Design

We are proud that our 24/7 professional graphic design team spans the globe from New Zealand to Ukraine, from the UAE to Germany, from Arizona to Texas, with design interns from nearly every state in the U.S. since 1996.

• Tim Wang  Director of Graphic Design

Special Events and Projects

• Brenda J. Berliner Director of Special Projects

Donor Services

• Lila Hauptman and Donna Stone, Co-Chairs

Volunteer. Donate. Review.

Federal Tax I.D.: EIN 86-0818253