The Research Evangelist

The Research Evangelist

By Dave BjorkScienceLife Sciences
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The Research Evangelist episodes

  • Meet Dr. Dara Aisner, Molecular Pathologist at the University of Colorado, talking about the art of pathology, and how local labs collaborate with oncologists to personalize treatment for patients.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Dara Aisner, MD, PhD. Dr. Aisner is Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of the Colorado Molecular Correlates Laboratory. After her undergraduate work at Vanderbilt, Dr. Aisner completed her MD/PHD combined degree program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She pursued training in Anatomic Pathology at the National Institutes of Health, and went on to two fellowships in Surgical Pathology and Molecular Genetic Pathology at the University of Pennsylvania.

    41 min
  • Meet Dr. Amy Cummings, thoracic oncologist, research scientist and Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Amy Cummings. Dr. Cummings is a thoracic oncologist and research scientist who practices in Santa Monica and Torrance California. In Santa Monica, she sees lung cancer patients, runs clinical trials, and is part of the virtual multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Program. Her clinical interests include immunotherapy, precision medicine, and providing equitable care to all patients regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. At the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center she also serves as the Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).
    Dr. Cummings received her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California and completed both her internal medicine residency and her hematology and oncology fellowship at UCLA.

    40 min
  • Meet Dr. Misty Shields. Losing her strong Marine father to small cell lung cancer when she was 15, deeply impacted her life. Hope has brought her life clarity to serve as a thoracic oncologist.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Misty Shields. Dr. Shields is a translational thoracic oncologist and assistant professor at Indiana University. As a translational physician scientist, in collaboration with basic scientists and clinicians, she seeks to help shape prospective efforts and guide funding to areas of unmet clinical need, such as small cell lung cancer. Dr. Shields earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Health, Houston McGovern medical school. She then completed a residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and fellowships at the University of South Florida Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

    46 min
  • Meet Dr. Tanyanika Phillips. Dedicated medical oncologist who brings her prodigious gifts of empathy and compassion to caring for her elderly, underserved and rural patients.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Tanyanika Phillips. Dr. Phillips is a medical oncologist and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at City of Hope in Antelope Valley and Lancaster California. Dr. Phillips received her medical degree from University of Rochester, followed by Residency at Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans and a geriatric fellowship and a Master in Public Health from Vanderbilt University. She continued her training with a medical oncology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. Originally headed toward a career in research and public health policy, Dr. Phillips pivoted to focus on patient care, where her prodigious gifts of empathy and compassion came to the surface.

    48 min
  • Meet Mellisa Wheeler. Award winning community outreach leader. Dedicated to helping eradicate the burden of cancer in underserved communities.

    Mellisa Wheeler has over 20 years of experience in health care with a specialized focus in oncology. Mellisa is the Director of the Disparities & Outreach program at Levine Cancer Institute, a department dedicated to eradicating the burden of cancer in underserved communities through prevention education, screening and early detection. She has designed and launched several community outreach initiatives, including authoring a grant proposal that resulted in $1.6 million funding for the nation’s first mobile lung cancer screening bus as part of the Lung B.A.S.E.S. 4 Life program. Mellisa received her undergrad degree from University of South Florida and her Masters in Health Administration from Ohio University.

    51 min
  • Meet Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH, Chief Health Equity Officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Leading Ohio State's efforts to address underlying drivers of disparities in health care.

    On today's episode, meet Chyke Doubeni, MD, MPH. Dr. Doubeni is Chief Health Equity Officer at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Dr. Doubeni also serves as Associate Director for Diversity Equity and Inclusion in The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is tasked with leading Ohio State’s continued efforts to address the underlying drivers of disparities in health care that adversely impact marginalized groups and foster more equitable care and health outcomes. Dr. Doubeni is nationally recognized for his work in cancer prevention and public health. Dr. Doubeni received his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Lagos College of Medicine in Nigeria. After completing additional training in the United Kingdom, he completed a family medicine residency at Duke University and a preventive medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts, where he also earned a Master of Public Health degree.

    39 min
  • Meet Mahesh Karande, President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics. Explaining epigenetics and his vision of directing the human genome to treat and cure serious diseases, including lung cancer.

    On today's episode, meet Mahesh Karande. Mahesh is President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company in Cambridge, Mass. Mahesh is deeply experienced in running biopharma businesses across discovery, preclinical and clinical development, and commercialization.  Earlier, Mr. Karande spent several years at Novartis in senior leadership roles: VP and Head of US Oncology for solid tumors, President of Novartis Africa and President of Novartis Egypt. Mr. Karande has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. in engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and undergrad degree in engineering from the University of Bombay. Leading a company with an overarching ethos to be ambitious, yet humble.

    46 min
  • Meet Dr. Sumita Bhatta. Medical oncologist and Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Head of Oncology at Amgen. Commitment to patients is at the center of her work.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Sumita Bhatta. Sumita Bhatta, M.D., is a board-certified oncologist and the Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Head of Oncology at Amgen. She has over 9 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and has held multiple roles in research and development. Sumita received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and received both a M.A. in Applied Physiology as well as a M.D. from the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, IL. She completed her internal medicine residency, hematology/oncology fellowship, and a clinical pharmacology/pharmacogenomics fellowship at the University of Chicago. She is dual boarded in medical oncology and clinical pharmacology. 

    34 min
  • Meet Dr. Robert Merritt, Director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at The Ohio State University, committed to reducing healthcare disparities.

    On today’s episode meet Dr. Robert Merritt. Dr. Merritt is a general thoracic surgeon with expertise in minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of lung and esophageal cancers. He also serves as professor and director of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at The Ohio State University, as well as director of inpatient services at The James Cancer Center. He went to medical school at Cornell University Medical College, Internship and Residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Fellowships in Cardio Thoracic Surgery and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. He’s also a champion for improving navigation and screening for lung cancer patients.

    41 min
  • Meet Dr. Sanjay Popat, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden. He's an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of lung cancer.

    On today's episode, meet Dr. Sanjay Popat. Dr. Popat has both a private and an NHS practice at The Royal Marsden. He is a Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden, Professor of Thoracic Oncology at the Institute of Cancer Research and is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of lung cancer. Sanjay qualified from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals in 1994, completed general medical training at the Royal Brompton, and the Hammersmith Hospital, and medical oncology training at the Royal Marsden Hospital. He was awarded a PhD in Molecular Genetics in 2002. He’s a strong advocate for patient education and support and is passionate about precision medicine.

    41 min

About The Research Evangelist

From the publisher's feed

The Greek meaning of evangelist is "bringing the good news" In this podcast, patient advocate and lung cancer survivor Dave Bjork brings the good news by serving up stories about the good people in…