The Research Evangelist

On today's episode, meet Dr. Selin Kurnaz, Co-founder and CEO of Massive Bio. She is a hard-core engineer who started Massive Bio after a family situation in cancer because she is obsessed with enabling access to clinical trials to cancer patients around the globe. She believes all people should have equal access to leading edge therapies and new-emerging clinical trials, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay. Massive Bio is on a mission to build and lead the Amazonization of the patient enrollment value chain in oncology.

On today's episode, meet Dr. Richard O’Hara. Richard is Medical Director for Oncology, U.S. Medical Affairs at EMD Serono. An experienced leader in pharma and biotech Immunology research, he has an academic research background. Dr. O’Hara received his PhD from UT Southwestern Medical Center and postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School. He also believes the voice of every patient matters.

On today's episode, meet Dr. Misako Nagasaka. Dr. Nagasaka is a board-certified thoracic oncologist at the University of California - Irvine who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of lung and thyroid cancer. Her clinical interests also include early-phase clinical trials, medical ethics and survivorship care for patients. She received her medical degree as well as a PhD from St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Kawasaki, Japan. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York City, followed by a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Wayne State University School of Medicine's Karmanos Cancer Institute.

On today's episode, meet Dr. Michael Gieske. Dr. Gieske is a primary care physician at St. Elizabeth Physicians in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, and Director of Lung Cancer Screening at community-based St. Elizabeth Hospital. Mike received his Medical Degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, KY and did his Family Medicine Residency at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, KY. He is a champion for early lung cancer screening and supporter of the White Ribbon Project. An avid hiker, he took a white ribbon on a 9,000-foot elevation climb to Mt. Everest Base Camp to raise awareness that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer.

On today's episode meet Dr. Jeffrey Velotta. Dr. Velotta is a thoracic surgeon at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center. A Bay area native, he completed medical school at the George Washington University School of Medicine, and then traveled back west to complete his general surgery residency at the UCLA Medical Center, and 2-year postdoctoral research fellowship in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, then returned to the Bay area to bring his world-class experience to the community setting.

On today's episode, meet Kendalle Burlin O'Connell, President and Chief Operating Officer at Massachusetts Biotech Council (MassBio). Hear about her rise to become the first woman to lead the largest life sciences trade association in the world. Prior to joining MassBio in 2008, Kendalle practiced law in the areas of Estate and Medicaid Planning.  She is committed to making sure the Greater Boston area remains one of the world's top biotech hubs by helping companies have the best environment to research, develop, and commercialize breakthrough therapies and cures for people around the world who need and deserve them.

On today's episode, meet Dr. Eric Grogan, thoracic surgeon and early detection researcher. Dr. Grogan is Associate Professor of Thoracic Surgery, Vice Chairman of Research, Associate Professor of Medicine, and Section Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He's also part of an innovative team developing and validating biomarkers to improve the ability to diagnose lung cancer early, accurately, and in a less invasive way.

On today's episode, meet Hong Tang. Hong is Co- Lead of the PAN Asian Network Health Equity Initiative Team, and Executive Product Specialist in Immuno-Oncology at Bristol Myers Squibb. Hong got her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and has won many awards during her 24 years at BMS. Hear her amazing story of her family leaving Vietnam just before the fall of Saigon and why her work in diversity, equity and inclusion in oncology is personal.

On today's episode meet Dr. Chad Pecot. Dr. Pecot is a Thoracic Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he specializes in solid tumor malignancies. Since August 2013 he has been an independent investigator at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Chad has a degree in Biomedical Engineering. He got his medical degree from the University of Miami, did his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Hematology and Oncology and Chief Fellowship in Thoracic Medical Oncology. He is a self-described lung cancer slayer.

On today's episode, meet Dr. Ana Velázquez Mañana. Dr. Velázquez is a medical oncology fellow at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Prior to moving to the Bay Area, Dr. Velázquez completed her Internal Medicine residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City, where she also was a former Chief Resident. She received her Masters Degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science, and her Medical Degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She has a long-standing commitment to serving vulnerable, underserved, and minority populations.