Steering Committee

Benjamin Andrick, PharmD, BCOP, is an assistant professor of clinical research within the Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes, and a clinical pharmacist with hematology/oncology. Dr. Andrick has a particular interest in hematological malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as pharmacy education. His clinical research interests include hematological malignancies/HCT supportive care, vaccines, and the impact of the hematology/oncology pharmacist on clinical and pharmacoeconomic outcomes.

Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he completed his Doctor of Pharmacy degree at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and subsequently his PGY1 and PGY2 oncology residency training at Augusta University Medical Center in collaboration with the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in Augusta.  

Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, is professor, deputy chair, and residency program director in the Department of Radiation Oncology and director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan.

She graduated first in her class from Harvard College and then pursued her medical training at Harvard Medical School. She also served as a fellow in the Center for Ethics at Harvard University and completed her doctorate in social policy at Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar.

An active clinical trialist and health services researcher, Dr. Jagsi’s medical research focuses on improving the quality of care received by breast cancer patients, both by advancing the ways in which breast cancer is treated with radiation and by advancing the understanding of patient decision-making, cost, and access to appropriate care. Her social scientific research includes research into issues of bioethics arising from cancer care and gender issues, including studies of women's representation in the medical profession.

Dr. Jagsi is the author of over 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and her research is actively funded by multiple independent grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Doris Duke Foundation, and other philanthropic foundations. She serves on the steering committee of the AAMC's Group on Women in Medicine and Science, the board of directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the steering committee of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group, and the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Oncology.

Sandra Kurtin, PhD, ANP-C, AOCN, is a hematology/oncology nurse practitioner at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and an assistant professor of clinical medicine and adjunct clinical assistant professor of nursing at the Univrsity of Arizona’s College of Medicine. With over 30 years of experience in advanced practice, her oncology practice focuses on benign and malignant hematological disorders. Her research focuses on health technology engagement, communicative health literacy, and health self-management among older adult cancer survivors, as well as practice transformation to achieve best practice.  

Dr Kurtin is a founding board member and the immediate past president of the Advanced Practitioner Society for Hematology and Oncology (APSHO), as well as a member of American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS). In addition, she is a member of the executive committee, board of directors and co-chair of the Nursing Leadership Board for the MDS Foundation. She also serves on the Hematology Board for the American Board of Internal Medicine. In addition to these accolades, she has been an associate editor for The Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology since its inception and an editorial board member for JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, ASH News, The Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, and the ASCO People Living with Cancer website. She has presented numerous regional, national, and international lectures on oncology-related topics and has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. 

Dr Kurtin earned her BSN and MS in oncology nursing, her post-graduate certification in geriatric and adult practice, and her PhD in nursing at the University of Arizona. She is also an inaugural Fellow of Advanced Practice in Oncology (FAPO).

Thomas LeBlanc, MD, is a medical oncologist, palliative care physician, and patient experience researcher, and serves as Chief Patient Experience and Safety Officer for the Duke Cancer Institute. His clinical practice focuses on the care of patients with hematologic malignancies, with a particular emphasis on myeloid conditions and acute leukemias including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs / MPDs, CML). 

Dr. LeBlanc’s research investigates common issues faced by people with cancer, including issues of symptom burden, quality of life, psychological distress, prognostic understanding, and treatment decision-making. This work aims to improve patients' experiences living with serious illnesses like blood cancers, including the integration of specialist palliative care services to provide an extra layer of support along with their comprehensive cancer care.

Dr. LeBlanc received his medical degree from Duke University in 2006. He also completed his residency and fellowship from the Duke University School of Medicine.

David Oubre, MD, founded Pontchartrain Cancer Center in 2005 and is board certified in both medical oncology and hematology.

He is currently the chief of staff at North Oaks Medical Center, and a board member of the St. Tammany Cancer Fund, a charitable organization which provides scholarships to college students affected by cancer. He is the Louisiana representative for the State Affiliate Council for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the immediate past president of the Louisiana Oncology Society. Dr. Oubre has been selected as one of the Top Doctors by New Orleans Magazine and Louisiana Life Magazine every year since 2005, and was the recipient of the 2011 Spirit Award from the American Cancer Society. 

Dr. Oubre provides medical and legislative education on behalf of Janssen Biotech, Inc. to physicians and medical societies throughout the United States. In addition, Dr. Oubre is an acting development consultant for IntrinsiQ Solutions, currently developing an oncology specific electronic health records system. He received his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, completed his residency at Earl K. Long Medical Center in Baton Rouge, followed by a fellowship in oncology and hematology at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Mary C. Politi, PhD, is a health psychologist and an associate professor in the Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. Her work aims to help patients and the public understand health information, explore what is important to them when making health decisions, and collaborate to make evidence-informed decisions that meet their needs. She also works with healthcare professionals, public health advocates, and members of the public interested in training in shared decision-making and patient engagement in healthcare. Her research includes a focus on eliminating health disparities by engaging communities with unmet health needs and including them in both research and dissemination efforts.

Jamie L. Studts, PhD, is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and assistant director for cancer prevention and control within the Markey Cancer Center. Dr. Studts is a licensed clinical health psychologist, and his interests address behavioral aspects of tobacco-related malignancies. His research develops and tests interventions to promote informed/shared decision-making and behavior change among patients and clinicians regarding prevention, screening, and survivorship of lung and head/neck cancer.

Dr. Studts is the principal investigator of the Kentucky LEADS Collaborative, and he served on the Institute of Medicine National Cancer Policy Forum addressing Implementation of Lung Cancer Screening. He is a fellow of the Society of Behavioral Medicine and a member of the Scientific Leadership Board for the GO₂ Foundation for Lung Cancer and the American Cancer Society National Lung Cancer Roundtable, serving as chair of the Survivorship, Stigma, and Nihilism Task Group.

Lalan S. Wilfong, MD, is a medical oncologist/hematologist and executive vice president for quality programs and value-based care for Texas Oncology. Dr. Wilfong is also a physician leader for the Oncology Care Model for Texas Oncology and a physician liaison for value-based care for McKesson Specialty Health. 

His current research interest focuses on aligning quality patient care and value in a community based setting. Other areas of focus include improving patient/physician communications, enhancing end-of-life care, integrating pathways into clinical practice, and improving patient satisfaction.

He co-chairs the Value Based Physician Champion Task Force for The US Oncology Network, serves on the US Oncology Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, and chairs the Pathways Task Force. He also volunteers on the ASCO Quality Measures Task Force and the ASCO Guidelines Committee. He has been honored to receive various teaching and community service awards.

Dr. Wilfong earned his MD and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he also completed a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology.