2021 Advisory Committee

Christopher Nelson is an acute care nurse practitioner who has been working in oncology since 2007.  He is board certified in acute care and holds certificates in oncology and hyperbaric medicine. Nelson received his master’s degree in nursing in 2011 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He also received a master’s in business administration in strategic leadership from Dakota Wesleyan University in 2017. Nelson holds several committee positions at Avera St Luke’s Hospital, where he is currently employed. Prior to that, he was a certified nurse practitioner and director of Information Technology at Conklin Regional Cancer Center in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Dr. Koffman is a well-known doctor, educator, and clinical professor-turned-patient who has dedicated himself to teaching and helping the CLL community since his own CLL diagnosis in 2005. Dr. Koffman believes that his dual roles as a retired physician and patient give him a unique understanding that allows him to provide clear explanations of complex issues, advocate for his fellow patients, and inform his fellow healthcare providers. Besides his medical degree, Dr. Koffman has a master’ degree in medical education. He is a retired family doctor and clinical professor at the Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Koffman co-founded and serves as the chief medical officer and executive vice president of the nonprofit, CLL Society Inc., and he writes a widely followed blog. Dr. Koffman has shared online and across the world his battle with his leukemia, including a failed bone marrow transplant and successes with two Phase 1 trials, including CAR T-cell therapy.

Robyn Brumble has held a variety of roles as a registered nurse for more than twenty years in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. She helps ensure all patients receive the very best care possible, and she incorporates her passion for excellence in patient care into her role with the CLL Society. Brumble has held positions in nursing leadership, patient advocacy, patient education, and nursing academics. She has developed continuing medical education programs (for both physicians and nurses), led non-profit organizations, and she is a published author and editor of medical textbooks. Brumble has also spent time as a legal nurse consultant and expert legal nurse witness.

Brumble enjoys giving speaking engagements at medical conferences, particularly when she is presenting on topics about quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. She holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in nursing.

Andrea Conners is the executive director of the Patient Empowerment Network (PEN). Prior to joining PEN, she was the head of U.S. consulting for pharmaphorum connect and head of external R&D communications at AstraZeneca. That role marked the culmination of nearly 10 years in global communications at AstraZeneca in the U.S. and U.K. Before that, Conners held corporate communication roles of increasing responsibility at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. 

Conners’ experience spans patient engagement, advocacy, public relations, media relations, developing and delivering communication skills training, social and digital media, and writing for print, web, and multi-media platforms. Throughout her career, Conners has been responsible for creating, implementing, and measuring successful engagement strategies and programs that are at the forefront of communication trends. She has garnered this experience working in patient advocacy, global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, non-profit, and academic organizations in the U.S., U.K., and around the world.