Our team

The Breastcancer.org team is a passionate group of people committed to making every effort to provide you with balanced, responsible, encouraging, and thorough breast cancer information.
The dedicated members of our Board of Directors actively participate in the governance of Breastcancer.org by contributing to the strategic planning and the financial management of the organization. The Breastcancer.org Board of Directors represents diverse areas of business, philanthropy, media, and communications.
Team
Marisa Weiss headshot
Marisa C. Weiss, MD, Chief medical officer and founder

Dr. Weiss is regarded as a visionary advocate for her innovative and steadfast approach to informing people how to protect their breast health and overcome the challenges of breast cancer. Dr. Weiss currently practices at Paoli Hospital and Lankenau Medical Center, where she serves as director of breast radiation oncology and director of breast health outreach. Learn more.

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Hope Wohl, Chief executive officer

Hope has played a pivotal role in the continual reshaping of Breastcancer.org’s approach to patient engagement in an ever-changing landscape of science, technology, consumer behavior, and healthcare. Since 2000, her leadership has grown Breastcancer.org from an early Internet start-up to the leading digital resource for breast cancer information and peer support.

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Suzanne Allaire, Fundraising events manager

Suzanne leads our Breastcancer.org signature and community events. In collaboration with the team, she manages our peer-to-peer and DIY fundraising efforts through the development of resources that help make fundraising fun and accessible for all. Suzanne is committed to building strong community ties to support individuals and caregivers at every stage of their journey.

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Melissa Bollman-Jenkins, Community director

Melissa manages a team of moderators to help connect the women and men who visit our discussion boards with the information and support they need. She gathers insights from the community to improve Breastcancer.org's medical and personal content and is an advocate for patient needs within the industry.

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Jennifer Carr, Senior editor

Jennifer produces articles and other educational content at Breastcancer.org. She works with writers and medical professionals to help people diagnosed with breast cancer make sense of the things they may hear in their doctor’s office or read about in the news. “I know the fear and frustration of a breast cancer diagnosis. I’m grateful to be part of an organization dedicated to educating people like me and creating community for all travelers on this journey.”

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Marián Castañondo, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Marián is a moderator for both the English and Spanish communities here on Breastcancer.org. As a psychologist specializing in trauma, she’s been part of the community since the very beginning of the Spanish discussion forums. She’s passionate about providing support and guidance to those navigating their breast cancer journey.

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Ella Chick, Director of multimedia programs

Ella produces multimedia programs that include videos and webinars bringing together diverse expert and patient perspectives to educate people about breast health and breast cancer.

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Amy Chong, Associate director financial project management

Amy develops and manages the financial processes at Breastcancer.org to prepare for and meet the evolving needs of the organization and its teams as they continue to grow. “I am so honored to be part of this team that works incredibly hard to bring the best information, resources, and personal support available to anyone affected by breast cancer. Everyone deserves the best to take care of their health."

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Kristine Conner, Contributing writer

Kris has researched and written many of Breastcancer.org's educational content sections, in addition to updating existing content as needed. She has been a medical and health writer since 1998, bringing her talent to the National Cancer Institute as well as major cancer centers, hospitals and health systems, schools and universities, and other nonprofits.

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Abby Curtis, SEO content strategist

Abby manages Breastcancer.org’s SEO content strategy to ensure that people can find our resources via search. “I feel so fortunate to be able to help people affected by breast cancer by making essential information easier to find, easier to read, and easier to understand.”

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Brittany Dawson, Grants manager

Brittany manages the grants lifecycle from prospect research to reporting. “Finding partners that will help us achieve our mission and support others at a critical time in their life is truly rewarding.”

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Jamie DePolo, Senior editor

As senior editor, Jamie researches and covers the latest breast cancer developments for the Research News programs and hosts and produces The Breastcancer.org Podcast. She has more than 35 years of experience crafting science stories for non-scientists. "I'm very proud to be a part of Breastcancer.org," Jamie says. "It’s extremely gratifying to hear from people who tell me I’ve helped them understand something about this disease or their treatment."

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Daisy Diaz, Communications director

Daisy develops communications strategies to increase Breastcancer.org’s visibility and impact. She oversees the team leading digital marketing, social media, graphic design, and development communications. “No one should feel alone at any point in their journey with breast cancer. I’m thrilled to work for an organization that not only serves as a globally trusted digital resource for women and their loved ones, but also provides a supportive community.”

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Liam Emberson, Data and analytics specialist

Liam manages the gift and donor database and handles reporting needs for the fundraising department. "I’m thrilled to work at a nonprofit with such an inspiring mission. It feels great knowing that my work contributes to helping people going through such a difficult time."

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Patty Myers Evans, Vice president of finance

Patty is responsible for the financial health of Breastcancer.org, overseeing the accounting and budgetary processes. "After being diagnosed with breast cancer, I found the more I could learn and understand about my diagnosis, the more empowered I was. I look forward to combining my professional skills and a personal passion to help others better understand breast cancer."

Kevin Fox
Kevin Fox, MD

Kevin Fox is professor emeritus of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is a medical oncologist who specialized in the treatment of breast cancer during his 36 years on the medical faculty. He was the first director of Penn’s Rena Rowan Breast Center, from 1999 to 2019.

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Krystyne Garrison, Digital marketing manager

Krystyne manages Breastcancer.org's social media and digital marketing activities, including strategy, creation, curation, and optimization. "As a woman, it’s a privilege to work for an organization dedicated to empowering women and their loved ones by providing thorough, up-to-date information about breast health and breast cancer."

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Daniela Gorenstein, VP, revenue partnerships

Daniela Gorenstein is the Vice President of Revenue Partnerships at Breastcancer.org, where she leads all revenue generating partnerships with a focus on strategic collaborations with brands to drive sustained growth, and long term, full-funnel impact. With over 20 years of experience in digital media, brand partnerships, and purpose-driven marketing, Daniela brings deep industry expertise, a broad meaningful network and a personal commitment to breast health advocacy.

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Andrea Hans, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

As an Advocacy Trainer for the Tigerlily Foundation since 2022, Andrea has worked to empower young women to advocate for themselves and understand their risk factors. She even had the honor of appearing on the Kelly Clarkson Show to raise awareness on this issue. Professionally, her expertise lies in public health and health policy.

"I'm thrilled to join Breastcancer.org, where my passion for fostering connections and community support can further help uplift the breast cancer community."

Christopher Hendrix
Christopher Hendrix, Director, digital project management

Christopher manages the technical activities behind the Breastcancer.org website, including planning and implementation of administration, enhancements, and operations. “I am excited to bring my experience across industries and organizations to join a team with a meaningful mission!”

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Lauren Hughes, Director of development

Lauren (she/her/hers) leads our development team and provides strategic direction and management of key philanthropic fundraising programs. "I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic team, committed to providing such a valuable resource to the breast cancer community."

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Amy Karafin, Senior director of content

Amy brings more than 25 years of experience in content creation and strategy — as well as a stint as a palliative-care chaplain — to her role at Breastcancer.org. She leads the editorial team and focuses on bringing together the dependable, accessible information that Breastcancer.org is known for with strategies that help readers find it on the internet. “It’s an honor to be able to use my journalism and healthcare experience to help support our readers through challenging times.”

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Lisa Kline, Vice president of marketing and communications

Lisa is responsible for the leadership and management of marketing, press and community relations, digital innovation, and content development. "With so much more information available to us on the internet, it is crucial that groups like ours exist to help people separate fact from fiction and make the best choices for their health."

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Julie Kramer, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Julie is a member of our moderation team, providing support, guidance, and assistance to our community members through the forums and virtual groups. After experiencing her own journey of cancer with a stage 4 synovial sarcoma diagnosis, Julie’s biggest takeaway is to provide support to the community so others battling know they are not alone and there is always hope to be had.

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Jayme Kubo, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Jayme has been a member of our moderation team since 2014, providing support, guidance, and assistance to our community members through the forums and virtual groups. After the loss of both her sister and father to cancer, she dedicated her time to becoming a resource of love and care to families navigating this life-altering journey. She lives in Southern California with her two daughters and several beloved family pets.

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Rita Lusen, Vice president of digital media banner program

Rita is responsible for managing and expanding digital media banner program across Breastcancer.org channels . Of her own breast cancer diagnosis, Rita says, "The site played a critical role in providing information and counsel during my most challenging moments. It's a privilege to bring my professional and personal experience to help expand awareness about this valuable tool."

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Sierra McCleary-Harris , Contributing writer and editor

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Sierra earned a B.A. in communications, magna cum laude, from Susquehanna University in 2010, and an M.A. in journalism from NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute in 2012. Now an editor at Fordham University, she has worked for a variety of both consumer and B2B publications. She currently resides in Bronx, New York.

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Winline Mei, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Winline is a support group moderator for those who are undergoing or have recently completed breast cancer treatment. She assists members with navigating the discussion boards and attaining guidance and helpful information, while maintaining a safe space for the community.

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Sam Meske, Associate director of research

Sam plans and delivers research programs engaging a patient and caregiver audience, academia, and industry partners. In this role, he formalizes processes for designing research projects, recruiting participants, and publishing the findings through collaboration with our Scientific Advisory Board. “With thoughtful consideration of community needs and rigorous scientific methods, it is my mission to deliver high-quality, valuable insights to the Breastcancer.org community and medical literature.”

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Mari Montesano, Virtual support group facilitator

Mari Montesano, LCSW, OSW-C, is a virtual group facilitator for Breastcancer.org with a background in oncology social work and palliative care. Mari has been an oncology social worker for over 10 years and has worked in rural cancer care as a sole social worker supporting individuals. She currently supports individuals virtually through the Susan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline.

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Daren Nicholson, Vice president of technology

Daren is responsible for the leadership of all technical functions at Breastcancer.org including development and maintenance of the website, IT, and data. “I am humbled by the fortitude of the Breastcancer.org community and honored to help support our community members in regaining a sense of stability and support.”

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Joanna Pelizzoni, Development communications manager

Joanna creates and implements fundraising communications to convey the importance and impact of our work and build relationships with our donors and partners.

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Greg Perry, Associate director, community navigation

Greg is deeply involved in supporting and elevating the voices of the community, working closely with members every day in moderating the discussion forums to ensure they remain safe, respectful, and compassionate spaces, and assisting virtual support group facilitators by providing timely, relevant, and practical resources. Greg’s commitment ensures that members feel heard, supported, and empowered. He also serves as a vital liaison between the community and editorial teams, identifying gaps in practical information shared by members and helping to shape the site’s medically-reviewed content based on real-world needs. In turn, he brings that trusted information back into the community to increase knowledge and confidence in decision-making.

"Being a part of Breastcancer.org has always been a meaningful experience for me — but seeing how my participation in supporting our members has mattered is a profound and humbling honor. I'm thrilled to be part of an organization with such heart and passion."

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Megan Roessler, Associate creative director

Megan collaborates across departments to develop and design engaging and creative digital and print assets. "Having lost my own mother at a young age to breast cancer, I am proud to work with a team whose mission is to provide information and support to those touched by the disease — something that was not available to my mother as she was going through it herself."

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Kristin Scheeler, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Kristin Scheeler, MSSW, is a community moderator and virtual group facilitator for Breastcancer.org with a background in oncology and hospice social work. She has supported people in person at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center and Gilda's Club Madison and virtually in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Information Resource Center and Susan G Komen Breast Care Helpline.

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Teri Shaw, Senior director of industry partnerships

Teri manages industry partnerships for Breastcancer.org with a focus to develop, cultivate, and enhance mutual goals and strategies that align with our mission. “I am thrilled to work with an organization dedicated to providing patients and their families with the top resources, education, and tools necessary to navigate through a breast cancer journey. Our partnerships allow us to provide each person seeking answers and support with the most accurate and easy-to-understand information.”

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Jenni Sheng, MD, Medical adviser

Dr. Jenni Sheng is assistant professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Sheng mainly treats people diagnosed with breast cancer and helps them live with, through, and beyond cancer by working with her patients to create the best treatment plans and manage any side effects treatment may cause.

Dr. Sheng is also a research member of GRASP — Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships — a nonprofit that connects cancer researchers and advocates so they can learn from each other.

Genvieve Shields
Genvieve Shields, Director of major gifts

Genvieve works closely with individual donors who have a special interest in Breastcancer.org. "It is an honor to work at an organization that is committed to helping individuals make the best decisions regarding breast cancer and breast health. Even more amazing, is that we provide this information at no cost, giving access to all, 24/7."

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Margaret Silvestri, Development coordinator

Margaret supports development activities at Breastcancer.org. As a development coordinator, Margaret assists in the planning and production of special events, the processing of donor inquires and requests, and fundraising efforts. “It’s an honor working for an organization that provides both digital resources and a supportive community for women and their loved one’s during a difficult time.”

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Tiah Tomlin-Harris, Community moderator and virtual support group facilitator

Tiah Tomlin-Harris is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate and cancer coach dedicated to empowering women — especially Black women — affected by breast cancer. A survivor herself, she founded My Breast Years Ahead Sisterhood and My Style Matters, Inc. to support survivors and promote holistic wellness. Her advocacy spans from grassroots efforts to national policy, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards. Through her work, Tiah delivers H.O.P.E. — Helping Others through Purpose, Prevention Education, and Empowerment.

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Katie Tune, Social media manager

Katie manages the development, strategy, and delivery of paid and organic cross-platform social media activities and programs, including content creation, optimization, and community and influencer engagement. "I feel honored for the opportunity to work with this dynamic team of talented people to further Breastcancer.org’s mission and be able to use social for good to help people and their loved ones impacted by breast cancer find community and accurate information."

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Jen Uscher, Senior writer

Jen develops, researches, and writes educational content, feature articles, and special reports for Breastcancer.org. Jen has been a science and health reporter for more than two decades, writing for Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Brian Wojciechowski, MD, Medical adviser

Dr. Wojo is a medical oncologist outside of Philadelphia, PA, with Alliance Cancer Specialists. His research has been presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, and he is a speaker on medical ethics and the biology of cancer. Dr. Wojo sees cancer as a scientifically complex disease with psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Board of Directors
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David Kopp

Board chair

David is an experienced chief executive in consumer digital health with expertise spanning strategy, product development, marketing, and technology. Most recently, David led a passionate and highly successful team at Healthline Media, spearheading global growth to reach more visitors than any other health publisher. He brings deep expertise in growing and managing major companies, consumer-centric digital platforms, ad monetization, and bio-pharma advertising.

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Sarah Bernard

Sarah is an experienced C-level executive with deep tech industry experience leading global product, and customer organizations for digital brands including BabyCenter.com, Snapfish.com, Hotwire.com, and Jet.com. Sarah is a transformational leader for brands disrupting their space with digital experiences so that they can achieve their next stage of growth. Currently, as the Chief Customer Officer at Greenhouse Software, she drives customer growth and expansion by helping Greenhouse customers measurably improve their hiring processes so they can fulfill on talent as a key strategy for success.

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Mike DeLone

Mike, a principal at Deloitte Digital and the national Customer & Marketing (C&M) offering leader, leads multi-disciplinary teams driving customer-focused experience strategies and solutions across industries and sectors. Mike is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the C&M practice and its go-to-market strategies, priorities, investments, and resources. Mike and his team specialize in defining, building, and operating technology platforms that create differentiated experiences for every touchpoint along a customer journey – including product and customer strategy, innovation, pricing, brand strategy, marketing, commerce, sales, and customer service. 

Joseph Evangelisti
Joseph Evangelisti

Joseph is head of Worldwide Corporate Communications and Media Relations for J.P. Morgan Chase. In this role, he serves as chief communications officer, lead spokesman, and head internal communications for the firm.

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Bruce Fischer

Bruce is a senior executive with a solid financial background and extensive experience in all facets of refining and chemical industries, as well as the healthcare industry. He has significant turnaround knowledge with experience in strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and business development. He was chairman of Crozer-Keystone Health System, a billion-dollar nonprofit health system.

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Catherine Fisher

Catherine has built her career growing the relevance and awareness of major brands, including eBay, Netflix, One Kings Lane, and LinkedIn. In her current role as vice president global consumer communications at LinkedIn, she is responsible for building and maintaining LinkedIn’s leadership position in people’s professional lives. Catherine is a breast cancer survivor and strong advocate for the community.

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Nancy Frandsen

Nancy is a trademark attorney, guiding clients through the core areas of trademark and copyright strategic counseling and portfolio management, as well as through enforcement before the federal courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). Nancy is a Philadelphia Chapter Founder and Leader of ChIPs, a national organization advancing women in tech, law and policy.

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Carl Fremont

Carl Fremont is the CEO of Quigley-Simpson, an independent women-owned certified agency with Fortune 500 clients as well as emerging companies. Carl has extensive marketing and media experience in a multitude of brand categories. He is also Co-Chair of Breastcancer.org's Women in Media and Marketing Awards Luncheon.

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Jane Hollingsworth

Jane is managing partner of Militia Hill Ventures, a business focused on building and growing high-quality life sciences companies, and executive chair of Talee Bio. She is also the former executive chair of Immunome Inc., a cancer immunotherapy company, and co-founder and former CEO of NuPathe Inc., a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company.

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Cheryl Kim

Cheryl has served in finance leadership roles over her 30+ year career. Most recently she served as CFO for Healthline.com, the leading healthcare information platform where she served on the executive team driving exponential growth under private equity ownership. She led the sale of Healthline.com twice as well as several acquisitions for the company. She currently is performing consulting services for multiple fast-growing healthcare companies. She obtained her BBA in accounting from the University of Iowa and obtained her CPA in California.

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Katie Kulik

Katie is a forward-thinking C-level executive with 20 years of experience leading revenue and advertising strategy for some of the most visible and respected media companies, such as CNET Media Group, CBS, and GameSpot. She is a thought-leader known for placing smart bets that keep global brands fresh and profitable. Katie is a longtime advocate and mentor for women leaders in the workplace. She is a breast cancer survivor.

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Ebonne L. Leaphart

Ebonne is vice president of local media development (LMD) at Comcast. Her team’s mission is to enhance Comcast’s reach, relationships and impact through local investment advocacy reports and commemorative and community programming. Before taking the helm of Comcast’s LMD team, Ebonne led diversity media communications for Comcast Corporation. Prior to joining Comcast in 2011, Ebonne was an English and Spanish producer for the internationally acclaimed television series, CNN Heroes.

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Alice Limkakeng

Alice has spent nearly 25 years building healthcare companies as a venture/growth equity investor and senior executive. She is currently CEO of SleepArchiTx. She was previously Chief Business Officer of Boston Heart Diagnostics and, earlier in her career, a senior investor at Bain Capital Ventures, where she worked closely with healthcare entrepreneurs to build leading-edge businesses and collective transactions valued over $1B. She has also served as a strategic advisor to PatientsLikeMe.

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Donna-Marie E. Manasseh, MD

Affiliations: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY; American College of Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons

Areas of specialization: breast cancer care, breast surgery, surgical oncology

Dr. Manasseh is the director of breast surgery at the Maimonides Breast Cancer Center. She is a strong advocate of empowering women by educating them about breast health and disease. She has published several chapters on breast disease, has co-authored a textbook relating to breast disease and evaluation, and is the recipient of several awards.

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Lisa B. Petkun

Lisa is a partner at Troutman Pepper, working on behalf of individuals, partnerships, nonprofit organizations, and corporations, handling sophisticated tax planning needs associated with complex business and financial structures. She counsels nonprofit organizations on a wide range of issues, including forms 990 and 990-PF compliance and state charitable solicitation and registration laws.