Speaking Faculty

Mackenzie Abramson is a dedicated advocate, driven by her personal journey and commitment to amplifying voices of patients, caregivers, and advocacy groups. Diagnosed in her mid-20’s with a rare disease, Mackenzie pursued advanced education to raise awareness for public health initiatives and rare diseases. Her advocacy efforts have reached an international scale, involving active participation and speaking with organizations such as Patients as Partners, Global Genes, The Everylife Foundation for Rare Disease and Congress, NIH Rare Disease Day, and more.

Mackenzie's work at Tenacious Advocacy Consulting Team focuses on rare and chronic diseases, mental health, and women’s health patients while partnering with the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries to create meaningful change. Drawing on her experience in research, communications, public health programming, and patient operations, Mackenzie specializes in bridging the gap between patient communities and industry stakeholders, ensuring that patient needs and insights are at the forefront of research, development, and care initiatives.

Mackenzie is committed to empowering patients, transforming the way their voices shape the future of healthcare, and enhancing patient engagement throughout the development lifecycle. By sharing her story and insights, she hopes to inspire others to navigate their healthcare challenges with tenacity and resilience.

Adrelia Allen, PharmD, is a 22-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry working in sales and clinical research at Merck. She has held positions of increasing experience as a Clinical Research Associate, Clinical Trial Project Manager, and Clinical Research Manager (CRM). She is currently the Executive Director of Clinical Trial Patient Diversity, where she is responsible for the strategy and execution of activities for the diverse representation of patients in clinical trials. Dr Allen has a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy.

Behtash Bahador is the Senior Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships at the non-profit organization CISCRP, and holds a Master of Science in Health Communication from the Tufts University School of Medicine. Since 2014, he has collaborated with a range of stakeholder groups to establish and implement patient- and public-centric initiatives across the life-cycle of drug and treatment development. This has included supporting the development of regulatory and cross-disciplinary best practice guidelines, operationalizing key elements of evidence-based public health programing into research engagement activities, and always keeping the needs of patients, participants and the public at the forefront of his work.

Alex Barabasz is a Chief Operating Officer at Research Grid, where she leads operational strategy at the intersection of AI-technology, compliance, and stakeholder engagement. She specializes in scaling operations and driving organizational transformation with a background in engineering and cross-industry experience spanning commercial, consulting, and technology. At Research Grid, she drives regulatory compliance, security, and cross-functional alignment to deliver high-quality, efficient operations for the company and its partners.

Paris Barnes, MS, is a senior training specialist with the PATIENTS Program in the Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research (P-SHOR) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Paris holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from West Virginia University’s School of Business and Economics and a Master of Science in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Throughout her career, she has played a key role in facilitating the Affordable Care Act in Maryland, developed statewide data visualizations, and created impactful advertising campaigns. She has also presented nationally on medical cannabis research, served as the Community Liaison for The Eagle Center in Westminster, MD, and volunteered as a grant writer for multiple churches across Maryland.

As a Senior Training Specialist at UMB, Paris remains committed to amplifying the voices of underserved populations. She also plans to continue her research and advocacy efforts to advance the legitimacy and acceptance of medical cannabis.

Janella Beltran is a Patient Recruitment and Engagement Lead within Alexion Global Patient Experience. Her key focus is on embedding the patient voice in rare disease clinical trials by implementing patient‑centric recruitment strategies and leading structured early patient engagement approaches to assess and reduce protocol burden. Previously, she worked across digital engagement and omnichannel strategy, bridging global and local teams to enhance healthcare stakeholder experience.

Robyn Bent, RN, is the director of CDER’s Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) Program, an effort to systematically obtain patient input and facilitate the incorporation of meaningful patient input into drug development and regulatory decision making. Prior to joining FDA, Ms Bent was a Chief Scientific Program Specialist at the National Institutes of Health. She has extensive experience in clinical trial design, conduct and oversight. Ms Bent earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America and a Master of Science degree from George Washington University.

Angie Beyer, MBA, PMP, is an accomplished scientist and strategic executive with nearly 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. As a rare disease patient and advocate, Angie offers a unique blend of patient and professional perspectives. Her expertise lies in patient-centric innovation, advocacy, and operational excellence. Currently, as the Director of US Patient Partnerships in Pfizer's Medical Evidence Development group, she leads the development and implementation of patient engagement strategies across R&D, ensuring that patient insights are integrated throughout the medicine lifecycle.

Angie's diverse career includes roles in research and development, where she co-invented two clinical candidates, manufacturing, commercial operations, and portfolio governance, granting her a broad enterprise-wide perspective. She is renowned for her ability to connect and inspire teams, deliver innovative solutions, and drive cross-functional collaboration to champion initiatives that improve patient access and outcomes.

Angie earned a BA in Chemistry from the University of San Diego and completed MA coursework in Chemistry at San Diego State University. She holds an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and is set to graduate with an MS in Global Health from Northwestern University School of Professional Studies in Spring 2026. Additionally, she is a PMP-certified Project Manager with certifications in Change Management, Business Analytics, and Strategy and Execution.

Ruma Bhagat, MD, MPH is a physician and public health leader with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She is a seasoned clinical research professional and currently serves as Executive Director, Head of Strategy in the Population Science team at Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. Throughout her career, Ruma has held diverse roles in Clinical Science, Clinical Operations, and Process Excellence, building a strong foundation in the drug development lifecycle. She leads cross-functional initiatives aimed at advancing health equity and promoting inclusive research by broadening the scientific representation of historically understudied patient populations in clinical trials.

An intrapreneur at heart, Ruma is passionate about driving organizational change and fostering innovation in how research is conducted. She is a recognized thought leader and advocate for inclusivity in clinical research, often emphasizing that “research without inclusiveness is not research.” Her work is rooted in the belief that equitable representation in clinical trials is essential to reducing global healthcare disparities and ensuring timely access to treatments for all patients.

Anne-Marie Bisson began her career in the life sciences industry, working across commercial and strategic functions. After witnessing the accelerating influence of patient advocacy and the difficulty industry faces in keeping up, she founded and now leads Zebricks, a patient advocacy intelligence platform designed to bring structure, clarity, and real-time insight to patient engagement strategy. She’s also known for bringing maple candies to conferences, a Canadian treat - they will be waiting for you at the booth!

Stacey Bledsoe, RN, MSN joined Gilead Sciences in July 2023 as the new Head of Global Clinical Trial Diversity and Inclusion. Stacey will be responsible for leading the effort to increase the diversity of Gilead’s clinical trials across the portfolio while bolstering Gilead’s stance to understand how treatments affect all the populations. Stacey has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry across multiple disciplines including Research & Development, Global Health Outcomes, Medical and Six Sigma.

Prior to joining Gilead Stacey spent over 20 years at Eli Lilly & Co where she had a demonstrated success in Six Sigma methodology, Health Outcomes research, medical information, and the hospital payer environment. She recently led Lilly’s diversity and trials initiatives across the portfolio through partnerships and internal and external collaboration, earning the company a rating of Gold. She has shared her enthusiasm and passion for driving the industry’s path toward more diverse clinical trial access and inclusion by engaging in national boards, speaking at multiple conferences, interviews, and publications. She also created and built the Lilly Global Medical Outreach Program, which used medical professional working at Lilly to provide medical services to underserved communities in countries such as Africa, Greece, and South America.

Stacey’s passion for patients and emphasis on serving the most vulnerable began before she entered the pharmaceutical industry. She held a Registered Nurse role on the Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit at Riley Hospital for Children. Stacey earned her Bachelor and Master of Science of Science in Nursing from Indiana University. Stacey is driven by a goal to influence and ensure all patients have the same access to clinical research and life changing medications that will ultimately improve their lives. Stacey resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband of 22 years, three daughters with one at her alma mater Indiana University, and Yorkie, Sam.

Tiffany Bratts has over 19 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, spanning multiple disciplines across Research & Development. She serves as the Director of Clinical Patient Engagement and Inclusion at Gilead Sciences, where she leads strategic initiatives to embed patient voice into clinical trial design and improve diversity in research. Her mission is to guide trial planning and operational strategies to ensure that every patient has the opportunity to engage in research capable of transforming lives.

Beth Brooks is Head, Patient Insights and Behavioral Sciences (PIBS), within the Patient-Informed Development and Health Value Translation team at Sanofi.

The PIBS team generates insights about patient populations of interest to the R&D organization. Among other things, the team uses this information to establish diversity and inclusion recruitment objectives for studies in the United States. Based on these insights and additional findings, the team uses behavioral science principles to develop tools to address recruitment and retention challenges that some patient populations may present in clinical trials.

As SVP, Strategy and Value at Jumo Health, Mike Burton is responsible for developing strategic, insight-driven, and behaviorally grounded proposals, identifying quantitative value that can be driven from the Jumo Health solutions as well as ensuring value realization. Mr Burton spent the last 12 years at Veeva and Tendo where he built value engineering into a trusted service for hundreds of customers plus go to market strategy and CRO partnership positions. Previously, he spent 15 years in operational clinical trial roles across CROs and large pharma.

Kisha Bush is an accomplished clinical operations leader with over 24 years of experience advancing clinical research. As Director of Patient and Site Engagement at Boehringer Ingelheim, she drives strategies that strengthen relationships with investigators and enhance the experience of patients participating in U.S. clinical trials. Her work includes designing engagement initiatives, promoting health literacy, reducing patient burden, and ensuring diverse population representation across clinical programs.

Throughout her career, Kisha has led cross‑functional teams focused on patient recruitment and retention, overseen regulatory and informed‑consent processes to safeguard participant rights, and implemented community outreach models that build trust with underrepresented groups. She has guided major clinical programs in cardiovascular, In Vitro diagnostics, and medical devices, always with a commitment to operational excellence and patient inclusion.

Kisha holds an Executive MBA from Howard University and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Natanya M. Candelario serves as Senior Director of Inclusive Research at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she leads the strategic integration of inclusive research principles across global functions. Natanya’s work bridges business units, markets, and external partners to advance health equity and transform access to innovative medicines through clinical research, including in low- and middle-income countries.

A champion for capacity building, Natanya spearheads initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa, driving sustainable healthcare solutions and empowering local professionals and communities. Natanya has launched pioneering programs that foster employee volunteerism and inform new models for equitable access—enabling earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and stronger community connectivity.

Since joining Bristol Myers Squibb in 2010, Natanya has built trusted relationships with thought leaders and healthcare professionals, supporting both HIV/viral hepatitis and oncology. Natanya’s commitment to health equity is evident in efforts to identify gaps in care, develop solutions for screening and diagnosis, and deliver impactful training in resource-limited settings.

Natanya holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Texas at Arlington, a Doctor of Pharmacy from Howard University, and a Master of Science in Pharmacy (Pharmacoeconomics) from the University of Florida. Natanya completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Roche through Rutgers’ Pharmaceutical Industry Fellowship. Natanya’s vision is to advance global health equity by fostering collaboration, innovation, and sustainable impact—ensuring that all communities have access to quality healthcare and opportunities for better health outcomes.

Cherika Carr is a Site Engagement Lead at AstraZeneca and a results‑driven Clinical Research Professional with 15 years of experience spanning oncology and multiple therapeutic areas. She brings proven expertise in clinical operations, site management, CRA mentorship, and regulatory compliance, developed across CROs and pharmaceutical/biotech environments. Cherika excels at leading cross‑functional clinical teams, fostering high‑performing site partnerships, and optimizing site performance to drive operational efficiencies and high‑quality trial execution. Her approach integrates data‑informed decision making with proactive risk management, ensuring timelines are met, budgets are protected, and patient safety and data integrity remain paramount.

In her current role, she advances site strategy and engagement frameworks that accelerate study start‑up, enhance enrollment, and strengthen investigator and coordinator experience. A committed mentor, Cherika cultivates CRA capability through structured coaching and best‑practice sharing, elevating consistency, and compliance across study portfolios.

Cherika holds a Master of Science in Clinical Research and Product Development and is a Certified Clinical Research Associate (CCRA). She is passionate about building collaborative ecosystems that translate scientific innovation into measurable patient impact, and she advocates for continuous improvement to streamline trial delivery and expand access to cutting‑edge therapies

Stephanie Christopher is a Patient Engagement Lead at Pfizer, where she supports clinical research teams to bring patient perspectives into the design and implementation of clinical trials and recruitment strategies.

Prior to Pfizer, Stephanie was the Associate Director of Research Programs at the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), where she directed the IAMRARE™ patient-powered registry program, which allows patients and organizations to inform and shape medical research for rare diseases by launching high-quality, customized registries to collect the data needed to define the natural progression of their disease. In previous roles, Stephanie helped advance real- world evidence research at one of the largest healthcare systems in the western US, helped develop tools to advance patient input in the regulatory review of new medical technologies and was part of a research team seeking to improve the quality of communication between physicians and patients.

Stephanie received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA) and Master of Arts in Science, Health, and Environmental Communication from Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI). Stephanie is a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) and a Fellow of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (FACRP).

Amy Cohen, MPH, is a patient access and engagement strategist and community engagement expert with over a decade of experience bridging the gap between life sciences companies and the patient communities they serve. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of The Patient Room, a consultancy she established to help life sciences teams meaningfully strengthen their patient advocacy and patient engagement work, moving beyond transactional outreach toward relationships built on genuine trust.

Amy's career has been shaped by a deep understanding of what it takes to reach people who have historically been underserved by, and skeptical of, the medical research enterprise. She has worked across therapeutic areas including oncology, rare disease, sickle cell disease, HIV, diabetes, IBS, and osteoarthritis, and her success across such a diverse range of conditions speaks to a core belief that drives all of her work: trust and education are the common denominator when it comes to meaningfully involving patients. Regardless of the disease area, people participate when they feel informed, respected, and genuinely seen. Before founding The Patient Room, she served as a Site Recruitment and Community Engagement Project Manager at Massachusetts General Hospital and NYC Health + Hospitals, where she led community engagement efforts during the COVID-19 response.

Today, Amy chairs the AI and Technology breakout session at Patients as Partners in Clinical Research, bringing her commitment to access and human connection to one of the field's most rapidly evolving conversations.

Amy is also deeply passionate about what becomes possible when people have real access to care. This past November, she made history as the first marathon finisher with sickle cell disease at the New York City Marathon. It is a conviction she carries into her work every day: when the right support and access exist, people can exceed every expectation, including the ones they hold for themselves.

Amy is based in the Boston area and serves on the Massachusetts Health Council.

Sébastien Coppe, CEO of One2Treat, is an accomplished leader in clinical trial innovation, driving change and delivering impactful software solutions for a better biopharma industry.

At One2Treat, he is motivated by a strong belief in the transformative power of digital solutions to address patient needs and streamline clinical research. He is committed to pioneering approaches that prioritize patient-centricity in clinical trial design, decreasing sample size and therefore enhancing biopharma productivity.

David Craig, MBA is a two-time cancer survivor, caregiver, and patient experience champion. After 10 years as a patient insights researcher supporting global healthcare organizations, he co-founded Gryt Health (“grit”) in 2016.

Gryt Health amplifies patient voices to improve health outcomes and is run by survivors and caregivers who are passionate about integrating lived experiences into healthcare systems.

David holds a BS in Communication and an MBA in Technology Management from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has also completed Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School (Building New Ventures & Healthcare Innovation) and MIT Sloan School of Management (Corporate Strategy). Dave leads cross-stakeholder initiatives focused on Patient-Centered AI in Drug Development.

Sarah Cross, PhD, is Senior Health Value Translation Lead within Sanofi’s Patient-Informed Development and Health Value Translation team, where her work focuses on ensuring patient insights guide Research & Development strategies and decision making. She leads efforts within Immunology at Sanofi to ensure patient disease strategies bridge science and patient needs, aiming to improve access to medical treatments and deliver value to patients.

Before joining Sanofi, Sarah served as Vice President and Global Head of Medical Affairs at Premier Research, a mid-size CRO. Prior to this Sarah held roles with increasing responsibility within clinical development and medical affairs across CROs, pharma, and biotech organizations, including AbbVie, where Sarah most recently held the position of Scientific Director, Gastroenterology supporting the integration of critical launch assets and pipeline product development.

Sarah is passionate about integrating patient experience and patient insights into medical research to support outcomes, improve quality of life, and drive access to care. She is a champion for partnering with patient organizations and patient communities to help remove barriers and support access to clinical trials, improve inclusion in medical research, and elevate the importance of patient informed drug development.

Jenn Curry is Head of Patient Engagement Capability at Biogen. In this role, Ms Curry is accountable for driving the capabilities that ensure the patient perspective is incorporated in a manner that optimizes the execution of patient-focused drug development and maximizes the degree of impact on participant enrollment and the participant experience in Biogen’s clinical studies. She is heavily engaged with internal leaders and external partners to support the patient engagement strategies leveraged across Biogen’s portfolio.

Ms Curry entered the field of clinical research as a Research Assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2003 and shifted her focus to industry, specifically patient recruitment, in 2006. Prior to joining Biogen in 2019, she spent 9 years at AES/Acurian Inc., advancing from Project Manager to Director of Operational and Strategic Solutions.

Caroline Melendez Daigle is the Vice President of Services for Carebox Health Solutions. Carebox connects patients and physicians seeking treatment options with clinical trials. The Clinical Trial Navigators, who are part of the Carebox Services team, help patients, families, and health care providers find clinical trials appropriate for a patient’s specific situation. Caroline started as a Clinical Trial Navigator over 20 years ago and personally helped thousands of patients and their families find treatment options in clinical trials. Caroline was also part of the clinical research program at Rockefeller University in New York and holds a BA in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Victoria DiBiaso, MPH, BScN, has 20+ years of clinical research experience. She holds a Master of Public Health and is a nurse by training. She has been awarded the distinction as one of the Top 20 Industry Innovators for her efforts to integrate insights from patient communities and clinical trial institutions into R&D decision making. Her work has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, various publications and keynote speeches.

More than a decade ago, she was one of the first industry leaders to establish a series of trial site & patient networks to provide advisory expertise to development staged clinical programs. These upfront partnerships have help transform the company’s development model whereby the therapies of tomorrow are not simply developed for patients but rather in partnership WITH patients and their stakeholders. This is reflected in the full end to end integration of patient experience and priorities across 100% of all indications, development programs and clinical trials at Sanofi; including prioritization decisions in the preclinical space.She recently established, and Chairs, the US based PALADIN Consortia bringing together advocacy and industry leaders to optimize collaborations that hold the potential to transform the pace of medicines development.

Ms DiBiaso is also an active research volunteer and advocate for the Parkinson’s Disease community. Aside from supporting clinical research education efforts, she has run 4 marathons and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on behalf of Parkinson’s research and awareness.

As the Head of Patient Engagement, Michaela Dinboeck leads the Novartis global PE strategy and systematic implementation across the enterprise portfolio, starting at early development stage, through to regulatory and value dossier submissions. Key focus areas are PE Science, to develop robust methods for Patient Experience Data generation and Clinical Representativeness to ensure patients included in clinical trials represent the population new medicines are intended for. The remit includes PE Governance, Capability building and Impact Measurement. Michaela’s vision is to embed systematic PE in decision making and Patient Focused Drug Development along the lifecycle of medicines.

Prior to her current role, Michaela held Commercial and General Management positions for 20 years within the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry at country, regional and global level. In her roles she worked across multiple disease areas in established and emerging health care systems. Michaela has lectured Business at Universities in Bolivia and Malaysia. In addition to her role as Head of Patient Engagement, she serves on the Board of Novartis Pharma GmbH Germany, the Nomination Committee 

Donna Dinkin, DrPH has a doctorate in public health leadership from the Gillings School of Global Public Health, at the University of North Carolina. For three decades, she worked as a leadership development consultant, helping leaders from global organizations strengthen their impact. In 2015, Donna was diagnosed with scleroderma-interstitial lung disease. Scleroderma is a rare, progressive autoimmune disease that thickens and stiffens connective tissues which are found in the skin and other internal organs, including the lungs.

Donna chronicled her path to building emotional resilience in the face of this diagnosis, in a memoir, Thursdays with Eugene (2023). Last year, as her health continued to decline, she decided to redirect her energies from career to volunteer efforts. Today, she leads a local scleroderma support group, serves as an Ambassador for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, and patient-advisor on studies which target people living with similar chronic illnesses.

When not volunteering, she can be found birdwatching, drawing with pastel chalk, eating Thai food with friends and spending time with her husband and two sons in Greensboro, North Carolina.

George Dorsett is Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Growth at Clariness being responsible for commercial strategy, messaging and account governance. With around 12 years of experience leading commercial teams across patient recruitment and life sciences, he has worked in more than 100 indications and across 40+ countries. He is a strong advocate for fusing a patient-first approach with data-driven logic to drive better outcomes.

Leslie Michelle Dowling is the Site Manager at Sun Valley Research Center, where she has dedicated the past 13 years to advancing clinical research and ensuring operational excellence. A proud Hispanic professional and fluent bilingual speaker, Michelle brings a culturally competent approach to patient care and community engagement. She has extensive experience in regulatory compliance, team leadership, and patient-centered trial coordination. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Management and is deeply committed to fostering ethical, collaborative, and impactful research practices. Her leadership is grounded in a servant leadership philosophy that prioritizes team development, patient care, and long-term success.

With a true passion for patients and dedication to connecting people in need to resources, services and people, Wendy has built her career in patient advocacy in many rare disease communities and oncology. Wendy Erler MBA is the Senior Vice President of Patient Affairs at Sarepta Therapeutics where she leads the Patient Affairs team. Building a strong patient engagement strategy, she works to ensure patient centered outcomes across all areas of clinical development and commercialization. She is championing the adoption of patient-centric concepts and practices across the company while building trusted partnerships with patient advocacy organizations. Previously, Ms. Erler led the Patient Experience function for Alexion, Astra Zeneca Rare Disease. She built the enterprise model for patient engagement which ensured patient insights were reflected in all critical corporate strategies. At Wave Life Sciences, Ms. Erler led Patient Advocacy and Commercial. During her tenure, she set the groundwork for both functions as the organization moved from pre-clinical to initiating several rare disease clinical trials. Earlier in her career, Wendy held roles of increasing responsibility at Biogen starting in field sales and advancing through the commercial organization before serving as the Public Affairs head of patient advocacy for several rare disease programs. In these roles she gained experience in Newborn Screening, public policy, HTA’s, and bringing the patient voice into all aspects of drug development. Wendy graduated from Miami University and earned her MBA from St. Joseph’s University.

Michelle Everill is a pioneer in the field of clinical trial optimization that includes the intersection of data science, technology, innovation, and process simplification and flexibility. She has worked in clinical research since 2000 in a variety of roles at sponsors, CROs, and sites, and has participated in trials as a patient. She strives to drive more effective trials in terms of scientific advancement, patient, site, and operational burden, and the time and cost trade off. Michelle has led feasibility, data science, and business operations organizations at three of the top-ten pharma companies, consulted for and advised many organizations, and recently joined Alnylam as VP, Global Trial Optimization to further strategic approaches to innovative and curative medicines research.

Lenwood Faulcon, Jr, MS, JD, has nearly two decades of experience in technology and intellectual property law. He manages the legal function of MDIC, serves as the liaison to the Board of Directors, addresses MDIC’s legal requirements, and primarily ensures compliance with the following areas: corporate governance, federal compliance, federal funding reporting requirements, and Board of Directors meetings.

Lenwood has significant experience in counseling individuals, as well as early-stage and large organizations, with various technology and intellectual property related legal issues, including procurement, license and service agreements, collaborative research agreements, corporate structure, finance, technology landscapes, and various regulatory issues. In private practice, he specialized in representing clients who dealt with various medical devices and methodologies, including hearing devices, biopsy devices, syringes, vascular implants, catheters, device and drug delivery systems, nuclear medicine, and medical imaging. He also previously served as a Patent Examiner in the surgical arts, and as a Nanotechnology Specialist, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Lenwood received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University, his MS in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Virginia, and his JD from The George Washington University.

Rosalie “Rosie” Filling has transformed R&D operations in every company she has worked for, developing clear-cut strategies to advance clinical trials with high-quality operational execution and scientific excellence. Rosie’s focus is always on the end users — the patients. Bringing new and, at times, life-saving medications to people in need drives Rosie’s sense of purpose. Rosie is a powerful thought leader at Endo and across the industry, and she is especially proud to mentor the industry’s future leaders and difference makers. Through her work across the industry, she has earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for clinical sites and the patients they serve, believing that they are key to the future of medicine and health. As a breast cancer clinical trial participant, she knows firsthand that her work can positively impact and improve lives.

Diana Fisher, MS, MPH, CPH, is currently the Associate Director of Clinical Trial Design Capabilities at Eli Lilly and Company, a position they have held since 2022. Previously, Diana served as the Associate Director of Global Health Literacy and has extensive experience in medical writing and communications, including roles such as Sr. Medical Writer and Manager of Global Scientific Communications - Diabetes. Diana earned a Master’s in Biology from Purdue University, a BA in Biology from DePauw University, and an MPH in Public Health Practice from the University of South Florida.

Jennie H. Flanagan, RN, CCRP, MHA is a seasoned healthcare professional with more than 30 years of experience across clinical care, clinical research, education, and healthcare administration. A registered nurse and Certified Clinical Research Professional with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, she has built her career around improving patient outcomes, safety, and system efficiency. Jennie’s work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a long-time patient managing chronic disease and as a two-time breast cancer survivor, shaping her commitment to patient advocacy, mentorship, and compassionate, high-quality care.

Since July 2024, Jennie has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Community Health Center of Northern New York, a federally qualified health center with four clinical sites and comprehensive services including dental, behavioral health, optometry, and Women, Infants & Children (WIC). In this role, she oversees more than 100 employees and 17 practice managers while leading operational strategy, quality improvement, and access to care initiatives. Previously, she spent three years as a Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator in the St. Lawrence Health Clinical Research Department, contributing to the advancement of patient-centered research and safety.

In addition to her executive leadership, Jennie is a senior lecturer in SUNY Canton’s Bachelor’s program in Healthcare Management, allowing her to remain clinically grounded while helping prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders. She serves as an advisory member with the University of Maryland through the PCORI network and is an active member of the Society of Clinical Research Associates. Across all roles, Jennie remains dedicated to advancing equitable, patient-centered healthcare and mentoring individuals—particularly those facing cancer—through advocacy, education, and leadership.

Judy Galindo is a first-generation bilingual Latina and the Executive Director and Co-Owner of Sun Valley Research Center, Inc., a private clinical research site located in Imperial County, California. With 20 years of experience serving a predominantly Latino and underserved population, Judy is deeply committed to increasing access to clinical trials in rural and underrepresented communities. She holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Clinical Research from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and a bachelor’s degree in biology with a background in Psychology. Judy has been a certified clinical research coordinator through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) since 2008.

In addition to her leadership at Sun Valley Research Center, Judy is the co-founder of Latinos in Clinical Research, The Clinical Research Circle, and Save Our Sites (SOS) and a Strategic partner of Vertex Clinical Research Mexico—initiatives focused on education, advocacy, and sustainability for clinical research sites, especially those in diverse and underserved areas.

Judy is passionate about advancing equity in clinical research and ensuring all providers and patients are aware of clinical research. She continues to champion efforts that make clinical trials more accessible, inclusive, and representative of all patient populations especially within her own community.

Martha Gauthier brings over 15 years of qualitative research expertise to her role as Vice President of Patient-Centered Outcomes at Lumanity. A member of the Lumanity Patient Center of Excellence, she provides strategic leadership to ensure patient engagement remains central to the design and validation of clinical outcome assessments. Ms Gauthier work spans diverse therapeutic areas, from dermatology and women’s health to rare pediatric conditions, translating patient experiences into meaningful measures that shape trial design and healthcare decisions.

Patrick Gee, Sr, PhD, JLC, is Founder & Chief Executive Hope Dealer, iAdvocate, Inc. Dr Gee graduated from the American University School of Public Affairs in 2012 with a Doctor of Philosophy in Justice, Law & Criminology. Dr Gee is a former Peritoneal/Hemodialysis patient due to suffering from Diabetic Kidney Disease. He has been a Post-Kidney Transplant Recipient since April 2017. Dr Gee is also a retired Major/Chief of Security from the Virginia Department of Corrections; and currently serves as the Founder & CEHD of iAdvocate, Inc., a non-profit Faith-based Health & Wellness organization. He is also an Ordained Minister at Mountain Movers Ministry in Richmond, VA. As a Patient Representative for the Diabetes Kidney Disease-Collaborative Task Force and an advocate for those living with chronic kidney disease and the morbid conditions that contribute to this disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and obesity, Dr Gee uses his personal experiences to teach, coach, mentor and educate others on how best to manage their outcomes. He also ensures that underserved, undervalued and disenfranchised communities of color have a voice in their quality of life and equitable healthcare access. He also serves as Chair of the Kidney Health Initiative's Patient Family Partnership Council and is on ASN's APOL-1 Kidney Disease Steering Committee.

Ellyn Getz Director, R&D Patient Partnerships CSL Ellyn.Getz@CSLbehring.com 774-559-3714 1020 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA 19406 Ellyn Getz, MPH is the Director of R&D Patient Partnerships at CSL, where she gathers input into clinical development and operations from patients, care partners, health care professionals, and researchers, and she develops strategies to support patient engagement, study access, and participant appreciation. She works with study teams across CSL's Hematology and Vaccines therapeutic focus areas. Prior to CSL, Ellyn directed CISCRP's community outreach programs to increase clinical trial awareness and education. Ellyn holds an MPH from Harvard University and a BA from Brandeis University.

Kenneth A. Getz, MBA, is the Executive Director and Professor at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University School of Medicine, where he conducts research focusing on drug development management and operating strategies and tactics; protocol design practices; and global outsourcing, investigative site and patient recruitment practices and policies. He is also the chairman of CISCRP – a nonprofit organization that he founded to educate and raise public and patient awareness of the clinical research enterprise. A well-known speaker at conferences, symposia, universities, investor meetings and corporations, Mr Getz has published extensively in peer-review journals, books and in the trade press and writes a bi-monthly column nominated for a Neal Award in Applied Clinical Trials. He holds a number of board appointments in the private and public sectors including WCG and ORA and serves on the editorial boards of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Therapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science. Mr Getz received an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from Brandeis University. Mr Getz is the founder of CenterWatch, a leading publisher in the clinical trials industry.

Giulia Ghibellini, PhD is a leader with over 20 years of experience in drug development across multiple disciplines. Her expertise spans across early and late-stage clinical pharmacology, translational medicine, regulatory strategy, formulation development and patient engagement and advocacy. A dynamic communicator and coalition builder, she has founded nonprofits and businesses, led interdisciplinary teams, and influenced key decisions through proactive engagement with health authorities and executive stakeholders.

She has also cultivated strong advocacy experience in the disability and neurodevelopmental fields, both personally and within corporate environments. At Teva, Giulia leads the Patient Engagement Framework, a function she built from the ground up by leveraging her strategic thinking, resilience, and cross-functional leadership.

With 20 years of experience in clinical research, Krista Goedel has worked in various roles, ranging from recruitment study coordinator to monitor to project manager across pharmaceutical, device, and immunoassay studies. Currently, she works as a Digital Content Creator for SanofiStudies.com, a website designed to help patients learn more about clinical trials and explore opportunities to participate.

Emily Goldsher-Diamond leads ZS’s site and patient engagement and recruitment team, helping life sciences organizations improve trial speed, cost and quality by centering patient and site needs.

Emily brings nearly a decade of experience in applying human-centered design to challenges across clinical development. She leads cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions, such as next-generation patient voice capabilities and trial acceleration strategies. Emily has conducted global field research with diverse stakeholders and is passionate about making healthcare more accessible, equitable and empathetic. She has also presented original research at the annual meetings of the American Anthropological Association, the American Ethnological Society and the Society for Social Studies of Science.

Sabina Schmidt Goldstein-Becerra is a passionate leader dedicated to putting youth at the center of pediatric healthcare, innovation, and research. As Executive Director of iCAN, she empowers pediatric patients to actively shape their healthcare journeys. With a background in education and child development, Sabina works with all stakeholder- industry leaders, youth, and parents- to bridge critical gaps in pediatric healthcare and ensure the landscape reflects the unique needs and voices of children, making their perspectives central to research, innovation, and decision-making.

With over 15 years in healthcare, pharmaceuticals and clinical trials, Kevin has spent the last 6 years specializing in patient recruitment across numerous therapeutic indications. As the Director of Pharma Partnerships at myTomorrows, he is dedicated to enhancing patient access to innovative treatments through strategic collaborations with partners around the globe.

Kevin's expertise lies in leveraging innovative approaches to provide true patient support on a global scale, driving meaningful outcomes in clinical trials. He is passionate about connecting with industry stakeholders to foster advancements in patient recruitment and improve overall healthcare delivery.

Kurt Harrington, MBA is an experienced pharmaceutical executive and a Dupuytren’s and Ledderhose patient. He formed Ventoux Biosciences to help address the significant unmet medical need in Dupuytren’s Disease – a common, disabling, fibroproliferative hand disease with few treatment options.

Kurt is an accomplished leader with over 25 years of Biopharmaceutical experience. Prior to starting Ventoux Biosciences, Kurt served as a consultant and advisor supporting leadership, founders, and operators ranging from large-cap multinational companies to early stage start ups on commercialization, corporate strategy, business development, market access and product development. Kurt served in various positions of increasing responsibility at AstraZeneca, Biogen, Amylin (acquired by BMS), Cadence Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals), and Avanir (acquired by Otsuka Pharmaceutical).

Kurt received his MBA in Pharmaceutical Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University and B.S. in Marketing from Western Michigan University.

Kim Hawkins has 25 years of operational experience managing all phases of the drug development process. Ms Hawkins started her career at Boston Medical Center as a Research Assistant working on pediatric AIDS and Oncology trials. After working in academia, she moved into industry and held various clinical operations positions at Boston-area biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies including Genzyme, Antigenics, and Novelos Therapeutics where she was the Vice President of Clinical Development. Ms Hawkins joined Sanofi 9 years ago and is currently the Global Head of Clinical Project Operations & Dossier Delivery, the team of clinical operations leads responsible for the management of all clinical programs across the portfolio as well as the submission dossiers. Ms Hawkins is a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Physiology and a Master’s degree in Public Health.

In addition to her project responsibilities, Ms Hawkins is leading several projects focused around the evolving clinical trial model to build innovation and digital technology into our programs to further optimize clinical research for Sanofi and patients. In this role, Ms Hawkins has led the integration of decentralized approaches into trials at Sanofi and is currently the co-lead for the IMI TrialsHome Project.

Dr. Catherine Leigh Higgins is a dedicated scientific executive with more than two decades of experience leading clinical research operations, developing scientific strategies, and making transformative progress in oncology and translational medicine. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Science Programs at Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), where she has progressed through various leadership roles since 2016.

During her tenure, Dr. Higgins has overseen a $1.5 billion research portfolio spanning 16 countries, supporting more than 280 clinical trials, and helping advance over 11 scientific breakthroughs in cancer detection, prevention, and treatment.

Before SU2C, Dr. Higgins directed the Human Research Protection Program at Texas A&M University. She also served as an adjunct faculty member in public health where she instructed graduate-level courses in clinical research methodology.

Dr. Higgins earned her Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry from Tulane University and completed a NIH Postdoctoral Fellowship in atherosclerosis research at Baylor College of Medicine.

Jen Horonjeff, PhD, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Real Patients™ (formerly Savvy Cooperative), a patient-founded patient insights company that has spent more than a decade ensuring patient experience meaningfully informs decision-making for pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences organizations. She holds a PhD with a focus on human factors and patient priorities, and has over 20 years of experience working across patient-centered research, advisory, and leadership roles, including serving on FDA advisory committees and on boards working in healthcare data, technology, and clinical research. Her work has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine, which named her one of its Most Daring Entrepreneurs for pioneering a new model of patient partnership in healthcare. As a lifelong chronic illness patient and brain tumor survivor, Jen brings a rare dual perspective to her work. At Real Patients™, she has built a Full-Stack Patient Engagement™ approach—earning patient trust, fairly valuing patient contributions, and generating high-quality, longitudinal insight that reflects real life, not just clinical moments. Jen believes the future of healthcare innovation starts with real patients.

Aaron J. Horowitz is the founder and CEO of Empath Labs, a pediatric patient experience lab dedicated to improving outcomes through empathy-driven design. Inspired by his own experience with human growth hormone deficiency, Aaron has created tools like Clinical Companions for pediatric clinical research, Rufus the Bear for children with type 1 diabetes, and My Special Aflac Duck, a robotic companion for children with cancer and sickle cell disease.

Used by over 188,000 children worldwide, these innovations help alleviate anxiety, provide comfort, and improve adherence to medical treatments. Aaron’s work has earned accolades such as the DIA Outstanding Contribution to Health Award (2024), two TIME Best Invention of the Year awards, and recognition by the White House as one of 50 honored makers. Prior to Empath Labs, Aaron founded Design for America, a nationwide non-profit that empowers college students with design thinking skills to create social impact innovations. He holds a degree in Mechatronics and User Interaction Design from Northwestern University.

Stacy Hurt, MHA, MBA, is an award-winning 25 year pharma executive who bridges the industry/consumer gap as a stage IV cancer survivor and 24/7 caregiver to her son with a rare disease. Her unique professional and personal experience position her as an esteemed patient advocate as well as an influential pioneer in Patient Engagement. In Ms Hurt’s role as Patient Advocacy Ambassador at Parexel, the first of its kind, she commands a seat at the table on behalf of patients and caregivers to examine and reduce patient burden thus increasing participation and retention along the clinical trial patient journey. Ms Hurt was named to the 2022 Medika Life Top 50 Influential Voices in Healthcare. She resides in Pittsburgh, PA with her husband and two sons.

Paris Johnson is a highly experienced clinical research professional with over 13 years of dedicated service at AstraZeneca in Site Management and Monitoring. With experience as a US Study Lead in both Biopharma and Oncology, she has a commitment to data-driven delivery with a patient-centric focus. Ms Johnson has played a crucial role in developing, implementing and executing strategies to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in clinical trials, development of Clinical Trial Diversity Action Plans and addressing health disparities within the US. Ms Johnson is a passionate advocate for ensuring that clinical trials reflect the diversity of the populations they aim to serve.

Elan Josielewski is a Senior Principal and head of Operations of Patient Centered Solutions at IQVIA.  Prior to joining IQVIA, Mr Josielewski was the VP of Patient Centered Sciences at ICON; the integration of: Oxford Outcomes, Mapi Patient Centered Sciences, Mapi Language Services and The Mapi Research Trust. Prior to ICON, he was the Executive VP of Corporate Development and Marketing at Mapi Group, as well as, Vice Chairman of the Mapi Research Trust. Mr Josielewski has over 30 years of business leadership in Lifesciences, Engineering and Defense industries. Nearing a quarter century of specific experience across entire Clinical and Post-Approval Drug and device lifecycle; including Phase I – IV to Commercialization CRO services from 10 years at PharmaNet, Central Labs(MDS Central Labs), Clinical and Specimen Logistics (Marken), Cold Chain, EDC, eCOA (CRF Health), eConsent, Clinical Outcomes assessments and Real World Evidence (Mapi).

Maureen Kashuba has over 20 years of Pharma experience. She leads the Plain Language Summary (PLS) program at Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, United States.

She led the development of the company’s > 1250 term Health Literate Glossary which has been reviewed, tested for cultural competency and approved for use internally. She’s led Patient Panel and Cultural Competency reviews to engage diverse insights on terms and concepts. Maureen co-chairs the DIA PLS Working Group is a member of the MRCT Center Glossary Development Review Team and the EFPIA CREG joint subteam on patient friendly language. She is passionate about clear communication of research information to empower patients to make informed health choices for themselves and their

Christa Kerkorian is vice president of Patient Advocacy at Day One Bio, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing new, more effective, and safer treatments for children with cancer. Day One’s clinical programs are focused on pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG) and other pediatric and adult solid tumors. Christa joined Day One in 2021 to establish the Patient Advocacy function and support Day One’s clinical programs in pLGG, as well as to lead outreach and support for the broader pediatric cancer patient community. Her approach to patient advocacy has centered around establishing trusting, long-term relationships with patients, families, and advocates, elevating their voices, and facilitating community and capacity building to advance shared goals.

Prior to joining Day One, Christa spent six years at Agios Pharma. At Agios, Christa established and led Patient Advocacy, covering oncology and rare genetic diseases. Her work in these therapeutic areas included advocacy at the grass-roots and grass-tops levels and creating international partnerships and coalition building.

Before joining Agios, Christa spent nine years in Managed Care at Genentech. Her area of expertise was patient access, first with Genentech’s patient assistance programs and then in managed care marketing, where she led brand strategy and communications.

Christa earned a BA in Communications Studies from UCLA and an MBA from St. Mary's College.

Dr Ann-Marie La Ronde-Richard is Director and Patient Engagement Lead in the Translational Clinical Sciences Unit in Pfizer Research and Development. Formerly Principal Scientist in the Internal Medicine Research Unit, Ann-Marie has been at Pfizer for a total of 17 years.

As Patient Engagement Lead, Ann-Marie is now in a unique position to bridge the gap between patients and those working to develop breakthrough therapies to improve their lives, ensuring that researchers better understand the experiences and unmet medical needs of diverse patient populations living with disease. Her role entails partnering with Patient Advocacy Groups, patients and their families to ensure that patients’ perspectives and needs are incorporated into the drug development strategy from beginning to end to ultimately improve health outcomes for all.

Dr La Ronde-Richard obtained her BS degree from Suffolk University in Boston and then completed her Doctorate in Pathology at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr La Ronde-Richard is also the cofounder of the Dominican Health and Education Initiative (DAHEI), a 501c3 organization founded in 2013, focused on improving the quality of life for Caribbean individuals, families and communities, including from her native island, Dominica, through enhancing education, healthcare and training.

Steve Levine, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist who has spent his career working across multiple facets of the healthcare system to improve people’s lives through creating access to innovation.

Steve completed internship and residency in psychiatry at New York – Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center. He then completed fellowship subspecialty training in psychosomatic medicine / psycho-oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/New York – Presbyterian Hospital. Prior to Compass, he led the company he founded in 2010, Actify Neurotherapies, that built new models of care delivery across the US for interventional psychiatry treatments. He has published extensively in both peer-reviewed journals and popular media, presented to both professional and lay audiences around the world, served in leadership roles for professional societies and not-for-profit entities, and received numerous awards for leadership and service.

Gonzalo Linares is the Global Head of Patient Advocacy in R&D at Johnson & Johnson, bringing over 20 years of experience in patient advocacy and corporate affairs. Based in Basel, Switzerland, he is responsible for bringing a systematic and strategic approach to the way J&J partners with advocacy organizations throughout the R&D process. Mr Linares began his career leading advocacy programs with oncology patient organizations in his native Spain in 2004, and has since held increasingly senior global roles in the UK and Switzerland. Most recently, he served as the Global Head of Patient Advocacy in R&D at Novartis, as well as the Global Executive Director of Patient Engagement Neuroscience at the same company, where he worked across Research, Development, and Commercial organizations to integrate the patient community’s perspective.

When he is not behind his desk, Mr Linares is passionate about nature in Switzerland while maintaining strong ties with his family and friends in Spain. Outside of work, he enjoys mountain biking, meditation, and CrossFit.

Gail Long is Head of Centralized Patient Recruitment and Enablement, where she leads global patient recruitment efforts across Marketing Operations, Patient Enablement Technologies, and Patient Communities. Throughout her work, Gail focuses on ensuring that patient needs, preferences, and real-world experiences are understood first—and reflected meaningfully in how clinical trial recruitment is designed and communicated.

With more than 30 years of marketing experience and over a decade dedicated to patient recruitment, Gail has led recruitment strategies for more than 1,000 clinical trials across 75+ therapeutic indications and over 30 countries. Her teams begin by listening to patients—understanding barriers, motivations, and unmet needs—and then apply precision targeting, innovative technologies, and multi-channel outreach to help patients identify trials that are right for them.

Prior to joining IQVIA, Gail spent seven years at AES, where she led marketing and call center operations for patient recruitment. Earlier in her career, she held senior marketing roles at Fortune 500 companies including Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, and Consumer Reports. Gail holds an MBA in Marketing from Temple University and is passionate about advancing more inclusive, patient-centered approaches that treat patients as true partners in clinical research.

Cheryl Lubbert is a visionary leader and driver of transformation in the healthcare and biopharmaceutical industries.

With over 30 years of executive leadership experience at industry giants such as Abbott Laboratories, Amgen, Immunex, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, she has consistently spearheaded innovative strategies that reshape market dynamics.

At Abbott, she led the Immunology Division, advancing key therapies including HUMIRA into critical areas, while her strategic initiatives at Immunex and Amgen were instrumental in the breakthrough commercialization of biologics in Dermatology including Enbrel.

Her breadth of experience in pharma has cultivated a unique client perspective—one that is deeply embedded in the Reverba Global approach and technology platforms. By blending cutting-edge, tech-enabled solutions with real-world insights from physicians, patients, and payors, Cheryl ensures that Reverba Global strategies not only meet but anticipate the evolving needs of the global healthcare ecosystem.

Robin Marcus believes that if a clinical trial doesn’t work for the patient, it doesn’t work. Starting her career as a Bone Marrow Transplant nurse in San Francisco, Robin witnessed firsthand the burdens placed on participants—a "friction" she is now on a mission to eliminate. Currently leading Global Decentralized Trials Market Development at Marken, Robin combines clinical expertise with precision logistics to champion patient equity and representation. Having successfully launched patient centric services and steered major partnerships and implementations at GlobalCare and LabCorp, she focuses on making research simpler and more accessible. To Robin, "decentralized" doesn't mean remote; it means more connected, high-touch, and inclusive.

Wes Martz has spent 25 years in the industry with a focus on Patient Recruitment and Site Feasibility over the past 20+, having helped to develop the service offering for ePharmaSolutions (ePS) in the late 2000s/early 2010s. ePS being a pioneer in eClinical systems in addition to Patient Recruitment service provider, Wes Martz was an obvious choice for WCG Clinical, who acquired ePS in 2014, to oversee the newly formed partnership with TrialX in 2016-17 to champion its Patient Recruitment Management Platform as it expanded its offering from Academic Research Organization implementations to enterprise deals with leading Pharma companies. In 2023, he joined TrialX directly as its Senior Director, Client Services and now leads their team of Client Services professionals and acts as a primary liaison between TrialX’s client partners and Product Team to continue to develop the industry’s first and leading Patient Recruitment Management Platform, TrialX Connect, with one of the company’s primary goals, Customer Delight, as his priority.

Mackenzie McKinney is Executive Director, Site Solutions and Patient Experience at Jumo Health. She leads strategic initiatives that deliver high quality patient and caregiver education at the moment of need and simplify site training and engagement. At Moderna she integrated patient voice with technology and services, including home health, travel concierge, participant payments, and digital patient-facing solutions, to improve the trial journey. Before Moderna she led digital implementation teams at PPD and Signant Health, delivering patient technologies and engagement tools across global studies.

Denisa McKnight has over twenty years’ international (United Kingdom, Switzerland, United States) Pharma Industry experience having a variety of senior strategic leadership roles across many Research & Development business areas. Over the course of her career, Denisa gained an excellent understanding of the operational capabilities, technologies, challenges and cross-industry insights that fueled her true passion to transform customer experiences focusing on their individual personal journeys.

Prior to joining Trialbee in her current role of Director of Partnerships, Denisa worked at DT Consulting, Havas Lynx and Roche where she was leading the delivery of complex global strategic projects across Patient Recruitment & Retention, Investigator & Patient Insights Experience, Data & Analytics, Digital Platforms, Decentralized Clinical Trials, as well as large-scale Transformation Operating Model Design rollouts.

Denisa also led numerous teams and set up a fully functioning Patient Engagement Global Category practice, Program Management Office within Academic Alliances and Project Data Management teams in the United States & Switzerland. Denisa earned a master’s degree (MSc) in Life Sciences from Mendel’s University and a (mini) MBA in Biopharma Innovation at Rutgers University.

Misha Mehta is a scientist by training, a Board-Certified Patient Advocate, and above all a mother to her beloved son, Neev, whose brain tumor journey continues to inspire her work. That lived experience fuels her commitment to transforming pediatric brain cancer research, advocacy, and care.

She currently serves as Senior Director of Research at the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, where she leads research strategy and cross-sector collaborations aimed at accelerating discovery and improving access to clinical trials. Misha is also the Founder and President of the Neev Kolte & Brave Ronil Foundation, working alongside families, researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to advance rare cancer research, dismantle data silos, and strengthen support systems for children and families facing devastating diagnosis.

Her advocacy spans national and federal efforts, including contributions to the White House Cancer Moonshot, rare disease policy work as a Legislative Advisor with the EveryLife Foundation, and service on advisory and scientific review boards with the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer, Friends of Cancer Research, PCORI, and the Department of Defense’s Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. At the heart of all her work is her son Neev whose courage continues to shape her mission and drive lasting change for children with brain tumors.

I am a man of faith, volunteer, patient advocate, retired risk management professional, and lung cancer survivor who is dedicated to sharing my lived experience along the lung cancer journey.  Each of these characteristics have helped me to grow and develop specific skills that allow me to use my patient voice and experience to participate in ways that bring insightful opportunities for collaboration between healthcare, science, research, and patient engagement.

As a man of faith, I seek direction from above. When I was initially diagnosed with lung cancer, I asked God to allow me the privilege to help make a difference for others facing cancer and other life threatening illnesses. My prayers are being answered each day that I am able to share my patient story, and each day that I am able to speak to organizations around the nation about the importance of including the patient voice in their business objectives and goals. 

I am a member of Faces of Faith, a photo gallery of over 100 patients sharing their journey through cancer and how their faith along with science and medicine continues to bring hope and encouragement.

As a cancer survivor, I am also honored to be able to participate in forums where my patient voice can be heard. For example: 

As an advisory committee member for the Partners in Clinical Research Conference, I’m currently  engaged with the coordination of the event topics and breakout sessions, serving as track chair and previously co-host, and meeting one on one with industry professionals seeking feedback from participation in clinical trials. I also serve in the same capacity for the DPHARM Conference each year.

I have participated in projects which are Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiatives (PCORI) funded and that help with defining dignity and respect from a patient perspective and to establish criteria for the credentials for patients participating in a research project.

I collaborated on a team with Ariadne Labs and CRICO/Risk Management Foundation to create the “Developing and Implementing an Ambulatory Safety Net” Guide that was presented at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in 2023. 

I volunteer with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute as a Community Ambassador. I also support my oncologist with his research focused on ways to improve patient access at Designated Cancer Centers for disparities outcomes by race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and gender identity across the cancer care continuum. 

I serve on the Board of Directors for LUNGevity, nonprofit lung cancer organization that provides grants to lung cancer researchers and community engagement opportunities.

Gary Nolan is the Founder and CEO of Colab Health, a patient-interest organization dedicated to helping healthcare companies embed the patient voice meaningfully across research, development, and commercial strategy.

For more than two decades, Gary has worked at the intersection of industry and the patient advocacy community, designing collaborative models that enable patients to participate earlier, more consistently, and more effectively in drug development. His work focuses on moving beyond traditional “patient centricity” toward practical models of patient inclusion that deliver measurable improvements in clinical research, education, and health outcomes.

Through Colab Health, Gary partners with pharmaceutical companies, non-profit organizations, and global advocacy networks to co-create initiatives that strengthen collaboration between industry and the communities it serves. His work often involves establishing patient advisory structures, supporting advocacy networks, and developing education and engagement programmes that help ensure patient insights meaningfully inform research and development.

Gary’s work spans multiple therapeutic areas, including oncology, rare diseases, and paediatric conditions, and frequently involves building multi-stakeholder collaborations between patient organisations, clinicians, researchers, and industry partners.

A frequent speaker on patient partnership and engagement, Gary advocates for a shift from aspirational language toward operational change; ensuring that patients are not simply consulted, but recognised as essential partners in shaping better research, better medicines, and better outcomes.

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Sheetal Padania has over 20 years’ experience in global healthcare market research and patient strategy, with deep expertise in elevating the patient voice across clinical development and beyond. She is passionate about understanding the authentic patient and caregiver experience and specialises in translating rich insight and behavioural science into clear, actionable strategies that drive meaningful impact for organisations and the communities they serve.

Pankaj Patel, BSc, serves as the Innovation Capability Head for Clinical Trial Representation at Novartis, where he leads initiatives to develop and implement innovative solutions designed to ensure that clinical trial populations accurately reflect the groups intended to benefit from investigational products.

Mr. Patel has previously held numerous leadership positions focusing on representation, patient advocacy, and clinical research within diverse organizations. At IQVIA, he directed strategies and initiatives to enhance clinical trial representation. At Celgene, he established a patient advocacy function within global clinical operations, and at Bristol Myers Squibb, he managed consumer brand marketing in commercial operations and was instrumental in the creation of a Patient Advocacy Center of Excellence within R&D.

Pesh Patel is the Founder and CEO of A Kidney Life. Pesh is a former hospitality executive with over three decades of hospitality and real estate experience. He utilized his deep knowledge of the industry along with relationships cultivated through the years for multiple projects in the US and Internationally. On October 3rd, 2023, Pesh launched A Kidney Life. He was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) in 2017 and received a kidney transplant on August 7, 2018 after 15 months on dialysis. The foundation of A Kidney Life is a weekly newsletter aimed at raising awareness, education, and advocacy for those living with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) as well as pre and post organ transplant patients, mental health and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle for everyone. In addition to the newsletter, Pesh is also the host of the Talk Kidney to Me podcast. He is a member of Kidney Health Initiative (KHI) Patient and Family Partnership Council (PFPC), which is a public-private partnership between the ASN (American Society of Nephrology) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Along with being an avid Patient Advocate and Kidney Coach, Pesh serves on the Board of Directors of the National Kidney Foundation of Louisiana, is a member of multiple National Kidney Foundation Advisory Boards, and is a Peer Mentor. Pesh is also an Ambassador for the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, AAKP, and UNOS. Additionally, Pesh volunteers for LOPA (Louisiana Organ Procurement Association) and consults for multiple pharmaceutical, disruptive companies, and strategic innovators in kidney care.

Tiffany Patrick, MPH, MBA joined Amicus in 2024 and currently serves as Chief Patient Officer. A longtime patient advocacy professional with experience spanning rare disease and oncology, she brings more than 20 years of leadership in the biotechnology industry. Her career has been dedicated to advancing the role of the patient voice —from early research through launch and access—with a focus on innovation and impact. Her forward-thinking leadership earned her a place among PharmaVOICE’s Top 100 innovators in life sciences for 2011.

Before joining Amicus, Ms Patrick held patient advocacy and other leadership roles in small- to mid-size biotechnology companies, led teams within medical communications agencies serving the life sciences industry, and operated a strategic consulting practice advising life science companies on patient engagement. She brings these diverse perspectives to her work with patient organizations around the world, helping to bridge scientific innovation with the lived experiences of patients and families.

Ms Patrick serves as a Strategic Advisor for Global Programs at the Oxalosis and Hyperoxaluria Foundation and is a member of The Max Foundation’s Max Think Tank. She is active across the rare disease and oncology biopharmaceutical landscape, bridging advocacy, development, access, and innovation.

She holds a degree in History from American University, a Master of Public Health from Benedictine University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Andrew Pearlmutter is an Associate Director of Patient Centered Outcomes Science at BioMarin, with over 6 years of experience in patient-centered outcome (PCO) measurement design and implementation, with a focus on supporting digital health technology development and integration in clinical trials. Before joining BioMarin, Mr Pearlmutter was a Digital Biomarkers Consultant at Koneksa Health, a leading digital biomarker solutions provider. Mr Pearlmutter was also an inaugural member of Sanofi’s Digital Innovation team, where he led Sanofi’s efforts to build, test, and scale app- and wearable-based digital endpoints and health technologies in Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and rare diseases – including driving concept elicitation, regulatory engagements and clinical validation.

With over 30 years of experience across Sales, Training, Marketing, Market Access, Patient Advocacy, and Corporate Affairs, Josée Pelletier brings deep cross-functional expertise to advancing patient-focused innovation in drug development. She is currently Senior Director, Global Patient Advocacy – Research & Drug Development at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she leads global early engagement strategies to ensure patient perspectives are embedded in clinical trial design and execution. Her therapeutic experience spans oncology and multiple other areas, with a strong track record in leading global patient insight initiatives, developing early engagement frameworks, and driving strategic collaborations that support more inclusive, impactful research. Grounded in a background in science and supported by an Executive MBA, Josée combines analytical rigor with business acumen to align stakeholders around shared goals. Bilingual in English and French and experienced across Canadian, US, and international markets, she brings a global mindset, cultural agility, and a deep commitment to purposeful partnership in elevating the patient voice across the healthcare ecosystem.

Karen Peterson is the Founder and Chief Patient Advocate of Karen’s Club, Ms Peterson was inspired to help other patients of color, understand the complex and sometimes skeptical world of clinical trials.  A Stage IV Triple Negative Breast cancer survivor, Ms Peterson is also a founding member of the Patient Community Council at Foundation Medicine, a consultant for Blue Note Therapeutics and a Cancer Research Institute- Immuno Advocate.  Ms Peterson was the featured patient speaker at the Biden Cancer Initiative’s 2019 presentation at ASCO, and the 2020 Inaugural AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report presented to Congress.  Her inspiring story has been shared with Cure, Essence, Health and People magazines as well as ABC Radio Networks “Perspective” and The Today Show.  Lastly, Ms Peterson successfully completed the exclusive 2021 Robin Hood/Blue Ridge Labs Fellowship Program, where she co-created (with her partner Nava Friedman) the highly anticipated advocacy platform https://www.karensclub.org/

Heather has spent most of her career in project, program, and change management for pharma software development and implementation. She joined Sanofi in 2014, and currently works in the global Patient Informed Development & Health Value Translation department. Heather and her team drive reporting and impact measures with a razor- sharp focus on commitment to listening and translating patient concerns and insights. This analytical data provided by Heather and her team delivers new health care solutions so that patients can experience improved quality of life. Heather’s other duties include providing operational, interdepartmental, and business management solutions, including AI-driven tools.

Parthena Psyllos is a Senior Corporate Counsel on the Clinical Development (CD) Legal team at Pfizer, Inc. in New York, where she is the lead counsel for Clinical Innovation. In this role, Ms Psyllos provides support and counsel on legal and regulatory issues impacting Pfizer’s clinical research activities globally, including Good Clinical Practice (GCP) advice and policy support to enable decentralized clinical trials, patient engagement and digital initiatives in clinical development such as eConsent, eSource, mobile apps, wearables and social media. She is also the CD Legal subject matter in several areas, including informed consent, study recruitment, diversity in clinical trials, and patient engagement activities.  Ms Psyllos has held several prior roles supporting clinical development issues at Pfizer. These included negotiating clinical development agreements, handling GCP and regulatory compliance issues in clinical trials, and conducting U.S. compliance investigations.  Prior to joining Pfizer, Ms Psyllos worked at Bloomberg as a Legal Analyst and in private practice at Kramer Levin Naftalis and Frankel as a litigation associate, with a focus on the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. She has served as Vice-Chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law Section. Ms Psyllos has a BA in English and American Literature and Psychology from New York University, where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and a JD from Brooklyn Law School. 

Madison Reider is a patient‑focused, innovative and results-driven leader experienced across R&D, patient insights and digital solutions. She has a proven ability to streamline processes, drive cross‑functional alignment, and deliver scalable systems that make meaningful impact on outcomes for patients. She's previously held roles across patient engagement, feasibility, enrollment planning and study operations at CSL Behring. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Biology and Anthropology from Dickinson College.

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Amy Comstock Rick, JD, is CDER’s Associate Director for Rare Disease Strategy and the Director of Strategic Coalitions for FDA’s Rare Disease Innovation Hub (the Hub). She serves in a cross-cutting role across FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluations and Research (CDER) and Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) to facilitate implementation of the Hub. She also works closely with both centers to develop and carry out a rare disease strategic agenda. Ms. Rick, with support from staff in CBER’s and CDER’s rare disease programs, is the Hub’s primary point of engagement for parties external to FDA.

Most recently, Ms. Rick served as Principal Consultant at Leavitt Partners, focusing on health policy matters, with a primary focus on rare disease and medical product development. Before Leavitt Partners, she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing an innovative, open, balanced exchange of ideas and viewpoints across the field of food and drug law. Before joining FDLI, Ms. Rick was Chief Executive Officer of the Parkinson’s Action Network.Ms. Rick also served as President of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research and on the Boards of Directors for Research America, the National Health Council, and the American Brain Coalition.

Ms. Rick had previous federal service as a career attorney at the U.S. Department of Education in 1988, focusing primarily on the field of government ethics. She was the Senate-confirmed Director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics from 2000 to 2003 and Associate Counsel to the President in the White House Counsel’s Office from 1998 to 2000. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Bard College and a juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan.

Ashish Rishi is the founder and CEO of Unwritten Health and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for IHI READI, a Horizon Europe initiative on health equity and research infrastructure.

His career has been dedicated to making healthcare more inclusive, not as a moral cause, but as a practical necessity. Because systems that exclude people from their data don't just fail those people. They fail everyone who relies on the decisions that data shapes.

His work starts with a question most systems never ask: who isn't in the data?

Ashish has spent his career examining how healthcare decisions break, not at the point of failure, but long before it. When the wrong voices shape the evidence. When engagement looks thorough but isn't.

At Unwritten Health, he's building something to change that, turning diverse lived experience into decision-ready data that helps life sciences see not just what happened, but where understanding eroded and trust was lost long before outcomes told the story.

He doesn't frame this as advocacy. He frames it as an evidence problem. A design problem. One with real consequences for research, innovation, policy, and care delivery.

Based in Manchester, UK, Ashish works with healthcare and life sciences organisations who are beginning to ask whether their data truly reflects who it needs to, and what it costs when it doesn't.

Terri Robertson's diverse career has centered around creating connections through communication. And after 9 years at Medtronic, she has moved into a role that finds ways to build connections directly with patients. By developing tools that empower Medtronic teams to actively seek and incorporate patient feedback into processes, procedures, and products, Terri’s work ultimately drives innovation and enhances patient experiences and outcomes.

Amber Salzman, PhD, is Epicrispr’s chief executive officer and director. Dr. Salzman is a leader with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceuticals industry. Before joining Epicrispr, Dr. Salzman served as the president and CEO of Ohana Biosciences, pioneering the industry’s first sperm biology platform. Before Ohana, she served as the president and CEO of Adverum Biotechnologies and was a co-founder of Annapurna, SAS, where she served as president and CEO before its merger with Avalanche Biotechnologies to become Adverum. In that role, she saw the company’s stock price double.

Dr. Salzman began her career as a member of the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) research and development executive team, where she was responsible for operations in drug development across multiple therapeutic areas, overseeing global clinical trials with over 30,000 enrolled patients, managing 1,600 employees and a $1.25B budget. Following her time at GSK, Dr. Salzman served as the CEO of Cardiokine, a pharmaceutical company that developed treatments for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and saw the successful sale of the company to Cornerstone Therapeutics. Dr. Salzman currently serves on the Osler Diagnostics (UK) and AviadoBio (UK) Boards.

Dr. Salzman received her bachelor’s degree from Temple University and holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College.

In addition to advocating for patients living with rare diseases, Dr. Salzman leads the Stop ALD Foundation, a non-profit medical research foundation focused on developing novel gene therapies for adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

Kylie Sands, MBA, CCRP, is the Operations Manager for the Clinical and Rural Health Research Department at St. Lawrence Health in Upstate New York as well as a Clinical Assistant Professor teaching Research Methods for the Physician Assistant program at Clarkson University. She has worked in clinical research for nearly 10 years in both the DC Metro area and New York. She currently serves as Chapter Chair for the New York State Chapter for the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) as well as sits on the Exam writing Committee for SOCRA.

She received her BS in Biology from SUNY Potsdam and an MBA in Healthcare Administration. Her absolute greatest achievement though, is her 2 amazing sons Gabriel, 5, and Alexander, 12. Alexander was diagnosed over the summer with a rare brain tumor, a craniopharyngioma, and has highlighted what it is like to navigate the healthcare system, chronic illness, and attempt to navigate the clinical trial space as a patient/caregiver to her.

Nidhi Saxena is a healthcare leader with 20+ years of experience spanning market research, global operations, data & insights, and patient engagement across Fortune 500 companies. She currently leads Global Patient Engagement Strategy at J&J R&D, driving patient-centric innovation and large-scale solutions. Known as a collaborative, solution-driven leader, Nidhi focuses on patient centricity, innovation, and talent development to transform organizational impact.

Rucha Shah has been living with a rare disorder. Her commitment lays in advocating for accessible healthcare and improving health outcomes for the broader patient community, especially the next generation of patients. Currently, Ms Shah leads a patient advocacy group for patients and caregivers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania. She also collaborates with various national organizations and pharmaceutical companies on bringing forth initiatives which make meaningful connections within the disease community, improve the quality of life for patients and to increase awareness within the larger community.

Ms Shah attained her Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Organization and Management from the Drexel University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. She further completed certificate coursework in Advancing Health Equity from ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and Research Advocacy Network as well as certificate coursework in Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professionally, Ms Shah works as a clinical research project manager within the oncology space. She strives to apply the "lessons learned" from her patient advocacy experiences to her professional work by building the trials to be more patient centric and accessible.

Recent Works: Woolford T, Andemariam B, Blaylark R, Colasanti R, Shah N, Jonassaint C, Trimnell C, Sheth S, Davis J, Gallagher E, Zaidi AU, John H, Shah R. Setting Industry Standards for Patient Engagement, Partnership and Care: The Patient Vision Project. Poster and Oral presentation at NORD. October 16, 2023. Washington DC, USA.

At just 16 years old, Inaaya Shariq is a two-time osteosarcoma survivor, advocate, and active member of the pediatric cancer community. Diagnosed with osteosarcoma in her right thigh at age 11, Inaaya underwent 10 months of chemotherapy and a limb-salvage surgery that included an internal prosthesis and knee replacement. After two years cancer-free, she faced a recurrence at age 14, undergoing additional chemotherapy and a full right-leg amputation with hip disarticulation in April 2024.

Through her experiences, Inaaya has become a passionate voice for pediatric cancer awareness and patient engagement in research. She serves as a member of iCAN Illinois KIDS at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and on the MIB Agents 2025 Junior Advisory Board, helping to amplify youth perspectives in cancer advocacy and clinical research. Outside of her advocacy work, Inaaya enjoys reading, writing, swimming, watching movies, and spending time with friends and family.

Kersten Sharrock leads Sanofi's Integrated Patient Engagement as part of the Global Corporate Affairs Team. With 25+ years in healthcare, including significant experience within patient advocacy, Kersten joined Sanofi in 2012, previously overseeing Neurology Public Affairs and Patient Engagement Strategy for Specialty Care.

Driven by the belief that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, Kersten is accountable for an enterprise-wide framework to transform Sanofi from patient centricity to true patient integration, ensuring the patient perspective influences all aspects of healthcare delivery and innovation.

Leah Sorini is a fundraising and external affairs leader with experience advancing mission-driven organizations through strategic donor engagement, corporate partnerships, and stewardship. At the PFF, she supports research activities and PFF patient and healthcare provider programs that serve the pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease community through the execution and management of sponsorship agreements, grants, and collaborations.

Prior to joining PFF, Leah Sorini worked for a market research firm, managing marketing initiatives to build relationships with health technology vendors. Previously, she worked as a communication specialist for a federal benefits program, USAC’s Lifeline, which helps participants get access to more affordable phone and internet services.

Alicia Staley is Chief Patient Officer at Medidata, leading the Social Impact and Engagement teams to amplify patient, site, and employee insights across the product lifecycle. A three-time cancer survivor, Alicia uses her personal experiences and empathy to champion patient-centric innovation. She created Patient Centricity by Design (PCbD) in 2018, to provide better structure and governance for developing patient-centric technical solutions, transforming how patients engage with clinical trials.

With more than 25 years of experience in software design and information systems management, Alicia maintains an extensive network of patient advocates, non-profits, and industry stakeholders organizations to enhance policies and practices to improve cancer care. As a champion of patient advocacy and engagement, Alicia understands the critical issues facing patients seeking to engage in clinical research.

Alicia has been recognized with numerous awards for her advocacy , including Ellen L. Stovall Award for Innovation in Patient-Centered Cancer Care given by the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the Eye for Pharma Patient Champion award, and the CHI SCOPE Participant Engagement award for her work on Medidata’s Patient Centricity by Design initiative.

Alicia is an accomplished researcher and author, having co-led numerous research studies and published extensively on patient engagement and the need for patient-centric approaches in the design and development of clinical trials. Alicia earned a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Syracuse University, a Masters of Information Systems, and an MBA from Boston University. Her passion for patient advocacy drives her mission to create meaningful change in clinical research.

Anthony K. Taylor, DHSc, MSPharm, is an experienced leader, executive, former clinical research scientist and U.S. Army medic with comprehensive industry knowledge and a proven record for delivering results within large, mid-size, and small pharmaceutical organizations. Dr Taylor is Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certified and has a solid background in leading global clinical programs and teams. He has been in the pharma industry for almost 20 years and has held positions of increasing responsibility. When he is not leading large cross-functional initiatives, Dr Taylor enjoys spending time with his family and playing tennis in the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA). He is recently married, has two children, and lives in the Chicago-area with his family.

Sarah Tuller has 25 years of experience in regulatory strategy and operations, spanning numerous clinical and commercial-stage products across a wide range of therapeutic indications, including multiple cell and gene therapies and orphan disease programs. She has led or been a part of numerous successful IND, NDA, MAA and BLA applications.  Prior to joining Opus, she was Chief Regulatory Officer and Head of Medical Writing at Tenpoint Therapeutics, as well as Vice President and Global Head, Regulatory, Medical Writing and Quality at Disc Medicine, and held regulatory leadership positions at Astellas Pharma, where she was Senior Director and Medical Specialties Therapeutic Team Leader and supported the ophthalmology gene therapy, mitochondrial diseases, and regenerative (cell) medicinal product franchises, as well as prior appointments of increasing regulatory responsibility at companies including Biogen, ImClone, Fresenius, and Baxter. She earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) in IP law from the University of Dayton School of Law, holds a B.S. in Chemistry, and is RAC certified in Regulatory as well as a member of RAPS in US and TOPRA in EU.

As the CEO of ProofPilot, Chris Venezia has a track record of success with more than 18 years of strong leadership in product commercialization, patient recruitment, marketing, and sales. Chris joined ProofPilot as the CEO in 2022 after serving as the Chief Commercial Officer at Citeline Connect. Chris excels in addressing the pain points of the life sciences industry and bringing technology-driven solutions to the market. His expertise will help disrupt the clinical trial industry to improve the experience and research outcomes for all key stakeholders in the space.

Muffy Walker is an author with a passion for crafting compelling fiction that educates and inspires. Through her stories, she aims to shed light on important topics, spark meaningful conversations, and foster greater understanding.

Her path to becoming an author has been shaped by a rich background in mental health advocacy. As the founder of the International Bipolar Foundation, she has dedicated much of her life to raising awareness and reducing stigma surrounding mental health. She holds a Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA, and has written extensively on mental health topics, contributing chapters, guides, and newspaper articles to the field.

Muffy now channels that experience into her fiction, weaving together her professional expertise and personal passions to create stories that entertain while offering insight into complex, real-world issues. Her goal is to educate readers in a way that feels natural, engaging, and thought-provoking.

When she’s not writing, Muffy loves exploring exotic destinations, savoring decadent chocolate desserts, and spending time with her dogs. She is also an avid pickleball player and enjoys the strategy and fun of Mah Jong.

Through her writing, she hopes to connect with readers on a deeper level, offering not just stories but opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow.

Matt Weinheimer is a medical affairs leader and dedicated advocate for families affected by inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). As Director of Medical Affairs at Opus Genetics, he works to ensure that patient perspectives are meaningfully integrated into gene therapy development. His work includes organizing patient and KOL advisory boards, developing patient‑friendly clinical trial materials, collaborating with global registries, and supporting documentary storytelling that amplifies the lived experiences of those navigating rare retinal conditions.

Drawing on experience in medical communication, clinical trial operations, and patient engagement, Matt focuses on reducing participation barriers and strengthening the connection between patient communities and industry. A Navy veteran, parent, and active community member, he brings a service‑driven approach to rare disease advocacy, working to empower families and ensure that their insights help shape the future of IRD research and care.

Angela Wheeler is President of Lumanity’s Insight practice in the US and leads the company’s Patient Center of Excellence, championing the integration of patient and consumer perspectives into life sciences strategy. With over 20 years in healthcare marketing research, she guides a multidisciplinary team applying qualitative, quantitative, and UX methodologies across therapeutic areas including rare disease, neurology, and mental health. Ms Wheeler passion lies in capturing and contextualizing patient needs to drive product innovation, improve health outcomes, and accelerate access to medical advances.

Karen Whonder is a clinical development leader with 23+ years in life sciences, currently at AstraZeneca as Director, Global Site and Patient Partnership Lead. She specializes in patient outreach and engagement, building collaborations with sites, advocacy groups, and community organizations to co-create outreach strategies that enhance diversity, feasibility, and retention. Karen brings sponsor-side expertise in digital patient recruitment, leveraging data-driven audience segmentation, and omni-channel campaigns to accelerate enrollment while supporting the patient journey.

Previously, she spent 15 years at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Wallingford, CT; led sponsor and government-funded clinical research at Yale University; and held roles at biotech firms before serving as Director of Therapeutic Strategy, Immunology and Internal Medicine at IQVIA. Her therapeutic focus spans immunology and internal medicine, including autoimmune and systemic inflammatory conditions. She holds a B.S. from Quinnipiac University (2015) and post-graduate studies at Harvard Extension School.

Min. Robert (Bobby) Wiseman, Jr. is a scholar-practitioner, ordained minister, and community advocate whose vocation lives at the intersection of faith, public health, education, and social justice. Rooted in the African philosophy of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—and his guiding praxis, The Word and The Work: Liberative Whole Heart Hospitality, Wiseman approaches leadership as a communal, adaptive, and liberative practice that prioritizes dignity, belonging, and collective healing.

With over twenty years of ministry and leadership experience across Black Church traditions, including Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Baptist, and United Church of Christ contexts, Wiseman brings a Spirit-led, relational approach to pastoral care and institutional leadership. His ministry is shaped by both proclamation and practice—honoring the sacred while confronting silence, stigma, and systemic inequities related to mental health, sexuality, disability, and healthcare access.

Wiseman’s work extends beyond the sanctuary into national public health and policy spaces. He has served as an invited speaker and advisor for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, and the National AIDS Memorial Grove. He currently serves on the Experts by Experience Advisory Committee at the Patient Insight Institute and the Uniqure/CSL Behring Novel Therapies Advisory Committee, centering lived experience and ethical rigor in patient-centered research and innovation.

As a mentor and instructor with the SolanoConnex Community Fellowship and a contributing member of the PATIENTS Professors Academy, Wiseman equips faith leaders, frontline workers, and researchers to engage communities with cultural humility, trust, and accountability. Across pulpits, classrooms, clinics, and community spaces, his calling remains constant: to build tables wide enough for every story, to bridge sacred and secular institutions, and to witness to a Pentecostal imagination where healing, justice, and hospitality move together for the good of all God’s people.

Karen Wood has almost 20 years experience providing end-to-end patient experience to patients at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. She joined the Patient Insights Team as a Patient Advocacy Program manager, where she champions for patients' rights and well-being. Karen brings a true passion for patients to her role not only because of her professional experience, but from her personal experience as well. As a caregiver to her father, who battled multiple chronic illnesses, and her uncle, who fought against multiple myeloma and colon cancer, Karen intimately experienced the challenges and burdens faced by patients. It was these experiences that fueled her passion for advocacy and drove her to champion for patients' rights and well-being. Karen volunteers as a community advocate, offering assistance to patients dealing with day-to-day challenges such as transportation issues, insurance navigation, and medication denials. Her dedication to supporting and empowering patients reflects her commitment to patient-centricity and empathetic care. Karen aspires to educate and raise awareness about the importance of health equity and accessibility in patient-centered care, focusing on the impact of compassion in healthcare.

Sarah Woods is a Rare Disease Patient, Rare Mom and Patient Speaker with over 20 years of experience as a business leader and communications professional. Sarah has a passion for helping rare disease patients and caregivers through providing patient resources and rare diseases awareness, nationwide, as the Founder of the Serenely Guided Foundation for Rare Diseases, a 501(c)(3) public charity and non-profit organization. Through her own personal rare disease journey, Sarah brings innovative and experiential thought leadership to the areas of building patient-centricity in clinical trial design by placing patients and caregivers in leadership roles at sites and within pharmaceuticals to consult on strategies in order to incorporate patient perspectives every step of the way to achieve better health outcomes for the entire rare disease community. You can view Sarah's LinkedIn HERE.

Emily Wotczak has spent her career in MedTech, with cross-functional roles across R&D, manufacturing, service and repair, quality, and clinical. She joined Medtronic in 2014, and has dedicated the last three years to implementing the Medtronic Patient Engagement strategy — to ensure that patient insights drive decisions throughout the product life cycle. Emily Wotczak holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.

As the Director of Patient Advocacy for Day One Biopharmaceuticals, Kelli Wright is honored work with patient communities, people living with childhood cancer, caregivers, and non-profit foundations to better understand what it’s like to live with their disease.

With experience and a focus on rare diseases and pediatric oncology, Kelli is passionate about including the patient & caregiver experience into all areas of drug development.

Patient Advocacy is the connecter between patients and families and the teams within Day One. It’s critical to include the patient voice in drug development efforts as the company makes drug development and business decisions. What we do every day will ultimately and directly impact the disease communities we serve.

With a 15+ year non-profit career, Kelli has a deep understanding of the patient needs and experiences. Kelli was the National Director of Strategic Initiatives for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer, driving the strategic program of CureSearch by staying in tune with the barriers in drug development. Kelli learned from innovators in the industry, academic and regulatory space, as well as patients and disease-foundations, to address obstacles and develop action plans to close the communication gaps and reduce duplication of efforts.

Kelli resides in South Carolina with her family. She is passionate about nutrition and enjoys hunting for shark’s teeth on the weekends.

Anya Zeitlin is a Lead User Researcher with over a decade of experience applying participatory and human-centred methods across health, technology, and policy, she has worked with hard-to-reach communities to develop digital interventions that deliver measurable impact. At Little Journey, Anya leads the interdisciplinary Research and Co-Design function, spanning UX research, clinical psychology, and real-world evidence. Her work centres on involving patients, caregivers, and clinicians in the development and evaluation of scalable interventions that reduce barriers to trial participation, improve engagement, and drive behaviour change. Previous roles at Meta, Public Health England, and in academia sharpened her expertise in behaviour change, digital health, and applied research at scale. Across these settings, she has shown how participatory approaches can surface hidden barriers, inform strategy, and build trust. Anya brings a rare combination of methodological depth and strategic vision to advance meaningful, operationalised patient engagement in clinical research.

Maya Zlatanova is a healthtech entrepreneur and clinical research expert on a mission to bring research closer to patients. With 15 years of global experience spanning clinical research regulations, patient recruitment, and trial feasibility, she has witnessed firsthand how 45% of clinical trial amendments can be avoided simply by understanding patients better from the start.

She believes the industry's biggest breakthrough will come from combining AI-powered data intelligence with deep understanding of patient journeys - aligning trials with real-world treatment pathways before recruitment even begins. Ms Zlatanova's work focuses on connecting the dots between where patients naturally seek care and where clinical trials are conducted. Through her leadership in developing TrialHub, she's helped pharmaceutical companies design smarter protocols and avoid the trial design mistakes that lead to enrollment failures.

Her driving belief: Every delayed trial means patients waiting longer for life-changing treatments.