Solving Kids' Cancer - every kid deserves to grow up

John London MBA

Co-founder and Chair

John London’s inspiration for co-founding Solving Kids' Cancer belongs solely to his daughter, Penelope, who once told him "I want no one to feel yucky Daddy". The mission of both his life and that of his wife Catherine's is to make sure that no other children and families suffer the loss his family has had to endure with Penelope’s passing. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, John’s primary responsibilities with SKC include leadership and overall management of organizational governance, compliance, donor cultivation, and fundraising. John also serves as a strategic advisor in all areas of therapeutic development. John also co-founded and currently serves as general partner for SuttonBrook Capital Management, an investment fund based in New York City. He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.

Scott Kennedy MBA

Co-founder and Vice-Chair

Scott co-founded SKC in 2007 as a tribute to his son, Hazen Kennedy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 3. Hazen was Scott’s inspiration for creating Solving Kids' Cancer in part because Hazen wanted to become a scientist when he grew up in order to help people by creating new medicines. As Executive Director, Scott Kennedy is involved in all aspects of SKC, from managing operational staff and fundraising to policy development and fiscal management. He is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization’s scientific programs. Before co-founding SKC, Scott worked in marketing at CDW in Chicago and Pfizer in New York City. He also founded a New York City theatre and sightseeing business, Manfreakinhattan. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and a MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.

David Blaustein MD, MBA

Chief Scientific Officer

Dr. Blaustein’s role as Chief Scientific Advisor for SKC includes working with its scientific advisory board and Therapeutic Development Initiative (TDI) advisory group to provide overall scientific strategy and direction for the organization. He plays an integral role in identifying and investigating new therapies relevant to SKC’s mission. He was instrumental in helping design SKC’s entrepreneur-based TDI model. His unusual background, combining medicine, academia and business gives him a unique perspective on how to successfully apply entrepreneurial practices to traditional scientific research models, develop novel partnerships and foster innovation. Dr. Blaustein also serves as a managing director at SuttonBrook Capital Management, a New York-based investment fund. Prior to his work in the financial industry, Dr. Blaustein served as an assistant professor of medicine and surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. He received his MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, and his MD from the Weill Medical College, Cornell, New York.

Wayne Robinson CPA, MT

Treasurer

Wayne is a partner in the New York office of PriceWaterhouseCoopers where he provides tax advice to a variety of multinational clients. Wayne joined the Board of SKC in 2009 and is responsible to assist the organization in maintaining its public charity status as well as providing financial and accounting advice and insight. Wayne is the father of three children and has a keen interest in medicine and in particular the treatment of cancer. Wayne received his BS in Accounting and Master of Taxation from the University of Akron.

Channing Stave PhD

Secretary

Channing is Senior Director, Market Insights at Medco Health Solutions, where the team he leads is responsible for all primary market research. Prior to joining Medco, Channing held research positions at Pfizer, with a focus on Neuroscience, as well as at IBM and Delta Consulting Group. Channing has a BA from Columbia University and an MA and PhD in Organizational Psychology from New York University.

Renata Schiavo PhD, MA

Renata Schiavo is a Strategic Advisor to Solving Kids’ Cancer on issues related to strategic planning, medical and scientific relations, and health communication planning. She is the Founder and Principal of Strategic Communication Resources as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health at New York University, where she is on the faculty of the MPH programs. Renata is a U.S. and global health specialist with broad experience in developed and developing country settings.

Kenneth J. Cohen MD, MBA

Director Pediatric Neuro-oncology, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Cohen serves on SKC’s scientific advisory board, where he helps define the organization’s scientific approach and research priorities. Additionally, as an Executive Officer of the TDI advisory board he is actively involved in the daily operations of the TDI including the grants solicitation and review process. He is currently the Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and the Clinical Director in the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1994, after completing his Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship. The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology program’s major focus is the development and testing of novel therapeutics for children with brain tumors. Research is also coordinated with the neuropsychology group at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute. He serves as the co-chair of the High-Grade Glioma committee for the Children’s Oncology Group where his focus is the development of therapeutics for the treatment of infiltrating gliomas. Dr. Cohen is a scientific advisor for the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation. He received his undergraduate degree at Brown University and his MD from the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in 1987. He completed his residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics at the University Of Colorado School of Medicine in 1991.

Elizabeth Raetz MD

Pediatric Oncologist, New York University

Dr. Elizabeth Raetz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, New York University School of Medicine. She is co-director of the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Training Program at NYU and interim co-director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology. She is the Director of the Clinical Trials Office for the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at NYU and serves as the institutional Principal Investigator for Children’s Oncology Group (COG) studies and Therapeutic Advances in Childhood Leukemia (TACL) phase 1 consortium studies. She holds positions in several committees conducting research/clinical trials in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Her major committee assignments include Vice Chair for the COG ALL Disease Committee (front-line trials) and study co-chair for COG AALL03B1 and chair for COG ADVL04P2. She is a member of the COG ALL Executive Committee and relapsed ALL task force. She is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Society of Hematology. She received her medical degree (M.D.) from the University of Wisconsin in 1992 and completed internship/residency in 1995 and fellowship training in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the University of Utah in 1998.

Giselle Sholler MD

Pediatric Oncologist, University of Vermont

Dr. Sholler is an Assistant Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Vermont specializing in the treatment of relapsed neuroblastoma patients. Within the Vermont Cancer Center she directs a translational research laboratory evaluating new targeted therapies in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma and the development of Phase I and II clinical trials. She is the Chair of the Neuroblastoma and Medulloblastoma Translational Research Consortium (NMTRC). This national consortium supports trials focused on relapsed/refractory neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. She received her MD from New York Medical College and continued her studies with her pediatrics residency and Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at Brown University.

Kenneth Cohen MD, MBA

Director Pediatric Neuro-oncology, Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Cohen serves on SKC’s scientific advisory board, where he helps define the organization’s scientific approach and research priorities. Additionally, as an Executive Officer of the TDI advisory board he is actively involved in the daily operations of the TDI including the grants solicitation and review process. He is currently the Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and the Clinical Director in the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He joined the faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1994, after completing his Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship. The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology program’s major focus is the development and testing of novel therapeutics for children with brain tumors. Research is also coordinated with the neuropsychology group at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute. He serves as the co-chair of the High-Grade Glioma committee for the Children’s Oncology Group where his focus is the development of therapeutics for the treatment of infiltrating gliomas. Dr. Cohen is a scientific advisor for the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation. He received his undergraduate degree at Brown University and his MD from the State University of New York Upstate Medical Center in 1987. He completed his residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics at the University Of Colorado School of Medicine in 1991.

Valerie Castle MD

Senior Director, Neuroblastoma Scientific Programming, Chair, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan

Valerie is the Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at the University of Michigan. Prior to becoming chair, Dr. Castle served as Associate Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan. Dr. Castle received her bachelor’s degree from McGill University in Montreal and her medical degree from McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario. Following residency training in pediatrics Dr. Castle next completed fellowship training in pediatric hematology-oncology at the University of Michigan.

Fabio Piano PhD, BA, MS, M. Phil.

Systems Biology and Genomics, New York University

Fabio holds a BA, MS, M.Phil. and Ph.D. from New York University. Following his work at Cornell University, as a Fellow of the Damon Runyon Foundation for Cancer Research, he returned to New York University. He joined the faculty in the Department of Biology and was a founding member and now Director of the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology. In his research, Dr. Piano was one of the early pioneers of using genome-scale RNAi to systematically identify all the genes required for cell division during embryogenesis and to use these data to reveal molecular networks underlying complex phenotypes. His research continues to focus on the global properties of molecular networks in development and cell division as well as post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism using the animal model C. elegans. Since returning to New York University, he has been the recipient of several awards including a Whitehead Fellowship, an American Cancer Society fellowship and several NIH grants.

Santiago Ferro MD

Director, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs, Malaria Vaccine Initiative (part of PATH from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

Santiago Ferro currently holds the position of Director, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs at PATH-Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI). Before joining MVI, Santiago served for two years as a Sr. Scientific Officer in the methodology and innovation group in the Clinical Development and Medical Affairs department at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Before that, he was a clinical team leader for clinical development in the clinical department at Sanofi Pasteur Limited. After receiving his MD at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, Santiago specialized in internal medicine at the Central Military Hospital, and subsequently enrolled as a clinical fellow in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada. He also completed the diploma program in clinical epidemiology at the University of Toronto.

Mark Kieran MD, PhD

Pediatric Neuro-oncologist, Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Kieran received his PhD in 1983 from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, and his MD in 1986 from the University of Calgary. He completed postgraduate training in molecular biology at the Pasteur Institute in Paris. After a pediatric residency in Montreal, he received postdoctoral education at Children's Hospital Boston. In 1999, he became Director of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He also works on angiogenesis in the laboratory of the late Dr. Judah Folkman, and in 2002 Dr. Kieran received the Nick Palmer Award and Lecture, London, UK. Dr. Kieran is most known for his research efforts. His laboratory selects promising agents and evaluates them in human tumors which have been orthotopically implanted into mice. This process quickly moves potential therapies into the clinic. At present, more than five such projects are ongoing in conjunction with different groups at DFCI, BWH, BIDMC, and CHB.

Jim Olsen MD, PhD

Pediatric Neuro-oncology Basic Scientist, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Dr. Olson is a member of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a Professor of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the University of Washington. He also serves as an Attending Physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Olson earned a PhD in Pharmacology in 1989 and an MD in 1991, both from the University of Michigan. He completed his residency in pediatrics in 1994 and completed his fellowship in pediatric oncology in 1997, both at the University of Washington. He became an attending physician at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center in 1998. He joined the faculty of the Center and the University of Washington in 2000. Dr. Olson was an Emily Dorfman Fellow of the American Brain Tumor Association. His many awards include the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award, the Burroughs Wellcome Career Award in Biomedical Sciences, the Child Health Research Center New Investigator Award and the American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Research Award.

David Kaplan PhD

Neuroblastoma Basic Researcher Senior Scientist, Cell Biology Program, Hospital for Sick Children Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics University of Toronto

David Kaplan is a Senior Scientist and Co-Head of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, a Professor at the University of Toronto, and holder of the Canada Research Chair in Cancer and Neuroscience. He has made several discoveries in the signal transduction field. Dr. Kaplan obtained his BA from Clark University in Massachusetts, his PhD from Harvard University with Dr. Thomas Roberts in 1987, and completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Harold Varmus at the University of California, San Francisco in 1990. At his laboratory in Toronto he is the Head of the Cancer Research Program at the Hospital for Sick Children. He is also a member of the Canadian Stem Cell Network, where he leads a high throughput screening effort to identify new drugs to treat cancer using cancer stem cells, with an emphasis on neuroblastoma.

Hearn Jay Cho MD, PhD

Cancer Immunology, NYU Cancer Institute, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research

Dr. Cho is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pathology at the New York University Cancer Institute. His laboratory is investigating the tumor immunology and molecular biology of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Dr. Cho is the chairperson of the Multiple Myeloma Working Group sponsored by the Cancer Research Institute and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. This international collaborative of Ludwig-affiliated laboratories is dedicated to developing clinical trials of novel immunologic therapies for this disease. Dr. Cho received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Princeton University and is a graduate of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program of Cornell University Medical College with a doctoral degree in Immunology. Dr. Cho was a resident in the Clinical Investigator Track in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, where he also did a post-doctoral research fellowship in Immunology. Dr. Cho completed his clinical fellowship in Hematology and Medical Oncology at The New York-Presbyterian Hospital/ Cornell Medical Center and was a visiting research fellow at the Rockefeller University. Prior to joining the faculty at NYU, Dr. Cho was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Steven Piantadosi MD, PhD

Design & Analysis of Oncology Clinical Trials, Director of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Piantadosi is the Director of the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Piantadosi's role is to lead the Medical Center's programs in cancer research, treatment and education, enhance academic activities related to cancer, and bring together cancer physicians and researchers for innovative collaborations. Prior to joining Cedars-Sinai in April 2007, Dr. Piantadosi was professor of oncology at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Director of Biostatistics at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. He also was professor of biostatistics and professor of epidemiology at the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health. After earning his medical degree from the University of North Carolina and doctorate in Biomathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Dr. Piantadosi became a senior staff fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Piantadosi is one of the world's leading experts in the design and analysis of clinical trials for cancer research. In addition to advising both FDA and industry, he has served on external advisory boards for the National Institutes of Health and other prominent cancer programs and centers. The author of more than 230 peer-reviewed scientific articles, Dr. Piantadosi currently serves as senior editor of the journal Clinical Cancer Research.

Scott Kennedy MBA

Co-founder and Executive Director

Scott co-founded SKC in 2007 as a tribute to his son, Hazen Kennedy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 3. Hazen was Scott’s inspiration for creating Solving Kids' Cancer in part because Hazen wanted to become a scientist when he grew up in order to help people by creating new medicines. As Executive Director, Scott Kennedy is involved in all aspects of SKC, from managing operational staff and fundraising to policy development and fiscal management. He is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization’s scientific programs. Before co-founding SKC, Scott worked in marketing at CDW in Chicago and Pfizer in New York City. He also founded a New York City theatre and sightseeing business, Manfreakinhattan. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and a MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.

Natalie McDonald MBA

Director of Development

In her role as Director of Development, Natalie leads all aspects of marketing, communications, and fundraising for Solving Kids’ Cancer. Prior to this role Natalie contributed since the inception of Solving Kids’ Cancer as a member of the Board of Directors. She brings expertise from 13 years in corporate marketing and advertising for Fortune 500 companies. Natalie earned a BA in chemistry and business from the University of Pittsburgh and a MBA from Drexel University. Natalie is mother to two sweet girls, Sierra and Hudson.

Pat Buckley

Development Manager

Since 2008, Pat has been involved in all areas of fundraising and strategic planning. As Development Manager she currently leads SKC’s grant writing efforts and contributes in areas of communications and event planning. Pat brings over 20 years experience in the Arts and Entertainment Industry where she has worked as a producer, director and writer. She holds a BA from the University at Albany.

Joshi Bhamidipati

Controller

Transparency in financial reporting is a key factor for non-profit organizations.  As the controller, Joshi Bhamidipati, brings his skills in internal controls and budgetary accounting to present fair and regulated financial reporting for SKC. Joshi has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and 5 years of experience in non-profit accounting.

Catherine London JD

Catherine London is a passionate advocate for the work of SKC. In her role she works to spread awareness and strategically direct some of our most important events and projects including our annual spring marquee event. Catherine is involved in SKC as a tribute to her daughter Penelope who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at 16 months. It is her deepest hope that someday no child will ever have to suffer from pediatric cancer the way Penelope did before she died. She lives in New York with her husband John and son Oliver, and her daughter Isabelle. Prior to her commitment with SKC Catherine was a prosecutor at the Manhattan D.A.'s Office and a published author.

Suzan Mikiel Kennedy

Suzan Mikiel Kennedy tends to take a deep breath before she explains how she came to choose her line of work as Director of Development of Team Continuum, a charity that helps cancer patients and their families with their non-medical needs. The answer is not so casual. The answer is deep and passionate. Hazen Kennedy, her son, lost his sweet breath to neuroblastoma. Hazen is one of the most amazing people that would have grown up to make this world a better place. Suzan's involvement in the world of cancer is not by choice, but by necessity, and to honor Hazen's memory. She looks forward to working with SKC on fundraising events to help eradicate pediatric cancer so that the parents of thousands of other amazing children can choose a different line of work! As an actor, writer, avid iPhone photographer, Suzan has a variety of creative interests, and looks forward to applying her artistic experience towards the success of scientic endeavors.

Jordan Reed

Board Chair

Jordan Reed is a current resident of Manhattan and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007. He currently works as Junior Trader for SuttonBrook Capital Management, a multi-strategy, event-driven hedge fund based in New York. Jordan is an avid golfer and obsessed sports fanatic. He also enjoys reading and traveling. He joined SKC in early 2009 and was appointed the Junior Board Chairman shortly afterwards.

Joshua Banschick

Vice-Chair

Josh graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 with a BA in English Literature. After Michigan, Josh joined Bear Stearns as an analyst in their F.A.S.T. group, and is currently a Non-Agency Mortgage Backed Securities Trader at JP Morgan. He loves (and hates) rooting for the Mets, Jets, and Michigan sports teams, and also enjoys fantasy baseball and football. Josh currently lives in Manhattan with his twin brother.

Kristen Lagrua

Secretary

Kristen is a proud resident of Park Slope, Brooklyn and is looking forward to being a part of SKC. She brings with her a diversified background in advertising, marketing, and event planning with experience in account management at several top agencies including BBDO, The Kaplan Thaler Group, and currently, Eastwest Marketing Group. She also is active in her community, volunteering regularly with the American Cancer Society as well as NY Cares. In her spare time she’s always on the move as a NY Road Runners member, yoga enthusiast, and aspiring world traveler.

Andrew Goff

Treasurer

A 2007 graduate of Boston College, Andrew currently works as an Information Technology Auditor in the New York City area. As an active volunteer throughout his time at BC and beyond, Andrew has focused his efforts around homelessness, primarily through work performed at the Haley House in Boston, MA. Andrew looks to continue his commitment to serve through his involvement at SKC.

Alice Kao

After graduating from Gettysburg College in 2004, Alice Kao, originally of Stony Brook, Long Island, started her career in program management working with Junior Achievement, a non-profit organization based in New York City. For the past 3 years, Alice has pursued a marketing career at 2 of the top healthcare advertising agencies in New York — Saatchi & Saatchi Healthcare and DraftFCB Healthcare — where she’s currently working as an account executive on a groundbreaking new product launch.

Vincent Lau

Vincent Lau is a manager in the Transaction Services group at KPMG, where he focuses on providing advisory services to clients seeking to undertake mergers and acquisitions. Vincent holds a B.Comm from the University of British Columbia and the CFA and CA professional designations.

Whitney Scully

Whitney Scully has lived in Manhattan since 2005, employed as a Business Process and Technology Consultant. She came to New York from Baltimore, Maryland and received a degree in Logistics, Transportation, and Supply Chain Management from the University of Maryland.

Vivek Ramdev

Originally from Los Angeles, Vivek moved to New York to gain an education in Economics and Computer Engineering. He has worked in the financial industry for 5+ years, mainly within the professional services/risk management space. In joining SKC, Vivek looks to harness his client facing, and project management experience to help achieve the group's goals.

Seema Tevar

Seema lives along the Hudson River and works as a Scientist in Cancer Drug Discovery at a pharmaceutical company. She obtained a BS from Rutgers University in Anthropology, Psychology, Cell Biology and Neuroscience, an MS from New York University in Biology, and a certificate in Pharmaceutical Management from Stevens Institute of Technology.

Bryan Pederson

Bryan Pedersen lives in Long Island City, NY and is excited to be part of SKC. His interests include tennis, travel, writing, and watching bad hollywood blockbusters. He has held management and strategy positions with MTV Networks, Hachette Filipacchi Media, and British Telecom, and is currently engaged in a handful of early stage startups in the NYC area.

Britt Nevetsky

Britt is honored to be part of SKC. It’s a cause close to her heart since her nephew was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in May 2009. He was just 14 months old. For over 13 years, Britt has worked in integrated marketing on the agency side, managing brands like Pepsi, Wendy’s and AT&T. She has a BA in advertising from Marshall University, grew up in New Jersey and currently lives in New York City. She hopes that her nephew, and children like him, will benefit from the work that comes from charities like SKC.