Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show

Send us Fan MailCarole Fisher is President for the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), where utilizing her experience and deep familiarity with not-for-profit community-based hospice and palliative healthcare, she is charged with leading a wide range of activities for the membership organization, including developing strategic partnerships, meaningful collaborations and transformational innovations, amongst the nations’ most notable and distinguished end of life healthcare organizations. As a seasoned C-suite advisor, innovator and public policy advocate, for the past 35 years, Ms. Fisher has successfully led and transformed for-profit and mission driven healthcare operations, developing significant experience in growing and transforming companies, developing people, and preparing organizations for navigating the unforeseen and unanticipated. She has significant experience in growing market share, contracting with payers, building specialty provider networks, developing and integrating cutting edge technology, facilitating M&A and is well respected for her ability to merge cultures and teams. Ms. Fisher is the former President and CEO of Nathan Adelson Hospice, where she positioned the organization as a nationally known industry leader respected for their clinical advancements and innovations, and which was recognized for eight years by Modern Healthcare Magazine as a 100 Best Places to Work in the country. Ms. Fisher has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and attained a Masters Certification in Organizational Leadership from the Thayer Institute in Asheville, North Carolina. She serves as an adjunct faculty member for Teleios University and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Thayer Institute. Previously she served on the Board of Directors for MountainView Hospital – a subsidiary of HCA, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, Health Insight, UNLV Health Law Program Advisory Board and the Nevada Hospital Association. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Mandy Sellars is the Chairperson of GoPI3Ks charity, which is focused on people with PIK3CA related overgrowth spectrum (PROS), an umbrella term for a group of very rare syndromes characterized by malformations and tissue overgrowth, caused by somatic mutations in PIK3CA gene. PIK3CA stands for phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic sub-unit alpha, a gene that encodes a lipid kinase involved in multiple signaling pathways, influencing cellular functions such as growth, death, and proliferation. Ms. Sellars herself also possesses a very rare form of this genetic mutation that has resulted in extraordinary growth in both of her legs, but in PROS diseases individual malformations are seen in several different tissues such as skin, vasculature, bone, fat and brain tissue, depending on the specific disease. Ms. Sellars obtained a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Central Lancashire and has become a patient advocate, fundraiser for care and research, as well as a reality star along the way. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Sean Guillory, Ph.D. is Senior Robotics Process Automation Developer, at Booz Allen Hamilton, the U.S. management and information technology consulting firm. Dr. Guillory went to Dartmouth College where he received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Cognitive Neuroscience, followed by Postdoctoral Research at MD Anderson Cancer Center where he worked on mapping behavior and cognitive functions in brain tumor patients in order to protect the basic functions of the brain during neurosurgery. He then moved into the data and robots domain with organizations including Consumer Affairs and Clear Channel Communications, leveraging his knowledge in these consumer facing sectors. At Booz Allen Hamilton he is involved in the convergent domain of Robotic Process Automation and utilizing his extensive knowledge from cognitive neuroscience in Defense and National Security. Support the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Veronica Rodriguez-Bravo, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Cancer Biology, at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia, PA, USA. (https://sidneykimmelcancercenter.jeff...) Dr. Rodriguez-Bravo obtained her PhD in Pathology and Cell Biology (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of Barcelona in 2007, where she also received the Extraordinary Doctorate Award for her studies on the distinct DNA replication checkpoint mechanisms of tumor cells. During her postdoctoral training at the Experimental Oncology Department of the University Medical Center of Utrecht (UMC, The Netherlands) and at the Molecular and Cell Biology Programs of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC, New York), she specialized in the study of chromosome segregation during mitosis and the role of nuclear pores in genome integrity maintenance. Dr. Rodriguez-Bravo's post-doctoral work allowed her to apply genome-editing techniques crucial to dissect the function of mitotic and nuclear pore proteins in chromosomal stability and resulted in the recognition with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Postdoctoral Research Award. Dr. Rodriguez-Bravo’s research focuses on the study of genome integrity maintenance mechanisms and the relationship of defects in cell division to cancer pathogenesis with special emphasis in the pathways contributing to cancer cells’ more aggressive phenotypes.Support the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Carolini Kaid, Ph.D. is the Co-Founder & CSO at Vyro Biotherapeutics (https://en.vyrobio.com/), a Brazilian biotechnology company focused on developing cancer-killing, or ‘oncolytic’ viruses (OVs) designed to target pediatric and adult brain cancer. Dr. Kaid is also a Postdoctoral Fellow at Center for Human Genome and Stem Cell Studies, at The University of São Paulo (USP), a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, which is the largest Brazilian public university and the country's most prestigious educational institution (https://bv.fapesp.br/en/pesquisador/6...). Dr. Kaid has her Ph.D. in Cancer Genetics, a Master's degree in Cancer Biology, and an undergraduate degree in Genetics, all from USP. Dr. Kaid completed 10 years of experience in cancer biology research, including CNS tumor research, tumor stem cells, and advanced therapies. During her MsC, Dr. Kaid worked with miR-367 as a biomarker for aggressive pediatric cancer and potential therapeutic target, which led to the 2015 Award of Scientist and Entrepreneur of the Year, by Nanocell Institute. As a PhD student, under the mentorship of Dr. Oswaldo Keith Okamoto, she acquired a broad background in pre-clinical models, with specific training and expertise in cell culture, brain histology, molecular genetics, stereotaxic surgery, and stereology. Her PhD Thesis, was awarded with Brazil's Best PhD Thesis 2020, resulting in two patent applications and pre-clinical findings that opened opportunities for future translational studies to evaluate new putative biomarkers of aggressive stem-like tumor cells in refining diagnosis, patient stratification, and early detection of relapsed disease. Her work also revealed novel therapeutic approaches, using an miR-367 inhibitor and the oncolytic Zika virus, both targeting the stem-like tumor cells that could benefit patients affected by CNS tumors lacking effective treatment. Recently, as postdoctoral fellow at Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center, under Dr. Mayana Zatz supervision, she continues to investigate alternative immunotherapies with a focus on oncolytic viruses and is coordinating a veterinary clinical trial using the oncolytic Zika virus in dogs with advanced brain tumors.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Matt Kaeberlein is Professor of Pathology, Adjunct Professor of Genome Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Oral Health Sciences, at the University of Washington. Dr. Kaeberlein received his PhD from MIT in Biology, did his post-doc in the Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, and his research interests are focused on basic mechanisms of aging in order to facilitate translational interventions that promote healthspan and improve quality of life. Dr. Kaeberlein has published nearly 200 papers in top scientific journals and has been recognized by several prestigious awards, including a Breakthroughs in Gerontology Award, an Alzheimer’s Association Young Investigator Award, an Ellison Medical Foundation New Scholar in Aging Award, a Murdock Trust Award, a Pioneer in Aging Award, and the Vincent Cristofalo Rising Star in Aging Research. Dr. Kaeberlein's contributions have also been recognized with Fellow status in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Aging Association, and the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Kaeberlein is a past President of the American Aging Association and has served on their Executive Committee and Board of Directors since 2012. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology and is currently the Chair of the Biological Sciences Section of the Gerontological Society of America. Dr. Kaeberlein serves on the editorial boards for several journals, including Science and eLife. Dr. Kaeberlein’s scientific discoveries have generated substantial public interest, with featured stories in major media outlets including appearing on the front page of the New York Times, the Today Show, CNN, the UK Telegraph, Popular Science, Time Magazine, Scientific American, NPR, USA Today, National Geographic, and many others. In addition to his primary appointments, Dr. Kaeberlein is the co-Director of the University of Washington Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, the Founding Director of the Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute at the University of Washington, and Founder and Co-Director of the Dog Aging Project. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH, is President and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust (CCT), one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, and under her leadership, CCT has adopted a new strategic focus on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. An expert on global development, humanitarian, and health issues, for almost a decade, Dr. Gayle was president and CEO of CARE, a leading international humanitarian organization, and prior to that spent 20 years with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, working primarily on HIV/AIDS. She also worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, directing programs on HIV/AIDS and other global health issues. Dr. Gayle serves on public company and nonprofit boards, including The Coca-Cola Company, Organon, Palo Alto Networks, Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies, New America, ONE Campaign, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Economic Club of Chicago. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Council on Foreign Relations, American Public Health Association, National Academy of Medicine, National Medical Association, and American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Gayle was awarded the Chicago Mayor’s Medal of Honor for her work on COVID relief and recovery for the city. Named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women” and one of Non Profit Times’ “Power and Influence Top 50,” she has authored numerous articles on global and domestic public health issues, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social justice. Dr. Gayle was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. She earned a BA in psychology at Barnard College, an MD at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MPH at Johns Hopkins University. She has received 18 honorary degrees and holds faculty appointments at the University of Washington and Emory University. Support the show

Send us Fan MailDr Andrei Gudkov, PhD, DSci, is a preeminent cancer researcher who serves as Senior Vice President, Research Technology and Innovation, Chair of the Department of Cell Stress Biology, and a member of the senior leadership team for National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Center Support Grant at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (https://www.roswellpark.org/andrei-gu...). Dr. Gudkov is responsible for building on the basic and translational research strengths of the Cell Stress Biology program in DNA damage and repair, photodynamic therapy, thermal and hypoxic stress and immune modulation. Dr. Gudkov assists the President & CEO in developing and implementing strategic plans for new scientific programs and enhancing collaborations in research programs with regional and national academic centers as well as with industry. Before joining Roswell Park, Dr. Gudkov served as chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics at Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, and Professor of Biochemistry at Case Western University. He earned his doctoral degree in Experimental Oncology at the Cancer Research Center, USSR and a Doctorate of Science (D.Sci) in Molecular Biology at the Moscow State University, USSR. He has authored or co-authored over 135 scientific articles and holds 27 patents. Dr. Gudkov is also an accomplished entrepreneur who founded Cleveland BioLabs, Inc., OncoTartis LLC and Everon Biosciences, Inc. He holds the position of Director & Chief Scientific Advisor at Panacela Labs, Inc., Chief Scientific Officer of OncoTartis LLC, Chief Scientific Officer for Everon Biosciences, Inc., Chief Science Officer at Genome Protection, Inc. and Chief Scientific Officer of Cleveland BioLabs, Inc. Andrei V. Gudkov is also on the board of Incuron LLC. Dr. Gudkov also serves on the Scientific Advisory Board and is author of the founding concept for the Vaika (https://www.vaika.org/) program, a not-for-profit charitable medical research organization with a mission to extend the health-span and life-span of domestic animals, with a focus on aged sled dogs.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Howard Leonhardt is the Founder of Leonhardt Ventures, the world’s first Innovation Accelerator focused on the convergence of bioelectrics & biologics for organ regeneration and tissue healing. Howard is an accomplished inventor and serial entrepreneur, with 21 U.S. patents, over 100 patent claims for products for treating cardiovascular disease, and has over 40 new patent claims pending. His TALENT (Taheri-Leonhardt) stent graft, developed in the early 1990′s, holds a leading world market share for repairing aortic aneurysms without surgery. Howard's inventions to date have been involved in treated over 500,000 patients in 60 countries Howard is co-leader of Startup California and Founder and Chairman of The California Stock Exchange TM (Cal-X) preparing to be the first social good impact stock exchange currently operating the Cal-X 30 Social Good Impact fund. He founded Cal-X Crowdfund Connect, a crowdfunding campaign management company, and Cal-X Stars Business Accelerator, Inc., a business incubator and accelerator focused on cardiovascular life sciences and social good impact innovations. There are 30 regenerative med-tech and regenerative economy startups in his current portfolio. His Leonhardt Ventures angels network has raised and put to work over US$145 million in 32 companies to date, including those developing the first implantable programmable and re-fillable stem cell pump, brain, eye, and aorta regeneration technologies, and number of other organ regeneration spin offs from his patented core technologies. Howard Leonhardt serves as state spokesperson in California for the JOBS ACT and Crowdfunding for Startup California and has given over 40 speeches on the subject. He has operated Leonhardt’s Launchpads NorCal at the University of Northern California Science & Technology Innovation Center in Rohnert Park, CA since 2008 and recently opened Leonhardt’s Launchpads Utah in Salt Lake City just off the campus of the University of Utah. He has served on the Board of Directors of the University of Northern California, a private biomedical engineering school, since 1999. Support the show

Send us Fan MailDr. Maria Millan, MD, is the President and CEO of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM - https://www.cirm.ca.gov/), an organization that was created in 2004 when voters initially approved a state Proposition which allocated US$3 billion to fund this fascinating area of medicine, and which recently received an additional US$5.5 billion in renewed funding. Dr. Millan is a physician-scientist who has devoted her career to treating and developing innovative solutions for children and adults with debilitating and life-threatening conditions. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Duke University where she started her focus on immunology research, Dr. Millan obtained her MD degree and then went on to complete her surgical training and post-doctoral research at Harvard Medical School – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. After a transplant surgery fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine, Dr. Millan began her academic career with a pediatric and adult transplant surgery practice. In parallel, she continued her bench research at Stanford and became associate professor and director of the Pediatric Organ Transplant Program. Dr. Millan served on multiple leadership teams including the Faculty Senate and the Dean’s faculty committee at Stanford University School of Medicine and served on the Children’s Hospital operations committee. She has published in the areas of cell biology, immunology and clinical organ transplantation. Dr. Millan also ventured into the private sector in 2006 to join StemCells, Inc., one of the earliest stem cell organizations and the first to enter into an FDA-regulated clinical trial with a stem cell treatment for children with a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Millan then joined CIRM in December 2012 where she led the formation of the Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Network, a network of California medical centers that specialize in rigorous and high-quality clinical trials and top-tier medical care for patients participating in these trials. This clinical network is successfully supporting over 45 clinical trials and was recently expanded to include 5 programs composed of 7 medical centers and their affiliated hospitals.Support the show