The Evolution of Care - Harnessing the Power of Your Immune System

William is a renowned surgical oncologist and physician-scientist, transformative leader, and champion for innovation. He leads the American Cancer Society’s scientific and medical strategies and manages its research and cancer control departments, providing leadership to areas including intramural and extramural research, prevention and early detection, patient and caregiver support, global cancer control, and health systems engagement.

William is a practicing surgical oncologist. His areas of expertise include thyroid cancer, parathyroid disease, and advanced gastrointestinal malignancies. He is the principal investigator for a 25-year National Cancer Institute (NCI) grant focused on focal adhesion kinase, a protein involved in cancer metastasis. He is a former American Cancer Society grantee and has received additional grant funding from the NCI, National Institutes of Health, and US Department of Defense. He holds eight patents and has been involved in several entrepreneurial projects to bring his research advancements to market.

William earned undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University. He completed a residency in general surgery at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine and a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Cassie joined the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) in 2014. As Senior Advocacy Officer, she leads the organization's advocacy efforts to mobilize advances in policy, federal funding and regulatory issues while representing and engaging the interests of the melanoma community. Cassie also focuses on partnering within the industry, seeking to amplify the voice of the melanoma community. She serves on the steering committee for the National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP). She is Co-Chair for the NCSCP’s Skin Smart Campus Initiative and is a member of the Public Access to Sunscreen (PASS) Coalition.

Having had three cancers – Stage IIIC melanoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma. Cassie brings with her an incredible passion to work towards better outcomes and quality of life for patients, caregivers and their loved ones.

In her free time she enjoys traveling, anything outdoors, cooking and tending to every whimsical need of her pampered cat Lizzie.

Lee is the Disease Area Head for Oncology Solid Tumors in US Medical Oncology. He plays a critical leadership role in the development and execution of the BMS oncology strategy in solid tumors. Leading a team of medical professionals across USM, this role is accountable for translating medical, customer and competitive insights into implications and plans for the brand and disease area.

Previously, he was a Vice President in Early Development Program Leadership, partnering with the oncology protein homeostasis and epigenetics group (Oncogenesis TRC). Earlier in his career, Lee was Global Clinical Lead and then Medicine Team Lead for lorlatinib (ALK/ROS1 inhibitor) at Pfizer. Before his time at Pfizer, Lee was a practicing medical oncologist in Queens, NY affiliated with New York Hospital Queens.

Lee completed undergraduate study in Microbiology at Cornell University and moved to Seattle for his MD/PhD training at the University of Washington. His PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology was conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he worked on Myc in the lab of Bob Eisenman. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Chicago followed by a Medical Oncology/Hematology fellowship with a focus in Thoracic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Dan has spent the majority of his life engaged in making the healthcare system more responsive to the needs of patients. Dan holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree with distinction in research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He recently moved back to Rochester after having spent the last 10 years in Boston as a resident in neurology and as a consultant to biotech, pharma, and industry. Dan has extensive experience in the immuno-oncology space, having also served as the Executive Director, Medical Strategy and Development, for Advaxis Immunotherapies. He is passionate about improving the prevention and treatment of cancer, educating and advocating for patients, and reshaping healthcare to be effective, efficient, and equitable.