Medical Advisory Council & Committee

Dr. Lieu joined the University of Colorado School of Medicine faculty in July 2011.  He trained in internal medicine at the University of Colorado, where he served as a Chief Medical Resident.  He completed his fellowship training in medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and also served as the Chief Medical Oncology Fellow.  Dr. Lieu is the Associate Director for Clinical Research and Director of GI Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, the Vice-Chair of the National Cancer Institute Colon Cancer Task Force, and he serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Panel for Neuroendocrine Cancers.

Research

Dr. Lieu is a member of the Developmental Therapeutics (phase I clinical trials) and Gastrointestinal (GI) Medical Oncology Program.   These comprehensive programs include multidisciplinary cancer clinics, tumor boards, and research endeavors.  Dr. Lieu is interested in resistance mechanisms to targeted therapy in GI cancers, and he was awarded the Conquer Cancer Foundation Career Development Award, NIH K23 grant, and a NIH R01 grant to study targeted therapies in colorectal cancer.  Dr. Lieu is also investigating novel therapeutic strategies to more effectively treat and prevent colorectal cancer in young adults.

Dr. Prasanth Reddy is a Senior Director in Medical Affairs at Foundation Medicine, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Foundation Medicine performs comprehensive genomic sequencing to identify the molecular alterations in each patient's unique cancer and match them with relevant targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and clinical trials. Prior to Foundation Medicine, Dr. Reddy jointly led the Shawnee Mission Cancer Center in Kansas. He has also practiced as a hematologist/oncologist at Olathe Medical Center in Kansas. Dr. Reddy is board certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine. He completed his medical training, residency, and two fellowships at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Reddy is a member of the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Professor Leyland-Jones is an internationally renowned breast cancer expert, a consulting Professor for the Division of Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Vice-President of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at the Avera Cancer Institute. Prof. Leyland-Jones was most recently Director of Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Research in Sioux Falls. He came to Sioux Falls from Atlanta, Ga., where he was Executive Vice-President and Director of the Winship Cancer Institute and Chair of Hematology-Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Professor Leyland-Jones lead the Centre to obtain National Cancer Institute Cancer Centre Designation, the first in the State of Georgia, and for the first time in 30 years. He was named both the Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar and Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar. Dr. Leyland-Jones earned biochemistry, medical and PhD degrees from the University of London. After postgraduate training in London, he completed fellowships in medical oncology and clinical pharmacology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Cornell University Medical College, and then went become Assistant Professor in both disciplines at both institutions. Dr. Leyland-Jones subsequently served as head of the Developmental Chemotherapy Section at the National Cancer Institute, and then founding Chairman of the
Department of Oncology, Minda de Gunzburg Chair in Oncology, Professor of Medicine and Oncology, and Director of the McGill Comprehensive Cancer Center at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He has over 35 years experience in oncology, molecular and clinical pharmacology: his whole life has been devoted to the development of a broad spectrum of novel therapeutic approaches, and associated biomarkers. His major contributions have been specifically in the areas of platinum, anthracyline, taxane. trastuzumab, erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, mTOR/ IGF1R clinical trials, preclinical models and clinical/ molecular pharmacology. He has
been responsible for coordinating biospecimen collection guidelines globally and has built a CLIA facility for biomarker profiling. He is also deeply involved with IBCSG, BIG and iSPY2 trials and formerly coordinated the ECOG Breast Molecular Profiling Working Group. His more recent focus has been the application of combined array/ sequence profiling to large retrospective cooperative group and intergroup trial sets with the goal of determining key drivers and parallel pathways, and the application of this knowledge to Forward Genomic
oncology trials. Dr. Leyland-Jones is the recipient of numerous research grants, and has served as principal,
co-principal and co-investigator on more than 100 clinical studies. He has authored and coauthored more than 190 peer-reviewed articles and book contributions, 23 books and book chapters, 326 abstracts and 34 patents.

Fred Ashbury is a behavioural scientist.  He received his Bachelor’s degree (Honours) from the University of Toronto, his Master’s degree from Queen’s University, and his doctorate from York University.
As co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Viviphi Ltd, Fred is responsible for developing and maintaining Viviphi Ltd’s oncology clinical content, genomic-science knowledge identification and codification, and the design and implementation of the treatment strategy rules that underpin the ViviphiTM platform. Dr. Ashbury was co-Founder of Intelligent Improvement Consultants, a healthcare management consulting firm, which merged with Viviphi Ltd. He is the former Senior Executive with the National Cancer Institute of Canada, Cancer Care Ontario, and the Alberta Cancer Board. Additionally, Fred was the first scientific director of the Ontario Health Study, a population cohort study investigating lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors in chronic disease onset for preventive oncology.
Dr. Ashbury is the former Senior Executive with OpTx Corporation – the first medical oncology electronic medical record - purchased by Varian Medial Systems (EMR relabelled ARIATM). He is the former Vice-President of BridgeSite Clinical Research, a clinical research organization supporting investigator-initiated trials in oncology. Dr. Ashbury also founded two other successful healthcare management consultancies with clients in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Australia earning several million dollars in revenue. He has mentored oncology practices and networks worldwide to define key performance indicators and quality metrics based on current evidence and practice to be used to establish practice accountability, reporting and quality improvement. Dr. Ashbury is an active member of ASCO; Board Member, Multi-National Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC); Chair, Guidelines Committee, MASCC; Member, University of Swinburne, Industry Research Advisory Committee. University Appointments: University of Toronto, Canada. He has published 80+ peer-reviewed articles and major reports in health services delivery, quality in cancer care, and supportive care. Dr. Ashbury is the Editor-in-Chief of top-ranked journal in supportive care in oncology, Supportive Care in Cancer. He and his wife, Gail, have two sons, Andrew and Jeremy. Fred loves travel and music.

Dr. Chad Rusthoven, MD is a radiation oncologist at University of
Colorado, specializing in thoracic and central nervous system
malignancies. He is active in clinical trial research through the
NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and is the principal
investigator of SWOG S1827, a randomized phase III trial of MRI
surveillance with and without prophylactic cranial irradiation for
small-cell lung cancer. Dr. Rusthoven serves on the National
Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) treatment guideline panels for
both small-cell lung cancer and central nervous system tumors. In
2018, he was inducted to the University of Colorado Gold Humanism
honor society for recognition of compassionate patient care. He lives
in Denver with his wife and their two dogs. They enjoy hiking, skiing, tennis,
and live music.

Dr. Vladimir Lazar obtained his MD (1989) at The University of Timisoara (Romania), First in Class and Certificate of Merit “Magna cum Laudae”. He became a specialist in Clinical Biology (DIS, 1997, University Rene Descartes in Paris) and obtained his PhD in molecular biology (1997) at The University René Descartes in Paris, with the highest degree and the Prize of University. Dr. Vladimir Lazar is specialized in clinical biology, molecular biology, molecular pathology and has a broad training, education and postgraduate degrees in biotechnology (first in class) and project management. He is a recognized specialist in translating research into clinical applications. He was the founder and Head of Gustave Roussy’s Genomic Center and Integrated Biology Platform (2002-2015) running the Agilent European reference and training center. He is the founder and Chief Operating officer of the WIN Consortium. In these positions he has built a strong expertise in project design, technology evaluation and implementation, use of genomics and biomarkers in oncology, companion test development, and biology driven clinical trials. He is author of 6 patents and author-co-author of more than 100 publications.

Paul currently serves as Medical Director, Medical Affairs for CVS Caremark. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of South Dakota and received his MD degree from Indiana University School of Medicine.  He is board certified in family practice and serves as a clinical professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Sanford School of Medicine at USD.  Following 15 years of clinical practice in Sioux Falls, he served as Chief Medical Officer for DAKOTACARE Health Plan until early 2017, before moving to his current role with CVS Health. Paul is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, The South Dakota Academy of Family Physicians, National Academy of Managed Care Physicians, American Medical Association and the South Dakota State Medical Association.

Paul travels annually to Nicaragua for volunteer short-term medical mission work and was honored as the 2010 recipient of the SDSMA Community Service Award. He and his wife Alison enjoy cycling and world travel. In addition, he has three sons with whom he enjoys numerous outdoor sporting activities.

Matthew T. Malone, D.O. is a physician and strong advocate for quality cancer care who is board certified in three specialties: Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Malone is the Medical Director of Behavioral Health at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.

Dr. Malone graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1997 with a B.S. in biology with chemistry and psychology minors. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University in 2001 where he was the outstanding graduate in psychiatry and neurology. He then completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2002 before completing his psychiatry residency in 2005 at Hennepin-Regions program in Minneapolis. He specialized in geriatric psychiatry from Yale University and worked for Connecticut Hospice in 2006. Increasingly involved in administrative roles to improve healthcare delivery, he completed the Executive Leadership of Healthcare Professionals Certificate with Cornell University in 2011.

Dr. Malone has been recognized both locally and nationally for his dedication to educating patients and staff alike. He won the Delbert L. Brown Award for his teaching at the University of South Dakota. In 2008, he received the South Dakota for the Heroes in the Fight Award from the National Alliance for Mental Illness. In 2010, the American Psychiatric Association presented him the Nancy C.A. Roeske, M.D. Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Medical Student Education.

Kris Gaster has over 30 years of cancer care experience working at Avera McKennan Hospital and Avera Cancer Institute. She started her career in cancer care as an oncology RN and then became a Certified Nurse Practitioner in oncology. She was instrumental in setting up the bone marrow transplant program. For the past 13 years, she has served as Avera’s Assistant Vice President of Outpatient Clinics and is responsible for the daily operations of medical oncology, gynecology oncology, hematology and bone marrow transplant, radiation oncology, infusion, breast surgeons and integrative medicine as well as Avera Cancer Institute services and programs. She was also part of the team that planned the Avera Cancer Institute, Prairie Center.

Kris is passionate about cancer care and ensuring that those affected by cancer and their loved ones have access to the highest level of care that is focused on healing the whole person. She seeks the input of patients and loved ones with  every element of the cancer program to remain true to her passion of serving those affected by cancer.

Kris resides in Sioux Falls. In her spare time she enjoys many activities with her husband, three children and their spouses. She enjoys being outside and being on the water. She previously served as the president of the Sioux Falls Area Oncology Nursing Society, American Cancer Society South Dakota board chairman and is an American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Volunteer.

Sharon Hunt, Vice President of Cancer Services at Sanford Health, has been in health care for over 20 years and has led at the executive level at Sanford Health for the past five. Sharon has the privilege of integrating cancer services throughout the spectrum of care, between disciplines and across the geography of the region. Although involved in all aspects of cancer care, Sharon’s passion lies in the implementation of translational research, and specifically in weaving research into daily cancer care. A true advocate of excellence in patient care, Sharon firmly believes in building robust community-based cancer care services to both provide clinical care of exceptional quality to patients, and to translate advances in cancer care into the community setting.

Involved in initiatives to combat breast cancer (Edith Sanford Breast Center) and integrate genomics into medicine (Imagenetics), Sharon supports cancer operations from prevention and early detection, through treatment and survivorship. She impacts all areas of cancer services including medical oncology and hematology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, surgical oncology, infusion, oncologic and investigational pharmacy, clinical trials and helps lead Sanford’s participation in National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Center’s Program (NCCCP) and NCI’s Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

Sharon grew up in Minnesota and worked as a research chemist for 3M before moving to South Dakota and Sioux Falls over 20 years ago. Sharon has served on the Susan G. Komen race board and survivorship committees, volunteers for the American Cancer Society and sits on the South Dakota Arthritis Foundation board. She enjoys reading, running, and activities with her grown children and her husband.

Dr. Hirsch is a practicing medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, an adjunct assistant professor at the Duke University School of Medicine, and Medical Director for Health Informatics with McKesson Specialty Health, the nation’s largest network of integrated, community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high quality, evidence based cancer care. Across these roles, he focuses on advancing the understanding of care in oncology, while also working on the development of novel, technology-based solutions that can be used to improve care.

Dr. Hirsch received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, M.D. from UT Southwestern in his hometown of Dallas, Tx, and completed his training and business school at Duke University. Prior to moving back to Texas, he was a faculty member at Duke University where he was Director of Clinical Informatics and Learning Labs at the Center for Learning Health Care. He is also the Co-Founder and Board Member of SignalPath Research, a technology start up based in Durham that aims to make clinical research more effective and efficient by focusing on the empowerment of the research site.

Kirstin Williams is an oncology nurse practitioner at the Avera Precision Oncology clinic.  She has sixteen years of oncology experience in both pediatric and adult settings.  Kirstin received her undergraduate nursing degree at Augustana college and her masters of nursing science at the University of Kansas.  She recently completed her PhD in nursing at the University of Kansas where she conducted the first-known research study that focused on symptoms and quality of life in patients receiving genomically-guided therapy (matched therapy).  She plans on continuing research in this area.  In her free time, Kirstin loves to spend time with her husband and two children, ages 9 and 7.

Bradley Beck, Pharm.D. is a clinical pharmacist at with the Avera Cancer Institute on the campus of Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and serves as the Pharmacy Services Coordinator for the Pharmacy Department at Avera McKennan Hospital.  Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Dr. Beck pursued a pharmacy degree at Ferris State University from 2001-2007.  After completion of pharmacy school, Dr. Beck moved to Sioux Falls and completed two years of advanced training in hospital pharmacy residency at Avera McKennan and gained employment as the clinical pharmacy specialist in hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation on completion of residency in 2009.  In 2013, Dr. Beck earned board certification in oncology pharmacy from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties. 

Dr. Beck has a passion for patient care, patient education, and continued pharmacy education.  Dr. Beck is the founder of and serves as the residency program director for the oncology pharmacy residency program at Avera McKennan, which allows newly graduated pharmacists the opportunity to specialize in caring for oncology patients in a focused, intensive, one year training program.  Dr. Beck has served as an author of a textbook chapter, presented on improvements in patient care at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting, is a member of a committee for continuing education for HOPA, serves a co-chair of the oncology institutional review board for Avera Health, and has worked with multiple patient focus groups to improve patient care in the Avera Health network.