Dr. Vanderford is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine within the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology. His research focuses on cancer disparities, health promotion, and cancer education and training. He holds several administrative positions including being the Assistant Director of Pathway Programs and Student Success for the Markey Cancer Center, Director of Administration for the Center for Cancer and Metabolism, and Director of the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology Program. In these administrative positions, he works to facilitate cancer research and education initiatives across the university.

Dr. Vanderford is a scientist-administrator who holds a PhD in biochemistry and an MBA with an operations management and leadership focus. He uniquely bridges science and administrative functions with his unique science and business background. He has over fourteen years of oncology-related research administration experience with a focus on operations and program management including oversight of fiscal resources, conducting planning and evaluation activities, coordination of administrative functions, managing of career development and education activities, and participation in faculty and staff recruitment activities.

Dr. Vanderford is active in the Society for Research Administrators International (SRAI) and has been recognized by the society for his research administration accomplishments. He was the 2018 recipient of SRAI's mid-career Excellence Award, he earned Distinguished Faculty Designation by SRAI in 2019 and in 2022, in 2020 he won the SRAI Hartford-Nicholson Award, and in 2022 he was the recipient of SRAI's advanced career Excellence Award. Dr. Vanderford is past editor of the Journal of Research Administration, which is published by SRAI.  

Dr. Vanderford has an award-winning history of teaching and mentoring trainees and in creating innovative career development experiences and opportunities for trainees, including designing a novel career development course and facilitating experiential learning activities. He is co-author of the book ReSearch: A Career Guide for Scientists (Academic Press) that focuses on guiding trainees’ career development. Dr. Vanderford has published several articles on the topic of improving graduate education in high impact journals including Science, Nature, and Nature Biotechnology. He is involved in career development activities at the national level where he serves on several national committees and advisory groups including those associated with the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Dr. Vanderford was awarded the 2020 Kentucky Academy of Science’s Excellence in Science Education and Outreach Award. In 2022, Dr. Vanderford was selected as a 2022 Fellow of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology for his accomplishments related to education. He has won numerous teaching and mentorship awards at the University of Kentucky including the University of Kentucky Alumni Association Great Teacher Award in 2017 and the University of Kentucky Excellent Undergraduate Research Mentor Award in 2021. 

Dr. Vanderford is also senior editor of the book series titled The Cancer Crisis in Appalachia: Kentucky Students Take ACTION of which there are two editions with the first being published in 2020 and the other in 2022.  In 2023, Dr. Vanderford released the first edition of a new book series titled Cancer in Appalachia: A Collection of Youth-Told Stories. 

Brian Dong, M.D., is a breast oncologist for UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center. Dr. Dong received his Bachelor of Science degree from Duke University prior to graduating from the University of Louisville School of Medicine with his Doctor of Medicine degree. After graduating, he completed an internship with the University of Louisville, Department of Internal Medicine where he also completed his residency. Dr. Dong then went on to complete his fellowship with the University of Louisville Medical Oncology & Hematology. At the Brown Cancer Center, Dr. Dong specializes in medical oncology and hematology, with special interests in high-risk breast disease, breast cancer genetics, breast cancer adjuvant therapies and metastatic breast cancer. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Dr. DuPre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences.

Her long-term research goals are to investigate the role of environmental exposures that influence cancer risk in humans to provide novel avenues for cancer prevention. While her recent research has been on identifying environmental risk factors for colorectal cancer, she has been involved with several studies examining the potential role of air pollutants and radon on incidence of breast cancer subtypes.

Annie Bond is a comedian, writer, and cancer advocate from Austin, TX. At just 26 years old, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, ER/PR+, Her2-, with mets to her liver, and given 2-5 years to live. She’ll celebrate her 10-year diagnosis anniversary this August.

Using her background in improv and stand-up comedy, Annie shares her story to raise awareness, educate, and support others. She has spoken at events nationwide, written for global publications, and built a strong social media presence, with over 100k followers across platforms. Her work emphasizes the importance of mental health for cancer patients, a topic often overlooked.

Annie is close with her family and enjoys playing music with her dad, a fellow cancer survivor. Her dog Lemon is the greatest animal to ever live. She dreams of seeing a cure for cancer in her lifetime and is dedicated to making that dream a reality. 

Joseph M. Flynn, D.O., MPH, FACP, is Chief Administrative Officer, Norton Medical Group, and Physician in Chief, Norton Cancer Institute, at Norton Healthcare.

Prior to his role at Norton Healthcare, Dr. Flynn has served at The Ohio State University, Columbus, where he held several positions including co-director, division of hematology; associate physician in chief, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute; medical director, James Cancer Network; and associate professor of medicine of the university’s College of Public Health.

Dr. Flynn earned his undergraduate degree from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, and a master of public health degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. He earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Flynn completed his fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda. He is board certified in medical oncology and he is a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He has been active in community education on a wide variety of cancer-related topics and has contributed to more than 50 medical publications.

Dr. Mollie Beck is a board-certified oncology pharmacist who obtained her Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Cincinnati James L Winkle College of Pharmacy. She completed both her PGY1 Pharmacy Practice and PGY2 Hematology/Oncology residencies at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH. She joined the oncology care team at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Northern Kentucky upon completion of residency as the inpatient oncology pharmacist before transitioning to the medical oncology clinic to manage oral oncolytics across the health system. Most recently, she joined the Precision Medicine department as the Precision Oncology Specialist where her primary role is to lead molecular tumor board and support other system-wide precision oncology initiatives.

Dr. Klarer is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine MD/PhD Program. She completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology under the direction of Dr. Steven Ellis and Dr. Sucheta Telang. Her dissertation was titled "6-Phosphofructo-2-Kinase Inhibition Induces Autophagy as a Survival Mechanism". Dr. Klarer completed both her internal medicine internship and residency in radiation oncology at the University of Louisville. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She specializes in the treatment of breast malignancies and is involved in a number of investigator-initiated and cooperative group clinical trials. Her treatment expertise and clinical interests include intensity-modulated radiation therapy, cardiac-sparing radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and radiobiology.

Kathy Holloway, APRN, Baptist Health