Dr. Friedman's research interests lie in the long-term outcomes for cancer survivors, as well as in the design of novel therapeutic protocols for childhood cancer, designed to decrease adverse long-term effects of therapy. She has leadership roles in Children's Oncology Group (COG) and is an internationally recognized expert in cancer survivorship, participating in projects evaluating best practices and models of care. She is investigating a diverse group of physiologic and psychosocial outcomes among survivors of pediatric cancer, hematopoietic stem cell transplant and medical oncology. Dr. Friedman completed her pediatric residency and a joint fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cancer Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania and The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Prior to coming to Vanderbilt in 2008, she served as the co-director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at CHOP and then, as the founder and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Survivorship Program.

For more information on Dr. Friedman, click here. 

Dr. Pal’s research is focused on identification of basic or clinical research: genetic risk factors that place individuals at a higher risk for cancer, as well as strategies to reduce this risk, including efforts focused in underserved populations. Her research spans both the cancer prevention and control continuum as well as the care delivery continuum. Since 2005, she has led multiple studies to investigate the etiology of early onset breast cancer in black women. Since creating the Inherited Cancer Registry (ICARE) Initiative in 2010, she has led multiple efforts to better understand the provision of clinical cancer genetic services across diverse populations, healthcare settings, and providers, at both the patient and provider level.

For more information on Dr. Pal, click here.

Dr. Philip Lammers is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist with a strong focus on breast cancer, although he sees patients with all types of cancer and blood conditions. He is the Medical Director of Clinical Oncology Research and leads the Clinical Trials Committee at Baptist Cancer Center. Dr. Lammers is an active member in Baptist’s Mid-South Minority and Underserved National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program, known as NCORP, a program funded by the NCI that allows Baptist patients access to groundbreaking clinical trials.

For more information on Dr. Lammers, click here.

Dr. Ciombor is AssociateProfessor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology within the Department of Medicine at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. She received her medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, FL. She completed her internal medicine residency and chief residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Medical Center/Miami VA Medical Center. She then completed her fellowship in hematology/oncology at Vanderbilt, where she also graduated with a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation.

For more information on Dr. Ciombor, click here.

Dr. Crispens is a board certified physician, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned her M.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she also completed her internship and residency. In addition, Dr. Crispens completed her fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas at Houston.

For more information about Dr. Crispens, click here.

Dr. Hull serves as Associate Director of Population Science and Community Impact in the University of Kentucky (UK) Markey Cancer Center (MCC). In this role, she leads the Community Impact Office to oversee the cancer center’s community outreach and engagement functions, and she oversees MCC’s population science research agenda and infrastructure. Dr. Hull earned her undergraduate degree in sociology from Duke University and completed both a master’s degree and doctorate in sociology from Vanderbilt University. Prior to joining UK, Hull was an Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, and she served as Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.

Christine Lovly, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician-scientist with a special interest in thoracic malignancies. Dr. Lovly's clinical practice focuses primarily on the care of patients with lung cancer. Her laboratory research is directed at understanding and developing improved therapeutic strategies for specific clinically relevant molecular subsets of lung cancer.

She received a B.A. in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University followed by M.D. and Ph.D. degrees as part of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. She then completed internal medicine residency and medical oncology subspecialty training at Vanderbilt University. During her final year of fellowship, she was the Jim and Carol O'Hare Chief Fellow. She started on faculty at Vanderbilt in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology in July 2012.

For more information on Dr. Lovly, click here.

Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, is Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). Dr. Park is also a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine's Division of Hematology and Oncology.

Dr. Park's research is dedicated to finding a cure for all types of breast cancer by investigating mutated and altered genes responsible for the development and progression of breast cancer, as well as genes that lead to drug resistance. He is actively involved with the VICC Breast Cancer Research Program’s clinical research team to translate his research into clinical practice and patient care.

For more information on Dr. Park, click here.

Anne Washburn, MPH is Administrative Director for Community Relations and Affiliations at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center which includes directing community partnership efforts, academic affiliations, communications, and patient and family-centered care. Ms. Washburn's past experience includes coordinating patient education initiatives at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chapel Hill, NC and working in the National Cancer Institute's Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Bethesda, MD. Ms. Washburn earned her M.P.H. and B.S. in Biology from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

For more information on Ms. Washburn, click here.

Claudia Barajas is a Manager of Community Engagement for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). In this role, Claudia works to enhance the use of evidence-based strategies to increase knowledge and engagement in cancer prevention activities (e.g., screening) and clinical trial participation to reduce cancer risk and cancer disparities among African American, Rural populations and Latinos in the VICC catchment area. In this role, Claudia uses her wealth of knowledge in community engagement to establish and leverage partnerships that serve the needs of minority populations in Tennessee to address this goal. Claudia also earned her B.S. in Computer Science. 

Clorissa is a Research Coordinator II for the ACTION studies. She is interested in reducing health disparities in the areas of oncology and ophthalmology through clinical interaction, community education, and the development of medical therapeutics. Clorissa attended Middle Tennessee State University where she earned her B.A. in Biology, with minors in chemistry and psychology. She also earned her M.S. in Biomedical Diagnostics at Arizona State University.

Kelsey is a part of the ACTION research staff where her responsibilities include management of community outreach and engagement projects and activities. Kelsey earned her M.P.H. with a focus on global health from Vanderbilt University. As well, she earned her B.S. in Health Services Administration with a minor in Business at Xavier University. Kelsey is interested in serving rural and under-served populations and her professional passion is to work towards equitable care for all. 

Jake is a Clinical Research Data Specialist for the ACTION studies and his key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, questionnaire and data management, along with web content management. Jake is a J.D. candidate at St. Louis University School of Law and he has earned his M.S. in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University and his B.S. in Biology with dual minors in Chemistry and Children's Studies from Illinois State University.

Emma is a Clinical Trial Manager for the ACTION studies. Her research interests include patient outcomes, survivorship, and cancer disparities. Emma earned her M.S. in Laboratory Investigation from Vanderbilt University and her B.S. in Biology from DePaul University.

Meredith is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the Meharry- Vanderbilt Alliance and the ENCORE Study where her responsibilities include recruitment, consenting, enrollment, and overall study implementation using REDCap and EPIC Database. Her research interests include Clinical Trials, Underserved Populations, Cancer disparities, Pediatric Health , and Women’s Health. She earned her M.P.H in Social Behavioral and Community Health from Indiana University -Bloomington and her B.S in Healthcare Administration and Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University.

Makenna is an associate clinical research data specialist for the ACTION study team.  Her primary responsibilities are data collection and management as well as participant engagement and support.  She is passionate about improving healthcare equity to underserved populations.  Makenna earned her B.A. in Medicine, Health, and Society from Vanderbilt University.