Dr. Edward Giovannucci graduated from Harvard University in 1980 and received a medical degree from University of Pittsburgh in 1984. He did his residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Connecticut, and then completed a doctoral degree in epidemiology from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) in 1992. Currently, he is a Professor in the Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology at HSPH. He is also an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor. Over the past three decades, Dr. Giovannucci's work has been based largely in the Nurses' Health Study I & II and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. His research focuses on how nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle factors relate to various malignancies, especially those of the colorectum, other gastrointestinal cancers, and prostate cancer. A specific interest has been understanding etiologic mechanisms underlying the relation between nutritional factors and cancer. He has served on the expert panel member for the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research.

Dr. Nancy Emenaker is a Program Official in the Nutritional Science Research Group in the Division of Cancer Prevention at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, where she oversees a basic and clinical research portfolio in nutrition and cancer prevention. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University and completed both her Postdoctoral training and a Fellowship in GI & Surgical Oncology at the Yale University School of Medicine. She is an original founder of the American Society of Nutrition Diet & Cancer Research Interest Group, later serving as Chair. Dr. Emenaker has served in leadership roles in several national organizational roles, including Chair of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Oncology Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group, AND Research Dietetics Practice Group, and National Nutrient Databank Conference. She served on study section panels for the NCI, Department of Defense (DoD), Veterans Affairs Administration (VA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as private foundations, including the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Dr. Emenaker has numerous peer reviewed abstracts, papers, and invited national and international presentations. Prior to joining NIH, she was an Associate Research Scientist in Physiology & Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. Her research in translocating metastatic colonic and breast cancer cells earned her full memberships in the Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center Gastrointestinal Malignancies, Carcinogenesis, and Prevention & Control Programs. 

Heather Mackey is the Senior Director, Cancer Prevention and Early Detection for the Prevent Cancer Foundation®, the only U.S.-based nonprofit organization solely dedicated to cancer prevention and early detection. In her role, she helps set strategic priorities for the organization and serves as the internal clinical subject matter expert for the Foundation, ensuring that programming, educational materials and communications advance evidence-based strategies and address health equity and disparities. Heather is an oncology nurse practitioner with experience across the cancer care trajectory including primary and secondary cancer prevention management for women at elevated risk for breast cancer in a Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program prior to joining the Foundation. She received her Doctor in Nursing Practice from UNC-Greensboro; her Master of Science in nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill; her diploma in nursing from Watts School of Nursing; and her Bachelor of Science in biology from UNC-Chapel Hill. Heather maintains certifications as an advanced oncology certified nurse (AOCN®) and adult nurse practitioner (ANP-BC), and is an active volunteer with the Oncology Nursing Society where she served as Secretary and Director at Large of their Board of Directors.

Dr. Michelle S. Williams is an associate professor in the Department of Global and Community Health at George Mason University. She earned a Bachelors of Science and a Masters of Public Health at Florida A&M University. She earned a Ph.D. in Health Behavior at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. She completed her postdoctoral training in the UAB-VA Health Services, Outcomes, and Effectiveness Research (HSOER) training program, during which she also earned a Master of Science of Public Health in Health Outcomes Research.

Dr. Williams is a health behavior scientist who develops and disseminates population specific health behavior interventions for cancer prevention and control. She is focused on disseminating and implementing interventions that will lead to a reduction in cancer disparities. Dr. Williams’ research interests include cancer disparities, cancer prevention behaviors, Community-Based Participatory Research, dissemination and implementation science, qualitative research, and mixed methods research.

As Director of Patient Navigation Program Development, Monica works on strengthening and forging relationships with advocacy groups to advance collaborative projects. She received her bachelor’s degree in health science with a minor in nutrition from Georgia Southern University.

Monica liaises with pharmaceutical interests to develop funding and support specifically for patient navigation educational initiatives.

She is also a member of the Professional Oncology Navigation Task Force, where she helped in the creation of the Oncology Navigation Standards of Professional Practice, providing clinical oncology nurse navigators, social work navigators, and patient navigators with clear information regarding best practices in the provision of professional care. This includes the knowledge and skills all professional navigators should possess to deliver high-quality, competent, and ethical services to people impacted by cancer.

Before joining AONN+, Monica was Director of the National Navigation Roundtable (NNRT) at the American Cancer Society global headquarters. She was responsible for supporting, planning, and implementing initiatives of the NNRT, overseeing long-term activities, and enacting strategic plans and task group action plans while creating and maintaining collaborative relationships with external partners and roundtable member organizations. Monica has been working in the field of patient navigation since 2007.

Dr. Paris Thomas is a devoted health and racial equity leader, researcher, and advocate based in Chicago. As the Executive Director of Equal Hope, she plays a pivotal role in driving the organization's mission to promote health equity and eliminate disparities for historically marginalized communities through culturally competent interventions.

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Dr. Thomas has a deep-rooted passion for promoting health equity. Her motivation stems from personal experiences within her own family, where she witnessed the impact of the healthcare system on their health outcomes. Driven by a desire to create positive change, Dr. Thomas has dedicated her career to promoting health through intersectionality and innovative strategies that improve access to care for under-resourced communities.

Dr. Thomas boasts an impressive academic background, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiology from Grand Valley State University, a Master of Science Degree in Public Health Education from the University of Cincinnati, and a PhD in Health Sciences from Northern Illinois University. Her doctorate research focused on the lived experiences of high-risk Black men exposed to community violence in Chicago, shedding light on their unique health challenges and behaviors.

Throughout her career, Dr. Thomas has actively led health equity initiatives across various sectors of the healthcare field. From working with Federally Qualified Health Centers to Managed Care Organizations, Quality Improvement Agencies, and Hospitals, she has consistently championed the cause of creating an equitable healthcare system for individuals of all races and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Currently, Dr. Thomas is immersed in expanding Equal Hope's successful health equity model. Her focus includes increasing diversity and inclusion in clinical trials, as well as ensuring reproductive justice for women in Illinois. Alongside her professional endeavors, Dr. Thomas is also a proud wife and mother to three amazing children.

Dr. Paris Thomas continues to be an exemplary leader in the pursuit of health equity and a beacon of hope for marginalized communities. Her commitment to promoting equality in healthcare is evident in her strategic vision, research, and tireless efforts to improve the lives of others. With her expertise and passion, Dr. Thomas is making a significant impact on the journey towards a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system.

Courtney Downs currently serves as the Viral Hepatitis Treatment Coordinator and Health Educator at the Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition, based in Roanoke, Virginia. She also holds the position of Co-Chair at the Virginia Hepatitis Coalition and is a proud member of the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable Advisory Committee. With a background as a Permanent Supportive Housing case manager, EMT, and Registered Nurse, Courtney's professional journey is marked by a commitment to public health and supporting the marginalized populations within her community. Her personal lived experience with Hepatitis C, chaotic IV substance use, homelessness, and trauma has endowed her with profound insights that have been pivotal in shaping a pioneering model of care that effectively addresses the needs of individuals facing similar struggles. Courtney's transformation from overcoming personal hurdles to becoming a beacon of hope for others is a testament to her resilience and dedication to advocacy.

Dung Hua is currently the Director of Programs at the Vital Access Care Foundation, previously known as the Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation, in Orange County, California, where she oversees the development and implementation of all community programs. These include outreach and education, community training, patient navigation, screenings, cancer care coordination and social services. These programs provide linguistically and culturally appropriate health communication, promotion and continuum of care services focusing on a primarily Vietnamese-speaking immigrant community, in which cancer continues to be the top cause of mortalities. As a Vietnamese immigrant, she is bilingual and bi-cultural, with a clinical background supporting her desire and passion to share knowledge, navigate and empower the undeserved immigrant population moving towards health equity.