News Release

PCORI Board approves 33 people to serve on multi-stakeholder advisory panels

Panels advise PCORI Board, Methodology Committee and staff on research and engagement efforts
Published: Aug. 21, 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today approved the selection or reappointment of 33 people to serve on PCORI’s five multi-stakeholder advisory panels. This includes 28 new panel members—chosen from more than 500 candidates who either nominated themselves or were nominated by third parties—along with five reappointed panelists.

PCORI’s advisory panels provide guidance and recommendations to the Board, PCORI Methodology Committee and staff on planning, developing, implementing and enhancing PCORI’s work to develop a portfolio of patient‐centered comparative clinical effectiveness research. Each panel has 10 to 24 members appointed to serve a term ranging from one to three years. The panelists, working in diverse fields as researchers, caregivers, clinicians, insurance, industry and policy, bring a range of perspectives to PCORI.

“We are happy to see the continued high level of interest in serving on our advisory panels and pleased to welcome our newest panel members,” said PCORI Executive Director Joe Selby, MD, MPH. “Their experience and expertise are integral to helping ensure that our work continues to be scientifically rigorous and patient centered. We also wish to offer our sincere thanks to those panelists who have completed their terms. Their contributions have been invaluable.”

“The voices of patients, payers, clinicians and other stakeholders are instrumental to PCORI’s work,” said Jean Slutsky, PA, MSPH, PCORI’s Chief Engagement and Dissemination Officer. “Our work will benefit greatly from the insights of this knowledgeable and diverse group of advisory panelists.”

Selecting the panelists involved a detailed evaluation of candidates’ expertise, experience and qualifications related to their panel of interest, as well as their ability to contribute to the panel’s tasks and responsibilities. More information about the selection process is available on PCORI’s website.

Here are the panelists approved today, and the stakeholder groups they represent:

Advisory Panel on Clinical Effectiveness and Decision Science

  • Kate Houghton, MPA, Critical Mass: The Young Adult Cancer Alliance (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Evelyn White, MD, Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota (Payers)

Advisory Panel on Clinical Trials

  • Catherine Crespi, MS, PhD, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health (Researchers)
  • Nancy Dreyer, MPH, PhD, IQVIA (Researchers)
  • Elisa A. Hurley, PhD, PRIM&R (Researchers)
  • Jane Perlmutter, MBA, PhD, Gemini Group (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Henry Sacks, MD, PhD, Thomas C. Chalmers Clinical Trials Unit, Icahn School of Medicine (Researchers)

Advisory Panel on Health Delivery and Disparities Research

  • Carmen Pace, MPA/HCA, BSN, RN, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Kathy Phipps, Memorial Hermann Health System (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Barbara Warren, PsyD, Mount Sinai Health System (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)

Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement

  • Jennifer Canvasser, MSW, Necrotizing Enterocolitis Society (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Emily Creek, MBA, Arthritis Foundation (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Gwen Darien, National Patient Advocate Foundation (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Sarah Donelson, MA, BioMarin Pharmaceutical (Industry)
  • Maureen Fagan, DNP, MHA, FNP-BC, FAAN, University of Miami Health System (Clinicians)
  • Marilyn Geller, MSPH, Celiac Disease Foundation (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • James Harrison, MPH, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (Researchers)
  • Jill Harrison, PhD, Planetree International (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Matthew Hudson, MPH, PhD, Greenville Health System (Researchers)
  • Megan Lewis, PhD, RTI International (Researchers)
  • Ting Pun, PhD, retired (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Anita Roach, MS, National Sleep Foundation (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Umair Shah, MD, Harris County Public Health (Policy Makers)
  • Sandy Sufian, MPH, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • David White, Healthcare Consultant (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Jack Westfall, MD, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (Clinicians)

Advisory Panel on Rare Disease

  • Kathleen Babich, MA, RD, Middlesex County College (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Roxanna Bendixon, PhD, OTR/L, University of Pittsburgh (Researchers)
  • Scott Berns, MD, MPH, National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (Clinicians)
  • Vanessa Boulanger, MSc, National Organization for Rare Disorders (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Julie Gortze, RN, Rare New England (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Tilicia Mayo-Gamble, MPH, PhD, Georgia Southern University (Patients, Caregivers, Patient Advocates)
  • Sherene Shalhub, MD, MPH, University of Washington (Clinicians)

Brief biographies and disclosures of conflicts of interest for each panelist appear on PCORI's website.