Healing NET Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee
Jaydira Del Rivero, MD HNF medical director
Dr. Del Rivero is a Physician Scientist in the Developmental Therapeutics Branch at the National Cancer Institute. SHE is board certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Medical Oncology. HER WORK focuses on the development of novel treatment approaches and targeted therapies for endocrine malignancies such as advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, adrenocortical cancer and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma.
David C. metz, MD director virtual tumor board
Dr. Metz RECENTLY RETIRED FROM the the University of Pennsylvania, WHERE HE SERVED AS A PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND A gastroenterologist. He WAs co-director of Penn’s neuroendocrine tumor center. He served as president of the North american neuroendocrine tumor society (NANETS) from 2016-2018.
dr. metz is immediate past medical director for the foundation.
ERic Liu, MD, FACS co-founder, healing net
Dr. Liu is a surgeon Specialized in neuroendocrine disease. WHILE at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Liu was responsible for establishing the first clinical trial in the United States of the Gallium 68 Pet Scan to diagnose nets.
In 2015 he partnered with Dr. Allen Cohn (oncologist) to launch The Neuroendocrine Institute at the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers in Denver, CO.
Heloisa P. soares, MD, PHD
Dr. Soares is a medical oncologist with a focus in GI cancers and neuroendocrine tumors. She is an assistant professor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at University of Utah. She serves as the Medical Director for the Clinical Trials Office as well as the co-physician leader in the GI and the Theranostics Clinical Trials Research Groups at HCI .
Dr. Soares is a passionate advocate to patients and is a Healing NET Foundation's Board Member. Along many patient-centered activities, she volunteers at the ASCO Advocacy Summit on Capital Hill.
cindy lovelace co-founder, healing net
Cindy serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee in a patient-centered role, bringing invaluable historical and foundational insight into the journey of those affected by neuroendocrine cancer. Her path to the Healing NET Foundation began as a patient seeking answers, ultimately leading to a transformative partnership with Dr. Eric Liu. Together, they bridged the gap between patient advocacy and physician expertise, working to connect patients with knowledgeable care teams and ensure community providers have access to accurate, up-to-date NET information.
Linda Gardner, BSN, RN, VA-BC
LinDA Gardner is an Experienced Administrative Nurse at the university of California Los angeles. She was the Lead nurse for the Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy (PRRT) EAP program. and now leads the fda-approved commercial program.
She has helped Healing NET identify how to support nurses in better meeting the needs of net patients.
Daniel Halperin, MD
Dr. Halperin is a medical oncologist and clinical investigator at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He is focused on the development of novel treatments for patients with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), in addition to providing high-quality clinical care to patients with NETs and other gastrointestinal cancers.
Michael C. Soulen, MD
Dr. SOULEN is Professor of Radiology & Surgery AND Director Interventional Oncology At Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania. His research expertise includes image-guided cancer therapy, interventional oncology, AND embolization.
sandy kotiah, md
Sandy is Board Certified medical oncologist, serves as the Director of The Neuroendocrine Tumor Center at Mercy and is a member of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Mercy in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Kotiah leads a multidisciplinary team of specialty doctors focused on providing some of the best treatment options for rare neuroendocrine diseases.
dr. Kotiah is actively invloiced with clinical trials and research and has been recognized with a “Patients' Choice Award” in recognition of Dr. Kotiah’s compassionate care and bedside manner.
Josh A. Mailman
Josh is an internationally recognized advocate for nET patients AND for integrative oncology, nuclear medicine, and molecular imaging. He is President of the NorCAL Carcinet Community AND has served On Numerous Boards And Committees. JOSH has been a technology entrepreneur for over 20 years.
Namrata Vijayvergia, MD
Dr. Vijayvergia specializes in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors and other gastrointestinal cancers at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
In addition to providing the latest standard of care treatments to her patients, she is also dedicated to researching new therapies and exploring biomarkers that can predict response to therapy and outcomes for neuroendocrine tumors.
JOSEPH DILLON, MD
Dr. Dillon is a professor of medicine and Endocrinology at university of iowa, where he directs the neuroendocrine tumor enets center of excellence (coe) and pheo/para alliance coe. his clinical work is focused entirely on the care of people with neuroendocrine tumors (NETS), he is involved with multiple research projects through the NETS spore GRANT.
Emeritus Members of the Scientific Advisory Committee
Hover on each photo to read more.
Joy Ardill, Phd, frcpath
Dr. Ardill has long studied the chemistry of nets. recently SHE was part of the Belfast team Named a Neuroendocrine Tumour Center of Excellence. In addition to her research, she has taught medical students, trained colleagues, and worked with patient support groups. She has spoken at numerous national and international meetings over her 50-year career and is author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.
George A. Fisher, Jr., MD, PHD
Dr. Fisher is a Medical oncologist AND GASTROINTESTINAL Specialist at stanForD University. He Provides Care for Patients with gastrointestinal cancers, including neuroendocrine tumors, AND has conducted numerous clinical trials to investigate promising treatment options. Dr. Fisher Participates In cooperative groups under the auspices of the National cancer institute in the hope of establishing new standards of care for GI Cancer.
KJELL ÖBERG, MD, PHD
Dr. Öberg IS AN EMERITUS Professor of Endocrine Oncology ON the Medical Faculty of Uppsala University. He was the former head of the Department of Endocrine Oncology, University Hospital, and he is a specialist in endocrinology and internal medicine. He has OVER 30 years experience in the field of neuroendocrine tumors.
