CORI - Key Persons
Dr. Anton Bilchik is an internationally recognized surgical oncologist and scientist. He is on the board of directors of the California Oncology Research Institute and is Professor of Surgery and Chief of the Gastrointestinal Research Program at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. For his life-changing cancer research, he has been honored by both the American Cancer Society and the American College of Surgeons and was recently listed as one of "America's Top Surgeons" for ten years in a row. In July 2015, Newsweek magazine listed him as one of the top cancer doctors in the country. Dr. Bilchik has been the recipient of competitive research funding from the National Cancer Institute since 2001 and his research publications have contributed to improving quality standards in cancer care. Dr. Bilchik was recently featured on Verywell Health and was also announced as the winner of the 2021 Best of Santa Monica Award in the Doctor category due to his hard work, dedication to his patients, and pioneering techniques in cancer treatment.
Dr. Holmes is an internationally renowned dedicated breast surgeon and breast cancer treatment innovator based in Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Holmes is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and currently serves as President of the TARGIT Collaborative Group, a national intraoperative radiotherapy research and education organization. He currently serves as National Co-Chair of the TARGIT U.S. Registry clinical trial and as National Principal Investigator of the FROST Trial, a clinical trial evaluating the use of cryoablation (tumor freezing) instead of surgery for the treatment of early stage breast cancer. Recently, Dr. Holmes had the privilege of Chairing the 2019 20th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the nation's largest breast surgeon society.
Dr. Alexander Stojadinovic is a COL (RET) U.S. Army and Medical Director for Healthcare Management Services Amerigroup in Texas. He is an internationally respected Surgical Oncologist with extensive expertise in translational cancer research and large multi-center clinical trials resulting in more than 200 peer reviewed publications in several prestigious scientific journals. Dr. Stojadinovic is the recipient of numerous special services awards, commendations, and medals. Dr. Stojadinovic has completed three Iraq tours as a surgeon which has earned him a Bronze Star. In 2013, the United States Army presented Dr. Stojadinovic with the Legion of Merit Award for his 30-years of service exemplified General MacArthur's "Duty-Hono-Country in a myriad of medical, surgical, and administrative leadership positions in both garrison and deployed."
Dr. Dana Scott is a graduate of the prestigious Howard University. She received her medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine where she did an internship and residency in urology. Dr. Scott specializes in the treatment of diseases of the urinary tract and reproductive system in both men and women. Dr. Scott is the founder and owner of the Gold Standard Urology Medical Group based in Los Angeles, with an additional office in the San Fernando Valley. Dr. Scott has received numerous awards and recognition for her outstanding work. Additionally, she mentors medical students, high school students, and medical residents. She is devoted to her work and gives lectures throughout the greater Los Angeles area to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of regular screenings.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified General Surgeon
Dr. Mladja Protic is a Board Certified General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist. He is also the the Professor and Head of the Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina in Serbia, and has collaborated on several research projects with the California Oncology Research Institute.
Job Titles:
- Certified General Surgeon
Dr. Ron Hurst is a surgical oncologist and board certified general surgeon and has been in practice for more than 24-years. He is affiliated with Centinela Medical Center, Marina Del Rey Hospital, Brotman Medical Center, and Providence Little Company of Mary. His clinical interests are: sarcoma, breast, colon and rectal cancer, gastric and melanoma cancers. Dr. Hurst has served in Afghanistan and carried the rank of Lieutenant in the US Armed Forces. Since 2003, he has continuously been recognized as being one of America's top surgeons. Additionally, he serves as a Professor of Surgery with the Osler Surgical Board Review preparing doctors for their oral boards.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board at the California Oncology Research Institute
Jake (Jonathan) Jacobs is the Chairman of the Board at the California Oncology Research Institute, and has held this position since 2010. Mr. Jacobs interest and devotion to cancer research began after losing his wife Patricia to colon cancer after 37 years of marriage. He has held several leadership positions, including senior partner at Rose, Snyder & Jacobs (CPA and consulting firm), former chairman of United Way's Valley Region, the Partner-in-Charge of the Middle Market Practice and the Warner Center Office of KPMG Peat Marwick.
Dr. Janice Hull is a Board Certified Ob/Gyn., with more than 17 years of experience. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton University, Doctorate of Medicine from The Chicago Medical School and then completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rochester General Hospital in New York. After obtaining board certification Dr. Hull became a Diplomate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Hull is a member of several national and local medical societies. Since 2012, she has been the Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. She is also on staff at California Hospital Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Hull is on the board of the Medical Executive Committee and Credentialing Committee. Serving as a mock examiner for a board review program since 2005, she enjoys mentoring aspiring doctors to prepare for board certification. She is regarded as an expert Ob/GYN by her peers, the community, and her patients. She is the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, and in 2011 she received the Compassionate Doctor Recognition Award, and the Patient's Choice Award in 2011 and 2013.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor of Urologic Oncology at the Saint John 's Cancer Institute
At Providence Saint John's Health Center Dr. Linehan is an Associate Professor of Urologic Oncology at the Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI) at Providence St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA, and serves as Section Head of Translational Research at the JWCI. Her clinical practice is a mix of urologic oncology including prostate, bladder, testicular and renal cancer. Her research encompasses both clinical and basic science with a focus on prostate cancer including biomarkers, circulating tumor cells, staging, and metastatic spread. She is currently investigating new intravesical chemotherapeutics for superficial bladder cancer.
Dr. Linehan earned her bachelors of Science in biochemistry at the University of Arizona (U of A), Tucson, AZ, and continued on to medical school. She earned her medical degree at U of A as well and stayed for her Urology Residency. She then completed a two-year fellowship at City of Hope, Duarte, CA in Urologic and Robotic Oncology. Her clinical and basic science research has been published in research journals including Cancer Research, Journal of Urology, and European Urology.
Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer is a Co-Founder and a Director of the board of the California Oncology Research Institute. After watching her late husband, Ben Eisenberg lose his battle to melanoma, she became determined to help cancer scientists and physicians find a cure. She also recognized that through the support of community outreach activities less fortunate people could be educated on how to prevent cancer and detect it at a curable stage. She is president of Ben B. Eisenberg Properties, a property management firm located in downtown Los Angeles, and president of the Ben B. and Joyce E. Eisenberg Foundation. Mrs. Eisenberg-Keefer has received numerous tributes and awards for her extraordinary charitable activities, including the "2007 Lifetime Achievement Honors" for her generosity and contributions to major Israeli and U.S. medical and educational facilities.
Ms. Keefers exposure to cancer started early, at six years of age, when she lost her beloved grandmother to ovarian cancer. Then later, another grandmother to breast cancer and her mother succumbing to breast cancer at only 53 years old. Recently, her sister went through lymphoma and is now in remission. Linda is currently training to become a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a national association in the United States that supports and promotes court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children in order to provide children with a safe and healthy environment in permanent homes.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Board at the California Oncology Research Institute
Mrs. Ruth Weil has been a Director of the Board at the California Oncology Research Institute since its inception. After her husband Martie succumbed to kidney cancer, she established the Martin H. Weil fund to support education, research and breast cancer screening. Ruth believes that every person regardless of socio-economic status should have equal access to the most effective treatments. She too is passionate about curing cancer by supporting the next generation of cancer physicians and scientists. She currently funds the Ruth and Martin H Weil surgical oncology fellow at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Mrs. Weil has received numerous awards for her exemplary contributions, and just recently she received the "Dr. Donald L. Morton Legend Award", a special award that recognizes individuals who have made a lasting contribution to cancer research and education.
Job Titles:
- Board Certified General Surgeon
Prof. Aviram Nissan is a Board Certified General Surgeon and Surgical Oncologist. He is also the Head of the Department of General and Oncological Surgery- Surgery C at The Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Israel. He has an established research collaboration with the California Oncology Research Institute and has participated in several CORI sponsored trials. A recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Nissan is internationally acknowledged for his many contributions to translational and basic science, and cancer therapeutics. He has also published more than 90 research articles, and has active membership with the Israel Society of Colorectal Surgery, American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the American Association for Cancer Research.