DR. NARAYAN - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Deputy Director
• As Deputy Director, Dr. Marcus Leads the Integration of the Research, Clinical, and Educational Components Within Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
• Deputy Director / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University / Scientific Director, Integrated Cellular Imaging Core
• Interim Vice President for Research
• National Leader
• Scientific Director of the Emory Integrated Cell Imaging Core

Dr. Marcus is a recognized national leader in the research and understanding of how cancer cells invade and metastasize. Adam Marcus, PhD, is Winship 5K Research Professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Marcus serves as Deputy Director for Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, leading the integration of the research, clinical, and educational components within Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. He previously served as Associate Director of Basic Research and Shared Resources, and in 2021 served as Interim Executive Director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. He has been providing senior leadership oversight of the current Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG) planning process and contributed to Winship's successful CCSG submissions in 2011 and 2016. Dr. Marcus also serves as Interim Vice President for Research in Emory University's Woodruff Health Sciences Center, and as Interim Associate Dean for Novel Technology and Research Cores leading the Emory Integrated Core Facilities and Division of Animal Resources. He provides strategic and operational oversight as well as scientific direction for the Emory Integrated Core Facilities, in partnership with Emory University School of Medicine and Woodruff Health Sciences Center leadership. Dr. Marcus is also Scientific Director of the Emory Integrated Cell Imaging Core (ICI), a jointly managed shared resource of Winship Cancer Institute and Emory University School of Medicine. The ICI provides cellular imaging technology, services, and expertise to support the research initiatives of the Winship Cancer Institute. In 2006, Dr. Marcus joined the faculty at Winship Cancer Institute and developed his own laboratory which focuses on cell biology and pharmacology in lung and breast cancer. He is a national leader in understanding how cancer cells invade and metastasize and how to apply this knowledge in developing new therapeutic strategies. Dr. Marcus is leading the effort to stimulate critical thinking and enthusiasm for sciences in children, kindergarten through 12th grade, in the state of Georgia. Along with Theresa Gillespie, PhD, he received a $1.2 million R25 Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the National Institutes of Health in 2016. The grant seeks to increase underrepresented minority participation in STEM, with a focus on middle-school students. In 2014, Dr. Marcus gave a TEDx talk on how the future of personalized medicine in cancer care is already here today. View video. Education Dr. Marcus received his PhD in Biology from Penn State University in 2002 and went on to do a post-doctoral fellowship in cancer pharmacology at Emory University in the laboratory of Dr. Paraskevi Giannakakou from 2002 to 2004. As Deputy Director, Dr. Marcus leads the integration of the research, clinical, and educational components within Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Leadership Team

Ms. Gleason leads the Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners for Winship across Emory Healthcare overseeing clinical practice, quality, safety, education, and the APP fellowship.

Job Titles:

• Chief and William G. Woods, M.D. Chair / Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

Dr. Graham leads the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Job Titles:

• Interim Associate Director of Clinical Research / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Job Titles:

• Program Coordinator

Evelyn Williams is program coordinator in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director for Basic Research and Shared Resources / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Dr. Lesinski provides oversight and direction for the development and growth of Winship's basic scientific activities across the cancer center's four research programs.

Job Titles:

• Chief Diversity Officer / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
• Chief Diversity Officer at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory

Ildemaro J. González, MBA, serves as Chief Diversity Officer at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, and also serves as Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Emory Healthcare. Mr. Gonzalez oversees diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies at Winship to impact the Institute's research, clinical care, people, and community priorities while ensuring coordination and alignment with Emory Healthcare and Emory University. Mr. González joined Emory Healthcare in September 2021 from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he served as the Vice President, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer. In this role, he led the development and implementation of Dana-Farber's $50 million inclusion, diversity & equity commitment, and overall strategy to impact the Institute's research, clinical care, people, and community priorities. He is a diversity and inclusion (D&I) leader with a successful 20-year track record designing and implementing innovative D&I strategies. In a domestic and global context, he works to align D&I with the strategic priorities of the organization and impact of all aspects of the operation, including both employee and patient experiences. Mr. González previously served as Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System; Global Director of Inclusion and Philanthropy at Newell Rubbermaid; and Managing Director, Diversity Strategy at the American Cancer Society-National Home Office. In these roles, he worked to galvanize executives and board members around a common vision, leverage partnerships with operational leaders for long term adoption of new diversity and inclusion initiatives, and engage employees in driving diversity, inclusion, and engagement outcomes. Education Mr. González earned an MBA from Georgia State University, and a BBA from the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, in Caracas, Venezuela.

Job Titles:

• Chief Administrative Officer / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
• Chief Administrative Officer and Associate Director for Administration at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory
• Member of the Winship

Kimberly F. Kerstann, PhD, serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and Associate Director for Administration at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. She serves as a member of the Winship senior leadership team to ensure the coordination and implementation of transdisciplinary and collaborative research programs. In her role as Chief Administrative Officer, Dr. Kerstann is responsible for the oversight and leadership of grants administration, research operations, program and shared resource development, finance, strategic planning, space and facilities, information technology, personnel, and community partnerships and outreach under the direction of the Executive Director. She is responsible for the overall management of the Cancer Center Support Grant, which provides the Winship Cancer Institute with its NCI-designation. She was appointed to the role of Associate Director for Research Administration by Dr. Curran in October 2009 upon reorganization of the Winship Cancer Institute administrative team. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Kerstann served as the Director of Research Projects for the Winship Cancer Institute. In this role she worked closely with faculty to develop biomarker driven protocols and research initiatives. Nationally, Kerstann serves on the External Advisory Board member for three NCI-designated cancer centers and two aspiring NCI-designated centers. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association of Cancer Executive, Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI), and Cancer Center Administrators Forum (CCAF) completing a three-year term on the CCAF executive committee in 2021. She also completed a term on the AACI Clinical Research Initiative Steering Committee. Education Dr. Kerstann earned her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Emory University in 2003. Dr. Kerstann then completed Postdoctoral Fellowships, specializing in genetic epidemiology, at the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute from 2003-2007. Dr. Kerstann is the recipient of a 2017 Emory Award of Distinction. The award recognizes university employees who have made outstanding contributions to the Emory community. She is also a fellow of the 2017 class of the Woodruff Leadership Academy.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director for Education and Training / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Dr. Boise leads and coordinates research education, training, and mentorship activities at the cancer center as well as cultivates additional cancer-specific educational opportunities across the spectrum of learners.

Job Titles:

• Chief Quality Officer / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Job Titles:

• Chief Medical Officer / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Cancer Clinical Administration and Strategy / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
• Vice President of Clinical Administration and Strategy

Stacy L. Palmer, MBA, is vice president of clinical administration and strategy at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Univerity in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Palmer is responsible for coordinating Winship's clinical strategy and supporting standardization of cancer care across Emory Healthcare's clinical sites and partners. She is part of a team comprising Winship's chief medical officer, chief quality officer and chief nursing officer that helps lead the Winship clinical enterprise under the direction of Winship's executive director and Emory Healthcare's Physician Group president and Hospital Group president. Prior to joining Winship, Ms. Palmer was associate dean for strategic planning and chief of staff at Duke University Medical School. Education Ms. Palmer earned her MBA from Emory University's Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Member of the Leadership Team

As Executive Director, Dr. Ramalingam leads the growth and development of cancer research, clinical care, and education at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Dr. Gillespie provides vision and oversight for Winship's community-facing activities through its Community Outreach and Engagement program.

Job Titles:

• Associate Director of Population Sciences / Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Dr. Lash directs the integration and strategic growth of population science-based research throughout Winship and its research programs.