Our Leadership - Hodgkin's International

Our Leadership and Founding Board

Led by survivors, advocates, clinicians, and professionals who are deeply committed to improving life after cancer treatment.

Our leadership reflects both lived experience and professional expertise, united by a shared mission: to ensure that no survivor has to navigate late effects alone.

We also honor the vision and dedication of our founding board members, whose lived experience, compassion, and determination helped build Hodgkin’s International into the community it is today. Several of these original leaders are now deceased, and we are proud to recognize their lasting impact on this organization and on the lives of survivors everywhere.

Current Leadership

SOPHIA SMITH, PHD

Chair

Sophia was diagnosed with HL as a teenager in 1975 and treated with MOPP/ABVD and radiation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital. She has experienced a variety of late effects including breast cancer diagnosis in 1996. Following this second cancer diagnosis, Sophia left a successful career in information technology at IBM to pursue her MSW and PhD in social work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an Associate Professor at the Duke School of Nursing where she teaches and conducts research that blends her love for technology with a passion for helping others.

SOPHIA SMITH, PHD

Chair

Beth Schiff

Vice Chair

Beth was diagnosed with HL in her senior year of high school in North Carolina and was treated with surgery and radiation. Shortly, thereafter, she started her education at Duke University, ultimately majoring in public policy with a concentration in health policy. After a short stint working on Capitol Hill, she returned to Duke for a law degree. After graduation, Beth worked in commercial litigation at Simpson Thacher & Barlett in NYC and later at the Taft firm in Cincinnati, Ohio. Beth encountered many of the long-term side effects of radiation treatment along the way, including a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007. Shortly thereafter, Beth started working on developing a cancer survivorship program at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, along with serving on the boards of many Cincinnati non-profits and serving as chair of the board of trustees of The Seven Hills School, a pre-K- 12 independent school in Cincinnati.

Beth Schiff

Vice Chair

Tricia Hernandez, MS

Secretary

Tricia Hernandez, MS is a survivor, advocate, mom, and adventurer, preferring she/her pronouns. Her career has been spent in leadership in nonprofit organizations. After earning a Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Georgia Southern University, she worked for the State of Georgia with a focus on psychological testing of children with severe emotional/behavioral differences. She went on to lead the foster care program, then served as Director of Operations for a small Atlanta community based mental health advocacy organization. Tricia’s operational knowledge supported roles as operations manager at a national mental health organization and co-executive director of her own nonprofit foster care agency. Following some time at home with her son, Tricia returned to nonprofit operations, advocacy, community outreach, and program delivery at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She spent six years as the Patient & Community Outreach Manager for the Georgia Chapter and now serves as the Director of Community Engagement in LLS Education, Services and Outcomes Research, where she manages the LLS online patient community, represents LLS on national collaboratives and leads AYA services and resources efforts. Tricia was named SWOG Lymphoma Committee Patient Research Advocate in 2022, NCI Lymphoma Committee Patient Advocate in 2023, and is a member of the Comprehensive Cancer Control National Partnership. She is a twenty-two year Hodgkin lymphoma survivor and lives in Atlanta with her wife, son, and pups.

Tricia Hernandez, MS

Secretary

Sheilagh Foley

Sheilagh is a Hodgkins survivor that has endured subsequent cancers and is currently living with treatment induced heart failure. She worked in Finance for 20 years and turned her efforts to patient advocacy after her heart failure diagnosis at 41. Sheilagh is a Patient Advocate for the Irish Heart Foundation, a Patient Consultant for the European Heart Network, a member of the Irish National Telehealth Steering Committee, and a Patient Reviewer for the British Medical Journal and the Irish Health Research Board. She writes a regular column for the Irish Medical Times from the patient perspective. She lives in Dublin, Ireland, with her husband and young daughter.

Sheilagh Foley

Mark Haseloff

Diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 17, I’ve carried a deep sense of purpose ever since to improve the lives of others facing cancer. Over the years, I’ve been actively involved in Canteen and Youth Cancer advocacy at both state and national levels across Australia. Through my work with Canteen, I’ve had the privilege of traveling the world to speak about the importance of youth cancer support, and I remain deeply passionate about the AYA (adolescent and young adult) cancer space.

Today, I continue to serve as a consumer representative on various advisory groups—ranging from health system committees to research grants and academic publications. I hold a special interest in survivorship, with a focus on fertility, late effects, and the long-term challenges people face after treatment.

Cancer has taken a lot from me—but it has given me so much more in terms of purpose and perspective in life.

Mark Haseloff

Susan Leigh, BSN, RN-retired

After receiving her degree in nursing from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1969, Susan Leigh served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Seven months after completing a tour of duty in the Mekong Delta in South Vietnam, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and treated with some of the earliest forms of chemotherapy and radiation. This experience influenced her decision to enter the newly founded field of oncology nursing and began this phase of her career working as a research nurse in the new Department of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Arizona Medical Center.

For the past 35 years, Susan has focused her efforts on national advocacy work with special emphasis on the long-term and late effects of cancer treatment. Her most cherished involvement has been with the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) as a founding member and past president. She has also been actively involved with many professional organizations, including the Oncology Nursing Society and the National Cancer Institute.

Susan also worked as a Survivorship consultant and educator with Arizona Oncology, a multi-site community practice in Tucson, until multiple treatment-related cardiac complications made it difficult to fulfill work obligations and accelerated her decision to retire.

Susan Leigh, BSN, RN-retired

SANDRA (SANDI) M. LIBERATORI, ESQ.

While studying law in 1983, Sandi was diagnosed with HL. After a lymphangiogram and a staging laparotomy, she was treated with radiation and went on to finish her education and start a career. Twenty-five years later she began her ongoing struggle with a series of late effects. Sandi continues to practice law since 1985, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

SANDRA (SANDI) M. LIBERATORI, ESQ.

Kiran Manisubbu

Kiran is a second-year medical student at St. George’s University School of Medicine. He is interested in how the values of Hodgkin’s International especially the emphasis on long-term survivorship can help shape more thoughtful, patient-centered care. He hopes to encourage more students and physicians to engage with these ideals in their approach to medicine. Outside of his studies, Kiran enjoys sailing and photography.

Kiran Manisubbu

Larissa Nekhlyudov, MD, MPH

Dr. Larissa Nekhlyudov is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and is a practicing internist at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is Clinical Director, Internal Medicine for Cancer Survivors at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where she offers clinical care for long-term survivors of childhood and adult cancers. Dr. Nekhlyudov is particularly interested in improving the care of cancer survivors and the interplay between primary and oncology care. She has been at the forefront of the field of cancer survivorship, nationally and internationally, by leading and participating in the development of survivorship care policies and clinical guidelines, educational programs, and research. Throughout her career, Dr. Nekhlyudov has been committed to educating and empowering cancer survivors and their caregivers.

Larissa Nekhlyudov, MD, MPH

Maria Ragucci

After graduating from Williams College in 1978 with degrees in Biology and Russian, Maria spent a year teaching English in Kurume, Japan. She went on to receive her J.D. from Harvard Law School and embarked on a legal career in New York City.

One year into her career, at age 27, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After undergoing a splenectomy, she was treated with mantle and abdominal radiation. She resumed her legal career and retired fourteen years later when her son was born.

Maria has experienced numerous late effects and is grateful to be a long-term survivor. She lives with her husband in Rye, NY where she continues to study Russian and is active in environmental advocacy.

Maria Ragucci

Lauren Seides Chartan, Esq.

I have been shaped by my cancer survivorship since the age of 17. My experience of surviving the challenges engendered by facing life threatening illness, have served to form the foundation for the adult Woman, Mother, and Lawyer I have become and remain faithful to.

As an accomplished, experienced litigator who, after practicing law as both a Criminal Defense attorney in Manhattan, and then a Deputy County Attorney, I returned to Law School to pursue a Masters degree in Family Law (LL.M) degree, while raising my then 8 year old daughter, as a single mom. I feel the fortitude and determination that has helped guide me emanates from the life lessons dealing with multiple cancer diagnosis have given to me. We are so much more than our medical charts reveal.

I share a beautiful home and life with my life partner, David, who will be the first person to say that he has only known me as a survivor, after we met while attending the University of Rochester, where I transferred after being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lauren Seides Chartan, Esq.

Samantha Siegel, MD

Dr. Samantha Siegel is an onco-pcp and survivorship physician at Kaiser Permanente. She has survived relapsed/refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma, including an autologous bone marrow transplant in June 2022. This has made her passionate integrative oncology, AYA survivorship, longterm toxicities, returning to work after cancer and more. Dr. Siegel is the cofounder of PCP-ONC CARES program, a longitudinal cancer survivorship care model beginning at diagnosis and she serves as the current director of Cancer Survivorship for Kaiser San Francisco. She is the host of AIM at Melanoma’s supportive cancer care podcast, “Beyond the Clinic.” Dr. Siegel is focused on elevating cancer survivorship to a distinct board certification status. She lives in Davis with her husband, three kids and energetic dog. They enjoy outdoor activities and plant-based living.

Samantha Siegel, MD

Robert Silverstein

Raised on Long Island’s North Shore, Robert earned his economics degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Following his graduation, he embarked on a successful career in residential mortgage banking, spanning over three decades. He is married to his college sweetheart, Melissa, and together they raised two children on Long Island. Inspired by Melissa’s experience as a Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor who developed late-stage complications, including right-side heart failure, Robert is now dedicated to raising awareness about long-term survivorship issues among patients and healthcare professionals to promote proactive care.

Robert Silverstein

Meet our Executive Leadership and Staff

We would not be able to achieve our mission without the support of our staff.

RACHEL GINGOLD

Acting Executive Director

In 1989, at the age of 24, Rachel was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma as she was beginning her career as an Optical Engineer. Treated with mantle radiotherapy and chemotherapy, she has since experienced several long-term effects such as breast cancer and radiation fibrosis. Throughout her career, Rachel has worn many hats, including working as a technical project manager and starting her own business in 2002 as a muralist, furniture refinisher, and painting teacher. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and enjoys connecting in person with her fellow survivors.

RACHEL GINGOLD

Acting Executive Director

Kieran Chapman

Development Lead & Technology Consultant

With over 25 years of experience specializing in user-centric web design, user interface design, and custom web development, Kieran works at the intersection of design and development. Kieran specializes in website, web application, and mobile app design, front-end web development (including responsive/mobile web development), user interface design and heuristic reviews.

Bringing a strong work ethic, as well as an on-time and on-budget work style, his contributions have made an impact for a number of clients in a variety of industries. He continually focuses on the success of the solutions he can provide, success for his clients and of the clients’ customers and product users with the fewest barriers possible. His work has included development for a number of established institutions, biotech and venture capital sites, including Social Capital, Resolute Ventures, F7 Ventures, NextVivo, Flashpoint Ventures, Harvard Innovation Labs, Mass Power Choice, and Ballet Rhode Island.

Based in southeastern Massachusetts, he has worked with clients across the United States. In his personal time, you can find him spending time with his family, curling, gardening, or occasionally riding flatland on his BMX bike.

Kieran Chapman

Development Lead & Technology Consultant

BRIANA HASERICK

Creative Director

As a creative professional with 20+ years experience, Briana strives to design in a manner that makes information easy to find, understand, and digest. Her expertise has been helping support Hodgkin’s International in their mission to make hard to find, up-to-date information accessible – specifically with her work on the website. Briana owns a small design studio outside of Boston.

BRIANA HASERICK

Creative Director

Rachel Mihalko

Director of Social Media

Rachel Mihalko is the director of social media at Hodgkin’s International and a freelance media specialist offering services in social media, proofreading, and graphic design. She is also a Hodgkin’s lymphoma survivor who loves theatre, writing poetry, and crafting of all sorts. Reading has fueled her passion for digital and written storytelling, and you will rarely find her without a book on hand.

Rachel Mihalko

Director of Social Media

How Hodgkin’s International Began

Founded in 2016, Hodgkin’s International was born out of the need for connection, support, and reliable information. Co-founders Erin Cummings and Dolly Griffin, along with many dedicated Hodgkin lymphoma survivors, came together in search of answers to unusual and often overlooked medical problems arising years after treatment. When clinicians often did not know how to help, survivors turned to one another. Hodgkin’s International was created so that future survivors would not have to navigate that journey alone.

Honoring Our Founding Board

Hodgkin’s International was founded by survivors who understood, firsthand, the lifelong impact of cancer treatment and the urgent need for better survivorship education, advocacy, and support. Our original board members helped build this organization with courage, generosity, and a deep commitment to helping others feel less alone.

Their leadership laid the foundation for the work we continue today. We honor them with gratitude, and we remember with love those who are no longer with us.

Tess Nowell, MD

Former Co-Chair

Cathy Pipcho

Kat Stevenson

In Memoriam

We remember with deep gratitude the founding leaders and early board members whose voices, wisdom, and compassion helped shape Hodgkin’s International. Their legacy lives on in the community they helped build and in the lives they touched.

Dolly Griffin

Founding Member

Dolly Griffin

Founding Member

Erin Cummings, LCSW

Founding Board Member and Former Chair

Erin Cummings, LCSW

Founding Board Member and Former Chair

Karla Guererri

Karla Guererri

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