THE PARTNERSHIP TO REDUCE CANCER IN RHODE ISLAND
Survivors, Caregivers, and Providers United Against Cancer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Abdul Saied Calvino, MD, MPH, FACS -- member since 2014
Surgical Oncologist, Roger Williams Medical Center
Dr. Calvino wishes to bring a clinical perspective to the efforts of the Partnership to improve cancer care in RI.
Angela Hall-Jones -- member since 2020
Oak Street Health, Outreach Executive
Arthur M. Plitt -- member since 2007
Reiki Master Teacher, Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Arthur is an existing Board member who wishes to promote a fresh, needed energy to the Partnership and fulfill the need he has seen while working at Women & Infants Hospice.
Lynn Basilio, MS -- member since 2020
Sr. Management State & Primary Care Systems, American Cancer Society
Mirna Sangiovanni -- member since 2020
Multiple Myeloma Survivor, Multiple Myeloma Support Group Facilitator
Susan DeSanto-Madeya, Ph.D, RN, FAAN -- member since 2020
Miriam Weyker Endowed Chair for Palliative Care, Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing
Warren L. Miller, Jr., Ph.D, LICSW, MSW, SAP, BCD -- member since 2019
Assistant Professor, Rhode Island College School of Social Work
Warren was introduced to the Board by the Dean of Rhode Island College for his work with cancer prevention. His focus is on the LGBTQ+ community and HIV/AIDS, with an emphasis on older men.
The Executive Committee
Jim Willsey, Chair -- member since 2007
Director of Spiritual Care, Roger Williams Medical Center
Jim has been involved with The Partnership since it was founded 12 years ago, and has been on the Board for 6 years. He cares strongly about survivorship and helping those who are living with cancer.
Diane Martins, PhD, RN, FAAN, Co-Chair -- member since 2014
Professor, University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing
Diane is a standing member of the Board for 6 years. She has spent most of her time in collaboration with previous Board members on prevention work and our annual cancer summit.
Arthur Everly, CLU, ChFC, Treasurer -- member since 2020
Founder/President, Wealth Management Resources
Patricia Stout, DNP, APRN-CNP, Secretary -- member since 2019
Associate Clinical Professor, University of Rhode Island, College of Nursing
Pat was invited to the Board by Diane Martins. She has worked previously with the Partnership on a HPV work group, assisted with the 2019 Cancer Summit, and enjoys working as a team.
Advisors to the Board (RIDOH)
C Kelly Smith, MSW
Program Manager, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program
George Andoscia, MPH
Policy, Systems & Environmental Change Specialist, Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Project Coordinator, Rape Prevention Education, Violence & Injury Prevention Program
The Expert's Corner
This series of interviews serves the purpose to highlight the knowledge and experience of our Board members in their respective areas of work in relation to cancer and the Partnership.
"A Different Perspective"
Dr. Abdul Calvino is a long-standing member of the Partnership's Board of Directors. As a Surgical Oncologist, he brings to light the importance of variety among a Board, and how his experience as a healthcare professional provides a different perspective to the Partnership's goal to improve cancer care and reduce the burden of cancer in our Rhode Island community. His years of experience in cancer care and addressing health disparities, particularly among the Latinx population, makes Dr. Calvino a key person in our efforts to support all cancer survivors and caregivers.
"Listening To Their Stories"
James Willsey, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Partnership and Jim to everyone he meets, has been listening to stories of patients with cancer for the past 30 years as Chaplain of Roger Williams Hospital. He has celebrated their resiliency and comforted those who seek a meaningful quality of life and spiritual guidance as their disease progresses. We are most fortunate to have Jim at the helm of our coalition, listening to us and providing the leadership required to make the Partnership an effective voice for RI cancer patients and their families.
"It Found Me"
As with many of his pursuits, Warren feels that the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of the Partnership “found him” when Partnership Director, Joe Dziobek, reached out to Interim Dean, Dr. Jayashree Nimmagadda for assistance in finding a representative of the RICSSW to serve on the Board of Directors. Although his father had passed away from cancer, he had not considered becoming active in a cancer organization until then. After meeting with Joe he decided that it was something that he wanted to do. He joined the Board last year serving as the Treasurer.