Susan Abdel-Rahman, PharmD, MA

Chief Scientific Officer Health Data Synthesis Institute

Dr. Susan Abdel-Rahman is a pediatric researcher, innovator, educator, and clinician with 25 years of experience in academic medicine. She is a former professor of Pediatrics and Marion Merrell Dow/Missouri Endowed Chair in Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology. She also directed Health Care Innovation for the Children’s Mercy Research Institute, directed an NIH funded T32 fellowship program, and provided clinical care as part of a Clinical Pharmacology consult service before transitioning into her current as Chief Scientific Advisor for a Kansas City-based technology start-up. Dr. Rahman has held leadership roles at the regional, national and international levels including serving as Chair of Missouri Medicaid’s Drug Utilization Review Board, President for the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Technical Advisor to the World Health Organization. As a PI she has received funding from a wide array of sources including the NIH, U.S. FDA, CDC, WHO, Pharmaceutical Industry, private foundations, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She also has numerous patents to her credit including medical devices that have been cleared by the FDA and screening tools that have been licensed to private sector companies. She continues to consult with public and private organizations in the area of pediatric pharmacology, pediatric trial design and conduct, and innovation implementation in developing countries.  

Anvita Ambardekar

High School Student, Pediatric Perspective, iCAN

Stephen J. Balevic, MD, Ph.D., MHS, RhMSUS

Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Director of Pharmacometrics and Fit-for-Purpose Trials, Duke University/Duke Clinical Research Institute

Florence Bourgeois, MD, MPH

Director, Harvard-MIT Center for Regulatory Science
‍
Directs Initiative in Pediatric Therapeutics and Regulatory Science, Boston Children’s Hospital

Scientific Director, PrecisionLink Biobank for Health Discovery, Boston Children’s Hospital

Sneha Dave, B.A.

Executive Director, Generation Patient

Martha Donoghue, MD

Associate Director of Pediatric Oncology and Rare Cancers, Oncology Center of Excellence Office of the Commissioner, FDA

Christina Edwards, MHA

Director of Clinical Trials, National Minority Quality Forum

Carla Epps, MD, MPH, FAAP

Senior Physician, DPMH, ORPURM, OND, CDER, FDA

Captain Mathilda Fienkeng, PharmD, M.S.

Director of Division of Medical Policy Development, Office of Medical Policy, FDA

Dionna J. Green, MD

Director, OPT,OCPP, OC, FDA

Billie Jo Kipp, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist, Indigenous Innovators Collaborative

Christine S. Lee, PharmD, Ph.D.

Acting Associate Commissioner and Director, OMHHE, OC, FDA

Lois K. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAP, FACE

Senior Associate in Pediatrics, Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital

Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Associate Program Director for Public Policy, Sandra L. Fenwick Institute for Pediatric Health Equity and Inclusion, Boston Children’s Hospital

Tamorah Lewis, MD, Ph.D.

Sellers Chair, Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics
Division Head, Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
Staff Neonatologist
The Hospital for SickKids

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto

Ted Love, MD

Chair, Board of Directors, Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Hilary Marston, MD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer, OCPP, OC, FDA

Ann W. McMahon, MD, M.S., FISPE

Regulatory Scientist, OPT, OCPP, OC, FDA

Ki Lee Milligan, MD

Executive Director, Pediatric Center for Excellence, Global Drug Development, Novartis

Lily Mulugeta, PharmD

Acting Associate Director, Policy and Research
DPMH | ORDPURM ꟾ OND | CDER | FDA

Bella Oguno,MPH

Vice President, Development Operations, Nuvig Therapeutics

Melissa Penn, JD, MPH

Director of Patient Engagement R&D, Bayer Pharmaceuticals

Rachel Randell, MD, MSCR

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics,
Duke University and Duke Clinical Research Institute

LaShell Robinson, MS

Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Clinical Research Department, Takeda

Pamela L. Simpkins, MBA, CFA

Managing Partner, Mezzopointe, LLC

Puja Umaretiya, MD, MS

Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, UTSouthwestern, Children’s Medical Center

LaToya Williams, B.A.,MBA

Community Clinical Director, Inside Edge Consulting Group

Survivor Speaker
Advocate

Ms. LaToya Williams has led a remarkable life dedicated to healthcare advocacy and community empowerment. Currently serving as the Community Clinical Director at Inside Edge Consulting Group, she plays a pivotal role in advancing biopharmaceutical engagement within underrepresented communities across the nation. Her work focuses on educating and fostering trust among stakeholders to enhance participation in clinical trials, thereby ensuring that research outcomes better reflect diverse patient populations.

LaToya's journey towards this impactful career was deeply influenced by her own health battle. Diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at the young age of 30, and having tragically lost several family members to cancer, she emerged from her own survivorship with a profound determination to improve healthcare outcomes, particularly within communities of color. Her passion led her to champion initiatives aimed at preventing late-stage cancer diagnoses and reducing mortality rates through extensive education, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for equitable public health policies.

One of her significant contributions includes spearheading the expansion of a national Health Equity Ambassador program. This initiative has been pivotal in training community leaders across high-cancer-burden cities, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to educate their communities about cancer prevention and the importance of clinical trial participation.

LaToya is also a seasoned public speaker, recognized both locally and nationally for her advocacy work. She has been featured in various media outlets and has spoken at prestigious events such as CBS World News and the United Nations Non-Governmental Organization Briefing. Her inspiring story has been highlighted in publications like SELF magazine and during nationwide telecasts such as Stand-Up-To Cancer and BET News Special: I Survive.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, LaToya Williams balances her professional commitments with personal interests. She enjoys playing tennis, golfing, cycling, and indulging in culinary pursuits, inspired by her love for the Food Network. LaToya holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grambling State University and earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Women of Color in Pharma (WOCIP), where she continues to contribute her expertise and leadership.

Through her tireless dedication and advocacy, LaToya Williams embodies a powerful force for change in healthcare equity, leaving an indelible impact on the lives she touches and the communities she serves.

Lauren Wood Heickman, MD

Clinical Reviewer, DDLO, OCHEN, OND, CDER, FDA

Lynne Yao, MD

Director, DPMH, ORDPURM, OND, CDER, FDA

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ADEPT-9: Public Workshop on Enhancing Diversity in Therapeutics Development for Pediatric Patients

Speaker Bios