Board of Directors

The Board of the Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy is a group of committed volunteers who lend their extraordinary skills and experience to implement its mission and to work toward lightening the burden of childhood cancer for all.

Board Secretary Susan Scherr speaks at CCCA's New York Reception in 2015

Board Secretary Susan Scherr speaks at CCCA's New York Reception in 2015

Please note: Business affiliations of Board Members are listed for biographical purpose only.


Lynn Bayard, JD

A partner at an international law firm, Lynn has a diverse practice that encompasses a broad range of issues and areas, including intellectual property, media, and entertainment related matters.

 

Wylie Chen

As the Director of Programs and Grants for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Wylie oversees the Foundation's programs and grantmaking efforts that focus on children in low-income and underserved communities. He previously worked at the Children's Defense Fund, establishing his career and commitment to child advocacy and improving the lives of underprivileged youth.

 

Larry Hausner, MBA

Larry serves as Interim President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research in Washington, DC, and also runs his own management consulting company, ConStrat. Larry brings over 30 years of senior organizational leadership to the table and is a recognized thought leader in strategic and operational planning, Board governance, and organizational assessment. Larry formerly served as CEO of the American Diabetes Association, COO of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Chief of Staff for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

 

LeAnn Jackson

LeAnn became a vigorous champion for children with cancer after losing her son to a brain tumor. She serves as Board Chair of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Foundation and is on the peer review panel for the U.S. Department of Defense's Cancer Research Program. She previously served as co-chair of the Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) at Duke Children's Hospital.

 

Michael Link, MD

Dr. Link is the Lydia J. Lee Professor in Pediatric Cancer at Stanford University School of Medicine. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Dr. Link is former President of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). He previously served as the Director of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is a former Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

 

Lauren Neff

Lauren currently works in government affairs for a biotechnology company. Lauren's prior experience includes policy work with Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), the House of Representatives, and right here at the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy, serving as our public policy director from 2011-2012. 

 

Jennifer Niedermeyer

After her nephew was diagnosed with cancer, Jennifer became a committed and active pediatric cancer advocate. She was formerly Director of Development at a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing information and support to brain tumor patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

 

David Poplack, MD

Dr. Poplack is Director of Texas Children's Cancer Center, the largest children's cancer center in the U.S. He is Co-Editor of "Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology", the leading textbook in the field, now in its 6th edition. An expert on the development of new drugs for pediatric cancer, he has authored over 350 journal articles and book chapters, and has served on a number of National Cancer Institute (NCI), Food and Drug Administration and Institute of Medicine committees. He is a member of the NCI's Board of Scientific Counselors.

 

Lori Salley Ring, Board Chair

Lori has over 20 years of policy and advocacy experience working on Capitol Hill, including as the top staffer on the House Committee on Small Business. Lori also served as Executive Director of the Children's Cause for a brief time, giving her unique insight into the inner workings of the organization.  Lori is currently a Policy Advisor and Communications Specialist for Focus Data Solutions, an IT consulting firm in the Metro DC area.

 

Adam Rosen, JD

Adam is a corporate lawyer in New York and is a fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. Adam is the son of long-time CCCA Board Member Leonard M. Rosen, for whom the Leonard M. Rosen Research Award was established upon his passing in 2014. Adam’s son Benjamin was successfully treated for rhabdomyosarcoma in 1999.

 

Susan Scherr, Board Secretary

Susan is a stay-at-home mother of four children and sits on several non-profit boards. Her son was treated successfully for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2001.

 

Beth Silber, Board Vice President

Beth currently serves as a part-time parent advocate for the Mt Sinai pediatric oncology clinic. Previously, she worked as a marketing and strategic planner for Pfizer Inc. Beth’s son, a cancer survivor, finished his Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia treatment successfully in 2007.

 

Steve Shak, MD

Steve founded a forward-looking company to bring the benefits of genomic technology to cancer research and cancer care. As a pioneer in breast cancer patient advocacy, Steve brings the dual expertise of family experience with childhood cancer and oncology drug and diagnostic development.

 

John Stewart, PhD

John’s 3-year-old granddaughter, Sylvie Stewart, died in 2000 of a brain tumor after a valiant 18-month struggle. His 4 decades of experience on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch is now focused on advocacy on behalf of pediatric cancer research.

 

Susan L. Weiner, PhD
Founder, Children’s Cause

Susan, whose child was a 13-year cancer survivor, is a founding member of Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy. Trained as a research developmental psychologist, she worked as a childhood brain tumor and children’s disability advocate for many years.

Learn more about Dr. Weiner →