Areas of Expertise
Oncology Program Strategic Planning
Operational and Business Planning
Physician Collaboration & Integration
Facility Assessment
About the Team
Expert Oncology Consultants
The Oncology Group understands the challenges our clients face as they expand, update, and upgrade their cancer care services and technology. Change, necessary to support growth and provide 21st century integrated patient experiences, is difficult. And each client’s circumstances are unique. Initiating new processes and practices, or just reorganizing effective processes requires highly specialized skills, leadership, and planning tools. Our team of cancer care consulting professionals consists of nationally recognized advisors with broad fields of experience, including business and clinical backgrounds, and are ready to use their knowledge to develop a custom cancer program for your institution, patients and physicians. The Oncology Group focuses exclusively in the field of oncology – we have customized a number of strategic planning and change implementation tools to fit this multidisciplinary service.
MARSHA FOUNTAIN, RN, MSN
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KAREN GILDEN
Executive Vice President
With over 25 years experience in healthcare management and cancer services development, Ms. Gilden has cultivated a unique combination of consulting experience and direct line responsibility for cancer services in suburban and urban hospitals. She has successfully written grants and contract proposals for numerous governmental agencies, state agencies and philanthropic foundations. Most recently, she has assisted several clients in obtaining funding from NCI for the National Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP).
Her cancer care consulting experience includes developing, planning, coordinating and implementing hospital services and functions such as, but not limited to: tumor registries, community clinical research programs and patient/family cancer resource centers.
Ms. Gilden has presented to audiences at national conferences and seminars, often addressing professional organizations on cancer program marketing and public relations. She has served as an editor for several professional journals and continues to write for publication while producing White Papers and Research Briefs for clients on varied topics.
Ms. Gilden was honored to serve on the Commission on Cancer Board (American College of Surgeons) for several years and continues as a member of the Association of Cancer Executives and the Association of Community Cancer Centers.
PAT STANFILL EDENS, RN, MS, MBA, PhD, FAAMA, FACHE
Senior Consultant
As a Senior Consultant with The Oncology Group, Pat Edens brings over 30 years experience in healthcare administration. She provides strategic oncology operational direction, clinical research oversight and financial performance expertise. Dr. Edens retired as Assistant Vice President of the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), where she had corporate responsibility for strategic and operational direction, and financial performance of the $3.5 billion Oncology, Solid Organ and Bone Marrow Transplant Clinical Service Lines. She was also the Responsible Business Executive for Clinical Research oversight in the company.
Dr. Edens has presented internationally on topics related to cancer, such as biotechnology, healthcare economics, clinical research and quality, and has published extensively. Currently, she is a reviewer for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Journal of Oncology Practice and has served as a consultant with The Oncology Group since her retirement
from HCA.
EVA HUDDLESTON, BS, R.T.(R)(T)
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JUDITH BLANCHARD, M.S.
Consultant
As a Consultant for The Oncology Group, Judith Blanchard brings over 16 years of health promotion and health education experience. Ms. Blanchard has directed the planning, curricula, and delivery of educational programs for national organizations such as the National Training Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cancer Research Foundation of America and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. She has also designed, delivered and promoted programs for cancer survivors, their loved ones, health professionals and has extensive experience in community outreach.
Through her collaborative efforts, Ms. Blanchard enjoys working relationships with national and community organizations, educational institutions, local hospitals and corporations.
JOYCE YASKO, RN, PhD, FAAN
Consultant
Joyce Yasko lends over 25 years of experience in oncology administration, education and research as a Consultant for The Oncology Group. She has extensive academic experience as a Professor of Oncology Nursing where she published books and obtained over $9 million in research funding. Furthermore, Dr. Yasko has served in leadership positions responsible for the development, implementation and operations of UPCI clinical and network programs, the acquisition of 20 private practice medical oncologists and developing infrastructures to manage private practice medical oncologists.
Dr. Yasko has obtained several grants to raise awareness of the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin, prostate and breast cancer and currently has a grant on cancer in the elderly under review.
CLAUDIA Z. LEE
Consultant
As senior consultant and President of CZ Lee and Associates, Claudia Z. Lee brings three decades of comprehensive breast cancer experience to The Oncology Group. With extensive development and consulting experience in breast cancer program planning and implementation in more than 80 institutions across the country, Ms. Lee has also provided management and operational leadership to cancer programs. She has hands-on experience in the development of academic and community oncology programs related to strategic planning, site-specific program development, marketing, education and research.
Ms. Lee has previously served on several boards and as ambassador to several organizations designed to forward the cause of oncology care and patients. Currently Ms. Lee is serving on the Board of Trustees for the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), and the Board of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). In addition, she has been guest editor for Seminars in Breast Disease and published numerous oncology and breast-related articles, book chapters, abstracts, videos and presentations.