Policy & Practice

Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, FRACP raghavd@ccf.org

Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, FACP, is Chairman and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. Dr. Raghavan was trained in Medicine and Oncology at the University of Sydney, Australia. He obtained a PhD in experimental pathology from the University of London/Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and then completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota.  Dr. Raghavan has produced about 300 scientific papers, and has edited 9 books. His clinical and research interests are focused on genitourinary cancer, cancer in the elderly, disparities of cancer care, anticancer drug discovery and development and comparative human oncology.

Dr. Andrew D. Seidman is an Attending Physician for the Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Professor of Medicine, Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University.  He received his medical school training at the Hahnemann University School of Medicine and a residency in Internal Medicine at The Pennsylvania Hospital. He then completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology at MSKCC.  Dr. Seidman is the recipient of a Career Development Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) for his clinical research evaluating the role of the taxanes in breast cancer treatment. 

Thomas A. Paivanas, MHSA paivanas@verizon.net

Mr. Paivanas is the President and Founding Director of Thomas A. Paivanas & Associates (TAP&A) and has over 25 years of experience in the health care field.  The firm specializes in assisting clients in realizing particularly difficult oncology and health care opportunities and challenges.  Areas of interest and expertise include oncology program integration across multi-institutional venues, strategic business planning for stem cell transplantation, academic and community hospital partnering, primary market research for pharmaceutical industry, strategic planning for private and faculty physician's practices, practice mediation, strategic business planning for biotech companies, and comprehensive community cancer program development.

Martin Neltner mneltner@earthlink.net

Martin Neltner is the President and Founder of Neltner Billing and Consulting, a full-service medical management with particular expertise in oncology. Mr. Neltner, a nationally recognized practice management and billing specialist, has testified before congressional committees and the AMA regarding financial issues affecting the delivery of cancer care. He is an avid health care blogger and has written numerous white papers as well as articles and abstracts appearing in peer review publications. Mr. Neltner regularly conducts seminars across the country on topics such as coding, documentation, reimbursement, cancer care management and options for negotiating contractual arrangements.

Ronald Piana, Executive Editor, Special Projects, ONCOLOGY
Ronald.piana@cmpmedica.com

For the past 15 years, Mr. Piana has been a medical editor and writer in the field of oncology. The latter part of his career has focused largely on the political and economic issues that affect the delivery of cancer care.