Dr. Donald M. O'Rourke, M.D.
Neurosurgeon / Associate Professor
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Specialty:
Surgery for brain tumors, including gliomas and meningiomas and metastatic cancer involving the brain and spine; pituitary tumors; acoustic neuromas; skull base tumors; stereotactic radiosurgery for tumors; spinal cord tumors; Arnold-Chiari malformation

Biographical Sketch:
Dr. O'Rourke received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and his medical degree and neurosurgical training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and was previously Chief of Neurosurgery at the Penn-affiliated Philadelphia Veterans Hospital. Dr. O'Rourke is nationally known for his work in the clinical management of patients with primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as his basic science research into the molecular mechanisms responsible for cell growth, survival and angiogenesis in gliomas. He is well known in the neurosurgical community for his support of the surgical management of patients with brain tumors and in the research community for his contributions to the understanding of brain tumor biology, glial cell growth and response to treatment. By his involvement in The National Institutes of Health, The Joint Tumor Section of The American Association for Neurological Surgeons and The Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the NABTT Brain Tumor Consortium of the NCI, Dr. O'Rourke contributes to state-of-the-art advances in surgical techniques and experimental therapies for brain tumors. His special interest is in how maximal surgery can improve the efficacy of non-surgical biological treatments for brain tumors. Dr. O'Rourke is a Clinical Investigator on numerous Phase I/II clinical trials for gliomas conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and the NABTT Brain Tumor Consortium. Dr. O'Rourke is Director of the Brain Tumor Tissue Bank at the University of Pennsylvania and directs a genetic testing program for patients with gliomas and oligodendrogliomas that is sponsored by the Abramson Family Cancer Center at Penn. Dr. O'Rourke has been an invited speaker to numerous neurosurgery and cancer research meetings, based on his involvement in the study and treatment of brain tumors.

Dr. O'Rourke is Principal Investigator of an independent research laboratory that is funded by The National Institutes of Health and is dedicated to the development of genetic and biological treatments for brain tumors that would complement surgical resection. He is one of only a handful of neurosurgeons nationally who received a five-year independent research grant from the National Cancer Institute for his research on the molecular genetic basis of gliomas. He has received research awards from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs, The American Cancer Society, and The Brain Tumor Society. He has published numerous manuscripts and served as both scientific reviewer and editor for several peer-reviewed neurosurgery and cancer research journals and for The National Institutes of Health, with an emphasis on brain tumor biology. Dr. O'Rourke is a member of the Penn Neuro-Oncology Program, the Center for Cancer Pharmacology and the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Family Cancer Center. Dr. O'Rourke also has a secondary faculty appointment in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Dr. Susan C. Pannullo, M.D.
Director of Neuro-Oncology
New York-Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell Medical Center

Specialties:
• Neuro-Oncology
• Neurosurgical Oncology
• Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Biographical Sketch:
Dr. Susan Pannullo is the Director of Neuro-Oncology in the Department of Neurological Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is "she is Board Certified in Neurology and Neurological Surgery in both Neurology and Neurological Surgery, and is Fellowship-trained in Neuro-Oncology. Dr. Pannullo received her undergraduate degree with honors in Anthropology from Cornell University in 1983 and her medical college degree from Weill Medical College of Cornell University in 1987. Following a Medicine Internship at Harvard-Beth Israel Medical Center, she completed a Neurology residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in 1991. From 1991 to 1992, she was an American Cancer Society Fellow in Neuro-Oncology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She then completed a second residency in Neurological Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1997. Prior to returning to Cornell she developed a highly successful practice as a Neurosurgeon and Neurologist at Staten Island University Hospital, as well as laboratory research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. At New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, she is an assistant professor of Neurological Surgery and has an additional appointment as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University. Her areas of particular expertise include treatment of benign and malignant brain tumors and Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Jeanne M. Wallace, PhD, CNC

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Wallace has been working in the field of nutrition since 1989 and is a nationally certified nutritionist through the Society of Certified Nutritionists (SCN #20022). She holds both a Master's and PhD degrees in human nutrition from American State University in Honolulu, HI (an external degree program). In addition, she has completed 750 hours of classroom instruction at the Institute for Educational Therapy (IET), a California-state licensed nutrition consultant training program considered one of the best in the country. By comparison, most U.S. medical schools require physicians to complete only 2-4 hours instruction in nutrition. She is a member of editorial boards for several peer-reviewed medical journals, including Integrative Cancer Therapies and The International Journal of Integrative Medicine .

Her focus is on evidence-based complementary cancer care: educating her clients how to integrate a healthy diet and carefully selected dietary supplements with their medical treatments - surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or immunotherapy - to optimize the body's healing capacity. She specializes in malignant brain tumors, and in 2001, she submitted a "Best Case Series" of stage IV brain tumor clients to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Center for Alternative and Complementary Medicine (NCCAM). She also works with clients healing from breast, ovarian, endometrial, vulva, colon, pancreatic, and head-and-neck cancers, as well as malignant melanoma.

Dr. Wallace was an outstanding and irreplaceable ally who helped fight Kelly's tumor until the very end. Her knowledge, excellent communication skills, and steadfast commitment to Kelly's battle and her family were remarkable traits that helped us through some of the most difficult times during Kelly's illness.

"Dr. Wallace is one of the most prominent practitioners of clinical nutritional oncology. She may be the nation's single most knowledgeable clinician in the area of treating patients with brain tumors with nutritional interventions."

-Andrew Freinkel, MD
Stanford University Hospital

Andrew "Rudy" Rudawsky MS, PT, ATC
Physical Therapist
Christiana Care Physical Therapy PLUS - BrandywineBiographical Sketch:

Rudy Rudawsky graduated from Denison University, in Granville, Ohio, and then joined the United States Sports Academy where he earned a master's degree in sports medicine. He also earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from the University of Delaware. Rudy spent 11 years as the head athletic trainer for the U.S. Men's World Cup Soccer Team and has played soccer for most of his life, including in college, club and adult leagues. He remains active as a soccer coach and instructor. Through his expertise in physical therapy and his exceptional interpersonal communication skills, Rudy made an enormous impact on Kelly's life and helped her achieve great success in the physical battle against her brain tumor.

Fred C. Sears II
President and CEO
Delaware Community Foundation

Mr. Sears has served as a community leader in the greater Wilmington area and with organizations serving residents throughout Delaware for more than thirty-five years. His current position as President and CEO of the Delaware Community Foundation enables him to encourage long-term charitable giving by individuals, businesses and organizations as a way of improving the community, now and in the future. Prior to taking on the leadership of the Delaware Community Foundation in December 2002, Fred had a 38-year career in banking, most recently as President of Commerce Bank / Delaware. Early in his banking career Fred took time out to serve as Finance Director and Director of Commerce of the City of Wilmington and Director of the Port of Wilmington. He was elected to City Council from 1976 through 1984 and has continued to be politically active by serving on the transition team for Mayor James Sills and co-chairing transition teams for Governor Ruth Ann Minner in 2000 and New Castle County Executive Chris Coons in 2004.

Fred currently serves as a Director of Commerce Bank / Delaware and the Nixon Uniform Company and has been a member of the Board of Directors of more than 20 community nonprofit organizations. He is chairperson of the Wilmington Economic and Financial Advisory Council and is a Director of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Wilmington Housing Partnership, United Way of Delaware and other organizations. He is a member of the Delaware Business Roundtable and the Wilmington Rotary Club. Fred has also served as chairperson for golf tournaments and other fundraising activities for numerous nonprofit organizations.

Roger Kirtley

Roger is a native of Wilmington, DE and is an Account Executive at a commercial insurance and risk management consulting firm. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware where he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in political science. Roger began his career as a political consultant and legislative correspondent on Capitol Hill for Congressman Michael N. Castle. Subsequent to that, he has spent 10 years in the marketing and sales departments of several companies including MBNA, First USA, Vital Home Services, CSC and, currently, the Lyons Companies.

Throughout his life, Roger has dedicated a significant amount of time to helping the community where he lives be a better one. His volunteer experience includes The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware, Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, Christ Church Christiana Hundred, and the Delaware Community Foundation, where he is a founding member of the Next Generation Committee.

Roger lives in Wilmington with his wife, Alexandra Alevizatos Kirtley, and their young daughter. He enjoys playing guitar, traveling, golf, skiing, and spending time outdoors with his family.

Shelley Dinehart

Shelley is currently a Human Resources Executive with JPMorgan Chase Card Services, headquartered in Wilmington Delaware and has been with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors in various capacities since 1992.

Shelley graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and then began career in Human Resources upon completing her Masters degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Shelley is a member of JPMorgan Chase's Contribution Committee and serves on the firm's Corporate Diversity Council. Additionally, Shelley is actively involved in a number of community and charitable organizations. Shelley currently serves on the Board of Directors of Jobs for Delaware Graduates, Inc. and is a member of the St. Agnes School Home and School Association Board supporting Amigos de Jesus, a Catholic orphanage for boys in Honduras.

Shelley currently lives with her husband and children in Pennsylvania.