Disclosure Information

In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest (see below for definitions).

Commercial Interest

The ACCME defines a “commercial interest” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.

Financial Relationships

Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.

Conflict of Interest

Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.

The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.

Faculty Disclosures

Moderator:

Bill Laffey, MBA - Nothing to disclose

Mr. Laffey is currently president of The Laffey Partnership, an oncology management and accreditation consulting firm. A former hospital chief executive officer, his most recent positions include system vice president of oncology at a 12-hospital system in Illinois and a similar position at a 15-hospital system in Wisconsin. Mr. Laffey earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and has authored oncology-related articles and spoken at numerous conferences, both nationally and internationally. He is past president of the Association of Cancer Executives and has been a Commission on Cancer (CoC) Site Reviewer since 2012.  He was the 2020 recipient of the Marsha Fountain Award for Excellence in Oncology Administration.  

Panelists: 

Catherine Pesce, MD, FACS - Nothing to disclose

Dr. Pesce is a surgical oncologist specializing in breast cancer and breast surgery. She is the director of the Breast Surgical Program at NorthShore University Health System and is a clinical associate professor at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Dr. Pesce went to Duke University, Durham, NC, as an undergraduate and received her medical degree from Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL. She completed her general surgery internship and residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD, and completed a breast surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. She has research interests in young women with breast cancer, surgical decision making, and quality-of-life issues involved in breast cancer surgery, and most recently she became the program director of the Breast Surgery Fellowship at NorthShore. She is delighted to have the opportunity to present her work with you.

Keisa Mansfield, MPA - Nothing to disclose

Ms. Mansfield is the manager of Clinical Research and Genetics at the Phoebe Cancer Center, Albany, GA. She serves as the primary point of contact for all clinical research activities for the Phoebe Putney Health System. Ms. Mansfield provides leadership and continuity in all research, control, screening efforts, and grant development projects. Previously, she served as the research program manager for Georgia Cancer Research at Phoebe providing administrative oversight and coordination for the implementation of multiple community-based cancer research studies and activities.

Ms. Mansfield has more than 20 years of community-based research experience that targets the under-served and disadvantaged populations in southwest Georgia. Prior to joining Phoebe, she was a public health liaison for the Southwest Public Health District and Adjunct Faculty at Albany State University in the College of Business Healthcare Management Program. 

Theresa Weiss, MSN, RN - Nothing to disclose

Ms. Weiss is a nurse at Phoebe Cancer Center, Albany, GA, where she facilitates the genetic testing program and the breast health center’s High-Risk Breast Program. She has been a nurse for more than 30 years working in a variety of areas including medical/surgical nursing, inpatient rehabilitation, ambulatory care, and quality management. While working in all these areas, it can be hard to see one’s personal impact. Working at Phoebe Cancer Center, Ms. Weiss knows the work she is doing is meaningful to so many, whether their testing outcomes show a predisposition for cancer(s) or not. She has the perfect personality to be a calming resource and advocate for each type of patient—which can be a hard balance to achieve.

Karen Karsif, MD - Nothing to disclose

Dr. Karsif is a board-certified surgeon and physician with more than 20 years of experience devoted entirely to treating breast disease. She received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia and completed her internship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Karsif finished her surgical residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. She is known among her patients and colleagues for providing quality and compassionate care. The Susan G. Komen Foundation honored Dr. Karsif with the Gay Clark Stoddard Memorial Award in recognition of the level of care she brings to her patients every day.

Program Committee Disclosures 

Colette A. Salm-Schmid, MD FACS – Nothing to Disclose 
Judy Kneece, RN, OCN - EduCare Inc- salary, President
Denise Margaret Mammolito, MD FACS - Nothing to Disclose
Katharine Yao, MD FACS - Nothing to Disclose
Asa Carter, MBA, CTR - Nothing to Disclose
Chantel Ellis - Nothing to Disclose
Andréa Scrementi - Nothing to Disclose