Our Leadership
Board of Directors

Amy Cipau, MBA, MA, Advocate
President and Founder

Jim Sheegog
Vice President
Rowhill Consulting Group

Jason Akulian
MD, MPH
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine

Michael Sulick
Advocate

Jennifer Garst
MD, Board Chairman
Duke Cancer Institute at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center

Liz Hynson
Advocate

Kathryn Mileham
MD, FACP
Levine Cancer Institute

Hiren Mehta
MD
UNC REX Pulmonary Specialists

Justin Brian Nicholson
Survivor
Sterling Capital

Aundrea Oliver
MD
East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University

Emily Parks
Advocate
Organize for Success, LLC

Chris Rallis
Advocate
Pappas Capital

Neal Ready
MD
Duke Cancer Institute
Past Board Members
Chad Pecot
MD
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
Tomma Hargraves
Survivor
Shirley Sulick
Years of Service: 2017-2021
Gary Hicks
Advocate
Robert Ingram
Hattaras Venture Partners
Sandy Oehler
Survivor
Alden Parsons
MD
WakeMed
Gerald Postema
Advocate
Professor of Philosophy and Law, UNC-Chapel Hill
Jared Weiss
MD
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
David White
MD
UNC Health
Edward S. Kim
MD, MBA
City of Hope

Jeffrey Clarke
MD
Duke Cancer Institute at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center
Our Staff

Paige Humble
MBA, Chief Executive Officer
Paige Humble leads the team at Lung Cancer Initiative as Executive Director. She is a graduate of Meredith College, with a Master of Business Administration, and she received her undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining the LCI team, Paige served as Associate Director of Service Line Communications and Market Development at Duke Network Services where she served as Duke’s primary liaison for marketing and brand integration efforts with Duke Health’s affiliates. She is currently active representing LCI in the National Lung Cancer Roundtable, Lung Cancer Action Network, Health Research Alliance, and the North Carolina Advisory Committee on Cancer and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

Jenni Danai
MPH, Chief Mission Delivery Officer
Jenni Danai has been creating and overseeing programs for the Lung Cancer Initiative since 2013. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and her master’s in public health from UNC-Greensboro. She has been in the healthcare field for 15 years; previously she was the Health Initiatives Manager for the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians where she managed grant-funded projects for several public health issues including health disparities, childhood obesity and tobacco. In her free time, she is busy running her two girls from horse camp to swim lessons and spending time with her husband.

Sandy Oehler
Senior Director of Special Events
Sandy is Director of Special Events for Lung Cancer Initiative. She has been with LCI from its inception, starting as a volunteer initially helping to launch the organization and 5K program, subsequently serving as a volunteer on the Board of Directors for over ten years. In October 2017, Sandy jumped at the opportunity to join the LCI team as a staff member. She is driven by her 18-years as a lung cancer survivor and as a result, she is passionate about making a difference for others impacted by lung cancer. When not at work, Sandy is very active and loves to hike, kayak, and spend time with her friends, family and her high-energy pup.

Emily Edmondson
MHL, CCLS, Patient and Community Outreach Specialist
Emily works closely with our educational, survivorship and volunteer programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our constituents. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Child Life from East Carolina University and a Masters in Health Leadership from Western Governors University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, friends, and family, reading, and traveling.

Sue Daniels
Office Manager
Sue Daniels joined the LCI team in 2021 as the Office Manager. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communications from East Carolina University. Sue has a passion for public health, working with nonprofits, and serving others. In her free time, she enjoys photography, painting, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Lynne Hicks
Director of Finance
Lynne Hicks has managed all of the accounting needs for the organization since 2008. She received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Albright College in 1986 and obtained her CPA license in 1993. She has been assisting with the accounting needs of various companies and organizations on a part time basis since 2002. She enjoys splitting her time between Cary and Boone.

Susan Kjellqvist
Director of Development
As the Director of Development for Lung Cancer Initiative, Susan Kjellqvist provides support and oversight for LCI’s fundraising and development efforts. In her most recent role, she served as Director of Development for Young Life Greater Houston Region. Prior to that she oversaw an Annual Fund campaign and grant writing for a private high school. She also worked as a freelance fundraising and marketing consultant for twelve years, assisting nonprofit organizations with their fundraising communications needs. In her spare time, Susan enjoys tackling home improvement projects, gardening, running, and photography. She is originally from Washington, DC, and makes frequent visits there to see family and friends.

Alisha Patel
Communications and Events Specialist
As the Communications and Events Specialist for Lung Cancer Initiative, Alisha will provide support and oversight for LCI’s events and communications efforts. Prior to her new role, she served as LCI’s Events and Development Intern. She is also a graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Alisha is originally from New Jersey and attended Temple University prior to transferring to ECU. In her spare time, she enjoys interior decor & organization, reading, playing with her dog and spending time with her friends and family.
Our Scientific Advisory Committee
Jeff Clarke, MD, Duke Cancer Institute
Neal Ready, MD, Duke Cancer Institute
Paul R. Walker, MD, FACP
Amy Cipau, LCI President
Kathryn Mileham, MD, Atrium Health
Jared Weiss, MD, UNC Health
Chad Pecot, MD, UNC Health
Jeff Petty, MD, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Our Survivorship Steering Committee
Tomma Hargraves
Chuck Holley
Angela Hopper
Jennifer Kiger
Ginny Kloepfer
Meredith Lundy
Mike Smith
Mary Frances White