Our Leadership

Board of Directors

Amy Cipau, MBA, MA, Advocate

President and Founder

Jim Sheegog

Jim Sheegog

Vice President

Rowhill Consulting Group

Jason Akulian

Jason Akulian

MD, MPH

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine

Michael Sulick

Michael Sulick

Advocate

Jennifer Garst

Jennifer Garst

MD, Board Chairman

Duke Cancer Institute at Duke Raleigh Cancer Center

Liz Hynson

Liz Hynson

Advocate

Kathryn Mileham

Kathryn Mileham

MD, FACP

Levine Cancer Institute

Hiren Mehta

Hiren Mehta

MD

UNC REX Pulmonary Specialists

Justin Brian Nicholson

Justin Brian Nicholson

Survivor

Sterling Capital

Aundrea Oliver

Aundrea Oliver

MD

East Carolina Heart Institute, East Carolina University

Emily Parks

Emily Parks

Advocate

Organize for Success, LLC

Chris Rallis

Chris Rallis

Advocate

Pappas Capital

Neal Ready

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

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

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

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.

Lynne Hicks

Lynne Hicks

CPA, 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 with her husband and supporting both her children and grandchildren in whatever ways she can.

Sue Daniels

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, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Susan Kjellqvist

Susan Kjellqvist

Development Director

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. 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

Alisha Patel

Community Outreach Manager

Alisha Patel joined the team in 2022 as the Communication and Events Specialist and led LCI’s communications and marketing efforts. Prior to joining LCI’s staff Alisha was an intern and has now taken on a new role as the Community Outreach Manager. In her new role, Alisha will be making connections across NC as she leads our volunteer, community education and patient support programs. She is a graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and is currently pursuing her Masters 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.

Claire Connelly

Claire Connelly

Events Coordinator

As the part-time Events Coordinator, Claire assists the team with events and marketing. Claire draws from her degree in marketing from the University of Florida and her extensive events background to bring innovative and creative elements and messaging to the LCI calendar of events. As a recent breast cancer survivor, Claire is both understanding and passionate about advancing both science and art in her local cancer community. When not working, Claire can be found chasing around her twin-boys and two dogs, rucking, golfing, playing pickleball, reading and cooking.

Our Scientific Advisory Committee

Ed Kim, MD, Chair, City of Hope
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

Angela Hopper
Ginny Kloepfer
Meredith Lundy
Mary Frances White
Judy Noble