Faculty Presenters

Sairah Ahmed, MD

Associate Professor - Lymphoma/Myeloma 
Stem Cell Transplant/Cellular Therapy
Director of CART Therapy Program 
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Sairah Ahmed, MD, is a board-certified hematology and medical oncology physician and an Associate Professor in the division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Her primary position is in the Lymphoma/Myeloma department with a co-appointment in the Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy department. Dr. Ahmed serves as Co-Chair of the Morbidity, Recovery and Survivorship Scientific Working Committee (focused on Cellular Therapy) as part of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR).  Dr Ahmed has authored or coauthored over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles and at least 5 book chapters. She is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASTCT). She is a 2022 graduate of the ASTCT Mid-Career Leadership Training Course.

Dr Ahmed’s area of clinical practice is in lymphoma, and her research interests and experience are in early phase clinical trials, and chimeric antigen receptor T (CART) cell therapy for the treatment Hodgkin lymphoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  She is the Director of the CART program in Lymphoma/Myeloma department at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Sandra Horowitz, PharmD

Clinical Pharmacy Specialist
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Sandra Horowitz, PharmD is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Lymphoma, Myeloma, and CAR-T at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where she has been practicing for the past 25 years. She received her Bachelor of Science degree and Doctorate in Pharmacy from St. John’s University in Jamaica, NY and completed a PGY2 oncology pharmacy residency at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Cyrus Ahmad Iqbal, MD

Hematologist/Oncologist
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Sugar Land, TX

Cyrus Iqbal, MD is a hematologist/oncologist at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. He is passionate about blending the art and science of medicine to synthesize the latest evidence-based information with his patients' unique backgrounds and preferences to provide truly individualized care. In his spare time, he is a devoted Texas Longhorns and New York Giants fan and loves golf, tennis, and traveling with his wife, Heena (also a physician at Kelsey-Seybold.)

Tiffany Richards, PhD, ANP-BC, AOCNP

Nurse Practitioner
Manager Myeloma APP
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Tiffany Richards, PhD, ANP, AOCNP received her Masters Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD from Texas Woman’s University.  Ms. Richards is presently employed as an Adult Nurse Practitioner at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma.  
 
In addition to the above, Ms. Richards is involved with the following committees and offices:  Multiple Myeloma Support Group: Co-facilitator 2008-present; International Myeloma Foundation Nurse Leadership Board 2007-present.  She has published and presented on multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias.  
 
Ms. Richards has been honored with the following awards:  MD Anderson’s 2008 Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing; Texas Nurses Association-Houston Chapter Top 20 Nurses for 2008 Award; 2008 South Central Nurse Excellence Award Finalist; Oncology Nursing Society Excellence in Public/Patient Education; and the MD Anderson 2013 Division of Medicine Exemplary Employee Award.

Program Planning Committee

Jesus G. Berdeja, M.D. (Content Co-Chair)

Director of Multiple Myeloma Research
The Greco-Hainsworth Tennessee Oncology Centers for Research
Nashville, TN

Jesus G. Berdeja received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and medical degree from Harvard University. He completed his internship and residency in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowships in medical oncology and hematology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Dr. Berdeja specializes in clinical hematology, with a focus on multiple myeloma. Additionally, he is an active member of several professional organizations, including the International Myeloma Society, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the International Myeloma Working Group and the Clinical Trials Myeloma Intergroup Committee. An active researcher, Dr. Berdeja has been the principal investigator many funded clinical trials in the field of multiple myeloma. He has published extensively in the peer-reviewed literature and is a frequent invited lecturer.

Katie DeLucia, MPAS, PA-C (Planner)

Director, Advanced Practice
Office of APP Programs
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Katie DeLucia, MPAS, PA-C, graduated from PA school in 2004 receiving her Master of Physician Assistant Sciences.  After graduation, Katie accepted a position in the Department of Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson and practiced as a PA in the Division of Surgery at from 2004 – 2018.  In 2018, Katie joined the Office of PA Programs, and now, has the pleasure of serving the APP community as a Director of Advanced Practice. 

At MD Anderson, Katie directs PA trainee education programs and APP workforce education and development.  She continues to practice weekly in Surgical Oncology where she manages patient’s vascular access needs.  She has a passion for APP top of license practice, developing APP leaders, training the next generation of APPs, and advocating for the PA profession legislatively.

Ly Dsouza, PA-C (Planner)

Research APP
Lymphoma/Myeloma Dept
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX

Ly Dsouza graduated from UTMB’s PA program in 2009 and has worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center since 2010. She has worked as a PA in the Lymphoma/Myeloma department since 2011, first in the outpatient clinic for over 6 years before transitioning to her current role as a research APP in 2017. She also serves as a committee member for MD Anderson’s PA Mentorship program, the PA Fellowship Steering Committee, and the PA Fellowship Evaluation and Curriculum Committee. She currently serves as the Clinical Research Education Director for the PA Fellowship.

Charise Gleason, MSN, NP-BC, AOCNP (Content Co-Chair)

VP and Chief APP Officer
Adjunct Faculty,
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Emory Healthcare
Atlanta, GA

Charise Gleason, MSN, NP-BC, AOCNP®, is the VP and Chief Advanced Practice Officer for Emory Healthcare and adjunct faculty at the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University. She has been a nurse practitioner in the Multiple Myeloma program at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University for over twenty years. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Emory University and holds an advanced oncology certification through the ONCC. Ms. Gleason has been an active presenter and educator on the topics of multiple myeloma and has authored or co-authored many publications, including book chapters, abstracts, articles for nursing journals, and scientific publications.

Disclosures:

Those others involved in the planning of this activity disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.

Other Contributors

All other non-faculty contributors and others involved in the planning, development and editing/review of the content disclosed no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling or distributing health care goods or services consumed by or used on patients.

Charise Gleason, MSN, NP-C, AOCNP discloses no relevant financial relationships with any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients during the past 24 months.

Jesús G. Berdeja, M.D. discloses contracted research with 2 Seventy Bio, Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, C4 Therapeutics, Caribou Biosciences, CARsgen, Cartesian Therapeutics, Celularity, CRISPR Therapeutics, Fate Therapeutics, Genentech, GSK, Ichnos Sciences, Incyte, Janssen, Juno Therapeutics, K36 Therapeutics. Karyopharm, Lilly, Novartis, Poseida, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, Consulting Fee's with AstraZeneca, BMS, Caribou Biosciences, Galapagos, Janssen, K36 Therapeutics, Kite Pharma, Legend Biotech, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Sebia, Takeda and Speaker's Honoraria with Janssen during the past 24 months.