The OCCN Executive Team is the governing body of the OCCN and is responsible for the ongoing development, implementation, and evaluation of the Oklahoma State Cancer Plan: The OCCN Executive Team is composed of representatives of organizations and independent individuals in Oklahoma concerned with cancer prevention and control.
The OCCN Executive Team is comprised of Chair and Co-Chair along with leads and co-leads of the priority cancer focus groups.
The OCCN Executive Team is responsible for:
- Providing leadership and policy direction for the OCCN, establishing the process and criteria for determining Plan Implementation priorities from the Oklahoma State Cancer Plan, establishing operational, plan implementation, and ad hoc committees, and communicating statewide priorities and recommendations
- Establishing the process for updating the Oklahoma State Cancer Plan as changing conditions warrant (e.g., advances in science, shifts in the Oklahoma cancer burden, etc.)
- Reviewing and approving all standing committee recommendations
- Reviewing the OCCN membership to identify gaps and ensure recruitment of a diverse and representative membership, including ex officio members
- Reviewing the bylaws and ensuring the OCCN is in compliance.
Leadership
Mark Doescher, MD, MSPH
he/him
Mark Doescher is the Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center and Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine. As the lead of the OCCN, he also serves as lead of the OCCN Executive Team.
His longstanding commitment to improving health equity has led to studies, and direct service outreach projects, funded by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Health Resources and Services Administration, private foundations and state government, resulting in dozens of refereed publications, health policy reports and policy changes at the local, state and federal levels.
Doescher’s current community-engaged work centers on building partnerships with communities, tribes and healthcare systems throughout Oklahoma to increase receipt of evidence-based cancer screening and treatment services.
Jennifer Watkins, MS
she/her
Jennifer Watkins is the Cancer Coalition Coordinator for the Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Control Program within the Chronic Disease Prevention Services at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). She serves as the Co-Lead for the OCCN.
In this role, Watkins is responsible for addressing cancer prevention and control issues by convening and managing multi-sector organizations and individuals to promote effective changes to reduce the cancer burden in Oklahoma.
Prior to joining OSDH, Watkins worked in multiple agencies with a focus tobacco use, cancer programs and emergency social services.
Watkins earned a bachelor’s degree in individual, family and community service, as well as a master’s degree in health and non-profit administration from Oklahoma State University.
Prior to her return to the Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Network (OCCN) in 2023, Watkins was involved in multiple roles from 2006-2018. She is also a co-lead for the OCCN.
Andrea Rooks, MS, HCA
she/her
Andrea Rooks is the Cancer Programs Coordinator for the Oklahoma Comprehensive Cancer Control Program within the Chronic Disease Prevention Services at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). She serves as the Co-Lead for the OCCN Executive Team.
In this role, Rooks is responsible for addressing cancer prevention and control with a focus on policy, systems and environmental approaches designed to reduce the incidence and burden of cancer in Oklahoma.
Prior to joining OSDH, Rooks worked for the Cherokee Nation for 16 years with a focus on organizational development and substance abuse prevention programs.
Rooks earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, human resource development from Northeastern State University and a master’s degree in health care administration from Oklahoma State University.
William C. Dooley, MD, FACS
he/him
Dr. Dooley is the Professor and Chair in Surgical Breast Oncology at OU Health. Dooley is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and is the past President of the Oklahoma Society of Clinical Oncology, COC/NAPBC Site Visit Reviewer and OUMC CLP to Commission on Cancer.
He is the Lead of the OCCN Breast Cancer Workgroup.
Upon arrival in Oklahoma, Dooley worked to improve breast cancer treatment and outreach for under-served and health disparity populations, and transformed the OU Breast Institute into the state’s first breast center to be certified by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
Dooley’s involvement in setting higher standards for cancer care has led to national and international recognitions. He serves on the Commission on Cancer – which sets and monitors national quality standards for cancer care – and is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, The American Society of Breast Surgeons, the Fellowship of American College of Surgeons and the Society of University Surgeons.
Jennifer Gingerich, LPN, MPA
she/her
Jennifer Gingerich is the Cancer Prevention & Control Manager within the Chronic Disease Prevention Services at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). She serves as the Co-Lead for the OCCN Breast Cancer Workgroup.
Prior to her time at OSDH, Jennifer worked as a practicing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for 17 years.
She received her Master of Public Administration in Health Care Management from Grand Canyon University and is nearing completion of her Doctor of Public Health with Cappella University.
Stephanie Pharr, MS, CHES
she/her
Stephanie Pharr is the Senior Outreach Liaison for the OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. She serves as the Lead of the OCCN Cervical Cancer Workgroup.
Pharr earned a master’s degree in health care administration from Oklahoma State University in 2021.
She is a community health educator that promotes community engagement through partnerships, advocacy, prevention and screening, and community-based research.
Michelle Lessell, MPH
she/her
Michelle Lessell is the Cancer Programs Coordinator for the Take Charge Program at the Oklahoma State Department of Health. In this role she helps manage the Oklahoma Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program which provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to those who are uninsured or underinsured.
Prior to her work with Take Charge, Michelle worked for the Oklahoma City-County Health Department for over 14 years. For 12 of those years, she served as the TSET Healthy Living Program Supervisor. Michelle also served as the Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition Coordinator for two years before becoming the Supervisor.
Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Central Oklahoma in 2007 and then her Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2012.
Steven N. Carter, MD, FACS, FASCRS
he/him
Steven N. Carter, MD, FACS, FASCRS, is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. He is board-certified in Colon and Rectal Surgery, as well as General Surgery.
Dr. Carter is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a fellow of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, and a member of the American Medical Association. He is an Instructor for Advanced Trauma Courses and volunteers his time to prepare general surgery residents for oral boards.
He also participates with support groups for ostomy patients and colitis patients. His areas of interest include rectal cancer, anorectal disease (hemorrhoids, pilonidal disease, etc.) and inflammatory bowel disease. He is one of the few physicians in OKC trained in ileoanal anastomosis (i.e. J-pouch).
Alexis Burris, BS
she/her
Alexis Burris is the Health Promotion Manager for the American Lung Association (ALA). She serves as the Co-Lead of the OCCN Lung Cancer Workgroup.
At the ALA, Burris focuses on smoke-free housing in Tulsa County, facilitates the ALA Lung Cancer Survivor & Caregiver Support Group, and serves as the state lead for all health promotion programs.
Alexis holds a bachelors in Community/Public Health from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Curtis L. Murray, Jr.
He/Him/His
Curtis Murray graduated from high school and attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah Oklahoma. Curtis has over 10 years of experience in customer service and public relations.
Shortly after his cancer diagnosis, Curtis founded CurtCares, a non-profit education and mentorship program for prostate cancer survivors. CurtCares specializes in a combination of the most recent medical evidence with faith-based support designed to empower African American males to become better informed on their risks of developing prostate cancer and becoming more proactive with their cancer care after diagnosis. Curtis currently serves as the Co-Lead of the OCCN Prostate Cancer Workgroup.
At this time Lead role is vacant for the prostate cancer work group. If you are interested in this position, please email occn@health.ok.gov.
At this time both roles of Lead and Co-Lead are vacant for the childhood cancer work group. If you are interested in either of these positions, please email occn@health.ok.gov.
Joan L. Walker, M.D.
she/her
Joan L. Walker, M.D. serves as Associate Director of Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) Office for Belonging and Inclusivity, the George Lynn Cross Research Professor, the Louise and Clay Bennett Chair in Cancer and Professor in the Section of Gynecologic Oncology at the Stephenson Cancer Center at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center. She is Board certified in gynecologic oncology and hospice and palliative care. Dr. Walker has over 30 years of experience in caring for and managing cancers of the reproductive system in women, including preventive care, diagnoses, treatment plans and surgical operations when needed.
She is the Co-PI of NRG NCORP cancer prevention and control program including health disparities funded by NCI. She is CO-PI of the SCC NCI LAPS NCTN program for cancer treatment clinical trials. She previously served as PI of the Clinical Center for the NCI ALTS Trial determining HPV testing for detection of cervical pre-cancer and cancer and then the NCI Biomarkers of cervical neoplasia trial SUCCEED. She has been Study Chair of: GOG Lap 2- Randomized study of laparoscopy vs laparotomy for staging of endometrial cancer; GOG 252 A randomized trial of IP chemotherapy cisplatin/paclitaxel and IV paclitaxel vs IP carboplatin and dose dense IV paclitaxel vs IV carbo and dose dense paclitaxel; and GOG 9803/9804 chemoradiation for cervical cancer with weekly cisplatin and paclitaxel.
She now focuses on cancer prevention, symptom management and palliative care at SCC and as PI of NRG NCORP study of salpingectomy for high risk women with BRCA-1 mutation to prevent ovarian cancer. HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention with HPV screening is another SGO/CDC campaign for the elimination of cervical cancer mortality. She is also working on several projects having to do with health disparities, and recruitment of URM students into cancer research.
Floritta Pope, MSM
she/her
Floritta Pope has over 10 years of experience in public health, with a focus on health equity, minority health, and community engagement. She is currently the Direct of Services at Oklahoma State Department of Health, where she leads the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.
She is a graduate of the Executive Development Program for State Officials and the Oklahoma Public Health Leadership Institute. Ms. Pope also holds a Master’s Degree in Management from Southern Nazarene University.
| Member | Title | Work Group |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mark Doescher | Chair | OCCN |
| Andrea Rooks | Co-Chair I | OCCN |
| Vacant | Co-Chair II | OCCN |
| Dr. William Dooley | Lead | Breast Cancer |
| Heather Carter | Co-Lead | Breast Cancer |
| Stephanie Pharr | Lead | Cervical Cancer/HPV Vaccine |
| Cristen Hartman | Co-Lead | Cervical Cancer/HPV Vaccine |
| Vacant | Lead | Colorectal Cancer |
| Vacant | Co-Lead | Colorectal Cancer |
| Angelina Hooper | Lead | Lung Cancer/Tobacco Cessation |
| Alexis Burris | Co-Lead | Lung Cancer/Tobacco Cessation |
