Stakeholder Expert Panel Members

Sue Asci (Member since 2019)
Sue is a senior financial writer and a patient advocate. Sue is a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer and serves as president of Inflammatory Breast Cancer, New England Region Inc.

Judy Ehrlich (Member since 2018)
Judy is retired from a career in banking and financial management. She joined the Panel as a result of her extensive experience as a research participant related to managing a chronic medical condition. She contributes her valuable insights to improve the connection between investigators, study teams, and their patients.

Chris Fuccione (Member since 2021)

Chris is the diversity and inclusion coordinator for the Salem Democratic committee. He has participated in dozens of online research studies and joined the SEP to understand what happens “behind the curtain.” Through the SEP, he brings the perspective of underrepresented populations to Tufts CTSI activities through his lived experience with disabilities and homelessness.

Rene Gelin (Member since 2021)
Reinventing herself throughout her life, Renee has been a research scientist, an attorney, a teacher, and a published author. She earned degrees in biology, law and education from Rutgers University, Boston College, Boston University School of Law and Salem State University. For the last couple of decades she has been teaching and tutoring science and math. She is the mother of three adult kids and two spoiled cats.

Leslie Horst (Member since 2021)
Now mostly retired, Leslie has had careers as an academic psychologist, institutional researcher, statistical consultant, and market researcher. She has had a lifelong fascination with medicine. As an academic, she conducted research with people and more recently has been a research subject. Serving on the CTSI SEP allows her to combine her medical interests with a focus on social equity.

Chien-Chi Huang (Member since 2018)
Chien-Chi is the founder of the Asian Breast Cancer Project and Executive Director of Asian Women for Health. Her personal cancer journey led her to participate in national and local efforts on health equity and racial justice. Her remarkable passion for the community has changed the health care landscape for Asian women and created a pipeline of future leaders and peer health educators.

Kim Friedman Landau (Member since 2019)

Kim is a retired medical social worker and educator. Her passions are teaching medical professionals how to provide compassionate, culturally competent care and supporting patients/families navigating challenging medical diagnoses. Kim is a long-term breast cancer survivor and advocates for better communication and partnership between patients and providers.

Kerima Lewis, PhD (Member since 2018)

As a local historian specializing in Early American history, Kerima teaches at Emerson College and Massasoit Community College and is affiliated with various Massachusetts historical societies. Concerned about education, health, and employment in marginalized communities, she actively works with her local church, sorority and NAACP chapter while serving on two state Commissions.

Mayra Martinez (Member since 2018)

Sister Mayra is a dedicated community advocate for the Charlestown neighborhood and an active member of her church. Mayra is a former research participant at Tufts and is actively involved in her role at Tufts CTSI to connect the research process to community health impact.

Dawn Sauma, LICSW (Member since 2018)

Dawn is the Co-Executive Director and Clinical Director of Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence. She has worked in social services for 30 years, predominantly with underserved Asian and Pacific Islander (API) populations in Hawaii and Massachusetts. She is also Community Co-Chair of ADAPT and a Board Member/President-Elect of Jane Doe, Inc.