Kim Fookes has 29+ years of experience working in clinical research. Prior to being named the Global Head of DICT, Kim was responsible for all US clinical trial deliverables across Novartis’ portfolio, including early and late phase oncology and non-oncology.  She joined Novartis from AbbVie where she was the Head of Site Management & Monitoring, overseeing Global Site Management.  While at AbbVie, Kim also managed operations for the Global Medical Affairs’ Therapeutic Areas and US Medical Affairs.  Prior to AbbVie, she worked at Takeda, CROs, and Site Research Centers.

In her role as Global Head of DICT, she is working to imbed diversity across the R&D continuum so teams can consider diverse patient populations very early, including phase I trials.

Sandra Amaro, MBA, is the Head of Clinical Trial Diversity Center of Excellence at Pfizer, located in Groton, CT. In this role, she leads a group of Clinical Trial Diversity Leads who are accountable for enabling Pfizer’s Clinical Study Teams in the effort to increase equity and inclusion in clinical trials. Within her role, Sandra is also responsible for helping elevate the topic of diversity both within Pfizer and externally. In 2021, Sandra was appointed as TransCelerate’s Workstream Lead for their Diversity of Participates in Clinical Trials Workstream.

Sandra has been with Pfizer since May 2004, where she has held different leadership positions within Clinical Development and Operations and Global Clinical Supply.

Sandra received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Leadership from Albertus Magnus College, and her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Rhode Island.

Sherman Womack holds a leadership position as a Deacon at the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Boston, which was first opened in 1935. Furthermore, Sherman Womack is a prostate cancer survivor who is a member of PHEN’s Survivor Network.

In 2008 and 2018, he participated in PHEN Survivor Roundtable Discussions. At these roundtables, Sherman explained his own personal cancer journey and the outreach efforts he has participated in to spread prostate cancer awareness.

Sherman Womack has worked at the Lynn Fire Department and resides in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Dewayne Charleston is a former judge who is currently the publisher of Prairie View magazine, which is a monthly publication serving central Texas and the Prairie View A&M University community. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 at the age of 46 and has undergone three surgeries and seven different therapies, including participation in two clinical trials.

 He was featured in the Tubi documentary The Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer in the African American Community. Dewayne Charleston is the proud father of Christian and Christopher

After completing a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at Harvard, Richard Lee, MD, PhD, then completed his medical school (M.D.) and graduate school (Ph.D.) training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. He came to Mass General Hospital (MGH) for internal medicine residency training and then completed a medical oncology fellowship through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/MGH joint program. During that time, he performed basic science research at the Whitehead Institute of MIT.

Deacon Donna Barksdale, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is known for her results-oriented expertise in the financial services and banking industry. As a Senior Vice President, she is adept at managing large portfolios of both corporate and government clients. This includes analyzing and implementing cost-effective solutions to address business needs as well as developing mutually respectful and productive partnerships. She has held various roles in product management, product development, and sales.

She has always had a passion for health and wellness. Barksdale leads the Wellness Ministry at her church called the First Baptist Church of South Richmond. She also serves as a Deacon at the First Baptist Church. The Wellness Ministry takes on a holistic approach, focusing on physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. It is important to her to not only be active in her community but to also serve and make a lasting impact on the lives of others.

Ms. Barksdale’s personal mission is to utilize her organizational, leadership, and collaborative skills to promote wellness and health equity as well as to enrich the lives of others. It is this service leader mindset along with her professional prowess that give her a unique blend of gifts to share within her church and the community at large.

In her free time, she and her husband enjoy the arts, music, travel, and spending time with friends, family, and her puppy Prince.