FCS Pharmacists Serving as Panelists for FLASCO Fall Session

Fort Myers, Fla., October 31, 2024 – Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) pharmacy leaders and professionals are participating as panelists at the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) Fall Session in Orlando. The two-day gathering of oncology clinicians and healthcare teams from across the state will emphasize the benefits of multi-disciplinary collaboration in cancer care.

• Chris Elder, PharmD, BCOP, FCS associate director of pharmacy clinical services, is a panelist for the session entitled, Navigating 505(b)(2) Challenges and Opportunities.
• Nicole Bentivegna, PharmD, BCOP, FCS manager of pharmacy clinical services, Natalie Kaufman, PharmD, FCS clinical staff pharmacist, and Gabriela Aponte-Melendez, PharmD, clinical staff pharmacy resident, are panelists for the session, Practice Management: Integrated Residency Programs. Kaufman was the first participant in the FCS Medically Integrated Oncology Pharmacy (MIOP) Resident Program accredited through NCODA and Aponte-Melendez is the current program resident. Launched in 2023, the residency provides a pathway to ensure that recent graduates have a successful transition into pharmacy oncology.

FCS President & Managing Physician Lucio N. Gordan, MD said, “Our FCS team members will offer critical insights into the benefits of a medically-integrated oncology practice and, specifically, on the many ways in which Rx To Go, our in-house specialty pharmacy, plays an essential role in ensuring that patients use life-saving medications appropriately to achieve the best outcomes.”

The following FCS medical oncologists currently serve in leadership roles on the FLASCO Board of Directors:

• Maen Hussein, MD – Vice President
• Faithlore Gardner, MD – Treasurer
• Barry Berman, MD, MS – Finance Committee Chair
• Michael Diaz, MD – Legislative Committee Chair (Federal) and Past President/Advocacy Volunteer Director
• Richard McDonough, MD – Nominating Committee Chair and Past President/Fellowship Programs Volunteer Director
• Paresh Patel, MD – Legislative Committee Chair (State)
• Scott Tetreault, MD, Legislative Vice Chairman (State)

Also serving on the FLASCO Board of Directors are FCS medical oncologists Barry Berman, MD, MS, Nalini Hasija, MD, Cesar Augusto Perez, MD and Scott Tetreault, MD,  Additionally, Kristen Boykin, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, FCS director of pharmacy operations, serves as pharmacy liaison and FCS Vice President of Marketing Michelle Robey, serves as marketing and communications liaison.

The Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) is a member-supported statewide non-profit organization committed to facilitating and promoting multidisciplinary efforts for oncology practitioners and industry professionals to improve patient care in Florida.