Board of Directors

Richard Deming, MD - President

Dr. Richard Deming is the Medical Director of Mercy Cancer Center in Des Moines, Iowa and a founder of Above + Beyond Cancer. He received a bachelor’s degree at South Dakota State University and his medical degree at Creighton University. Dr. Deming is known in the community for the compassionate care he provides cancer patients and their families. He is involved in many national, state and community organizations and has received many awards for his work including the Lane Adams Award by the American Cancer Society for excellence and compassion in patient care and the Iowa Cancer Champion Award for his tireless efforts in the field of advocacy. He is dedicated to the principles of human dignity, social justice and compassion. His greatest ambition is to encourage others to pursue lives of meaning, purpose, passion and compassion.

Sarah Zeidler, FACHE - Vice-President

Sarah Zeidler is the Executive Director of Oncology Services at UnityPoint Health- John Stoddard Cancer Center in Des Moines. A Consortium member since 2013, Ms. Zeidler has served as a Policy Committee co-chair since 2016. She enjoys working with other Consortium members to advance cancer control measures across the state and foster collaboration between healthcare providers and advocacy groups. She is honored to be in her second term on the Board of Directors.

Sarah attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison where she received her Bachelor’s degree in business and she is a graduate of the Master of Healthcare Administration program at the University of Minnesota. She has been happy to call Des Moines home for the past 12 years, where she lives with her husband and 2 young children.

Christen Sewell, MHA - Treasurer

Christen Sewell is a native to rural Iowa and is currently working as the Director of Public Health for Humboldt County. Prior to that, she was with UnityPoint Health-Fort Dodge for 10 years as the Cancer Center manager. She has experience in both patient care and administration, with a wide range of knowledge from screening and prevention of cancer to supporting cancer survivors and caregivers. She is an active member in the community with cancer awareness and support.

Christen received her Bachelors of Radiation Sciences degree from the University of Iowa and holds certificates in Radiologic Technology and Radiation Therapy. Her Masters in Healthcare Administration was completed through Bellevue University.

Georgia Hodge, CHW - Secretary

Georgia Hodge is a breast cancer survivor who has been a member of the Iowa Cancer Consortium since 2009. After her breast cancer diagnosis and serving as a caretaker for her mother who died from pancreatic cancer, Georgia has made it her mission to educate, support and advocate for her community. She has been active in a variety of grassroots organizations serving the Cedar Valley and Iowa, including Splash of Color, Black Hawk County Advisory Board, Body & Soul Program, F.R.I.E.N.D.S., and the Breast Health Initiative.

Mary Charlton, PhD - Immediate Past President

Mary Charlton is a Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health and the Director and Principal Investigator at the Iowa Cancer Registry. During her tenure, she has conducted numerous studies of risk factors, health care utilization, practice pattern variation and outcomes related to cancer. Dr. Charlton is involved in the development of the annual Cancer in Iowa document to report on the estimated number of new cancer cases and cancer deaths in Iowa, and to educate Iowans about the trends and public health issues related to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Kelsey Allen, LCSW, LISW

Kelsey Allen, LCSW, LISW is the Program Director for Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois at Gilda’s Club, where she has served since 2020. A native of eastern Iowa, Kelsey earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Iowa with a focus on end-of-life care and has more than a decade of experience in social services. She first became involved with Cancer Support Community as a graduate student intern before joining the organization full-time and obtaining her Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) credential in 2024.

In her role, Kelsey oversees the development and delivery of programs that provide emotional support, education, and community connection for individuals and families impacted by cancer throughout Iowa and northwest Illinois. She is passionate about increasing access to psychosocial cancer care, building partnerships with healthcare providers and community organizations, and ensuring that all support programs remain available free of charge. Kelsey continues to facilitate support groups and work directly with participants, believing that connection and shared experiences are essential to healing and resilience.

Kaitlin Emrich, MPH

Kaitlin Emrich is the Public Health Director at Black Hawk County Public Health. She has over 15 years experience in governmental public health, including positions as the Assessment & Health Promotion Supervisor and Public Health Epidemiologist at Linn County Public Health, and Disease Surveillance Program Manager at Black Hawk County Public Health.

She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from The University of Iowa (UI) and serves as a member of the UI Prevention Research Center, Iowa Counties Public Health Association Board, Iowa Public Health Advisory Committee, UI College of Public Health Alumni Council, City of Vinton Parks and Recreation Board, Benton County Board of Health, and a member of the Governmental Public Health Job Task Analysis workgroup.

Cindy Fiester, MSN

Cindy Fiester is a Registered Nurse (RN) at Linn County Public Health in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cindy led the effort to develop and launch My Care Community, Partners for Better Care© through Linn County’s State Innovation Model grant funding, allowing the delivery of Community Care Coordination through a large collaborative network of social service and health providers across Linn County. She has a passion for working in chronic condition management, social determinants of health, cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. Cindy holds an MSN (2020) and BSN (2010) from Mount Mercy University and a BA (1999) from Iowa State University with a double major in Journalism and Mass Communication & Sociology. She lives in Cedar Rapids, with her husband John and two daughters, Natalie and Evelyn.

Abbey Loughman

Abbey Loughman is the Executive Director of Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she leads the organization’s efforts to ensure that individuals and families impacted by cancer have access to free emotional support and community resources. Since joining Wings of Hope in 2024, she has worked to expand programs that support not only patients, but also caregivers, children, and families navigating the many challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Abbey’s background spans nonprofit leadership, fundraising, marketing, and community engagement, but her passion has always centered on building meaningful relationships and creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and connected. She believes that cancer care extends far beyond medical treatment and that emotional well-being, community, and access to support are essential parts of every person’s journey. As a member of the Iowa Cancer Consortium Board of Directors, Abbey is excited to collaborate with partners across the state to strengthen cancer support services, elevate the voices of patients and caregivers, and improve access to quality care for all Iowans.

Morgan Newman, MSW

Meet Morgan Newman, MSW, a resilient Young Adult (AYA) cancer survivor, social worker, and dedicated patient advocate who has transformed her experience into a powerful force for change. After overcoming metastatic and recurrent cervical cancer at 24, Morgan has devoted herself to making a meaningful impact. She has served as a patient advocate on the National Institutes of Health’s Enduring Guidelines and Extended Genotyping Panels, as well as the National Cancer Institute’s Patient Advocacy Steering Committee and Cervical Task Force. As a Cervivor Ambassador since 2017, Morgan has driven global cervical cancer advocacy and has held various leadership roles, including as the former Community Engagement Liaison at Cervivor, Inc., Board of Directors member for Above + Beyond Cancer, and Iowa State Lead Ambassador for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Through her dedication and powerful voice, Morgan has inspired countless individuals and has earned awards and recognition as a patient advocate, solidifying her position as a leading force in the cancer control community.

Rudy Papakee, MHA

Rudy Papakee is the director of the Meskwaki Tribal Health Center where he oversees an ambulatory medical facility on the Settlement of the only federally recognized tribe in Iowa, the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa. An enrolled member of the Tribe, he was challenged with the question of ‘Do you want to work at the Post the rest of your life?’ (The Post is a local gas station) and soon began his plunge into the realm of health. He earned his undergrad degree from Iowa State University in Community and Public Health and found his true calling as a healthcare administrator after receiving his Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) from Des Moines University. During his tenure, he has expanded clinical services to meet the health care needs of the Meskwaki Nation through collaborative agreements and expansion of medical programming, including his favorite – the opening of a new dental clinic in 2013; a first for the community. Rudy resides on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement with his children and enjoys volunteering in various avenues, from free tax preparation for the elderly to coaching soccer for the younger generation.

Sneha Phadke, DO, MPH

Dr. Sneha Phadke is an associate professor and breast medical oncologist at the University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is also the co-chair of the Research and Clinical Trials Workgroup in the Iowa Cancer Consortium. In addition to patient care, she is the principal investigator for several breast cancer clinical trials at Holden and is involved in outcomes research, projects in outreach and community engagement, and studies aimed at interventions to improve quality of life for patients with cancer.

Mindy Sylvester

Mindy Sylvester is an Oncology Services and Women’s Health Coordinator at the Abben Cancer Center of Spencer Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Psychology from Buena Vista College and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Iowa. Mindy has more than 28 years of experience in women’s health and oncology nursing, with a focus on patient-centered care in rural communities. She began her oncology career as a certified breast patient navigator and has since moved into leadership roles, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to strengthen oncology services and advance Commission on Cancer accreditation efforts in their community cancer center. She is an active member of the Iowa Cancer Consortium and participates in the Rural Cancer Workgroup, with a strong interest in improving cancer prevention, access, and outcomes across rural and underserved populations.

Molly Zaver

Molly Zaver is the President and Founder of Can Do Cancer, a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Des Moines, Ames and surrounding areas. Can Do Cancer provides dinner for patients and their families on chemotherapy days, house cleaning services throughout treatment, and patient partner support. Initially serving breast cancer patients, the program expanded in 2025 to serve patients with other types of cancer. Molly is also the Director of Industry Partnerships at Peoples Company and has extensive experience in business
operations, management, and marketing. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.