Press Room

Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital Announces New Advisory Board Members

August 21, 2007

LONG BEACH, Calif. – August 21 2007 – The Todd Cancer Institute (TCI) at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s Hospital has announced new advisory board members for the 2007 term. The board meets regularly to oversee quality, financial performance and strategic planning for the institute.

To qualify for nomination, members must be active and involved in the community, have strong business or corporate connections, demonstrate expertise in healthcare, strategic planning, finance or the law and be residents of the greater Long Beach/South Bay area. Additionally, the TCI Board includes cancer survivors, and reflects the diversity of the cancer patients seen at LBMMC/MCH.

The ten new advisory board members appointed the TCI board are:

• Cheryl Adams – Adams has been a volunteer fundraiser for the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center, a peer mentor for the MemorialCare breast cancer support group “Breast Friends” and an original member of “Team Spirit,” a fundraising event to support breast and ovarian cancer research and support. She is a former advisory board member.
• Thomas Asciuto, M.D. - Dr. Asciuto is a board certified pulmonologist. He received his medical degree from the Universidad Del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina, performed his residency in La Guardia Hospital in New York City and completed his fellowship in pulmonary/critical care medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
• Wendy Brewster. M.D. - Dr. Brewster, a physician scientist is a board member of the Orange County American Cancer Society and a member of the Orange County Ovarian Cancer Coalition Advisory Board. Dr. Brewster is the principal investigator for the Gynecological Oncology Group at TCI. She has been honored by Marguis’ “Who’s Who in America,” “Who’s Who in science and Engineering,” and “Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare”.
• John Callos – Callos is the director of government, transportation and industry for IdeaBridge, a consulting firm devoted to corporate growth. He has served Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and William Clinton as a private sector advisor on the United States Industry Advisory Council. He led the worldwide sales and marketing efforts of Phillips Industries, a heavy truck parts manufacturer, for more than 23 years.
• Mike Cincola – Cincola, a businessman who has owned and operated unique and successful entertainment entities, is active in the Long Beach community and maintains his perfect attendance record with the Long Beach Rotary Club. He is a regular speaker at Long Beach Memorial Survivor’s Day celebrations. As a cancer survivor, Cincola is committed to making a difference in the lives of those with a cancer diagnosis.
• Mark Hachigan, M.D., - Dr. Hatchigian, former colorectal surgeon at Long Beach Memorial, received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. Mark, who is beloved by his patients for his family-centered approach to patient care, will be lending his assistance in the development of new programs.
• Mary Klingensmith – Klingensmith is a noted community activist, having served as president of the Junior League, Cameo, The Long Beach Cancer League, a local chapter of the American Cancer Association, the Steel Magnolias, Theta Alumni and others. She is a former member of the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Foundation Board. Klingensmith was awarded the prestigious Rick Racker Woman of the Year Award in 2000.
• Imad Shbeeb, M.D., - Dr. Shbeeb is a board-certified colon and rectal surgeon at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Damascus University in Syria and performed his residency and internship at the West Virginia University Medical Center. He is a fellow in the American College of Surgeons and has held leadership positions in the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.
• James Waisman, M.D., - Dr. Waisman received his medical degree form the University of Wisconsin and completed his residency and internship at Cedars-Sinai where he became the director of medical oncology. He is a former associate professor of medicine and surgery at the University of Southern California’s Norris Cancer Center as well as the vice president of medical staff. As a member of the Breastlink group, Dr. Waisman has spearheaded research collaborations with the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, Irvine and the University of Washington.
• Allan B. Weiss – Weiss, Long Beach native, community leader and practicing attorney in Long Beach for more than 30 years, is actively involved with local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach. Weiss’ father an initial member of the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center’s board of directors.

TCI continues to be at the forefront of men’s cancer treatment with the da Vinci “S” ™ robotic surgical system and its state-of-the-art technology of TomoTherapy, IMRT, Brachytherapy and Hyperthermia used at the institute’s Leavey Radiation Oncology Center.

The gynecologic oncology program at TCI ranks in the top four in the nation and TCI radiologists and pathologists are nationally renowned for their expertise in accurate cancer diagnosis. The MemorialCare Breast Center screens more than 40,000 women each year.

TCI has more than 100 ongoing cancer research protocols and is the first cancer program in history to make individualized cancer therapy, sometimes called targeted therapy, a clinical reality.