Oncology Experts 2025

Surgical oncologist specializing in breast surgery with experience writing health articles for both patients and professionals. I'm passionate about medical research and emerging technologies in the field, and I thrive in challenging, collaborative environments.

Dr. James Lyons, M.D., is an internationally trained physician that was born in Germany. He is the son of a teacher and army veteran and was raised in Texas, but traveled extensively during his medical training. From medical rotations in French Hospital Systems, to his training in Miami at Ryder Trauma medical center and psychiatric training at TGK Prison, his depth of knowledge for those in acute crises is vast. In addition to his doctorate in medicine, Dr. Lyons also holds a Masters of Medical Sciences and coordinated research trials for schizophrenia pharmaceutical treatments in Dallas, TX. He completed his residency in Rural Michigan as a Family Medicine Physician, where he made home visits, and was rigorously trained in all aspects of medical care from delivering and caring for newborns, to end of life care. In his final year of training, he was named chief resident of this program. After 3 additional years practicing in rural east texas as a hospitalist in the acute setting, he, his wife, and their 4 children now reside back in Texas where he was raised, where his parents are retired, and where his sister works as a registered nurse in hospital leadership. Dr. Lyons continues to practice medicine in the acute setting as a hospitalist and emergency room physician in the greater Austin area. Aside from direct patient care, Dr. Lyons provides medical expertise and consulting while also being actively involved in performance improvement, infection control, and medical executive committees in the hospitals where he practices.

As a dedicated oncology dietitian at Mayo Clinic, I am passionate about using nutrition to enhance cancer care and education. I’ve had the privilege of leading initiatives like organizing grand rounds and securing funding for innovative projects, including a teaching kitchen that underscores the role of nutrition in improving patient outcomes. My work as a guest speaker across interdisciplinary platforms reflects my commitment to advancing oncology care through knowledge sharing and collaboration.Beyond my clinical role, I am the founder of My Cancer Dietitian, where I translate complex nutrition research into accessible, evidence-based content for diverse audiences. This unique blend of clinical expertise and media proficiency allows me to empower patients, families, and the public with actionable dietary guidance. By working closely with healthcare professionals and media specialists, I strive to craft impactful narratives that elevate the conversation around nutrition and its role in health and healing.

Dr. Kyle Hoedebecke, MD, MBA, MPA, MS, FAAFP, CPE, is a West Point graduate, certified physician executive, and global healthcare leader with over two decades of leadership experience across more than 120 countries. In addition to his medical degree, he holds four master’s degrees and two professional fellowships. During his distinguished career in the U.S. Army, Dr. Hoedebecke was selected by the Surgeon General as the U.S. Army Physician of the Year in 2017. Following his military service, he became the first Utilization Management Medical Director at Oscar Health, where he built and led a dynamic team that helped guide the company’s successful public offering in 2021. Today, Dr. Hoedebecke serves as the Managing Partner of 1836 Ventures, investing in innovative healthcare technologies that improve clinical outcomes, enhance patient satisfaction, and reduce costs. He is also a Clinical Advisor at Alpas Virginia (NOVA), where he supports the integration of evidence-based medical care and advanced treatment models to optimize patient recovery and well-being.

Skilled, highly knowledgeable, and analytical professional with over fourteen years experience in the healthcare sector. Primary expertise in providing strategic insights and actionable information to life science companies. Proficient in molecular diagnostics, point of care diagnostics, genomics, immunoassays, oncology diagnostics, cardiology diagnostics, infectious disease diagnostics and personalized medicine. Strong ability in capturing customer insights, performing technical analysis, sizing niche segments, financial modeling, evaluating market dynamics, identify/evaluate new product potential, and presenting high impact, tactical recommendations. Specialties: Extensive knowledge in the genomics, in-vitro diagnostics space. Demonstrated success in managing teams and clients, assessing business models identifying market opportunities/risks and developing strategies to optimize market penetration, competitive advantage and profit.

Dr. Francisco Contreras serves as director, president and chairman of the Oasis of Hope Hospital. A distinguished oncologist and surgeon, Contreras is renowned for combining conventional and alternative medical treatments with emotional and spiritual support to provide patients with the most positive treatment experience possible.

Dr. Enad is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, trauma, and joint replacement. He has authored multiple publications and is regularly cited in the media for his clinical knowledge. He also has clinical interest in exercise physiology and obesity medicine.

Elizabeth Rubin, MD is a board-certified physician with advanced fellowship training in Medical Simulation, specializing in education, patient safety, and systems innovation. She currently practices at a Level I Trauma Center in Los Angeles, California, where she cares for critically ill and injured patients. She also serves on the clinical oversight team at The Embers Treatment, a drug & alcohol treatment center in Arizona. Dr. Rubin earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach and went on to pursue a fellowship in Medical Simulation at the University of Chicago / NorthShore University HealthSystem. Her professional interests include simulation-based education, quality improvement, patient safety, and developing innovative approaches to emergency medical training. Through her work, she strives to improve both clinician performance and patient outcomes in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments.

Certified nutritionist, Rosa Contreras counsels patients at Oasis Of Hope Hospital through individual sessions and provides them with a healthy, lifelong nutrition plan. In addition, Rosa will provides patients with specific guidelines on how to begin a new heathy lifestyle.

Dr. Inbar Almon Tofan is a dedicated general practitioner who obtained her degree at the International University of Zagreb. During her clinical rotations at University Hospital Rebro in Zagreb, Dr. Almon Tofan gained hands-on experience in focused family medicine, emphasizing holistic patient care and chronic condition management. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Almon Tofan served in research at the University Hospital Rebro, collaborating on several research projects. Dr. Almon Tofan is multilingual, with native proficiency in Hebrew, fluency in English and Croatian, intermediate knowledge of Spanish. Her diverse experiences and linguistic skills position her as a compassionate and knowledgeable practitioner, committed to providing comprehensive patient care and contributing to the medical community in Cyprus and research internationally.

I am a practicing clinical pharmacist with over 20 years of experience and a graduate of St. John’s University School of Pharmacy in Queens, NY. With an undergraduate background in compounding and natural medicine, I have served in various capacities across the pharmaceutical industry before founding Fusion Medical Care in Scottsdale, AZ. My career is defined by my dedication to a balanced approach between natural and allopathic medicine, a passion that led me to develop a complete wellness center housing multiple integrative practitioners. Beyond my foundational education, I have advanced my specialized training through the Professional Compounding Centers of America and am a Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging Health Practitioners. I believe that my role as a pharmacist offers the perfect opportunity to fuse naturopathic and allopathic care, acting as a dedicated advocate for my patients' pharmacological and wellness needs. My mission is to empower patients to look and feel amazing by following my core philosophy: "Let your food be your medicine, your kitchen be your pharmacy, and your lifestyle be your doctor". My innovative approach to healthcare has earned me national recognition, including an honor in Marquis Who’s Who and a featured interview with VoyagePhoenix highlighting my journey and the mission behind Fusion Medical Care.

Monica Polanco is a licensed clinical social worker who helps women step out of the shadows of grief so they can heal and rediscover their sense of purpose. A bilingual, first generation Latina, she offers clinical depth, cultural insight and practical tools to help women soothe their nervous systems, name their emotions and improve their self-compassion. She reframes grief as a profound form of spiritual learning, where resilience, love and identity can be rebuilt. Ms. Polanco helps women remember the love more than the pain.

I’m a growth-focused healthcare marketing leader with a strong track record in specialty medical practice growth for independently owned or PE backed specialty medical practices. As CMO at Intrepy, I design and scale patient acquisition systems that are innovative, compliant, measurable, and built to fuel sustainable practice growth. My current area of marketing focus is AI Visibility and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) for health and medical organizations. Our daily agency operations work in over 40 specialties including but not limited to orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology/ENT, fertility, urology, plastic surgery, nephrology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery, men's health, women's health, and MedSpa. My areas of expertise and that of my agency are medical website design, medical SEO, healthcare paid advertising both search and programmatic, healthcare social media, and medical marketing strategy. Our first party research and data includes tracking the results and impact of digital medical marketing activities in the above channels. We focus on organic patient acquisition costs and Return-On-Ad-Spend (ROAS) in the healthcare space. We're also experts in HIPAA-complaint marketing. Generally we can answer questions about the challenges and solutions for marketing specialty medical practices in the US for both insured (commercial patients) and cash-pay (self-pay patients) choosing high value elective procedures.

Dr. Black us a non-surgical orthopedics and sports medicine. Expert in musculoskeletal medicine, orthopedics, sports medicine, functional movement, and ultrasound diagnostics and procedures. Expertise in pelvic pain in women and men, joint pain, arthritis, PRP, prolotherapy, and peripheral nerve pain. Her background in family medicine helps figure out root-cause of orthopedic problems.

Dr. Shernell Surratt-Gary, D.O., is a Tulsa, Oklahoma native whose journey reflects both determination and dedication. She graduated from the University of Tulsa with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, where her interest in medicine and the human body deepened. Before matriculating to medical school, Shernell gained valuable hands-on experience at Ascension St. John, working first in the pathology department and later in the catheterization lab. These formative roles not only strengthened her technical skills but also gave her a deep appreciation for the teamwork and precision required in healthcare. She went on to earn her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from OSU Center for Health Sciences, furthering her commitment to understanding health, science, and the human experience. In addition, she served as a Family Medicine Content Author for Rosh Review, LLC, contributing to medical education and board review resources for resident physicians. Dr. Surratt-Gary currently serves as a clinical advisor for Aura Wellness, a drug, alcohol & mental health treatment center in Kentucky. Beyond her academic and professional path, Shernell embraces family life with joy. She lives with her husband and their two children, cherishing the laughter, love, and everyday moments they share together.

Mr. Nechay assists physicians, attorneys, CPAs, and other professionals with a comprehensive range of services related to valuation, acquisitions, and successful practice transitions. With extensive experience in practice sales and certified valuation expertise, he offers a unique perspective that drives his clients’ success. His services include certified practice valuations for buy-ins, buy-outs, divorce, estate planning, or sale preparation, as well as tailored practice brokerage services.

Dr. Wanping Hu is a seasoned oncologist with over two decades of clinical experience and a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. A devoted mother of three, she began cooking daily and immersing herself in nutrition and alternative medicine to help heal her daughters’ chronic health conditions. Combining deep scientific expertise with a heartfelt commitment to holistic wellness, Dr. Hu bridges the worlds of modern medicine and ancient food wisdom. She is the inventor of FermentPro, a first-in-class home fermentation appliance that fuses traditional fermentation principles with cutting-edge technology to support optimal gut health. Guided by her belief that food is medicine, Dr. Hu is dedicated to making nutrition accessible and restoring health through both science and nature.

Jelena Oertle is the founder of OVA flame™, a women’s health brand dedicated to bio-intelligent nourishment rooted in ancient organ wisdom and modern nutritional science. After navigating her complex health challenges, she developed a formulation philosophy that bridges ancestral practices with research-backed innovation. With ongoing studies in cellular biology, physiology, and physics (including certification through HarvardX), Jelena is committed to understanding the deep mechanics of the female body and its hormonal landscape. Her mission is to empower women to reconnect with their biology, restore vitality, and feel profoundly supported throughout every phase of their hormonal and reproductive journey. Jelena provides expert insight on women’s wellness, functional nutrition, hormone balance, and holistic healing. Through OVA flame, she champions a new era of nourishment that honors the female body as an intelligent system capable of regeneration, alignment, and thriving.