Oncology Experts 2025

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.

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 Co-Founder and CEO of Payorology, I help medical practices optimize their payor contract negotiations by leveraging price transparency data. Our work uncovers significant revenue opportunities by analyzing the current contracted rates of local peer practices, providing healthcare providers with actionable insights for successful negotiations. Previously, I served as EVP of Partnerships at Chegg, Inc., where I led business development and sales initiatives across multiple business lines, and held leadership roles at Yahoo! and LivingSocial. My experience spans interactive media, sales, and marketing, with a track record of driving growth and innovation. Outside of work, I served on the Board of Directors for The Advertising Council, Inc., contributing to impactful public service campaigns. I hold bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Florida. With a passion for supporting healthcare providers and a strong foundation in sales and marketing, I lead Payorology in delivering value-driven solutions that empower medical practices to thrive.

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.

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. 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.

I’m Aleksey Aronov, a Board-Certified Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with over a 16 years of experience at Mount Sinai Hospital & Northwell Health, where I’m currently credentialed. My journey began with a Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees in Nursing from Hunter College, both earned with Summa Cum Laude. Ever since then, I had a passion and drive for evidence-based and patient-centered care. I founded VIP’s IV (vipsiv.com) after noticing that the IV industry was heavily unregulated with many providers cutting major corners bringing low quality and poor outcomes to clients. My mission for VIPs IV is clear: provide the highest safety standards with only FDA-approved medications to give the best clinical outcomes, IV drips administered exclusively by Board-Certified Nurse Practitioners with fastest arrival time in the industry typically arriving in 30 minutes or less.

The platform offers a wide range of medical treatments and surgical services. I help patients access affordable, high-quality care across 28 JCI-accredited MedicalPark hospital branches, together with 8 Liv Hospitals and 2 ISUdent dental hospitals throughout Turkey.

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. Boluwatife OLU Afolabi is a dental surgeon and PhD candidate in Oral Biology at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms driving head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, particularly the role of environmental carcinogens, inflammatory signaling, and transcriptional regulation in disease initiation and progression. His work investigates pathways such as the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and S100A8/S100A9-mediated inflammatory responses using cellular and molecular models of oral epithelial transformation. He has extensive experience in cancer biology, oral pathology, toxicology, and translational biomedical research. Dr. Afolabi provides expert insight on oral cancer risk factors, environmental exposures and health, inflammation and disease mechanisms, dental-systemic health connections, and emerging directions in cancer research. He is also interested in public health implications of carcinogen exposure and prevention strategies in oral and head-and-neck disease.

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 Licensed Professional Counselor and the founder of Darin King Counseling, a Pennsylvania-based telehealth counseling practice. I specialize in helping adults and couples navigate trauma, anxiety, stress, and life transitions using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches. My clinical work focuses on understanding how trauma and chronic stress impact emotional regulation, relationships, and daily functioning. I regularly help clients develop practical coping strategies, improve communication, and build resilience in high-stress environments. In addition to clinical work, I have experience educating the public on mental health topics including anxiety, burnout, emotional regulation, and trauma recovery. I aim to provide clear, accessible insights that help people better understand their mental health and apply practical tools in everyday life.

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.