Sadanand Gite has worked in the medical device industry for over 20 years focusing on cancer and infectious disease diagnostics. He is the Director of Scientific Research at First Light Biosciences and authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and 15 patents. He joined the board of WCPP in 2016 and is passionate about cancer prevention using various strategies including lifestyle changes and wants to bring awareness to common people. Sadanand has Ph.D. in Biotechnology and has completed post-doctoral training in MIT. Recently, he completed his MBA from Babson College.
Kevin Leach has worked in cancer research and the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years. He is the Vice Principal of Non-Clinical and Translational Medicine at Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals and has authored several peer-reviewed publications and patents. He joined the board of WCPP in 2017 and is passionate about the possibilities of not just improving care for cancer patients, but preventing cancer through education and lifestyle choices. Kevin received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from the Medical College of Virginia and was a post-doctoral fellow in Biological Engineering at MIT.
Patrick Rafter is Principal and Co-Founder of Rafter Communications, a consultancy that provides public relations, marketing, social media and content services and programs for innovative technology, healthcare, environmental corporations, and nonprofits. He and his wife Sheila moved to Wellesley Hills in 1993 and are the proud parents of three “children”: Twins Olivia and Liam (21 in 2016), and Eliza (13). Patrick is a cancer conqueror having been diagnosed and treated for a rare Ewing’s Sarcoma of the skull when he was 40 years old. After his cancer adventure (at Dana Farber/Brigham & Women’s Hospital which included two craniotomies, 15 months of in-patient chemo and 6 weeks of daily radiation that gave him his distinctive shiny bald pate)—Patrick has since been active as a patient advocate, booster and fundraiser for cancer nonprofits (PMC, Partners Research Accelerator Program, American Childhood Cancer Organization, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, The Julie Fund, and others). A graduate of Tufts University, Patrick grew up in San Francisco, Washington, DC, Tunis, Tunisia, and Rome, Italy. Rafter is honored to join the WCPP and hopes to put his expertise in PR, public education, events, speaking, online media, and fundraising to help advance the great work and mission of the Project.
Christine Medico Harding has worked in the health insurance industry for over 20 years, primarily focused on hospital and physician contracting and network design. In 2016 she was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer (non-smoker) and has been in treatment for the last three years at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Targeted therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and clinical trials include some of the treatments she has gone through during that time. Christine and her husband, Christopher have lived in Wellesley since 1999 and have two children, Tommy (23) and Meagan (20). The Harding family continue to advocate for cancer awareness through the Pan Mass Challenge, The Dana Farber Jimmy Fund Walk, and The Women’s Lung Cancer Forum. Christine has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Scranton.
Cheryl Colbert
Amy Collins M.D.
Sarah Little, Ph.D
Richard Morse
Viola Morse
Alice Shabecoff
Philip Shabecoff
Peter Solomon
Amanda Zarle
Sara Frost Azzam