Paul Gottsegen brings an impressive blend of business acumen and marketing knowledge from his 30 year career in international business and marketing with some of the most successful global technology companies. He is currently Partner and President of ISG, a leading technology research and advisory firm. He has a personal connection to Gastric Cancer Foundation through a close friendship with JP Gallagher, Gastric Cancer Foundation’s founder and previous chairman of the board.

Following his role as one of the original team members of the server division at Compaq, Paul managed the North American server business. He met JP at Compaq, and being JP’s senior by seven years, Paul became JP’s mentor and close friend. Years later, they worked together again at Panasas.

Paul’s passion and dedication to Gastric Cancer Foundation are as impressive as his career. He is inspired to use his professional skills to increase visibility for the organization, serve as a sounding board for communications and to support the mission of fighting stomach cancer through research and understanding the disease. We will look to Paul to help us reach the next level of visibility, strategic relationships and initiatives to support our goal of curing stomach cancer.

Cindy Gallagher, wife of late founder JP Gallagher, joined the Gastric Cancer Foundation Board of Directors in June 2014. She has worked in school settings as an elementary counselor and with families in crisis. Currently, she works as a grief therapist in the Bay Area, as well as a counselor in clinical settings.

Cindy brings a wealth of personal experience with this disease as well as a passion to help patients and family members of patients affected by gastric cancer. Her work at Gastric Cancer Foundation will help keep JP’s legacy for hope and a cure.

Cindy holds a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and received her master of arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University.

Ajay Goel, PhD, AGAF, joined City of Hope in June 2019 as founding chair of the new Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Experimental Therapeutics and founding director of Biotech Innovations at Beckman Research Institute. Dr. Goel is also the associate director of basic science for the comprehensive cancer center.

A noted expert in gastrointestinal and other cancers, Goel is currently developing early-detection blood tests for colon, pancreatic and ovarian cancers — as well as a test for pancreatic cancer that can detect the disease seven years earlier than is now possible. He is also working with genomic-based precision oncology to provide answers to the question: Why do therapies work with some good candidates and not with others.

Goel was born in India, received his Ph.D. in biophysics from Punjab University, completed his postgraduate work at the University of California San Diego, and went on to a noteworthy 16-year career at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute in Texas. He has authored more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed international journals and holds more than 30 advanced genomic and transcriptomic international patents.

One surprising fact about Goel: In addition to his technological expertise, he finds wisdom in the ancient Indian medical system Ayurveda, which has given us such natural therapies as the proven anti-inflammatory in turmeric. Prevention, he believes, is the best medicine.

Dr. Peter Langecker, MD, PhD is currently Executive Medical Director, Global Oncology at Clinipace. He brings to the Board over 25 years of hands-on experience in establishing and conducting industry-sponsored oncology and hematology clinical research and development. His previous positions included pharmaceutical company experience at Novartis, Merck, SUGEN (acquired by Pfizer) and several biotech companies.

Dr. Langecker’s medical training and published research focused on preclinical and clinical oncology and the hormonal regulation of breast cancer. He has had university hospital level clinical experience in solid tumors (including breast, GI, lung cancer), lymphomas and leukemias, and bone marrow transplants. He has authored and co-authored 50+ publications and posters.

K. Alice Leung joined Gastric Cancer Foundation’s Board of Directors in April 2013. Alice brings a wealth of biotech industry knowledge and cancer drug development experience to the Foundation.
As the Founder and Principal of Sapientiae, a biotech management consulting firm, Alice advises public and private biotech companies in corporate strategy, clinical and commercial development; as well as expert support for public and private investors. Prior to founding Sapientiae, she served as president and chief executive officer of Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company in the Bay Area.

Prior to Intarcia Therapeutics, Inc., Alice was the vice president, general manager of Oncology with Berlex (the US subsidiary of Schering AG, now Bayer), where she was a member of the executive committee and oversaw ongoing operations and future development of the oncology business, among other responsibilities. She joined Berlex after a long tenure with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), culminating in the role of vice president, Worldwide Licensing and External Development.

Alice holds a master’s of business administration from the Johnson School of Management at Cornell University and a bachelor’s from the University of Western Ontario.

Jeff has spent most of his professional career dedicated to launching and managing loyalty rewards programs. As VP, Rewards and Partnerships with PLAYSTUDIOS, Jeff brings his expertise to design and execution of unique partnership marketing opportunities to the social gaming space.

Before joining PLAYSTUDIOS, Jeff led Weslyn&Mayne Consulting as Principal and served as Vice President with Neiman Marcus, managing the design, implementation and operation of unique, distinctive programs to the highest valued Neiman Marcus clientele through the customer recognition program, InCircle Rewards. Jeff has also served as a Board member with TACA (The Arts Community Alliance), a Dallas-based organization championing artistic excellence in performing arts.

On June 4th 2014, Jeff’s wife Candace was diagnosed with Stage III stomach cancer. Shortly thereafter, he and his wife founded Stupid Strong, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about gastric cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support to families in need. This effort complements Jeff’s leadership role with the Gastric Cancer Foundation. Sadly, Candace lost her battle in November of 2017, but her legacy lives on in the efforts of GCF.

Susanna joined the Gastric Cancer Foundation Board of Directors in 2016. She is a founding partner of Amity Search Partners LLC, New York, NY. Since its launch in 2009, Amity has grown to become one of the leading executive search firms serving the alternative asset management industry with a focus on recruiting investment professionals at all levels of experience. The firm is based in New York City and has offices in San Francisco and Boston.

Susanna’s late husband John was diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer in February 2015 and passed away from the disease in February 2017. Susanna and John were both grateful for the treatments he received as a result of past research into Gastric Cancer and became passionate about supporting research to discover more treatment options and a cure for the disease. In addition to her involvement in the Gastric Cancer Foundation, Susanna is an enthusiastic cyclist in the annual Pan-Mass Challenge in support of the Center for Esophageal and Gastric Cancer at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Susanna holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. She also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Michigan. Susanna lives in New Canaan, Connecticut with her daughter Anne.

Hans Rueffert is an acclaimed chef, author, educator, television producer and gastric cancer survivor. Shortly after finishing third in the Next Food Network Star television series in 2005, Hans was diagnosed with stage three stomach cancer. He lost most of his stomach and esophagus to the disease, but is currently cancer free. In addition to his time on the Food Network, Hans has hosted and produced several cooking shows throughout the south, most notably, Hans Cooks the World and Hans Cooks the South.

After his diagnosis, Hans published Eat Like There’s No Tomorrow, a cookbook that includes a collection of original recipes, photographs and narratives. In the book, he shares his story about his own stomach cancer in addition to thoughts on healthy eating, optimism and life. In his personal life, Hans mentors people with stomach cancer through both the MD Anderson Network and Imerman Angels. He also teaches regularly at the Cancer Wellness Center at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta.

Hans holds a master’s of art degree in Hospitality Management from Georgia State University.

Jeff Schottenstein is a Senior Managing Director and Wealth Manager at First Republic Investment Management. Jeff joined First Republic in 2018 after spending 15 years as a Managing Director of the Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group. He has been recognized by Barron’s and other publication as one of the nation’s top 15 financial advisers for his career in the wealth management industry.

In 2018, Jeff received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his work as a passionate advocate for cancer research and patients. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Gastric Cancer Foundation, Jeff is a member of the Dana Farber Presidential Visiting Committee for Gastrointestinal Oncology and the Stanford Cancer Council. He was also President of the Board of Directors of First Graduate, a nonprofit organization helping students become the first in their families to graduate from college.

Jeff earned his MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

In 2016, Jeff’s beloved wife Sara passed away following a brave battle with gastric cancer. Sara’s journey inspired her and Jeff to commit to advancing gastric cancer research including developing a novel clinical trial at Stanford University and an early detection research team with Stand Up To Cancer. In 2020, Jeff founded the Sara Schottenstein Foundation to honor his wife’s legacy and further support gastric cancer research. Jeff is dedicated to raising awareness of gastric cancer and to supporting scientists, patients and their families.

Hemanshu Shah is an executive with more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, including more than 20 years in the oncology therapeutic area. His experience includes multiple functional areas including Research & Development, Strategic Planning, Business Development, Marketing and Investor Relations. Hemanshu has global experience, having worked for American, German, French and Japanese companies. He has a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Rutgers University and an MBA from the University at Buffalo.

Arlene Weintraub is a health writer and associate director at APCO Worldwide. She was previously an award-winning journalist and author with more than 25 years of experience writing about healthcare, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, first on staff at BusinessWeek magazine and then as a freelance contributor to CURE Magazine, Fierce Markets, US News & World Report and others. Her most recent book, Heal: The Vital Role of Dogs in the Search for Cancer Cures (ECW Press, 2015), brings to life the world of comparative oncology and the many ways that dogs are helping fight the war on cancer. Arlene lost her sister, a mother of four, to gastric cancer in 2010.