Chief Executive Officer and the Helen and Morgan Chu Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair at City of Hope. Under his leadership, City of Hope has expanded its impact in cancer research, treatment, and innovation, reinforcing its status as a leading comprehensive cancer center.
A seasoned healthcare executive, Dr. Payson previously served as CEO of Apria Healthcare and was the founder of Healthsource, Inc. and the Kiva Foundation. Dr. Payson has dedicated his career to improving health care accessibility and strategic management in the industry.
Michael Blend is the CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder of System1, a leading digital marketing and data-driven technology company. With extensive experience in data analytics and online advertising, Blend has played a pivotal role in driving System1’s growth and innovation in the performance marketing space.
Tessa Stephenson-Brand is the owner of Tessa Lyn Events, a premier event planning company, and an active philanthropist supporting the University of Southern California and City of Hope. She is dedicated to both entrepreneurship and philanthropy, contributing to causes that support healthcare.
A. Emmet Stephenson Jr. is the Founder and President of Stephenson and Company, a senior partner at Stephenson Ventures, and a former director of Danaher Corp. He also served as the retired Chairman of StarTek, Inc. With decades of experience in finance and venture capital, he has played a key role in shaping high-growth businesses.
Jennifer Kim is a dynamic and accomplished leader with over 20 years of experience in clinical and academic research and management. She has a proven track record of leading multi-institutional and interdisciplinary project collaborations with academia, industry, and government. Highly skilled in developing and cultivating teams, spearheading operational strategies, and securing significant grant funding, Jennifer is recognized for her expertise in administration, operations, and strategy in academic, oncology, industry, hospital-related programs, and non-profit start-ups. She is also known for her innovative and entrepreneurial approach in starting new organizations and fostering collaborations across multiple sectors.
Jennifer currently serves as the Executive Director of the Stephenson Global Pancreatic Cancer Research Institute (SGPCRI), where she is focused on advancing early detection and treatment for pancreatic cancer through innovative research and collaborative initiatives. Previously, she held the role of Director of Clinical and Research Operations at NYU Langone Health’s Pancreatic Cancer Center and Liver Tumor Program, overseeing strategic planning, budgets, clinical workflows, and performance improvement initiatives.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has led large-scale national and global research programs and her contributions include more than 100 presentations and publications in the fields of cancer risk assessment, early detection, and patient care improvement. Jennifer has also held leadership roles in the International Society of Cancer Risk Assessment and Management (ISCRAM) and the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium.
She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Columbia University and has built a reputation for driving breakthrough research collaborations and advancing clinical goals through strategic leadership and operational excellence.