MTCC Steering Committee

The MTCC Steering Committee is the governing body of the Montana Cancer Coalition. This group is made up of driven, energetic, and passionate individuals committed to leading the coalition towards the achievement of the priority objectives outlined in the Montana Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.

2019-2020 MTCC ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD:

Senior Co-Chair: Emily Coyle – University of Montana

Emily is the health systems manager for state-based and primary care health systems for the American Cancer Society (ACS) in Montana. In this role, Emily works with state-level public health and quality improvement organizations, as well as primary care providers, FQHC’s, and employers and insurers to implement evidence-based strategies and interventions to reduce the burden of cancer through prevention and early-detection. Emily brings exceptional knowledge on cancer care initiatives within the state of Montana as well as a fresh perspective on ways the MTCC can further increase it’s impact on issues surrounding the cancer care spectrum.

Junior Co-Chair: Courtney Buys – Montana Primary Care Association

Courtney is the Health Outcomes Improvement Manager for the Montana Primary Care Association. She provides training, technical assistance, and coaching on quality improvement measures to increase preventable disease screening and management in Montana’s CHCs, primarily through the Quality Data Initiative. Prior to her current role, Courtney spent a year serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Montana Primary Care Association working on the Cover Montana project; increasing awareness, understanding, and utilization of Montana’s affordable health insurance options for low-income Montanans. In her free time, she can be found hiking, doing yoga (badly), or spoiling her two dogs Maxi and Bobo.

Vice-Chair: Meadow Nilles – A.W.A.R.E Early Head Start

As a medical social worker, Meadow Nilles has spent 12 years working with cancer survivors in long term care, hospice and oncology units around the state of Montana.   She has worked with cancer survivors of all ages and in all stages of their illness.  At the beginning of 2019, Meadow changed focus and is now the Health, Wellness and Disabilities manager for Aware Early Head Start, working with infants and toddlers to promote an early start to lifelong health.

Meadow has been an active member of the Montana Cancer Coalition since 2015 and has served as the co-chair of the pediatric cancer implementation team since 2016. One of the biggest privileges of her career has been sitting with cancer survivors through all stages of their cancer, and she is thrilled to work with MTCC to improve life for cancer patients across the state of Montana. 

When not working, you will find Meadow road tripping with her husband and 3 kids, baking/decorating cakes and other sweets, or hiding in the Beartooth Mountains.

Immediate Past Co-Chair: Nancy Lee – Susan G. Komen Idaho

MTCC Manager / MT DPHHS Representative: Nikki Campbell – Montana Cancer Control Programs

Provider Advisory Group Liaison: Dr. Jeffrey Rentz – Billings Clinic

IMPLEMENTATION TEAM LEADERSHIP

Prevention – Sun Safety

  • Co-Chair: Lori Christenson – Gallatin City-County Health Department
  • Co-Chair: Karl Vanderwood – Gallatin City-County Health Department

Prevention – Nutrition and Physical Activity

  • Co-Chair: Donna Bosch – RN Retiree
  • Co-Chair: Cherith Smith – Montana Urban Indian Health Center

Early Detection

  • Co-Chair: Melissa Baker – Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department
  • Co-Chair: Molly Neu – Flathead City-County Health Department

Early Detection – Lung Screening Advisory

  • Jamie Wilcox – St. Peter’s Health

Treatment and Research

  • Co-Chair: Pam Sasser – St. Peter’s Health
  • Co-Chair: Alona Jarmin – Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation

Quality of Life and Survivorship

  • Co-Chair: Becky Franks – Cancer Support Community
  • Co-Chair: Elizabeth ‘Bess’ Harris

Pediatric Cancer

  • Co-Chair: Meadow Niles – American Cancer Society Billings Clinic
  • Co-Chair: Anna Greenberg – Cancer Support Community

 

MEMBER REPRESENTATIVES:

General Membership Representative:

  • CURRENTLY RECRUITING

Survivor Representative:

  • CURRENTLY RECRUITING

American Indian Representative(s):

  • Savannah Sinquah – Riverstone Health
  • Sonya Bigleggins – Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council

American Cancer Society Representative:

  • Kaylee Vandjelovic – ACS Health Systems Manager-Hospitals

Disability Consumer Representative:

  • CURRENTLY RECRUITING

Policy and Advocacy Representative:

  • Lois Fitzgerald – American Cancer Society – Cancer Action Network

Montana American Indian Women’s Health Coalition (MAIWHC) Representative(s):

  • MAIWHC President: Alona Jarmin – Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation
  • MAIWHC Vice-President: Katelin Conway – Mountain Pacific Quality Health Foundation
  • MAIWHC Secretary: Lanette Perkins – Benefis American Indian Health Program

Indian Health Service Representative:

  • CURRENTLY RECRUITING