President

David Coniglio, PA-C

David is an Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator in the Department of Physician Assistant Practice, Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.  He has 23 years experience in the care of patients with breast cancer. His areas of clinical and educational interest include: breast cancer, cancer screening and prevention; medical issues in international adoption, evidence-based medicine, test-writing and analysis, medical writing, and educational research. David has published widely in oncology journals on a variety of research topics.

 Past President

Dayne Alonso, PA-C

Dayne graduated from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, FL with a BS in Physician Assistant Studies and a Masters in Medical Science in 2004. She began to work in the field of oncology soon after graduation at the Miami VA Medical Center in Miami, FL, in a predominantly outpatient medical oncology setting. Recently, she is employed by Advanced Medical Specialties in Miami, FL workingin a large private practice doing inpatient hospital consultations and spear heading the inpatient acute leukemia service. She is also the South Regional Director of the Florida Association of Physician Assistants.

Stay tuned for picture

Stay tuned for picture

Secretary

Michele Taffaro-Neskey, PA-C

Michele is a physician assistant at the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami Beach, FL.  She graduated from the Yale Physician Associate Program in 2005, and has been working in the field of Hematology/Oncology for the last 2 years.  Prior to becoming a PA, Michele worked for 3 years at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston in the Thoracic Oncology department, which stimulated her interest in this field as a PA.  Michele is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Florida based affiliate of this organization FLASCO, as well as the AAPA. She most recently became secretary of the APAO and hopes to further educate PAs, nurse practicioners and students about the field of oncology.

Treasurer

Eucharia Iwuanyanwu, PA-C

Eucharia graduated from UTMB in 1996, then obtained Masters degree from the University of  Nebraska, and Doctorate in Health Science from Nova Southeastern University.  She has been with MD Anderson for the last 6 years, working in the department of hematological malignancies for the first 5 years, and has now moved to the Investigational Cancer Therapeutics department, which focuses on developing new therapies for cancer treatment, mostly with solid tumors.  Eucharia is very excited to be in this research based department and is amazed at some of our success.  She hopes this research will transend to better outcome for patients. Eucharia is also a Founder of Africa Cancer Care Inc, a non profit organization devoted to making a difference in cancer care for developing African countries.

ASCO Liason

Maura Polansky, PA-C

Maura has been working at MD Anderson since 1995, when she joined the staff as a new graduate.  She has been with the GI Medical Oncology Department since 1997, and has developed a multidisciplinary PA residency oncology program which enrolled it’s first PAs in 2001. She serves as the program director of the residency program and also am the Director of PA Educational Programs.  Maura has been a member of APAO since 1999 and have served as the CME chair and HOD delegate.Since 2007, she has been the AAPA medical liaison to ASCO.