Leadership Team

Dana L. Dornsife
President

Dana Dornsife received her undergraduate degree in business from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She received her Interior Design Certification from John F. Kennedy University, San Francisco and her Lighting Design Certification through the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. In 1991, she co-founded Axiom Design, Inc., a lighting design and architectural electronics consulting firm. Her design work has been published, and she has had the honor of teaching for the Custom Electronic Design & Instillation Association, in both the United States and England. In 2002 Dana founded Adorn, a lighting and interior design company, and is currently involved in building custom spec homes in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dana serves on the Board of Directors of Epeius Biotechnologies, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing genetic medicine for the treatment of cancer. She is active with her husband Dave Dornsife in support of World Vision, an international humanitarian agency. Through World Vision in West Africa the Dornsifes support micro-economic enterprise, agriculture and literacy programs in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and, in partnership with the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, well-water drilling in Mali, Ghana, Niger and Ethiopia. Dana serves on the Board of Directors of Global Healing, an organization dedicated to providing modern healthcare in developing countries, through which she and David provide support for the Roatan, Honduras Pediatric Clinic. She is a council member and trustee for the Yosemite Fund and was recently inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at the University of Southern California for meritorious service. At USC, Dana serves on the Board of Directors for the Brain and Creativity Institute and the Board of History and Culture through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Susan Sappington
Director of Development, Board Member

A native Californian, Susan Sappington brings over twenty-five years of sales and marketing experience to Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Using this expertise, as well as the lessons learned through studying business administration at the University of Phoenix, Susan now owns a successful women's couture clothing company.

In 2001, Susan was a founding member of the Northeast Bay chapter of the Executive Women's Golf Association, which has now grown to more than 150 members. Susan has extensive volunteer management experience. While working for Kaiser Permanente, she ran three nonprofit hospital gift shops with a staff of over fifty volunteers. During her tenure, the revenue from the shops grew from $350,000 to over $1,000,000.

Susan feels strongly that her success should be shared and she wants to give back to the community that has given her so much. She believes it is her time to make a difference in people's lives and that Lazarex provides her a platform to support new technologies, change the face of cancer and find a cure. She was elected to the Lazarex Board of Directors in May 2007.

Karen Ambrogi
Communications Manager

Karen Ambrogi joined Lazarex Cancer Foundation in February 2009. Her current responsibilities are fundraising, communication, education and community outreach. She has a strong base in relationship building and service – from working with the mentally handicapped to a very long career incorporating technical sales, account management, technical writing and leadership skills training. Karen is a seeker and a traveler.

A “pre midlife crisis” career change led her to establish a company that provided education and travel programs designed to encourage more conscious, authentic and creative living by exploring the mind/body/spirit connection. After losing two brothers in law to pancreatic cancer, she is grateful to have the opportunity to give her focus and her heart in the service of helping to change the face of cancer.

Rhonda Slater, RN, BSN, PHN
Medical Liaison

In the role of Medical Liaison, Rhonda Slater performs a service that is at the heart of the mission of Lazarex Cancer Foundation. Helping patients and their families navigate, identify and approach clinical trial options builds a bridge to hope, dignity and life. At a time when most have been told there is no hope, courage can bloom from the seeds of discouragement.

Rhonda graduated from Fresno State in 1994, with honors, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. She earned her Public Health Nursing credential concurrently with that curriculum. She worked in Labor & Delivery for six years, while teaching in the fields of maternal child health, breastfeeding, care of the neonate, and post-partum care. Rhonda spent three years as a surgical nurse covering all areas in and out of the Operating Room and holds advanced certifications in cardiac life-saving from neonates to adults.

Rhonda keeps current in the area of oncology through continuing education and researching cancer treatments and clinical trial publications. She serves on the board of the Children's Hospital of Central California and does volunteer work in the healthcare arena.

Rhonda uses her educational background and experience to assist people in navigating the daunting web of information in their quest for treatment alternatives. She believes Lazarex is a great source for patients looking for support.

Tami Keeler
Office Manager

A San Ramon, CA resident, Tami Keeler joined Lazarex Cancer Foundation in 2007 as Office Manager. With over fifteen years of customer service experience under her belt, Tami is well prepared for the most important part of her work - looking after Lazarex’s VIPs (Very Important Patients). In addition to patient interaction, she applies her vast array of other skills to the marketing, administration, event planning, caretaking, accounting, design, and logistic aspects of the Lazarex organization. Titles and work functions aside, Tami is a woman of persistence, humor and compassion. These are qualities greatly needed in the daily striving to offer hope, dignity and life to those in need. She is also an artist, photographer and mom. Her best work of art is her young son. Tami is thankful to be able use her talents to help Lazarex fulfill its mission of providing hope and assistance to people with cancer who have been told they have run out of options.