Board of Directors
Beth Hudson - President
Beth is an ovarian cancer survivor who carries the BRCA1 gene mutation. She became involved with SLOCA at the urging of her sister, who later passed away from the disease. She has been involved with the Living Out Loud auction, Survivors Teaching Students, The Speakers Bureau and the September Cookie Project, and she has helped to staff numerous health fairs. She is committed to fulfilling the mission of SLOCA by raising awareness, funding research, and supporting survivors. She was elected President, effective July 1, and is eager to help to move SLOCA forward while continuing the work of SLOCA's founders.
Charles Hapke – Vice President & Attorney
Charlie watched his wife, Joyce Byan Hapke, suffer for years with ovarian cancer before succumbing. He realized the ugly truth that none of the GYN screening tests Joyce had had throughout her life had screened her for ovarian cancer. After Joyce passed away, Charlie was glad to find an organization that was working to make all women aware that each has to be her own first-line diagnostician. There ARE symptoms which, if detected early, lead to survival.
Bruce Hudson – Treasurer
Bruce Hudson is the husband of Beth Hudson, an ovarian cancer survivor. He retired from Anheuser-Busch in 2008 after working 27 years with the company, and was able to take on the financial responsibilities as SLOCA's Treasurer. He believes in the mission of SLOCA and is thankful that the organization is committed to raising awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Dede Dierkes – Recording Secretary
Dede is a survivor of stage 1-C ovarian cancer. She learned about SLOCA from the staff at Women's Oncology Care prior to starting chemotherapy. She strongly believes in the mission of SLOCA and wants to help spread awareness of this disease. In addition to being the recording secretary, Dede takes part in Survivors Teaching Students program and maintains the SLOCA mailing list.
Barbara Platzer – Membership
Barb is a survivor of Stage 3-C ovarian cancer. When she moved to St. Louis from Cleveland, she learned about SLOCA and, along with Joanne Henderson, began attending board meetings. Eventually, both were invited to join the SLOCA board. Barb is Membership Chairman of SLOCA, speaks to medical students through Survivors Teaching Students, chairs Team SLOCA for the Cancer Support Community, works at health fairs and on various committees. Her goal is to make others aware of ovarian cancer and mentor those who need advice and support when they are diagnosed.
Jan Paul – Publications
Jan is a survivor of Stage 3-B ovarian cancer. She was inspired by her oncology nurse, Nancy Larson, to join SLOCA shortly completing her course of chemotherapy. Jan feels blessed to have survived the disease so far. She is passionate about raising awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer among women and medical professionals, and she prays fervently for development of a reliable screening tool. She coordinates SLOCA’s participation in the program of educating medical students, Survivors Teaching Students: Saving Women’s Lives. She also is SLOCA’s publications editor, responsible for the newsletter, website and awareness literature.
Nancy Marron – Corresponding Secretary
Nancy Marron is a survivor of Stage 3-C ovarian cancer. She was invited to attend a SLOCA board meeting by Donna Dombrowski, her oncology nurse, in 2005. She has worked at health fairs, was the recording secretary and currently is the corresponding secretary. She feels very blessed to have survived the disease for over 20 years. Spreading the word about the symptoms of ovarian cancer is one of her missions.
Joanne Henderson – Historian
Joanne is a survivor of Stage 3- ovarian cancer since May, 2006. She was interested in learning more about organizations that promoted awareness and discovered St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness. She knew she wanted to become involved and promote awareness and early warning symptoms of ovarian cancer. She accepted a position on the SLOCA Board. Joanne works health fairs, participates in Survivors Teaching Students and co-chairs some of the annual fund raising events. She is motivated by helping and providing support to patients and their families after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Merle Miller
Merle Miller was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2002 and had recurrences in 2005 and 2011. Treatment for this disease is not an easy process, but Merle feels fortunate to have had the support of her family and friends during these difficult times. Merle has spent many years as a volunteer for quite a few community organizations. So, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, it was a natural step for Merle to join SLOCA. She is committed to its mission of making women aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and she supports SLOCA's fund-raising efforts to support research in this area. Merle hopes that researchers will find a way to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. Merle is a speaker in the Survivors Teaching Students program, and she also chaired the fall fashion show in 2008.
Ina Sachar
Ina has survived cancer five times and has ushered many women through the harrowing process of treatment and recovery. She began her cancer journey 19 years ago when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Six years later she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and discovered through genetic testing that she had the BRCA 1 mutation. Her ovarian cancer recurred two more times. Ina has two children and four grandchldren. She worked in sales and marketing for many years. She has long practiced yoga as a way to maintain strength and balance. Eight years ago she decided to make it her life's work; she has taught in corporate settings, yoga studios and wellness centers. In addition to SLOCA's board, she is on the board of Gilda's Club.
Karen Higano - Past President
Karen's ovarian cancer was discovered in 2005 during the cesarean section of her only child, Connor. She learned about SLOCA from her oncology nurse, Nancy Larson. After attending SLOCA's annual dinner auction in May 2005, she knew this was an organization with an incredible mission and that she wanted to get involved. She started by attending some board meetings and helping with the 2006 dinner auction. She was elected in 2007 to a two-year term as treasurer and then president in 2009 for another two-year term. She will continue to help SLOCA carry out its mission and help the organization move forward. She wants everyone to know what the color teal represents.
Grace Katzenberger – Emeritus
Grace is a survivor of Stage 3-B ovarian cancer. She is a co-founder of SLOCA. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer she wanted to educate women and medical professionals to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Christina Carr, the founder of SLOCA, asked her if she would help start an ovarian cancer organization. Doing this gave Grace the opportunity to do what she was so passionate about -- spreading the word about this disease and raising money for research. Over the years, she has held several offices for SLOCA – recording secretary, treasurer and president -- and she continues to be an active member.
Dr. David G. Mutch – Medical Advisor
Dr. Mutch is the Medical Advisor for SLOCA. He graduated from Washington University School of Medicine in 1980, completed a residency in Ob/Gyn at Barnes Jewish Hospital in 1984 and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology in 1987. He then returned to Washington University and St. Louis. Dr. Mutch is the Division Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Washington University and is the Judith and Ira Gall Professor. He has published more than 200 articles on the subject of gynecologic oncology and has been on the American Board of Gynecologic Oncology subspecialty Division of Gynecologic Oncology. He is committed to SLOCA and its efforts to improve the care of women with gynecologic cancers locally and nationally.
Diane Harrison – Emeritus
Diane is a survivor of Stage 1-C ovarian cancer and a co-founder of SLOCA. After Diane was diagnosed in late 2000, she started attending the Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Together Group, where she met several other women who agreed to start SLOCA. Diane was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in her late 20s, and she is interested in spreading awareness of the disease to younger women. Diane has held several offices for SLOCA – marketing/promotions, historian and general board member. Diane is a CPA and project management professional for a national investment advisory company.
JoAnn Carter – Emeritus
JoAnn, one of the fortunate few, was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer in November 1998. It was especially fortunate because her lupus caused and continues to cause the same abdominal symptoms as ovarian cancer. JoAnn was treated with the standard protocol for Stage I, then participated in a study that included six months of weekly low-dose taxol. She had retired as Professor of Education at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in 1996. JoAnn was determined to use her teaching experience to educate women about ovarian cancer and was very pleased when Christina Carr asked for her help in beginning SLOCA. She has participated in Survivors Teaching Students, worked at health fairs, taught women’s organizations about ovarian cancer, and edited a cookbook for the Together support group. JoAnn continues to battle lupus with the concomitant problems it causes, and she hopes that she can soon work with SLOCA more actively again.
