Board of Directors, Emeritus Members and Family Founders, Impact Advisory Board
Joel Beetsch is a patient advocacy and public affairs executive with extensive experience the biopharmaceutical industry. Dr. Beetsch has spent his career focusing on the development and execution of a coordinated patient-focused strategies while working with multiple patient, provider, payer and policy organizations to foster safe and effective solutions to healthcare challenges. These efforts drive the assurance that patient access to healthcare solutions and medical innovation are valued and advanced.
During his 25-year tenure in the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Beetsch has held several Medical and Corporate Affairs positions. Joel has professional interests in patient-focused care coordination, health policy, innovative patient access strategies and the use of technology to better serve patient interests and outcomes. Joel serves as the board chairperson for Family Reach, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating the financial burden of cancer. Joel also serves as a member of the Board of Trustees and sits on the Pharma/Biotech Committee for Crossroads4Hope, a national organization dedicated to providing emotional and social support for all those patients and families impacted by cancer. Finally, Joel serves as the co-chairperson for the steering committee of the Susan G. Komen Big Data for Patients (BD4P) initiative.
Dr. Beetsch earned his Doctorate in Neurobiology/Biochemistry from the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University and further training at the Washington University School of Medicine. Joel lives in Mendham, New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
Rick is one of the original founders of Family Reach and serves as the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. The brother of Kristine Morello-Wiatrak, who lost her fight against cancer in 1995, Rick works closely with the Family Reach CEO and Board on the overall strategic direction of the organization and on issues related to social determinants of health. Rick is a seasoned healthcare industry executive with two decades of senior management and strategy experience in digital health, diagnostics and biopharmaceuticals. He currently serves as the CEO of CND Life Sciences, an innovative diagnostics company founded by Harvard neurologists that developed and markets the world’s first commercially available skin-based test to aid the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Rick was recently the President of Global Life Sciences at Aptus Health, a 400-person digital health company owned by Merck acquired by WebMD in 2019. Rick was also a partner in the health and life sciences practice of Mercer Management Consulting, now part of Oliver Wyman. In addition to his nonprofit role at Family Reach, Rick also serves as a founding board member of Measures for Justice (MFJ) who is harnessing big data to enable large-scale change in the criminal justice system. Rick received a BA in economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Jennifer Winterhalter is a childhood friend of Kristine Morello-Wiatrak and long-time supporter and ambassador for Family Reach. Her memories of Kristine are what continue to inspire her to help families facing the financial burden of a cancer diagnosis. She has participated on numerous event committees and remains dedicated to the mission. Jennifer is the Vice President for Revenue Management at Amneal Pharmaceuticals, a company with the philosophy of giving back and supporting the community.
Chris is one of the original founders of Family Reach. The former husband of Kristine Morello-Wiatrak, who lost her fight against cancer in 1995, Chris saw firsthand how patients and families struggle to manage the overwhelming physical, emotional, and financial challenges of cancer and was determined, with Kristine, to offer solutions that reduced these tremendous burdens. Since 2003, Chris has worked for Genentech BioOncology and Exelixis, where he currently serves in a sales management role in the Midwest Region. He has been recognized by his peers at Genentech and Exelixis for the efforts he and Family Reach have made in the fight against the financial toxicity of cancer, and the impact the organization has made on everyday families. He continues to champion the roots of Family Reach as a family founder navigating the Bio-Tech and Pharma community to support its objectives. Chris focuses on ensuring the mission of Family Reach endures and the CEO and operating team have the support they need to advance the cause.
Brian is one of the original founders of Family Reach and dedicated over 25 years to the mission. The brother of Kristine Morello-Wiatrak, who lost her fight against cancer in 1995, Brian served as a volunteer to the organization in its early years, while balancing his professional career in various Account Management roles in the for-profit world. Brian transitioned to working one day a week as a part-time employee for Family Reach and then to full-time from 2013-2023. Brian played a pivotal role as an Events Manager leading nearly 100 events in his full tenure, helping to grow from a grassroots organization to a multi-million dollar organization. Brian’s role at Family Reach also spanned from Relationship Management to Project & Program Management where he was instrumental in creating and growing The LiFT Network, a national network of like-minded non-profit cancer support organizations. After years of dedication to Family Reach’s mission, Brian decided to step away from the organization and pursue new opportunities. He currently is enjoying time with his family, volunteering, staying active, and serving as the Co-Chairman of the Oakland Team Tennis Committee.
Andrea is one of the original founders of Family Reach and served as the Secretary of the Board of Directors. Andrea and her husband, James, started the Christopher Colangelo Home Care Fund at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital after their son’s death in 1981. The Home Care Fund was founded to help families with palliative care and helped initiate the blueprint and development of Family Reach. Andrea was an active participant in the mission and was the appointed overseer of the organization’s unique and proven direct assistance process for patients and families. She collaborated closely with the Family Reach programs and social work team, and served as an overall champion for families fighting cancer.
Andrea holds a Masters degree in Educational Supervision and Administration and is a Certified School Psychologist. She served as the District Supervisor for Special Education for the Perth Amboy Board of Education in New Jersey where she managed and developed the special education programs for grades 7 through 12. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Saturday Morning Family Program.
Donna Cunningham served as Treasurer of Family Reach Foundation on the Board of Directors. She was an active advisor and volunteer for the foundation since its incorporation in 2003. Donna is the President of ADP/Statewide Insurance Agencies, Inc. in Cedar Knolls, NJ, and her agency served as a corporate sponsor for many of Family Reach’s annual events. Donna is also a Vice President and board member of the Professional Insurance Agents of NJ and is actively involved in several insurance company/agent councils. She is the former President of the Orange Chamber of Commerce, the Manton B. Metcalf Memorial Association, and the Orange Head Start Program.
Lucille Ditta was a Board Director and a member of the Fundraising and Family Case Review committees. Lucille led numerous efforts to engage new individual and business sponsors for Family Reach. She also played a key role in achieving record fundraising results for several events. Lucille serves as a Securities Trader with Wien Securities Corporation in Jersey City, NJ.
Tracy Ott Foster contributed her expertise, strategy and experience as the Chair of the Board of Directors. Prior to her role with Family Reach, Tracy served as President of Lash Group, a market-leading healthcare company known for its unique patient and provider support programs.
Tracy’s influence on the pharmaceutical industry has spanned over two decades. She was named to the 2014 PharmaVOICE 100 Most Inspiring People in Life Sciences, and to the 2015 50 Most Influential Women (Charlotte, NC) – both awards acknowledge her many accomplishments and the positive impact she has on her colleagues, her community, her company, and the healthcare industry.
Tracy received a BSE from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
Melissa Walsh is the Vice President, U.S. State & Local Government Relations and Community & Public Affairs at McDonald’s.
She previously served as the Vice President, State Government Affairs at AbbVie where she lead the development and execution of AbbVie’s US state government affairs strategies to advance the company’s public policy and regulatory objectives.
Throughout her career, Melissa has worked to solve issues surrounding health care access, quality and coverage for patients. Prior to her role in Government Affairs, Melissa served as the Vice President of Corporate Responsibility and Global Philanthropy at AbbVie and oversaw the company’s corporate responsibility strategies, global philanthropic initiatives and foundations in order to advance the company’s commitment to have a remarkable impact on lives around the world.
She first joined AbbVie as Regional Director, State Government Affairs in the Northeast, managing regulatory and policy activities impacting biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries. Previously, Melissa served as Chief Operating Officer at the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, developing and implementing the state’s one billion dollar Life Sciences Initiative, and as Chief of Staff at the Massachusetts Port Authority. As a Government Relations Associate with Partners Healthcare, Melissa worked to craft and pass Massachusetts’s landmark healthcare reform law.
A lawyer, Melissa began her career as a litigator in private practice. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut and her Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School.
Melissa is an Eisenhower Fellow and a member of the Board of Directors for Family Reach, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating the financial hardships that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
Yousuf is a practicing oncologist and senior vice president at Optum Insight. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. He is passionate about ways to improve care delivery for patients with cancer with a primary focus on improving the affordability of cancer treatment, through both a patient-based and policy focus.
Children’s Oncology Group
Blue Ribbon Panel, National Cancer Moonshot
Massachusetts General Hospital
University of Washington Medical Center
University of Washington Medical Center
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Association of Oncology Nurse Navigators
Patient Access Network Foundation