Building Blocks for Biosimilar Integration in Cancer Care

Sandra Cuellar, Pharm.D., BCOP
Clinical Oncology Pharmacist
University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System
Associate Professor
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy
Chicago, Illinois

Sandra Cuellar, Pharm.D., BCOP, is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy and clinical oncology pharmacist in the ambulatory cancer center at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. She currently is vice chair of the institutional review board (IRB), director of the PGY-2 oncology residency, and team leader for oncology pharmacy.

Dr. Cuellar received her Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, followed by her Doctor of Pharmacy from the UIC College of Pharmacy. She then completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Following her residency, she completed a specialty oncology residency at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Cuellar has been active in the field of hematology/oncology for 17 years. She is an editor at large for the Journal of Hematology Oncology Pharmacy and is involved in research, consulting, and publications in the field of hematology/oncology. Dr. Cuellar has served in leadership positions in the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA).

Jorge J. García, Pharm.D., M.S., M.H.A., M.B.A., FACHE
Assistant Vice President - Pharmacy
Baptist Health South Florida
Miami Cancer Institute - Lynn Cancer Institute
Miami, Florida

Jorge J. García serves as an Assistant Vice President at Baptist Health South Florida with responsibility for system-wide oncology pharmacy services primarily at the Miami Cancer Institute, the Lynn Cancer Institute, and inpatient oncology pharmacy services at several acute hospitals in the system. Dr. García has pioneered pharmacy charge integrity and revenue management in the health-system setting and is a thought leader and national speaker in this area, as well as in the areas of alternative payment models, biosimilars, and value-based oncology care. Dr. García leads advocacy efforts at the national level to promote evaluation of safe and effective use of biosimilars, along with stakeholders’ engagement to support a more sustainable biosimilar pharmacoeconomic model.

Dr. García obtained his Doctor of Pharmacy and M.B.A. from Nova Southeastern University in 2010. Dr. García then transitioned to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to pursue an ASHP-accredited PGY-1 & PGY-2 Health-System Pharmacy Administration Residency and a Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration. He also completed an M.H.A. from Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. García is a board member at Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO) and also the recipient of the FLASCO 2018 Above and Beyond Award. Dr. García is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Adam Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Associate Chief
Division of Hematology-Oncology
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Adam M. Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and Medical Director of the Women’s Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also serves as Associate Division Chief for the Division of Hematology/Oncology within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine.

Dr. Brufsky received his degree in Chemistry (Cum Laude) from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He earned his M.D. and his Ph.D. in Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, CT. He was an intern and resident in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He then completed a Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, where his appointments included Associate Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Brufsky is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. He has authored or co-authored numerous abstracts and research articles in leading journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine,
Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Lancet. Dr. Brufsky is Principal Investigator on a number of research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program.

Adam Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
University of Pittsburgh
Associate Chief
Division of Hematology-Oncology
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Adam M. Brufsky, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He serves as Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and Medical Director of the Women’s Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also serves as Associate Division Chief for the Division of Hematology/Oncology within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Medicine.

Dr. Brufsky received his degree in Chemistry (Cum Laude) from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He earned his M.D. and his Ph.D. in Developmental Biology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington, CT. He was an intern and resident in Internal Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He then completed a Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, where his appointments included Associate Physician and Instructor in Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Brufsky is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. He has authored or co-authored numerous abstracts and research articles in leading journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine,
Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Lancet. Dr. Brufsky is Principal Investigator on a number of research grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and U.S. Army Breast Cancer Research Program.