I-CAN Our People

The Iowa Cancer Affiliate Network (I-CAN) was created to support your cancer center in providing and expanding cancer services, and achieving and maintaining Commission on Cancer Accreditation Standards to improve quality cancer care.

Mary Charlton, PhD – I-CAN Principal Investigator – is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, the Director and Principal Investigator of the State Health Registry of Iowa/Iowa Cancer Registry, a Co-Investigator for the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, and a Co-Leader for the Cancer Epidemiology and Population Science Program at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. As a part of the I-CAN team, she provides extensive knowledge of Iowa and national cancer care systems and registries and leads the research team as the principal investigator for the research project studying the implementation of I-CAN in Iowa’s community cancer centers.

Ingrid Lizarraga, MBBS, FACS – I-CAN Medical Director – is a breast surgical oncologist and Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery-Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Carver College of Medicine.  She is also the Program Director for the SSO-Certified Breast Interdisciplinary Surgery Fellowship. As a leader in comprehensive cancer care, Dr. Lizarraga presides as the Commission on Cancer (CoC) Chair for the state of Iowa. As a part of the I-CAN team, Dr. Lizarraga leads the intervention team and directs clinical and medical activities.

Mary Schroeder, PhD – I-CAN co-Investigator – is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Services Research at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy. As a trained health economist, she provides expertise in advanced quantitative methodologies for statistical and causal inference and leads the evaluative piece of the I-CAN intervention.

Aaron Seaman, PhD – Qualitative Research Expert – is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine (College of Medicine) and Community and Behavioral Health (College of Public Health) at the University of Iowa, a Co-Investigator in the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network, and a member of the Cancer Epidemiology and Population Science Program at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center. As a medical anthropologist and implementation scientist, he works with the team to evaluate the process and outcomes of I-CAN’s implementation.

Tarah Paulus, CTR – I-CAN Certified Tumor Registrar & Coordinator – is a Health Records Analyst for the State Health Registry of Iowa at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She has over 10 years of cancer registry experience with 8 of those years at a COC accredited facility. As a part of the I-CAN team, she serves as a coordinator, assists with registry support, and is a liaison for CTR related accreditation activities.

Lisa Hunter, MSN, RNC, CTR – I-CAN Project Manager – is a Research Specialist for the State Health Registry of Iowa at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. She has 17 years of Cancer Registry Experience. As part of the I-CAN team, she coordinates implementation activities with all I-CAN sites and is a primary liaison between affiliates and the I-CAN team.

Madi Wahlen, BS – Graduate Research Assistant – is a MD/PhD candidate in the University of Iowa’s Medical Scientist Training Program. As part of the I-CAN team, she coordinates I-CAN research activities and facilitates data collection and implementation of the I-CAN intervention.

Vickie Miene, MS, MA, LMHC – I-CAN Director of Administrative Services –  is the Executive Director of the Institute of Public Health Practice, Research and Policy at the UI College of Public Health and the Director of Administrative Services for the I-CAN team.  She has over 30 years of experience encompassing hospital operations, program implementation and management of national  initiatives using quality improvement methodology.