Dr. Mellar P. Davis, MD, FCCP, FAAHPM, is a distinguished physician specializing in palliative medicine, medical oncology, and symptom management in cancer care. With over four decades of clinical experience and academic leadership, Dr. Davis has served in faculty positions at leading institutions such as the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. He currently practices at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute. A prolific researcher and thought leader, Dr. Davis has authored or co-authored hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and served on editorial boards of several prominent journals, including Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, where he was an Associate Editor-in-Chief.

Dr. Davis has held influential roles in national and international professional organizations, including the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), where he has chaired the Pain Subgroup and the Palliative Care Study Group. His contributions have earned numerous accolades, such as the Distinguished Service Award from MASCC and repeated recognition among "Best Doctors in America." A frequent symposium organizer and grant recipient, Dr. Davis has significantly advanced the integration of palliative care within oncology, with a focus on clinical ethics, medical cannabis, and opioid safety. His expertise and mentorship continue to shape the future of palliative care worldwide.

Nancy H. Nielsen, MD, PhD is senior associate dean for health policy and clinical professor of medicine and public health at the University at Buffalo (UB) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She holds a doctorate in microbiology from Catholic University in Washington, D. C. and a medical degree from UB. She is an internist and infectious disease specialist.

Dr. Nielsen is a nationally recognized authority in medicine and an outspoken advocate for the uninsured and affordable health insurance for all Americans. She is a sought-after media commentator on issues of public health, physician responsibility, the need for high quality health care, and improved policies governing health care.

A past president of the American Medical Association, she served for two years as senior advisor in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services where she helped design alternative physician payment systems, including bundled payments and ACOs. She was a board member of numerous stakeholder organizations, including the National Patient Safety Foundation, the National Quality Forum, Hospice Buffalo, and OLV Human Services. Previously she was chief medical officer for Independent Health and a board member for Great Lakes Health.

She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine.