Scientific Advisory Boards
Clinical experts across the U.S. inform Evolent’s high-value clinical pathways with their insights, analysis and real-world experience.
Evolent’s clinical pathways in oncology and cardiology are developed and maintained by company clinicians under the oversight of independent scientific advisory boards (SABs). These boards are comprised of noted academic and community-based specialist physicians who help ensure our solutions reflect both the latest clinical evidence and real-world results in the field.
These boards advise Evolent’s clinical programs in several ways, including:
- Providing guidance and making recommendations on clinical guidelines and high-value clinical pathways
- Giving advice and feedback on Evolent’s clinical decision support tools, to help it continually improve the provider experience
- Advising Evolent on trends beyond pathways, such as drug shortages, alternative payment plans, and regulatory and financial pressures
- Monitoring peer-reviewed publications and national meetings for potentially practice-changing developments in the field
- Following nationally recognized clinical guidelines for updates and/or revisions
Scientific Advisory Board Members
Many scientific advisory board members have granted permission to be included on this website. While these lists are not exhaustive, they help convey the expertise that informs our clinical pathways and policies.
Medical Oncology
Amy Cripps, M.D.Healthcare ConsultantHealthcare ConsultantDr. Amy Cripps is a board-certified medical oncologist whose consultancy specializes in treatment pathways, genomics/precision medicine and chronic care management, as well as other patient-centric programs for small oncology practices.
Before her current role, Dr. Cripps served from 2021 to 2023 as medical director of clinical programs at Verdi Oncology, an oncology practice management company focused on value. She previously practiced oncology with Verdi Oncology Texas from 2013 to 2021.
Dr. Cripps received her medical degree from University of Texas Houston Health Science Center in 2003. She later completed her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Alameda County Medical Center before completing medical oncology fellowship at University of California San Francisco.
Samir Dalia, MDRead BioAttending Physician, Mercy Clinic-Joplin Oncology and HematologyAttending Physician, Mercy Clinic-Joplin Oncology and HematologySamir Dalia, MDAttending Physician, Mercy Clinic-Joplin Oncology and HematologyAttending Physician, Mercy Clinic-Joplin Oncology and HematologyDr. Samir Dalia is a practicing oncologist, researcher and clinical leader at Mercy Clinic in Joplin, Missouri.
Among other leadership roles, Dr. Dalia heads Mercy Health System’s Oncology Pharmacy and Therapeutics Specialty Council, which determines preferred regimens, makes decisions about cost savings for oncology therapies, manages drug shortages, and more.
With research interests focused on lymphomas, viruses and hematological malignancies, he is an author on more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as numerous book chapters. Dr. Dalia is also an editor and reviewer for numerous medical journals. Among those, he sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Blood Disorders, Journal of Hematology, Blood Transfusions and Disorders, and the Journal of Secondary Cancer Epidemiology, where he is editor in chief.
Dr. Dalia has also served as principal investigator for Mercy Joplin for several oncology clinical trials.
A 2007 graduate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, Dr. Dalia completed an internal medicine residency at Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University and The Rhode Island Hospital, followed by a hematology and oncology fellowship at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida.
Seth Hardy, MD, MBARead BioAssociate Professor, Department of Radiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterAssociate Professor, Department of Radiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterSeth Hardy, MD, MBAAssociate Professor, Department of Radiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterAssociate Professor, Department of Radiology, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterDr. Seth Hardy, an associate professor of radiology with the Penn State Cancer Institute, brings a unique combination of experience as a clinician, researcher, and patient to the work of improving oncology care.
His experience as a leukemia survivor who is currently enrolled in a Phase II trial at the National Institutes of Health has given him a patient's perspective on the delivery of hematology/oncology care, clinical trials and potential shortcomings of our medical system.
As a researcher, Dr. Hardy focuses on the intersection of hematology/oncology, imaging, patient-centered care and value creation. He is currently developing a pilot clinical trial in patients on checkpoint inhibitors to develop imaging biomarkers that may provide efficacy feedback inside the typical 16-week cycle for CT/MR iRECIST.
He is a peer reviewer for Applied Radiology and Clinical Imaging. He has also served on several committees with the American College of Radiology and as a board member of the Pennsylvania Radiological Society.
With a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering, a commercial pilot’s license and an MBA, Dr. Hardy brings perspectives from multiple fields to the work of improving oncology and health care in general.
Scott Kruger, MD, FACPRead BioMedical Director, Virginia Oncology AssociatesMedical Director, Virginia Oncology AssociatesScott Kruger, MD, FACPMedical Director, Virginia Oncology AssociatesMedical Director, Virginia Oncology AssociatesDr. Kruger is medical director of Virginia Oncology Associates, an oncology and hematology practice with locations spanning southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
Dr. Kruger is a graduate of Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army where he completed his internship and internal medicine residency at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. He completed a fellowship in hematology/oncology at Letterman Army Medical Center, including studies in bone marrow transplant at Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Dr. Kruger is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He served on numerous committees in both the U.S. and Europe and has been awarded both military and civilian honors which include: the Meritorious Service Medal (two), Army Achievement Medal, the Commander’s Award for Excellence, and the National Red Cross Volunteer Award. Dr. Kruger has also been involved in clinical trials and research and has developed numerous presentations. He was a Leukemia Society board member for many years and is an associate professor of medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) and chairman of the EVMS Institutional Review Board.
Mohit Narang, MDRead BioManaging Partner, Maryland Oncology HematologyManaging Partner, Maryland Oncology HematologyMohit Narang, MDManaging Partner, Maryland Oncology HematologyManaging Partner, Maryland Oncology HematologyDr. Mohit Narang is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist with extensive experience as a clinician, researcher and physician leader.
With more than 25 years of practice experience, his expertise includes blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, as well as nonmalignant blood disorders including anemia and coagulation abnormalities. He is also a general medical oncologist treating colorectal, lung, genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers.
In addition to publishing numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Narang has served as principal investigator on more than 40 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of cancer drugs and therapies.
As chair of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and Research for Maryland Oncology Hematology, Dr. Narang helps the 50-physician, 16-location practice to provide safe and efficient therapy and bring the most recent advances in cancer therapies to patients.
Lisa Raff, PharmD, MSPharm, BCPS, BCOPRead BioVice President of Pharmacy Services, OneOncologyVice President of Pharmacy Services, OneOncologyLisa Raff, PharmD, MSPharm, BCPS, BCOPVice President of Pharmacy Services, OneOncologyVice President of Pharmacy Services, OneOncologyDr. Lisa Raff is responsible for all clinical and operational matters related to drug management, strategic pharma and Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee initiatives for OneOncology, a network of leading oncology practices. She leads the OneOncology Pathways Program, ensuring adherence to highest standards of efficacy, toxicity and cost for drug management. Dr. Raff is also responsible for all corporate pharmacy processes, including clinical evaluation of all drugs receiving new approvals, new indications, or publication of new data on behalf of the Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee. Working closely with the OneOncology operations team to ensure the coordination of all OneOncology pharmacy services across the network, she serves as a OneOncology subject matter expert on all pharmacy-related issues and ensures the highest regulatory and accreditation standards possible through specialty pharmacy practices.
Dr. Raff graduated with her Doctor of Pharmacy from Drake University. She earned a Master of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Florida, with a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a concentration in Personalized Medicine. She completed a residency in Pharmacy Practice and Management and is board-certified in Pharmacotherapy and Oncology.
Dr. James L. Wade, III, MD, FACP, FASCO, FACCCRead BioFounder, Cancer Care Specialists of IllinoisFounder, Cancer Care Specialists of IllinoisDr. James L. Wade, III, MD, FACP, FASCO, FACCCFounder, Cancer Care Specialists of IllinoisFounder, Cancer Care Specialists of IllinoisDr. James Wade is a practicing medical oncologist/hematologist whose 40-year career in central Illinois has included patient care, clinical research, national leadership and patient advocacy. Starting as a solo practitioner in 1984, Dr. Wade has helped guide the growth and development of Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois (CCSI), a 20-physician integrated interdisciplinary network of four cancer centers and 25 satellite clinics in central and southern Illinois. CCSI has received the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) QOPI Certification for Clinical Excellence for more than 10 years, the Clinical Trials Participation Award twice, and the Conquer Cancer Award for its research initiatives.
Dr. Wade has been an active clinical scientist with leadership roles in the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), and the NRG Oncology research base. He has been a principal investigator of several National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored cancer clinical trials, co-chair of the SWOG Symptom and Quality of Life Committee, a member of the Board of SWOG, NSABP and NRG, and a member of the NCI Implementation Committee, which helped streamline the national cancer clinical trials process. Dr. Wade also chaired the first NCI Central Institutional Review Board from 2003-2004 and later chaired the new Symptom and Quality of Life NCI IRB from 2014-2019.
Dr. Wade has advocated for the patient through his leadership in the Illinois Medical Oncology Society as one of its founders and first president, as well as through his work with the Association of Community Cancer Centers, where was also president. His advocacy work has contributed to passage of several bills, including federal legislation protecting seniors from arbitrary denials of appropriate cancer treatment and Illinois law improving access to cancer clinical trials.
Chris Wilson, MA, MSRead BioVice President for Advocacy Communications, National Patient Advocacy FoundationVice President for Advocacy Communications, National Patient Advocacy FoundationChris Wilson, MA, MSVice President for Advocacy Communications, National Patient Advocacy FoundationVice President for Advocacy Communications, National Patient Advocacy FoundationSince 2017, Chris Wilson has served as vice president for advocacy communications for National Patient Advocacy Foundation, an organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of patients and advocating for better access to affordable, equitable, quality care. Wilson’s long career in medical and scientific communications and as a patient advocate began with Fox Chase Cancer Center, where she developed and directed the communications, marketing and strategic planning departments and contributed to the center’s emergence as a leading national cancer research and treatment facility. She then served as vice president of communications for the American Association for Cancer Research, working with both top scientists and patient advocates. Following that, Wilson headed her own consulting firm, specializing in communications and planning for non-profit and academic institutions.
Wilson is a graduate of Wellesley College and has a Master of Arts from the University of Michigan in English Literature. She also received a Master of Science from Columbia University after completing the Narrative Medicine program there. She has a passion for helping people tell their stories and improve their communications skills and a deep interest in making complex medical and scientific concepts more accessible to a wide range of audiences. She also has a long-time commitment to elevating patient voices and advancing equitable, high-quality health care.
Cardiovascular
Vinh Q. Chau, MD, FACCRead BioCardiologist and Faculty Member, Advocate Heart Institute at Advocate Christ Medical CenterCardiologist and Faculty Member, Advocate Heart Institute at Advocate Christ Medical CenterVinh Q. Chau, MD, FACCCardiologist and Faculty Member, Advocate Heart Institute at Advocate Christ Medical CenterCardiologist and Faculty Member, Advocate Heart Institute at Advocate Christ Medical CenterCardiologist Dr. Vinh Chau is a practicing heart failure cardiologist and faculty member at Advocate Heart Institute, Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois. Board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and advanced heart failure and transplantation, he has a clinical interest in cardiometabolic management in heart failure. Dr. Chau also is also site principal investigator for clinical trials and trainee-initiated research projects related to cardiovascular disease. An author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in his field, he also co-directs the monthly Advocate Christ Heart Failure Lecture Series and annual Advocate Christ Heart Failure Symposium.
Dr. Chau is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine. Following an internal medicine residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, he completed a cardiology fellowship at VCU Medical Center, and then finished his training in advanced heart failure at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Nihar Desai, MD, MPHRead BioAssociate Chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineAssociate Chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineNihar Desai, MD, MPHAssociate Chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineAssociate Chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of MedicineDr. Nihar Desai is an associate professor of medicine and associate chief of the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, an investigator at Yale’s Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, and executive director for value innovation at the Yale New Haven Health System Heart and Vascular Center. His interests focus on cardiovascular health services and comparative effectiveness research, examining patterns of care, identifying opportunities to improve clinical outcomes, and evaluating the impact of novel care delivery systems on cost and quality. In addition, he serves as a clinical consultant on the CMS acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery readmission and mortality measures.
He graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University before completing an internship in the Clinton White House. He then earned a medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine before earning a master’s from the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Desai completed his residency in internal medicine as well as his clinical fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He then completed a research fellowship at the TIMI Study Group with Dr. Eugene Braunwald. His scholarly work has been published in New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, Circulation, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Ashvin Pande, MDRead BioDirector of Invasive Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Boston Medical CenterDirector of Invasive Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Boston Medical CenterAshvin Pande, MDDirector of Invasive Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Boston Medical CenterDirector of Invasive Cardiology and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Boston Medical CenterDr. Ashvin N. Pande is a clinical associate professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and attending physician at Boston Medical Center, where he is director of Invasive Cardiology and the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. He oversees quality, performance and medical education in the interventional cardiology section, has clinical expertise in complex coronary, peripheral vascular, and advanced structural heart interventions, and has been instrumental in the development of institutional interdisciplinary programs in valvular heart disease and venous thromboembolism.
A graduate of Harvard College and Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Pande completed post-graduate training in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine, Dr. Pande is a member of the American College of Cardiology and a Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. He has served as site principal investigator for national trials in carotid and peripheral arterial disease and revascularization and pulmonary embolism. Dr Pande has also been active in global health over the past 20 years, including educational, service and teaching programs to Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Cuba and China, with a focus on program development in interventional cardiology.
Behzad Pavri, MD, FACC, FHRSRead BioProfessor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalProfessor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalBehzad Pavri, MD, FACC, FHRSProfessor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalProfessor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University HospitalDr. Behzad Pavri is a cardiac electrophysiologist, a professor of medicine, researcher and educator at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with about 40 years of experience. With a focus on electrophysiology, he is an author of more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as numerous book chapters and abstracts in the field. Dr. Pavri also is a peer reviewer for several leading journals in cardiology.
Dr. Pavri has directed electrophysiology fellowship training programs for three decades, including at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital since 2001. His teaching efforts with medical students, interns and fellows have earned him multiple awards for educational excellence throughout his career.
Dr. Pavri obtained his medical education at the Seth G.S. Medical College, University of Bombay, India and had his internship and residency training in internal medicine at the Harlem Hospital Center, at Columbia University in New York. He completed his cardiology fellowship at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and his electrophysiology training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
The scientific advisory board was put together to bring physicians and other experts – patient advocates, pharmacists – to the table to take this very pristine set of data and interpret it through a real-world lens of what’s applicable, what is not yet ready for prime time, and interpret that so that the guidelines have a very day-to-day relevance, rather than something that’s just a theory written in a paper.
We’ve had a number of situations where we have proposed a clinical pathway for a certain scenario in cancer care, based on clinical trials. And a majority of our advisory board members have recommended against it. They may have used that regimen previously, with all sorts of side effects, or had patients end up in the hospital. We’ve then decided not to put those regimens on our pathway, based on this real-world experience. So, the board’s input very much alters the final product of the pathways we put out there.