Bio

Biographical Sketch:
Mr. Okon began his career in the health care industry more than 25 years ago, working for several major companies, including Warner-Lambert/Parke Davis (now part of Pfizer), Merck, and IMS America, in a variety of marketing and management positions. His interest in developing more accurate and practical health care information led him to cofound Medical Marketing Group, Inc. (MMG), a company that pioneered the use of sophisticated databases to provide utilization patterns on prescription pharmaceuticals. Subsequently majority owned by Medco Containment Services, a leading drug benefit manager, MMG was instrumental in helping Medco change its passive drug-distribution business to a value-added, cost-containment model.

Mr. Okon’s experience with the practice of oncology led to initiatives exploring the application of information technology to improve how information is collected from and provided to patients at the point of care. He also developed new disease management approaches and contributed to a new model for clinical research in cancer. In collaboration with Dr. Lee Schwartzberg and Dr. Kurt Tauer, both oncologists, Mr. Okon founded 2 companies, Supportive Oncology Services, Inc. (SOS), and Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Inc. (ACORN). He has served as CEO of both companies.

Mr. Okon has first-hand experience with cancer care delivery systems throughout the world. He has traveled extensively to the United Kingdom, India, China, Singapore, and the Middle East to understand their existing cancer care delivery systems and to assess opportunities for bringing American cancer care and oncology clinic operations to those parts of the world.

Mr. Okon currently serves as Executive Director of the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect and foster the community-based delivery of oncology services. Founded by community oncologists to advocate for patients and providers in the community oncology setting, COA is currently working to strengthen the nation’s cancer care delivery system and patients’ access to quality, affordable cancer care.

Mr. Okon frequently addresses professional audiences interested in understanding the trends in oncology, especially relating to reimbursement issues, politics, and public policy. He regularly meets with members of Congress and other policy makers on health care and cancer care delivery issues. He is the author of numerous articles on clinical and reimbursement issues in cancer. 

Positions:
Executive Director, Community Oncology Alliance 

Degrees:
Fairfield University, BS
Carnegie-Mellon University, MBA