About Us
Board Members

Our Board
SBTF Board members have all been touched by a brain tumor diagnosis. As a result, each is dedicated to raising funds for brain tumor research. Also, each member works diligently to provide support and outreach for those in the brain tumor community.
We know the feeling of isolation, confusion, and fear. We understand the importance of being hugged, and we treasure the talents of those who are good listeners.
We are your SBTF Board of Directors, diverse in background but all focused on the same outcome. We are patients, we are healthcare providers, we are caregivers, we are researchers. We work in a voluntary, unpaid capacity, and we are consumed with our mission to find a cure for brain tumors.
We are proud to serve you and to be of service to you.
Officers and Staff

Kelly Turner
SBTF President –
Kelly Turner is a member of the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors. She has been on the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2012 and currently serves as our Team Captain Lead.
Kelly is a graduate of North Carolina State University and holds an Industrial Engineering degree. Employed in the textile industry with Milliken & Company for eight years, following the birth of her first child, she made the transition to a full-time parent. Ms. Turner has been familiar with brain tumors and their impact since 2007 when her mother was diagnosed with a GBM. After a 16-month period of radiation, chemo, and clinical trials, her mother passed in September 2008. Ms. Turner began as a Race for Research team captain and quickly became one of the foundation’s top 5 fundraisers.

John Herman
SBTF Vice President –
John has served on the SBTF Board of Directors since 2018, elected to serve as SBTF Secretary in 2020 and then elected to Vice President in 2021. As Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Tempest Aero Group (a general aviation manufacturing company), John lost his wife Karen to brain cancer in 2007. From diagnosis to death only six months elapsed. Just three weeks prior to Karen’s passing, John’s family found Race For Research and formed team Karen’s Legacy and he team has remained in the top 3 fundraising positions ever since.
Before Karen’s passing, she told the family “no other families should ever have to go through what we went through” and she asked her family to continue to work with the SBTF and to help bring an end to brain tumors and brain cancer. Despite his 40 years of business experience and having served on several industries (and nonprofit boards) in the past, John’s invaluable talent and expertise cannot compare to his “desire to serve” with the SBTF. As John so eloquently stated, “Anyone can give money and raise money, I have done both for the SBTF and now I want to give something that cannot be replaced – my time.”

Lindsey Murray
SBTF Secretary –
Lindsey Murray joined the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation Board of Directors in 2020 and was elected as Secretary in 2021. She became an advocate in 2017 when her Dad was diagnosed with a brain tumor (Inoperable GBM) and lost the battle after only 7 months. She initially became involved with SBTF in learning the role of primary caregiver and was beyond thankful for the life-changing support the foundation provides to both patients and caregivers. She is passionate about enabling SBTF corporate sponsorships to continue the foundation's vital support to those affected by a brain tumor. Lindsey holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Columbia University. She currently works in corporate venture consulting for startups designing early stage innovative concepts.

Suzanne Boeren
SBTF Treasurer –
Suzanne is a member of the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors and serves as an SBTF Officer. As an SBTF Officer, she has held the position of SBTF Treasurer since 2013. Suzanne is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she received her BA in Business Administration and Computer Information Systems.
Her special interests involve spending time with family, quilting, bowling, and a plethora of other hobbies. An employee of Deli Provisions since 1999, and subsequently with Atlanta Deli Provision Company, she has been a member of the SBTF Board since 2004. During her junior year in college, Ms. Boeren was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Removal of the tumor occurred in November 1998 and she has been an active brain tumor advocate ever since.

Geri Shaffer
Executive Director
After a career in the medical device industry which spanned 31 years, Geri was enjoying retirement when the SBTF came knocking. The Foundation was in a growing phase and was searching for their first-ever part-time employee. The Foundation, governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, was searching for a "face" of the organization and someone who could answer phones and reply to emails. More importantly the Foundation was also looking for an individual who was passionate about serving others. Geri said yes in 2012 and she continues to serve us today. Similarly, to all those who serve on the SBTF Board of Directors, Geri's life was impacted by a diagnosis of a family member which resulted in brain scans and treatments which altered life not only for the patient but for the caregivers. Geri, a passionate, and compassionate individual, who has walked in similar shoes to yours, is at work behind the scenes caring for this organization and helping to drive it forward and fulfill the dreams of the Warshaw Family, founding fathers of the SBTF in 1995.

Joy Basham
Support Staff
Joy was diagnosed with a brain stem glioma in May 2013 and in August of that same year, she had surgery to resect the tumor. During her journey to find her neurosurgery team, she saw a flyer at Emory promoting the SBTF Brain Tumor Support Group. Weeks after her initial brain surgery, she found herself at an SBTF support group meeting a medical mess and hopeless. Since then, she has had 26 procedures in the last 7 years to correct many deficits left from the initial brain surgery and during that time she has been a part of countless support group meetings. She has had the opportunity to serve on the Board of the Foundation and from there, a staff position opened. As Joy will tell you, the support group meetings saved her life and the Foundation allowed her to find a new purpose in carrying out the SBTF mission to end brain tumors!

Liz Stubbs
Creative Director
In my creativity amplifying workshops & in my art + photography, I explore themes around light, inner journeys and living our YES—creating space for people to re-connect with their expressive freedom, championing their spirit + energy. I see portraits as a visual expression of our inner voice, enabling us to truly see—in our fragments & wholeness—our radiance.
My greatest privilege & joy is to celebrate the art of a person, what lights us up from within. When we see ourselves through that lens, we bloom, transforming how we show up in life.
I bring to my photography, writing and creating a background in psychology, decades of experience as a writer, publishing several books, and as a Creative Director and Director/Producer for corporate, broadcast and PR, working with celebs & amazing people with inspiring stories from all walks of life.
I am grateful to have studied with master photographers I admire David Alan Harvey, Sam Abell, Jay Maisel and Peter Turnley. My images have been selected for internationally juried exhibitions and hang in private collections.
Board Members: (In Alpha Order)
Farnaz Arabshahi, a support group facilitator for the SBTF, has served on the Board of Directors since 2010. As a certified nurse practitioner, Ms. Arabshahi has extensive experience in the field of (brain) cancer and palliative care.
Having over 15 years of diverse medical experience, most notably in the field of Hematology/Oncology, she is affiliated with many hospitals in the local Atlanta area.
Robert “Craig” Castellino, MD, a physician-scientist, joined the SBTF Board of Directors in 2015. Craig obtained both his undergraduate and medical degrees from Duke University. He completed his internship and residency training in Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA, and his fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Texas Children’s Cancer Center/Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. Craig has been on the faculty at Emory University since 2007 where he is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
Craig’s passion is not only treating children diagnosed with a brain tumor but furthering our understanding of what causes aggressive subtypes of brain tumors and using that knowledge to develop novel, less-toxic treatments for pediatric brain tumors. Craig is a member of various National and International Committees, as well as a recipient of numerous research grant awards, including grants from SBTF, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Department of Defense (DoD). Craig is excited about the opportunity to use his knowledge and experience in the field of neuro-oncology on the Board of Directors of the SBTF to help brain tumor patients and expand the reach and mission of the SBTF.
Chris is Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine and sees patients at St. Joseph’s Hospital in metro Atlanta as well as John’s Creek Hospital just north of the city. Chris specializes in the treatment of malignant and benign brain tumors using modern surgical techniques and often non-invasive procedures such as Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. He and his family moved from Pittsburgh to the Atlanta metro area in 2017 with the hope of providing compassionate, high quality care to the residents of Georgia and the entire southeast. As a member of the SBTF Board of Directors Chris hopes to increase the awareness of all types of brain tumors, increase access to reliable high quality resources and support groups as well as advancing critical research efforts to help cure and eradicate brain cancer.
As the Director for Neuro-Oncology and a founding physician of the Piedmont Brain Tumor Center, Dr. Dunbar is front and center with brain tumors and brain cancer. She is never too busy to listen to a patient and never too busy to provide words of inspiration and comfort.
Her active involvement in clinical trials as well as numerous educational outreach and support services are exemplified by her tireless efforts to service organizations like the SBTF. Through her efforts, we have partnered with, and participated in, monthly brain tumor support group meetings at Piedmont Atlanta, as well as patient education programs organized through the ABTA. Dr. Dunbar’s passion for serving others is unequaled.
Holly Felker is a member of the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors. She is also the Race Chair for the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Race for Research. She is committed to promoting awareness of the importance to support brain tumor and brain cancer research, as well as promoting the need to provide encouragement and support to those impacted by this disease.
She has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2003. Driven by a spirit of volunteerism, she has been a volunteer for various nonprofit organizations such as Hands On Atlanta, the Special Olympics, and Robi Martin Foundation of G.R.A.C.E. At a young age, Holly was impacted by a family member being diagnosed with cancer and has been an advocate for cancer awareness and support ever since.
Jennifer has been a brain tumor advocate, since the diagnosis and loss of her Mom to a 6- month battle with GBM in 2016. Jennifer supports SBTF in memory of her Mom, with hopefulness in seeing the day where the struggle of a brain tumor diagnosis is no longer the greatest fight of your life, but instead, an obstacle that has an exceedingly high success rate of being defeated.
Jennifer volunteered with the SBTF Scholarship Committee in 2020. Jennifer holds a BA from the University of Arizona in Political Science and an MS from New York University in Risk Management from the Stern School of Business.
Costas Hadjipanayis, MD, Ph.D., a brain tumor advocate, has been a member of the SBTF Board of Directors since 2009. During his 8 year tenure at Emory University School of Medicine, he held the position of Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chief of Neurosurgery at Emory University Hospital Midtown, and Director of the Emory Brain Tumor Center.
Costas currently serves as Professor and Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Director of Neurosurgical Oncology, Mount Sinai Health System. A neurosurgeon, scientist, and scientific researcher, Costas was named a Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Scholar due to his extensive work with brain tumors. He has served on countless National and International Committees, is well published, and is well respected for his work in neurosurgery and specifically in the field of brain tumor surgery.
Chris Holcomb is one of our longest-serving Board Members. Chris’ tenure started back in 2000. Chris wanted to find a way to honor his sister who died of a brain tumor in 1986 at 27 years old. The SBTF was the perfect place to do whatever he can to try to knock out brain tumors.
Chris was instrumental in the launch of the first Race for Research which was held in honor of Tom Clarke, Debbie Holcomb (Chris’ sister), and Hans Greathouse as well as the countless others affected by brain tumors. Chris did a live broadcast on 11Alive from that first race. Chris and 11Alive have broadcast live at every race since! Chris is an Atlanta native and also serves as Chief Meteorologist for 11 Alive.
Michelle Roback Kraynak is a brain tumor survivor and advocate. While a young twenty-something traveling abroad, she suffered a grand mal seizure and was subsequently diagnosed with a pilocytic astrocytoma in her front left temporal lobe. The surgery to remove the tumor was a success, and she has been a brain tumor advocate ever since.
She began volunteering with the SBTF in 2007 and served as the volunteer coordinator until she was elected to the board in 2011. Michelle has held various officer positions within the organization and also serves as its legal counsel, providing pro bono legal services. She is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and obtained her law degree from Emory University School of Law.
Peter Nicholas has been a member of the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors since 2010 and was elected to the officer position of SBTF Vice President in December of 2016 and rose through the ranks. He is a graduate of the University of Florida with an aerospace engineering degree and became familiar with brain tumors in 2008 when his boss was diagnosed with, and subsequently passed away from, a GBM.
Peter was a member of the Board of Directors for only a year when he received his own brain tumor diagnosis in August of 2011. In addition to leading the SBTF’s Corporate Sponsorship Committee, Peter is also on the strategic advisory for the board of the McNair Center for Aerospace Innovation & Research in South Carolina. A huge sports fan, and one of the Foundations’ Top Fundraisers, Peter also has a great interest in the work of those associated with the Epilepsy Foundation.
Brad's wife, Reed, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2015, and she has received incredible care from a variety of doctors and institutions. He is passionate about finding the best treatment possible for Reed's Glioblastoma. Brad and Reed have two children, Caroline and Graham. Brad is a Senior Vice President with UBS Private Wealth Management. He joined UBS in 2015 from Credit Suisse where he was a Director in the Private Banking Division from 2006 - 2015. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Brad was a Vice President at Wachovia in the Capital Management Group and an Analyst with Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management in New York. Brad graduated from HampdenSydney College with a BA in Economics and received his MBA from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Active in the community, shown through current and past involvement in various organizations, Brad's greatest area of interest is finding a cure for brain tumors with the SBTF and the Duke University Brain Tumor Board of Directors.
Brenda Tracey joined the Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2017. She is recently retired after a 35-year career in community and commercial banking. She became an advocate and caregiver when her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor (GBM) in 2003 which he battled for over 4 years.
She and her 3 daughters have been involved with Race For Research since 2004. Brenda is also very involved with the Brain Tumor Support Group meetings at Emory St. Joseph’s and at the Piedmont Brain Cancer Center in Atlanta.
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Our Scientific Advisory Committee members are involved in discussions which seek out and identify opportunities in which the SBTF might collaborate, or partner, with other organizations to identify, uncover, collect, and review research grant proposals. The Committee strives to identify which research grants proposals contain the most promising research pointed to deliver effective treatments for results. The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation has no obligatory financial affiliation with a research institution or organization. We don’t care who finds the cure, just that a cure is found.
From the President

SBTF President Kelly Turner
I’m Kelly Turner, your SBTF President. My journey with brain tumors began in 2007 with my mother’s Glioblastoma diagnosis. After a 16-month battle, it ended the way many GBM journeys end, with her death. After this devastating loss, I wanted to find a way to continue the fight against brain tumors. I became involved with the SBTF as a participant in the Race For Research 5k. I created a team and became a team captain. About four years later, I found my way to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. This year, I am honored to continue to serve as your president; this is an amazing organization.
The SBTF is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit voluntary health organization and public charity. Our primary mission is to improve the quality of life for brain tumor patients and their families and to provide funding for research so that a cure for brain tumors can be found. SBTF Board members are volunteers; we come from different backgrounds and have regular jobs and regular daily stresses. We are current patients, healthcare professionals, and survivors. We are those touched by a friend or family member’s diagnosis, and we are those who support the SBTF’s mission. It is our common dedication to the SBTF that brings us together and enables us to succeed.
Over the last 25 years, the SBTF has funded almost $3 million in research grants. This funding resulted from the success of our annual fundraisers, the Race for Research, which is held in the fall in Atlanta, Georgia, and our spring event, the Muddy Duck Dash, held in Gainesville, Georgia. Event registration, individual donations, and fundraising, as well as the ever-important support and sponsorship by local corporations, enable us to fund brain tumor research.
In addition to raising funds for research, the SBTF offers support groups led by a nurse practitioner. Our support groups offer a safe and supportive environment for patients and families to share their experiences and receive support. The SBTF also strives to educate the brain tumor community by providing regular research updates and making available resource information for those affected by the disease.
We provide support, hope, and courage to those impacted by brain tumors. We offer a Voices of Hope Scholarship to students entering college who have themselves been or family members diagnosed with a brain tumor. In addition, we provide patient support services to patients in the midst of treatment.
It is you, our fellow advocates, who have enabled this organization to support the brain tumor community’s necessary emotional, informational, and scientific needs. We deeply appreciate your invaluable contributions.
To learn more about the SBTF, speak to a member of our board or volunteer, please contact us at (786) 505-SBTF or via email at info@sbtf.org.
With hope for a cure,
Kelly Turner
2020-2022 President, Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation
Stewardship
The SBTF Board meets monthly in a face-to-face setting either in person or via web conference. Our Board members are not compensated for their service and complete an annual Conflict of Interest document. Financial statements are reviewed by a CPA who also prepares and files our annual IRS 990 Form.

Our Stewardship
The Southeastern Brain Tumor Foundation strives to assure at least $0.65 of each dollar is spent directly on programs including research grants, scholarships, support groups and patient initiatives.
Our lifetime average is $0.80 per dollar directly funding our programs.