Board of Directors

Robert H. Broyles, PhD President (405)706-5802

Robert H. Broyles, Founder and President of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, earned a BS (chemistry) and PhD (biochemistry) from Wake Forest University and its Medical Center and obtained post-doctoral training with a National Institute of Health fellowship from Florida State University. Dr. Broyles served five years as an Assistant Professor of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and 32 years of professorships in the College of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma. His current appointments are Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Professor of Pediatrics (Adjunct) at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). Dr. Broyles has served as Senior Scientist at the National Institutes of Health in the Hematology Program and the Laboratory of Chemical Biology of NIDDK, as a Lecturer in the Embryology Course of the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and as Research Member of the Free Radical Biology & Aging Research Program at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Dr. Broyles has over thirty-nine years research experience and numerous publications and presentations on gene regulation therapy for sickle cell disease, supported by numerous grants as a Principal Investigator including grants from the NIH. Community service: American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, and the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City.

OUHSC phone, email: (405)271-2227x61213 Robert-Broyles@ouhsc.edu Dr. Broyles' CV and Biosketch may be viewed under "Grants Awarded," published results under "Publications & Patents," and recent international presentations under "Peer Review & Validations," all under the NEWS ARCHIVE tab on the Home page of this website.

Robert A. Floyd, PhD Vice-President (405)271-7580

Dr. Robert A. Floyd, Ph.D., is head of OMRF’s Experimental Therapeutics Research Program, which focuses on new discoveries in biomedical research and their role in the development of novel therapeutic approaches for treating important human diseases. At this critical interface, which is often underserved in the biomedical research arena, researchers can pose creative new scientific questions and conduct experiments to evaluate if novel therapeutics can arise. With over 20 years of experience working in both basic biomedical science and the development of novel therapeutics, the scientists in this program have helped to develop agents to effectively photo-inactivate important RNA viruses, including HIV and West Nile viruses. Their research also has led to the discovery that nitrones are effective in preventing brain damage caused by stroke in experimental animals. As a result of these discoveries, specific nitrones underwent 12 years of commercial development—leading to Phase III clinical trials—for the treatment of stroke. Current research projects focus on specific nitrones for the treatment of cancers and the mechanistic basis of their anti-cancer activity. Specifically, these experiments center on developing novel therapeutics for cancers, including glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer, where no effective therapeutics now exist.

Dr. Floyd’s education includes a B.S., University of Kentucky, 1963; M.S., University of Kentucky, 1965; Ph.D., Purdue University, 1969; and Post-doctoral studies, University of California at Davis, 1968-69, and University of Pennsylvania, 1969-71. His honors and awards include the 1991 Glenn Foundation Award for Medical Research; serving as Member, Basic Biological Research Panel, National Task Force on the NIH Strategic Plan (1992); Fellow of the Oxygen Society (1994); Member, Executive Committee of the Oklahoma Center for Neurosciences (1995); Top Research Award and Gold Medal, American Aging Association (1996); Member, Strategic Planning Committee of 5-Year Plan for NIEHS (2005); and the Discovery Award, Society for Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2007). His other activities include service on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals; faculty for courses at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine; review panels and committees for the National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society and others; co-founder and Board Member of Centaur Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; serves as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board; and serves as Vice President of Development, Onconos, LLC.

Dr. Floyd was a founding member of the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc., and served as SCCF’s first Vice-President. He remains as a valued adviser in matters relating to commercialization and delivery of SCCF’s proprietary treatments for sickle cell disease.

Emily C. Curry, B.S. Secretary-Treasurer (405)922-5774

Emily J. Curry graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a minor in German. She has been a laboratory volunteer at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with Robert H. Broyles, Ph.D. to help with his research on a cure for Sickle Cell Disease since 2005. She has worked for both the Oklahoma Dental Association and the Oklahoma Dental Foundation, where she gained valuable experience concerning the function of non-profit organizations. She currently works for a small company called PHI Resources in Oklahoma City. She has been an active community volunteer for over 10 years. Emily joined the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc., in 2007, and currently serves as the SCCF’s Secretary/Treasurer

Visar Belegu, PhD Board of Trustees (443)923-9212

Visar Belegu, a Founding Board Member of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, has a BS in biology from Northeastern State University (Oklahoma) and an MS in biochemistry and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Belegu received his postdoctoral research training in neurosciences in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins University and the non-profit Kennedy Krieger Institute. Dr. Belegu is concurrently a Johns Hopkins University Medical School Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Neurology and a Research Scientist in the Kennedy Krieger Institute International Center for Spinal Cord Injury (ICSCI), where he directs the laboratory of Dr. John McDonald, Head of the ICSCI and formerly Christopher Reeve’s primary spinal cord physician. Dr. Belegu is an expert on SCD molecular biology and lives in Baltimore where there are many SCD sufferers.

Annette Johnson, BS, RN Board of Trustees (405)271-5311 x42533

Annette Johnson is a Founding Member of the Board of Trustees of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation and is also an Advisory Board member of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Oklahoma Chapter. She holds a BS in nursing and works as the head R.N. at Children’s Hospital of Oklahoma’s Sickle Cell Clinic and as Sickle Cell Nurse Coordinator in the Department of Pediatrics, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Mrs. Johnson is active in community affairs and is especially active in promoting education and awareness concerning sickle cell disease.

Angela Monson, MPA Board of Trustees (405)271-8000 x48687

Angela Monson has been engaged in activities related to health care policy for more than 25 years. She is currently employed by the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center as Director of Health Policy Development and Analysis. Responsible to the Provost and Senior Vice President of the Health Sciences Center, Monson provides expertise to advance the understanding of health care policies and initiatives and their impact on areas such as health care access, financing, quality, delivery systems, health disparities, and health status. She also serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.

Monson is also a member of the OU Medical Center Board of Trustees (a hospital board) and is also a member of the Oklahoma City/County Board of Health.

A member of the Oklahoma State Senate from 1993 until November, 2005 and the Oklahoma House of Representatives from November 1990 until her election to the State Senate, Monson was the primary sponsor or co-sponsor of much of the legislation pertaining to health care coverage, financing and delivery systems in Oklahoma, and was one of the chief architects of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the state’s Medicaid agency. In the State Senate, Monson served as First Assistant Majority Floor Leader, Chair of the Senate Education Committee, Chair of the Finance Committee, Chair of the Appropriations Sub-committee on Group Health and Employee Benefits, and Appropriations Vice-Chair of the Sub-Committee on Health and Social Services.

Sen. Monson is a past president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and also served as chair of the NCSL Health Committee and as a member of the NSCL Executive Committee. During her tenure as Health Committee Chair, Monson was instrumental in developing the Conference’s position and actions on the Tobacco Settlement between the states’ attorneys general and the tobacco companies. Monson has also testified before Congressional Committees on various topics including Medicaid and the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. She was also a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Executive Committee.

Nationally, Monson served as a member of the Steering Committee of the Reforming States Group, a Milbank Memorial Fund health care initiative, and was also a board member of the Public Health Law Association. In 1998, Monson was appointed to the National Advisory Council to the National Health Service Corps by then Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala. Senator Monson was later appointed chair of the Council and served in that capacity until the spring of 2002 when her term on the Council expired. Sen. Monson was recently appointed to her second, 3-year term as a member of the Board of Directors of the Families USA Foundation.

Employed as the first Executive Director of the Oklahoma Health Care Project (1986-1990), Monson was responsible for the development of a statewide coalition of organizations that addressed health care access and financing issues. The 100 plus member coalition, representing both public and private interests, was responsible for initiating several reforms resulting in the first major expansion of Medicaid coverage for children and women in Oklahoma. As Executive Director of the Project, Monson assisted several rural organizations in maintaining local health care delivery systems, provided focus on health care access limitations for many special needs populations, and worked with national organizations to develop alternative strategies for health care financing.

In addition to health care policy, Monson has also made a statewide and national impact in the area of tax reform. As Senator she served as Co-Chair of the Streamline Sales Tax Implementing States, a recognized group of almost 40 states and the District of Columbia established to develop a simplified and uniform process to collect taxes. Under Monson’s leadership, the organization was able to formulate an Agreement to implement a voluntary tax collection and remittance system for remote sales. The Agreement became operational in October, 2005, and participating states comprise a nationally recognized interstate tax related entity.

Monson also served as a member of the Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care, working with members of the judicial branch, executive branch and former members of Congress to develop recommendations regarding improvements in state and federal foster care and adoption systems.

Monson is a graduate of Oklahoma City University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Corrections from that institution and also received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma at Norman. She has been employed in various capacities during her professional career, including fiscal analyst for the Oklahoma State Legislature, municipal management consultant for the East Central Rural Municipal Area Council, and as a probation and parole officer for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

As a community activist, Monson has worked with elementary schools, churches and other community organizations providing technical support and assistance to many after school programs and other school related initiatives. She currently serves as the Oklahoma Afterschool Network Chairperson and is a member of the Girl Scouts Redland Council Board of Directors.

Monson has been an active member of many community based organizations and previously served as President of the Oklahoma City Branch of the NAACP, and Board Chair of the Mary Mahoney Community Health Center, the Lennie Marie Tolliver Alternative Care (Adult Day Care) Center, and the Neighborhood Services Organization. Additionally, Sen. Monson was among the first youth Board members of the Oklahoma City Urban League. She is an active member of the Voice of Praise Baptist Church, where she serves as Trustee, Music Coordinator and a choir director.

The recipient of many honors and awards, Monson was presented the first Legislative Health Champion Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma along with other sponsoring entities. She also received the Distinguished Legislator of the Year Award from the American Psychiatric Association and was named Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association, the Oklahoma Psychological Association, the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, and PHRMA. In addition, the Families USA Foundation named her Advocate of the Year.

Sen. Monson also received the University of Oklahoma College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumnus Award and was recognized as the Woman of the Year in Government by the Redlands Council of Girl Scouts. She was among the first group of inductees to the Oklahoma Child Advocacy’s Children’s Hall of Fame and received the Friends of Children Award from the Oklahoma Association for the Education of Young Children. Monson was also selected as a Journal Record Woman of the Year finalist in 2005.

In 2003, Monson was recognized in Italy by the Tuscan regional government for her work in human rights and leadership of the National Conference of State Legislature. She was the recipient of the Silver Banner Award, the highest honor conferred by the Tuscan government. Additionally, Monson was honored by the Brazilian government for her work with women’s rights organizations in that country.

Angela Monson joined the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc., in January of 2008. She brings to the SCCF knowledge and experience in health care at the local, national and international levels.

Gary W. Bricker, CFP Director of Development (405)532-9942

Prior to joining the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in 1976, Gary Bricker was a shelter consultant for the Cooperative Housing Foundation (Washington, D.C.) and la Société d’Etudes Africaines de Développement (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso). From 1979 to 1981 he served as housing advisor at USAID’s Regional Housing and Urban development Office in Tunis, Tunisia. In Morocco (1981-1983), Mr. Bricker managed two energy projects: the Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (Marrakesh) and the National Petroleum Company’s privatization program (Rabat).

In El Salvador, Central America as a member of the Housing Task Force from 1984-1986 he responded to the worst earthquake to hit the capital in 60 years developing emergency shelter solutions for the 330,000 victims. From 1987-1989 he served as the Disaster Relief Officer in Somalia managing two fixed-wing aircraft, 21 vehicles, and a staff of 20 professionals coordinating with NGOs in response to a variety of disasters – natural and man-made. From 1991-1996, Mr. Bricker served as the Senior Design Officer in USAID/Indonesia planning $70 million in new activities each year.

For seven years Mr. Bricker was in the private sector as a financial planner and developed a clientele of 140 families and small businesses.

Returning to public service Mr. Bricker was the USAID/Georgia Deputy Program Officer in charge of providing financial support to the Rose Revolution led by the youngest head of state in modern history. Most recently Mr. Bricker provided a full range of financial support to the USAID/Zambia’s HIV/AIDS activities involving ten contractors and 2 grantees in close coordination with embassy staff.

Community service: President of the American School of Mogadishu, adjunct history professor at the Black Sea University (Tbilisi), development advisor to the School without Boundaries (Austin) charity, and member of the board of the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City.

Mr. Bricker’s career focuses on the design and management of economic development
activities – in particular, urban planning, development finance, and logistics in an
international setting. He has been working with The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation, Inc.,
as a financial adviser since August of 2007 and became a Board Member and Director of Development in August of 2008.

Jean McLaughlin, B.A. Board of Trustees (405)720-1044

Jean McLaughlin joined the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation in January of 2007. She is also a current member of the Board of Trustees for WORLD NEIGHBORS, an international development organization headquartered in Oklahoma City that works with people in marginalized rural communities to find innovative, practical and lasting solutions to pressing needs. Health issues are one of the organization’s concerns. Jean is also an immediate past president and current board member of the MYRIAD GARDENS FOUNDATION and a board member for the CHILD ABUSE RESPONSE CENTER. She is a Past president and founding board member of THE CITIZENS LEAGUE OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA and served as Debate Coordinator and State President of the OKLAHOMA LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS and has held board positions with numerous other community organizations.

Jean has been involved with local government by being a member and board chairman for both the BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT of Oklahoma City and THE CENTRAL OKLAHOMA TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING AUTHORITY.

Received Byliners Award for Public Affairs by Women In Communication, Distinguished Service Award from the Community Council, Crystal Orchid Award from the Myriad Gardens Foundation, Honoree of the YWCA Century of Influence.

Paula Davidson Wood, JD Director of Local Events (405)919-6723

Paula Davidson Wood joined the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation in January of 2007. She is an attorney with the Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc., and works primarily with victims of domestic violence in the area of family law. Ms. Wood has been engaged in the practice of civil law in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area for over 25 years. Ms. Wood is very influential in the community and active in the First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City, the oldest Unitarian-Universalist congregation in the Southwest being founded in 1893. She has lectured at state and national conferences on various topics relating to management, leadership, and legal issues. Wood received her BS in microbiology from Oklahoma State University and her law degree from Oklahoma City University. She is a Certified Public Manager and has been active in various professional organizations throughout her career, often serving in a leadership capacity.

Pamela C. Fischer, PhD Board of Trustees (405)270-0501x3634

Pamela C. Fischer, Ph.D. is a psychologist at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center-OKC and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). Dr. Fischer directs the psychology in primary care tract for the post doctoral fellowship program at OUHSC and is the Director of Primary Care Mental Health in the Oklahoma City VA. She also maintains a part-time private practice.

In addition to her interest in integrated care and the psychosocial aspects of illnesses, Dr. Fischer is particularly interested in the area of forgiveness and posttraumatic growth following trauma. She has conducted research in this area and is a contributing author in Tedeschi, R.G. & Calhoun, L. G. (Eds) book The Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth: Research and practice; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates published in 2006; and Danieli, Y. & Dingman, R.L. (Eds) On the Ground After September 11: Mental health responses and practical knowledge gained, The Haworth Press (2005). She serves on the American Psychological Association’s Task Force on Resilience in Response to Terrorism and was one of the authors on the Fostering Resilience in Response to Terrorism among Primary Care Providers Fact Sheet.

Dr. Fischer served as Secretary-Treasurer and Secretary of the Association of VA Psychology Leaders from 2007-2008. She is past president of the Oklahoma Psychological Association (OPA) and currently serves as Chairperson of the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Program for her state association. Dr. Fischer received the award for Distinguished Contribution by a Psychologist in the Public Interest from the Oklahoma Psychological Association in 2007; a Distinguished Contribution Award form the Association of VA Psychology Leaders in August 2007; the Outstanding Clinician Award- VA Section, Division 18 in 2005, and the Faculty Appreciation Award for her contributions to the professional development of psychology interns from the class of 2003-2004.

Dr. Fischer joined the Board of The Sickle Cell Cure Foundation in January of 2007.

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