PhilaSUG Executive Committee

The Executive Committee meets on an occasional basis, usually between three and six times per year. We invite you to apply to be a member. It's a fun and effective way to broaden your SAS horizons. Contact any member below for more details.

Ellen Asam
Ellen Asam is an Associate Director of Statistical Computing in the Biostatistics Department at Merck & Co. with 16 years experience with SAS software supporting the collection, analysis and reporting of clinical data. Ellen holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Villanova University.

Jonas V. Bilenas

Jonas V. Bilenas
Jonas Bilenas has been using SAS since 1986 in the credit card industry. He has worked in risk management and marketing acquisitions. His use of SAS has been in the areas of model development, reporting, design of experiments, simulation, and optimization. He has authored the SAS Press text, The Power of PROC FORMAT, and has presented at many international, regional, and local SAS user groups. He currently works at Barclays Global Retail Banking/UK in Long Island City, NY.

Max Cherny
Max Cherny has been using SAS in the Pharmaceutical Industry since 1995. He has presented papers at PharmaSUG, NESUG and at local SAS user groups. He holds Bachelor's degree from Temple University in Biology and Master's degree from Lasalle University in Computer Science. Max works at GlaxoSmithKline.

Barry Cohen,
Barry Cohen is an application developer with 15+ years experience in the pharmaceutical clinical trials industry. Barry is presently Director of the Clinical Data Strategies group at Octagon Research Solutions, Inc. In this role, Barry focuses on the conversion of clinical trials data to the CDISC SDTM, development of clinical data warehouses based upon the standard, and strategic uses of this data beyond its submission to the FDA. Barry is a co-founder and current President of the Philadelphia SAS User Group. He is also one of the founding members of the Delaware Valley CDISC User Network.

John Cohen, Membership Chairman,
John Cohen is a SAS user since 1980, and he is active in several SAS user communities.

Michael Davis
Michael Davis is an Analytics Manager with Health Market Science, Inc. Prior to joining HMS, Michael worked for Aetna, Inc., Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Connecticut, the Connecticut Hospital Association, and was an independent consultant. Michael has been a SAS user since 1985 and has specialized in developing decision support, web-enabled applications, and data warehousing systems. He has frequently presented papers at SUGI/SGF, NESUG, and local SAS user groups. Michael holds a Masters in Health Administration from Duke University.

Lee Dodoo
Lee, a Statistical Programmer at IMS Health in Plymouth Meeting, where he provides SAS programming support for the next generation prescriber level estimation. Lee has over 6 years experience working with SAS in both the financial systems and Pharmaceutical Industry.

Diane Foose, Treasurer,
Diane Foose is a Programming Manager in the Oncology R & D department at GlaxoSmithKline. She has been using SAS since 1989 and in the Pharmaceutical Industry since 1982. She holds an ABA & BBA in Computer Science from Ursinus College.

Timothy Kelly
Timothy Kelly is a Programming Manager in the Oncology R&D department at GlaxoSmithKline. Tim holds a bachelor degree in Mathematics and will complete his Masters in Applied Statistics from West Chester University in December 2010. He has over 11 years experience programming with SAS in the pharmaceutical industry. He has also taught SAS on the collegiate level and has presented in various local and regional SAS User Group conferences.

Jessica Lam
Jessica Lam is a SAS programming consultant, currently on assignment at Wyeth - Collegeville. She has over six years experience working with SAS in the pharmaceutical industry.

Karin LaPann
Karin LaPann is currently a SAS programmer (Senior Specialist) at Octagon Research Solutions, in Wayne, PA. Karin's career began in the academic environment, managing and analyzing data for academic medical studies at University of Pennsylvania, followed by Temple University. Both efforts culminated with published papers in medical journals. Karin has over 20 years programming in SAS and over 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry. Karin earned an MSIS from Drexel University, College of Information Science and Technology in June 2001.

Randy Noga,
Randy Noga is a Project Manager in Decision Support Systems (DSS) at Automated Financial Systems (AFS) in Exton, PA. Randy holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University, and has extensive experience managing information technology development efforts, computing infrastructure management, and program management office initiatives. Prior to joining AFS, Randy has worked for Merrill Lynch, Student Finance Group, General Motors, Law School Administration Council, MBNA, PHH Corporation, and Honeywell. Randy is current President of the Philadelphia SAS User Group.

Terek Peterson,
Terek Peterson is Director, Clinical Programming, Octagon Research Solutions

Robert Schechter, Webmaster and Newsletter Editor
Robert Schechter, currently a Senior Statistical Programmer at i3 Statprobe, has had over forty years of experience in data processing and has been working with SAS since 1972, both as a programmer and a teacher. He currently serves as web master for PhilaSUG, and he is a member of the group's executive committee.

Meenal (Mona) Sinha,
Ms Meenal Sinha has a diverse background with degrees in Psychology and Business Administration; and a diploma in Financial Analysis. She is a Certified SAS and a Certified Java Programmer with more than six years of programming experience. Meenal enjoys applying technology to business and business to technology, often challenging the status quo - willing to cheerfully convince or be convinced.

Meenal is a Senior Analyst with Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. She is also active in various SAS based initiatives.

Kajal Tahiliani,
Kajal Tahiliani works as SAS Programmer, Analyst II at ICON Clinical Research. With over 6 years of experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry she is highly experienced in programming for Phase I, II, III, post marketing analysis, ISS, ISE, IND and BLA submissions and well versed with SDTM and ADAM standards. Kajal is Base & Advance SAS certified and holds a MS Degree in Biomedical Engineering from University of Texas at Arlington and is also pursuing a MS in Applied Statistics from West Chester University. Prior to her position at ICON, she has also worked at Merck & Co. and Johnson & Johnson.

Donna Usavage
Merck & Co. Logo

Donna Usavage is Director of Scientific Programming at Merck at the Upper Gwynedd site, leading a strategic group focused on the delivery and maintenance of standard tools and processes. She has 26 years experience in systems development and management including 22 years with SAS software supporting the collection, analysis and reporting of clinical data. Donna holds an M.S. in Computer Science from Villanova University and is Green Belt certified in the Six Sigma methodology.

Executive Committee Documents

Info for Potentenial Meeting Host: "RE: Your organization hosting a PhilaSUG meeting"

[HOME]

This site was last mod: Octber 22, 2011. Comments and suggestions are always appreciated, email the WebMaster at webmaster@PhilaSUG.org

[About]