Marlene Mason Founder of Aunt Susie’s Cancer Wellness Center (Retired) Marlene has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Instrumental Music from Bowling Green State University. She was a second and fourth grade elementary teacher, finishing her teaching career as an assistant instrumental band director. After retiring from teaching, she became a corporate recruiter in the computer field. She started her own home-based business, training and managing a workforce of 15 people.
Prior to founding Aunt Susie’s, she volunteered for Camp Cheerful, in Strongsville, OH; Parma Jr. Women's League; Richfield Civic Organization; Richfield, Bath, Revere Middle School PTAs; the Kent State Stark Concert Band and the Soroptimist Club. Marlene grew up in Massillon, OH, graduating from Perry High School in 1969. She resides in Massillon, OH. She and her husband have 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Dina K. Rooney, MD Executive Director President Tri-County Hematology and Oncology Associates, Inc. (Retired) Medical Director Mercy Medical Center Breast Center (Retired) Dr, Dina grew up in the Canton area and graduated from Jackson High School. She started her medical career as a nurse's aid during summers at Mercy when she was a student at Ohio State. Dina graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and then earned her M.D. from The Ohio State University School of Medicine in 1989. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Medical Center of Vermont.
From 1992-1994, Dr. Dina served as ER Director and the first full time ER physician at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph, Vermont. She then completed a fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Indiana University in Indianapolis. Dr. Dina returned to Canton in 1997 and practiced Hematology/Oncology until 2016 at Tri-County Hematology & Oncology. She served as a managing partner, Vice-president and President. For the past decade she limited her practice to breast and gynecologic cancers. She helped start the Mercy Breast Program and served as medical director of the Breast Center for many years. Dr. Dina also ran the multidisciplinary and breast tumor Boards from 1999 until she retired and participated on many hospital committees.
Her commitment to cancer patients did not end with retirement. She has been involved with Mercy's Service League's Wine Women & Shoes event as Chairwoman for the cause every year, and is Co-chair for the postponed 2020 event. Her retirement dream was to create a cancer wellness center to provide free services to patients in the Canton area. Dr. Dina wants to give back to the community that embraced the local kid that came home to practice medicine and taught her so many valuable lessons about courage and dignity over the years.
Dr. Dina enjoys travelling to her second home in Anguilla where she sponsors the Real Deal, one of the national racing sailboats. She is active in charitable causes on the island supporting education and animal rescue. Dr. Dina is single and lives at Meyer's Lake with her dog Coconut and cat Sophie.
Patricia A. Carmola Chairman of the Board
Patty is a former teacher who taught in the Massillon School District. She is also a florist in the family owned business in which she and her sisters are the designers. She supervises student teachers at K.S.U. and Akron University.
She is very involved with VOCI and has performed at the Players Guild and other local theaters. She has served on committees at the Massillon Museum, the Lincoln Theatre and the Massillon Woman's Club. She has initiated tours for third graders at Five Oaks and works closely with teachers to provide educational experiences for these students.
Patty loves working with children and feels that she can give them a true appreciation for the history of Massillon, Ohio.
Karen Coughlin, RN, BSN, MSN Vice Chairman Retired, Former Administrative Director of Mercy Cancer Center
Karen worked over 40 years in the healthcare industry at Aultman Hospital, Ohio, KePRO in Cleveland, and Mercy Medical Center. She received her original nursing degree from Aultman School of Nursing and continued her education with a BSN from Kent State University and MSN from the University of Akron. Her early career was spent in critical care nursing until she moved into healthcare administration, overseeing a variety of areas including Emergency Services, Quality Management, Oncology Services, and serving as the Chief Nursing Officer.
As the administrator of Cancer Services, Karen led a team of talented professionals to achieve multiple quality awards and commendations for highly comprehensive cancer care. She is passionate about easing the burden of cancer for people through the provision of outstanding and compassionate cancer care that encompasses both the patient and their loved ones.
Karen has been an active volunteer for many years with a special focus on cancer-related organizations. She served on the Boards of the Susan G Komen Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the National Palliative Care Coalition. Additionally, she chaired the Canton Relay for Life for two years and has actively participated in annual Relay for Life events, Komen Race for the Cure, the Komen 60 Mile Walk, Making Strides for Breast Cancer events, and bone marrow donor drives. Currently, Karen is a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and serves on the Board of the Margaret B. Shipley Child Health Clinic in downtown Canton.
Erin Ivers Executive Secretary Forensic Coordinator and Forensic Monitor, Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Stepping Up Coordinator
She graduated from Walsh University, North Canton, OH with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and got her Master's Degree at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is certified Project Manager, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and is a Qualified Intellectual Disability Provider.
Erin's other interests include the theater, movies, and music.
Tom Cwynar Treasurer Retired Finance Specialist for the Timken Company
Tom retired from the Steel Business Unit of the Timken Company (prior to the breakup of the company). He was a Finance Specialist with additional experience in Industrial Engineering and Purchasing.
Tom graduated with a B.S. in Management with a major in accounting from Youngstown State University and earned an MBA from the University of Akron.
He has been a volunteer for Aunt Susie's, WKSU, and for the Canton Carnival of Wheels, which donates proceeds to scholarships for students attending Stark State.
Nicole Haines Board Member Senior Director Cancer Services, Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital Nicole has been a registered nurse for 25 years, and is certified in oncology (OCN)..
She graduated from Stark State University, received her baccalaureate in nursing from Ohio University and her MBA from University of Northwestern Ohio. She has been the Senior Director of Cancer Services at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital since 2019.
Kim Hoerger, RN, BSN, OCN Board Member Aultman Gynecologic Oncology Kim grew up in Illinois but has been an Ohio resident since 1984. She received her Associate of Science degree from Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon, IL in 1981 and her BSN from OSU in 1984. She has had a 39 year career as a nurse, primarily in the area of oncology, having worked for 24 years in a medical oncology office administering chemotherapy.
Presently she is a Patient Care Coordinator for Sareena Singh, MD, a Gynecologic Oncologist at Aultman Hospital.
She lives just outside of Minerva, Ohio with John, her husband of 35 years. Kim has one cat as her “child".
All members of the board financially support Aunt Susie's Cancer Wellness Center for Women