January 31, 2023 – The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT), the nation’s leading organization dedicated to increasing patient access to the world’s most advanced cancer treatment, today announced the selection of new board members – Dr. Elizabeth Nichols, Dr. Michael Butkus, Dr. Mark McDonald, Lindsay Pruett, Tom Welch and Charles Yoo – and the appointment of Dr. Steven Frank and Dr. Kristin Heath to its executive committee.

Dr. Elizabeth Nichols, a board-certified radiation oncologist, is an associate professor and Vice-Chair of Clinical Affairs at the University of Maryland Department of Radiation Oncology, where her areas of focus include women's cancers, including breast and gynecologic malignancies.

Michael Butkus, PhD, is Proton Therapy Assistant Professor at University of Miami and Co-Medical Director of Proton Therapy responsible for the coordinated opening, ramp up, and continued operation of Dwoskin Proton Center at the University of Miami.

Dr. Mark McDonald is Medical Director at Emory Proton Therapy Center, joining the Center in 2015 to lead the center’s startup. His clinical practice is primarily focused on head and neck and base-of-skull-tumors. He serves on the steering committee of Emory’s Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Clinic.

Lindsay Pruett, MBA, is Center Administrator for Proton International at UAB, where she was involved in pre-construction coordination to first patient treatment, and now directs the center’s daily operations.

Tom Welch, MBA, President at Oklahoma Proton Center, has more than 30 years of healthcare experience. He was previously a partner at Allied Health Management and served in a variety of executive-level roles with Siemens Molecular Imaging, Siemens Healthcare and ABT Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Charles Yoo, MBA, is Vice President of Operations and Finance at the South Florida Proton Therapy Institute, where he oversees proton projects. This includes feasibility analysis; modeling & financial structuring; oversight of projects under development; and operational advisory services.

“With a commitment to advancing the most effective and innovative cancer treatments, these medical professionals are exciting additions to the NAPT board,” said NAPT Board Chair Abram Gordon. “We look forward to benefitting from their vast experience with proton therapy and working with them to advocate for greater access to this life-changing treatment on behalf of cancer patients and their families nationwide.”

Joining the NAPT executive committee are board members Dr. Steven Frank and Kristin Heath. Dr. Frank is Medical Director of the MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center at the University of Texas in Houston; Dr. Heath is Director of Operations-Radiation Oncology at the Miami Cancer Institute, Baptist Health South Florida.


The National Association for Proton Therapy (NAPT) is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 1990 to educate and increase awareness about the clinical benefits of proton therapy. Its members include 41 of the nation’s leading cancer centers, many of which are NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers and NCCN members. The mission of NAPT is to work collaboratively to raise public awareness of the clinical benefits of proton therapy, ensure patient choice and access to affordable proton therapy, and encourage cooperative research and innovation to advance the appropriate and cost-effective utilization of proton therapy.

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