Hope and Healing Event

Dr. Mark Stavas is a board-certified radiation oncologist and palliative care provider with Cancer Partners of Nebraska. Before joining the practice, he directed the pediatric and palliative radiation service lines at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. A Lincoln native, he earned his undergraduate degree from Creighton University and his medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, then completed training in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina and a Radiation Oncology residency focused on palliative care at Vanderbilt. He is active in clinical research as a Principal Investigator with national oncology research groups and has published extensively in radiation oncology, pediatric oncology and palliative care. He serves on the boards of Bryan Health Connect and Maple Street Construct, an Nebraska-based art gallery and residency program. He also co-founded the Heart-to-Hold project, partnering with Build-A-Bear to support children undergoing radiation therapy. He is married and has three children.

Dr. Joann Schaefer is a seasoned physician executive with nearly 30 years in health care. She’s served as Nebraska’s Chief Medical Officer, a family medicine associate professor, a CMO and EVP at a major payer, and president of a private equity healthcare company. She’s also led in venture capital board and sits on several community boards. A grateful liver transplant recipient since 2008, she brings lived experience to every leadership role. Known for building high-impact teams and transformation, Dr. Schaefer focuses on improving public health, growing businesses and driving results. Passionate about executive and physician coaching and consulting, she’s committed to helping leaders thrive and create lasting, patient-centered change in the healthcare ecosystem.

Joy Huber has been a brunette, a blonde and — thanks to cancer treatment and one unforgettable wig fashion show — a surprisingly saucy redhead. Diagnosed with Stage IV cancer at 33, Joy learned that while we can't always control what happens, we have tremendous power in how we RESPOND™. Sixteen years later, she brings hope, humor and practical perspective to audiences, helping them face life's unexpected challenges and move forward with greater confidence, possibility and JOY.