Board Members
Ronda Henry-Tillman, M.D., F.A.C.S.
ACC Board of Directors Chairman
Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman is a surgical oncologist specializing in women’s oncology at UAMS Medical Center. She is a Professor in the Department of Surgery, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She is Practice Director for the Ladies’ Oncology Clinic, and the Director of Cancer Control at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. As Director, she heads efforts to reduce the mortality, health disparities and cancer burden of Arkansans. She has developed numerous interventions that target cancer disparities.
Dr. Henry-Tillman has been recognized as a leader in cancer diagnosis and treatment. She has numerous publications, and has made national and international presentations on MRI and breast cancer staging and the advancements in breast cancer treatment, as well as cancer disparities interventions. She is federally funded in clinical research, with research interests prevalent in cancer education and awareness and community-based participatory research.
Dr. Henry-Tillman has been awarded several honors in the Cancer Control arena to include the “Community Health Research Leadership Award” from the National Cancer Institute and the “Acknowledgements in Cancer Excellence Community Outreach Award” from the American Cancer Society. She was also recognized by her peers and awarded the “Distinguished Faculty” Award at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, formerly the Arkansas Cancer Research Center.
Since 2005, she has been prestigiously honored as one of the “Best Doctors in America”.
Helen Baldwin, MBA, RN, Executive Director
ACC Board of Directors Vice-Chairman
Helen Baldwin has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baylor University in Waco and Dallas. Her professional experience is in private, public and nonprofit sector health care. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The ACC sets the direction and priorities for cancer issues in Arkansas. The APCF mission is to promote awareness, encourage timely detection and support improved treatment of prostate cancer in Arkansas with a belief that access to information and treatment should be available to all men in Arkansas. The two organizations are synergetic.
“I have the privilege of working with an amazing staff and cancer stakeholders from all walks of life: donors, recipients of service, colleagues, health care providers, politicians, survivors, patients and more. The activities and responsibilities are always challenging and interesting.”
Steven Wayne Strode, M.D., M.Ed., MPH, FAAFP, DABPM
Dr. Strode is a family physician who has been active in cancer control efforts in Arkansas since the early 1980s. He is a past Chair of the ACC Board and past President of the AR Medical Society, the Pulaski County Medical Society, and the AR Academy of Family Physicians.
Dr. Strode has been in private practice in Sherwood, College of Medicine faculty, VA Healthcare Center Primary Care physician, and currently works for AR Disability Determination for Social Security Disability.
A Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Strode has represented family medicine in working with other medical specialties to develop clinical practice guidelines with a focus on cancer screening. He has a BS in biology from SMU, the MD from the Univ. of TX Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, a Masters in Adult Education from UALR, and a MPH from Tulane and has been honored by his fellow physicians by being named to the “Best Doctors in America.”
Lynda Lehing, MBA
Lynda Lehing has been with the Arkansas Department of Health for over 20 years and currently is the Section Chief for Hospital Data Section in the Health Statistics Branch. Previously, she held various positions including Associate Branch Chief of the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program, Director of Chronic Disease Division, Director of Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program and Assistant Director of Nursing. During her tenure as the Chronic Disease Director, the Agency acquired the initial federal funding for the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program and Cardiovascular Health Program. Also during that time, Lehing was involved in the initial planning phase for the utilization of the tobacco settlement funds that were received by the Agency in July 2001 for a tobacco prevention and cessation program.
Lehing has B.S. in Nursing from Baylor University and M.B.A from Amber University in Dallas, Texas. After graduation from Baylor University, Lehing worked at Parkland Hospital until she came to work at the Arkansas Department of Health.
Lehing started with ACC at its inception when it was a small task force. “I am always amazed how far Arkansas has come in Cancer Control in a short amount of time. Cancer Control has been a big part of my professional career. I stay involved because I enjoy working with an organization I know makes a difference in people’s lives.”
Laura Vaughn
Laura Vaughn is the Vice President of American Cancer Society in Arkansas. Her role is the most senior position in the state, responsible for overseeing the achievement of financial and program goals at American Cancer Society. She has been with ACS for eight years.
“I joined the American Cancer Society (ACS) because I, like so many, have been personally touched by cancer. I wanted to join in the fight against cancer. Because of the work of ACS, countless lives have been saved. We want cancer patients and caregivers to know that we are here for them. We have a very committed team of staff and volunteers and who continue to be inspired by the faces of the cancer patients we see everyday. They are the true hero’s!” The American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
Vaughn has spent her entire career in non-profit management, including serving as President for Junior Achievement of Arkansas, Homeless Coordinator for Palm Beach County, FL and Director of the Crisis Line Intervention and Suicide Center of Palm Beach County.
Vaughn grew up in Kalamazoo, MI, where she earned her BA degree in Criminal Justice from Western Michigan University. Vaughn is married to AJ and mother to Meg, who is a senior at Benton High School.