Our Board

DGF is managed by a Board of Directors who serve as volunteer officers. Day to day activities of DGF are handled by the Board members in conjunction with our Program Director. Like most charities, we rely upon a large number of volunteers to assist us in carrying out our Mission.

Board of Directors

  • James Miser, MD, President and Chairman
  • Christopher Aristo, Treasurer
  • Shari Shattuck, Secretary
  • Clarke Anderson , MD, Director
  • Daniel DiMundo, Director

Advisory Board

  • Ileana Geestman, Program Director
  • Tami Case, Director
  • Paula Devine, Director
  • Rick Dinger, Director
  • Nancy Jo Flint, Director
  • Peter Kim, Director
  • Robert Munoz, Director
  • Joseph Stachura, Director
  • Josie Vitale, Director
  • Nicole Wilder Shattuck, Director

Office Staff

  • Vanessa Geestman Aristo, MSW – Executive Director/Case Manager

Medical Advisor

Judith K. Sato, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
Chair Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics
Director, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Director, Musculoskeletal Tumor Program
City of Hope

Quick Facts on Cancer

  • Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death for children under the age of 15
  • Each year, more than 12,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed in children under 15
  • The most prevalent form of cancer is leukemia, a cancer of the blood
  • The second most prevalent form is brain cancer
  • Twenty five years ago, diagnosis of leukemia was a virtual death sentence
  • Today, children with leukemia have a survival rate of over 75%