Seth Kahan on Grand Challenges

Chris McEntee is the former CEO and Executive Director of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), where she advanced Earth and space sciences through innovation, collaboration, and public engagement. She led AGU’s Grand Challenge, Thriving Earth Exchange, empowering communities to use science for local resilience and sustainability.

Under her leadership, AGU expanded global partnerships, launched open-access initiatives, and championed sustainability, including the first net-zero energy renovation of its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Previously, McEntee served as CEO of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and held executive roles in healthcare and association leadership. A recognized leader in organizational transformation and science policy, she strengthened AGU’s role in addressing climate change and scientific integrity. Her legacy includes fostering inclusive leadership and bridging science with societal impact.

Dale Cyr is the Chief Executive Officer of Inteleos, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing patient safety by certifying healthcare professionals’ proficiency in diagnostic tools—most notably, medical ultrasound. Under his leadership, Inteleos has grown to certify over 150,000 professionals in more than 100 countries, transforming how clinical competency is validated worldwide. Cyr is a passionate advocate for lifelong learning in healthcare and a pioneer in adapting certification models to rapid technological shifts, including the rise of handheld ultrasound and artificial intelligence.

Cyr spearheaded the Ultrasound Proficiency Grand Challenge, a bold initiative to ensure global competency in point-of-care ultrasound by 2030. His work in Kenya, led to a national policy mandating ultrasound training and certification, exemplifying his belief in shared-value ecosystems and cross-sector partnerships.

Dr. Darrell Kirch is President Emeritus of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), where he served from 2006 to 2019. A distinguished physician, educator, and medical scientist, he led efforts to advance medical education, healthcare innovation, and diversity in medicine. Previously, he was Dean and CEO of Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. An advocate for holistic leadership, Dr. Kirch has dedicated his career to transforming health and academic medicine.

Dr. Ehsan Samei, a distinguished professor at Duke University, specializes in x-ray imaging, theoretical models, and experimental techniques for medical image formation and perception. His research bridges scientific scholarship and clinical practice, advancing image quality, safety metrics, and optimizing and monitoring imaging performance. His recent work focuses on virtual clinical trials across oncology, pulmonary, cardiac, and vascular diseases, developing innovative methodologies that blend scientific principles with AI-driven approaches.

He serves as Chief Imaging Physicist for Duke Health, Director of the Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories and co-PI for Triangle CERSI. Dr. Samei has mentored over 140 trainees, authored over 1,400 publications, and secured 44 extramural grants, including an NIH Program Project grant establishing CVIT. His research has earned him numerous fellowships and leadership roles, including AAPM President in 2023.

Robert Jeraj is a Professor of Medical Physics, Human Oncology, Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he leads the Imaging and Radiation Sciences Program at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Prof. Jeraj received both his undergraduate education and Ph.D in Physics at the University of Ljubljana.

Dr. Glen E. Kreiner is the L.S. Skaggs Presidential Endowed Chair in Business Ethics and serves as the Department Chair and Professor in the Management Department at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business.  His research focuses on organizational, professional, and work-related identity, ethics, dirty work, stigma, work-family dynamics, mindfulness, workplace mental health, and support for workers with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He is currently serving on the National Leadership Steering Team for Stop Stigma Together and overseeing the development of metrics and all of the Grand Challenge’s task forces.

Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN, Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, is a distinguished nurse leader and former CEO of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise. During her tenure, she advanced nursing practice and improved patient outcomes. She currently leads Weston Consulting, LLC, focusing on organizational growth and innovation. I had the distinct fortune to work together with her at the ANA on Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation, a Grand Challenge to measurably improve the health of America’s nurses. HealthyNurseHealthyNation.org

Patrick J. Kennedy is a former U.S. Congressman and leading mental health advocate. Known for his commitment to mental health and addiction issues, he founded The Kennedy Forum, which promotes equitable mental health care. Kennedy played a pivotal role in passing the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, advocating for equal insurance coverage for mental health services. As a prominent voice on mental health, he leverages his experience to drive policy reform and reduce stigma.