The CLL Society Staff

Brian Koffman, MDCM (retired), DCFP, FCFP, DABFP, MSEd  

Co-Founder
Executive Vice President
Chief Medical Officer
Board Member at Large 

Dr. Koffman, a well-known doctor, educator and clinical professor turned patient has dedicated himself to teaching and helping the CLL community since his diagnosis in 2005. Dr. Koffman believes that his dual status as a physician and patient provides a unique experience and understanding which allows him to provide clear explanations of complex issues and to advocate for his fellow patients and inform his fellow healthcare providers. This is especially important in view of the rapidly changing therapeutic landscape. Besides his medical degree, Dr. Koffman has a Master of Science in Medical Education. Dr. Koffman is also a family doctor, board certified in Canada and USA, a retired clinical professor in family medicine at the Keck School of Medicine, USC, and the former medical director of the nonprofit medical educational organization, Primary Care Network. Dr. Koffman co-founded and serves as the Chief Medical Officer and EVP of the CLL Society Inc. 

Carly Boos, MEd, MBA 

Executive Director

Carly brings over 10 years of senior management experience in nonprofit medical and scientific societies to the CLL Society. She has held leadership positions in educational design and technology, accreditation and compliance, and scientific meeting planning for the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Carly has experience leading complex projects, managing large budgets, and creating efficiencies through process improvements, all while serving the respective organization’s goals related to both mission and margin. She holds a Master of Education in Adult Education, and a Master of Business Administration.  

Carly’s early personal life was strongly influenced by experiences with family members who have fought battles against leukemia. Her personal experiences with the disease, and how it affects individuals and families, fosters a strong desire to serve the CLL Society and contribute to its mission to address the unmet needs of the CLL and related blood cancer communities.  

Carly lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, son, and their beloved Bichon Frise. She enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time outdoors, when the Midwest weather allows. 

Patricia Koffman 

Co- Founder
Communications Director

Patricia Koffman is the co-founder and Communications Director of the CLL Society. Since 2013 Patricia has built the business structure of the CLL Society, guided its mission, and kept it in compliance with regulatory agencies. 

Patricia is the founder and President of the multi-media company Good River Records, Inc. Since 1997 Good River Records Inc. has been involved in the composition and publishing of music for live performance and film, arranging gallery shows for visual artists, marketing and sale of works of art, music and books, and providing illustration and video services. 

Prior to the creation of the CLL Society, Patricia worked as a Realtor in Newport Beach, CA. 

Patricia is the wife and caregiver of Dr. Brian Koffman, mother of four, and grandmother of three. 

Liza Avruch, MPA 

Program Director 

Liza brings over 10 years of program management experience in nonprofit organizations to the CLL Society. She has directed nonprofit programming at the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Independent Sector, and the Women Presidents’ Educational Organization. She has experience managing large, complex programs with strict deadlines, as well as conference and meeting planning. Liza has a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management from George Mason University, and a BA in Sociology from Mary Washington University. 

Liza has devoted her career to mission-driven organizations and brings this dedication to the CLL Society in support of patients and caregivers affected by CLL. She is a proud mother of two and spends her free time finding local museums, playgrounds, and children’s activities in the DC metro area.   

Robyn Brumble, MSN, RN

Director of Scientific Affairs & Research

Robyn has held a variety of roles as a registered nurse for more than twenty years in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. She has a heart for ensuring all patients receive the very best care possible, and incorporates that same passion for excellent patient care into her role with CLL Society. Before joining our staff, Robyn held positions in nursing leadership, patient advocacy, patient education, nursing academics, developed continuing medical education (for both physicians and nurses), led non-profit organizations, and is a published author and editor for medical textbooks. Additionally, she has spent time as a legal nurse consultant and expert legal nurse witness. Robyn enjoys national speaking engagements at medical conferences, particularly when she is presenting on topics about quality improvement and patient safety initiatives in the healthcare setting. She holds both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Robyn resides in the Kansas City area with her husband of nearly thirty years and three snuggly Maltipoos. She is a proud mother of three and a grandmother to one (who has stolen her heart). Hobbies include cooking gourmet meals with her husband, trying out new restaurants, leading medical mission trips to Haiti, playing violin at weddings and other events, watching her husband play his viola at Kansas City Symphony concerts, and vacationing on a beach with her family in any tropical location.

Brad Hedrick, MSCIS

Information Technology Director

Brad received his Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Missouri State University. He has over 35 years’ experience in I.T. with 24 of those years spent in the continuing medical education (CME) industry. His experience includes the development of data collection software technology and custom database-driven applications specializing in online event management and learning management systems. In addition, he has been the lead application developer on a number of interactive projects that include dozens of commercial websites, CDROM’s, corporate videos, DVDs, shared decision-making tools, and other award-winning interactive projects. 

Brad also serves as a Live Conference Technical Director responsible for overseeing content creation, and audio-visual execution of live and online CME programs. Live content capture, video streaming, and audience response systems are all a part of Brad’s toolbox – ensuring a successful educational experience before, during, and after a live meeting event. 

In his free time, Brad enjoys outdoor activities including hiking, backpacking, spelunking, kayaking and bee keeping. On any given evening he enjoys grilling on his Big Green Egg. 

Nancy Day 

Program Coordinator

After working 18 years for a frozen beverage manufacturer, and then 17 years for a community mental health provider, Nancy chose to semi-retire and became a full-time homemaker, grandmother and childcare provider for her two adult children.  She had lost her husband in August 2010 after a three (plus) year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, followed by the loss of her mother 17-months later to Pancreatic Cancer, and decided to take a break from the workforce and focus more on her family.  Several years later, Nancy began pursuing employment opportunities which brought her to the attention of Brian and Patty Koffman.  Nancy joined the CLL Society in August 2016. 

Ryan Whitman-Morales

Strategic Partnerships Specialist

Ryan holds a degree in History from the University of Oregon, and a Master’s in Business focusing on public-private-nonprofit partnerships from Willamette University in Salem, OR. Ryan brings extensive private and nonprofit management consulting experience across causes such as public education, urban food insecurity, economic empowerment for indigenous peoples, and LGBTQ+ inclusion and mental health.

Joining the CLL Society in August 2021, Ryan helps drive how we engage industry and build partnerships to support our mission.

Albie Suozzi

Executive Assistant

Albie received her undergraduate degree in Speech, Language, and Audiology from the State College at Fredonia.  She also holds two Masters of Education in the areas of Educational Administration and an Advanced Degree in Educational Administration from the State Colleges of Brockport and Buffalo.

She has spent 31 years in the field of education, first as a Speech and Language Pathologist and then in Educational Administration, holding positions as Building Principal, Director of Curriculum and then Assistant Superintendent of Schools.  She has also held the position as an Interim Superintendent of Schools.   She retired from education field in 2015.

Albie was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in 2008 and has yet to receive treatment.  She is also a facilitator for CLL Society’s Rochester, NY Support Group, which she has managed for almost four years.

Albie lives in Medina, NY, which is a small town seated along the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario.  She spends her free time gardening, reading, enjoying friends, and spending time with her husband and three rescue dogs.

Nicole Kamphuis, MPA

Communications Specialist

Nicole is a recent Master of Public Affairs (MPA) graduate from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. With a concentration in Nonprofit Management, she has always had a strong drive to make a career out of working for a cause and serving the greater good. During her time in the graduate program at IU, Nicole worked as a Graduate Assistant to Women’s Philanthropy at IU where she gained experience in development, donor relations, grant management, and event planning. Nicole was introduced to the CLL Society through her graduate coursework and grew to love the organization’s mission.

Located in Spokane, WA, Nicole is a hiking, rock climbing, and coffee enthusiast. Her evenings are often spent trying out a new recipe or cooking a family classic.

Terry Evans 

Director, CLL Society Support & Education Network

In June 2000, through a routine blood test, Terry was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Based on old statistics, he had about 5-7 years of life left at the time of diagnosis. Over his 19-year journey, he has had 5 different treatment protocols and been on 2 clinical Trials.  He is extremely grateful and hopeful for the advances in CLL treatments that have been made in the last 19 years. 

Terry brings his professional leadership talents to the CLL Society, serving as lead facilitator of the Orange County Support Group, and overseeing the Patient and Caregiver Support Group Programs across the United States.