New York

The Leadership Committee is a highly committed team of volunteer leaders dedicated to driving the nation’s largest lung health movement, LUNG FORCE, in NYC and reversing the course of lung cancer and other lung diseases.

By banding together as one FORCE, we will defeat lung disease, improve the lung health of millions, and, ultimately, save lives.

If you are interested in joining the Leadership Committee, please contact Emily Amitin at 917-210-5649 or NYCWalk@Lung.org.

Nina Sclafani, Chair
NS Marketing and Events

Nina Sclafani, Chair of the 2025 LUNG FORCE Walk NYC, is a passionate advocate for community, health, and social impact. As the founder of NS Marketing and Events, she brings over 12 years of experience in marketing, specializing in social impact branding and event marketing. A lifelong resident of the Hauppauge/Smithtown area, her love for her community is reflected in her dedication to supporting local businesses and initiatives across New York and Long Island.

Nina’s involvement with LUNG FORCE is deeply personal. Following the loss of her mother, Karen Cowley, to interstitial lung disease in March 2022, Nina and her sister, Kristen Cowley, founded Team Karen's Kindness to honor their mother's legacy. Over the past three years, their team has raised more than $38,000 for the American Lung Association, embodying the kindness and generosity Karen was known for.

Beyond her professional and philanthropic efforts, Nina is a devoted wife to her husband, Andrew, and a loving mother to their two children, Gwen (6) and Jack (2). She credits her family for their unwavering support and inspiration in her work with the Lung Force Walk.

Nina is deeply honored to serve as Chair of the 2025 LUNG FORCE Walk NYC and is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated Leadership Committee and participants. She believes in the power of community and is committed to advancing the mission of the American Lung Association, helping to create a future free of lung disease.

Shavon Anderson
Time Equities

Shavon Anderson has been a Residential Property Manager for Time Equities, Inc. for the past 18 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. Shavon is a Brooklyn girl to the heart where she was born and raised and currently lives with her two cats, Autumn, and Spice. Shavon loves to travel and spend time with her family and friends. She also is truly excited to continue on her journey as a member of the Metro NY Leadership Board.

Lenia Batas, LCAT, ATR-BS, CCLS
Maimonides Health

Lenia Batas has a dual master’s degree from Pratt Institute in Creative Arts Therapies and Special Education. Lenia is a licensed, board-certified Art Therapist and Certified Child Life Specialist. Lenia has received additional facilitator training in Neonatal and Pediatric Bereavement, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, Team STEPPS, Planetree Patient Centered Care, Tobacco Treatment Specialist and has a Level 3 certification in Aromatherapy. Lenia has over 25 years’ experience as a healthcare leader overseeing Child Life, Creative Arts Therapy and Patient and Family Centered Care Services in pediatric and adult patient populations. In the last five years, Lenia has focused on employee wellness and developed Healing Arts programming and a staff rapid response program- Team Lavender Peer Support. Lenia is currently the Cancer Screening Program Manager at Maimonides Medical Center and oversees community outreach and educational programming to improve cancer screening and health disparities in her Brooklyn community.

Joanne Duckman
IPG Health

Joanne is passionate about lung health and is committed to making a change which has driven her to be a part of this important work. Joanne is the Global Systems Solutions Director for IPG Health and has worked for the company for almost 20 years. She has a BA from Michigan State University and holds several certifications in group cycling. She has sat on committees at the American Cancer Society and started a non-profit charity event in honor of a close friend. Joanne is excited to be a part of this team.

Anirudh Kumeria
Cipla

Anirudh Kumeria is a distinguished marketing and sales professional with a remarkable 19-year tenure in the global pharmaceutical industry, focusing primarily on respiratory health. As the Head Marketing - New Products & Respiratory, Retail Business at Cipla USA, Anirudh has been instrumental in bringing groundbreaking respiratory treatments to market, including the much-acclaimed Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Aerosol Generic in the US.

His journey in the pharmaceutical sector began with Intas Pharmaceuticals and swiftly progressed through various leading companies like Ranbaxy, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, and currently, Cipla USA Inc. His roles have consistently centered around respiratory portfolio management globally, new product launches, and driving innovation in marketing strategies.

Educationally fortified with a bachelor’s in pharmacy and MBA, Anirudh's expertise is backed by solid academic credentials. His approach combines deep industry knowledge with a passion for enhancing patient care, particularly in respiratory health.

A recipient of numerous accolades, Anirudh's contributions have been recognized for their significant impact on healthcare.

Celebrated for his global perspective, Anirudh continues to be a vital force in shaping the future of respiratory health care and pharmaceutical marketing.

Karen Richardson-Joseph
New York City Law Department

Karen Richardson-Joseph is an attorney who resides with her family in Cambria Heights, New York. After graduating from Brooklyn Law School, she began her legal career with the City of New York. For more than 20 years, she has been a dedicated public servant while working for the City, State, and Public Authority. She is a Deputy Unit Chief in the State Law Defense Unit in the Office of the Corporation Counsel. Despite her demanding schedule, Karen is committed to community service and ensuring that their needs are being met through her involvement in numerous organizations including but not limited to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the National Association of University Women. 

Nancy Rooney
Richmond University Medical Center

Nancy has been a registered nurse for over 44 years, working in various areas of healthcare. Her current role as a Lung nurse navigator and Tobacco trained specialist for the past 10 years. She is currently a certified Oncology nurse navigator.

Over the past 10 years Nancy has been very active in LUNG FORCE Walk and prior to covid the LUNG FORCE expos presenting the dangers of Vaping!

Nancy currently serves as the nurse navigator at Richmond University Medical Center’s lung screening program. Seeing over 500 smokers and former smokers a year. We are making a difference in early-stage lung cancer. Started an Anti-Vaping training program for the high school students here in Staten Island along with American Lung Association and other agencies.

Nancy have always been involved in my Staten Island community. She’s very proud to say she was the president of Snug Harbor little league for 8 years. Mother of 2 grown men and grandmother of 2.

Her motto is Just Breathe.

Jon Rosen
Impact Communications

Jon is founder and president of Impact Communications, the presentation and media training practice serving senior executives and sales professionals since 1980. Before forming Impact Communications, he was an award-winning television news journalist at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, WABC-TV in New York and ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He’s been recognized by his fellow journalists with an Emmy nomination, the New York Press Club Feature Award and the International Television Festival of New York Gold Medal.

Jon became a volunteer leader of the American Lung Association at the national, regional and local levels following his father’s death from emphysema in 1980. He served as Board Chair at the American Lung Association of Hudson Valley, NY and the American Lung Association of the Northeast. He received the Volunteer Excellence Award from the nationwide organization and is serving his fifth term as a member of the National Board of Directors, where his primary focus continues to be on fundraising, marketing, media.

Jennifer Toh, MD
ENT & Allergy Associates

Dr. Jennifer Toh is an Allergist and Immunologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in the Upper West Side of New York City. She is also an Executive Board member and former President of the New York Allergy and Asthma Society. She has been treating patients with allergies and asthma for several years and is excited to join the LUNG FORCE Walk Leadership Committee this year.

Yaru Xie
Hexmodal
New York Lung Cancer Foundation

Ru is a dedicated member of the LUNG FORCE Walk NYC Committee, serving for the third consecutive year as a Co-Captain alongside Dr. Nicholas Rohs, the 2023 Lung FORCE Walk NYC Medal Honoree. She is an Implementation Manager at Hexmodal, where she supports healthcare facility managers in automating compliance using Smart Devices.

Ru earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University in 2019 and has been actively involved in thoracic oncology since beginning her career at Mount Sinai Hospital. There, she coordinated the Mount Sinai Downtown Thoracic Tumor Board and contributed to its evolution into the Thoracic Tumor and Pulmonary Nodule Conference. Since 2020, Ru has also played a key role in organizing the New York Lung Cancer Foundation Post-ASCO and Post IASLC/EMSO meetings.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Ru enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, baking cookies, reading, and taking walks around the city.

Debra Zimmerman
Atlantic Health

Debra has participated in the LUNG FORCE Walk NYC since 2022. She is a Licensed Respiratory Therapist at Atlantic Health - Newton Hospital and has been a COPD educator since 2017. She sees Newton Hospital’s in-house COPD, Pneumonia, smoking/vaping patients, performs Pulmonary Function Testing, runs their Quit smoking class and their monthly Better Breathers support group meeting.

Debra was voted as Respiratory Therapist of the year for the state of New Jersey in October 2023. She has had family members with lung cancer and sees many patients who have been diagnosed with it.