Who We Are

Donald R. Yance, Founder, President, Chairman, Lead Clinician, Mederi Center

Donnie Yance is a Clinical Master Herbalist and Certified Nutritionist renowned for his extraordinary knowledge and deep understanding of the healing properties of plants and nutrition, as well as epigenetics, laboratory medicine, oncologic pathology, and molecular oncology. He is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and the National Association of Nutrition Professionals. He is also professed as a Secular Franciscan, which equips him with the breadth and wisdom to touch on the spiritual aspects of healing. Donnie conducts his clinical practice at the Mederi Center in Ashland, Oregon utilizing his unique integrative model known as Mederi Care, which he evolved over more than twenty years of successful patient care. The Mederi Care model elegantly combines his passion for the latest scientific research with the wisdom of ancient healing traditions, resulting in a compassionate, creative, intelligent, and effective approach to healing. As a visionary leader, mentor, teacher, author, and healer, Donnie’s methodology has transformed thousands of lives and is carried out through the mission and programs of the Mederi Foundation.
 

Jennifer Yance, Co-Founder, Executive Director

Jen’s leadership at the heart of the organization has been instrumental to Mederi Center’s growth and accomplishments. With vision, dedication, and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission, she oversees and directs its fundraising, clinical, research, and education programs while helping guide Mederi Center’s continued evolution and impact.

Her business acumen, collaborative leadership, and longstanding commitment to healthy living have helped shape the organization into a trusted resource for patients, practitioners, and the broader integrative healthcare community.

G. Scott Purcell, Treasurer

Scott Purcell is the CEO of ACA International, the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals, an organization that works to make a difference in the quality of life for every American family by helping make our credit-based economy work as it should. Prior to that, he was the President and COO of Professional Credit Service, a Hawes Financial Group Company, where he partnered with clients to create a vision for living life well and making a lasting, positive impact in the world. Mr. Purcell has also had his own consulting firm following a long career as an audit partner with Moss Adams, LLP, and was the CFO of a small, publicly-traded international technology company. Mr. Purcell is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Consultant. He also serves as the Campaign Chair of United Way of Lane County and was an active Volunteer Financial Analyst for PEER Servants, an international organization committed to alleviating poverty through Micro-Finance programs that provide opportunities for economic development.

Barbara Slaine

Barbara Slaine has been passionate about health and healing since attending The Eastern School for Physician’s Assistants in her early twenties. Since then, she has remained a lifelong student of spirit-mind-body medicine, earning certifications in a variety of holistic healing modalities, including nutrition and Reiki. She is the founder of the Liphe Balance Center in Weston, Connecticut, a community haven dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey to well-being through programs led by respected teachers, authors, and practitioners from around the world. Barbara is also the founder of MyHealingRooms.com, a public-service website offering a wealth of complimentary information on topics ranging from stress management and music therapy to inspirational books and integrative approaches for people facing cancer and other health challenges. Dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s transitions with greater awareness and confidence, she founded the Alliance for Conscious Transitioning, which offers a certificate program designed to guide people toward conscientious, safe, and effective options for healing, support, and end-of-life care.

Warren M. Ross, MD

Dr. Ross is the founding member of Crossroads Medical Associates, an 11-provider primary care internal medicine practice, and the founder of Integrative Medicine at Crossroads, reflecting his longstanding commitment to combining the best of conventional and complementary approaches to patient care. His interest in integrative medicine began in 1970 when, as a medical student, he developed a research project investigating the effects of meditation on health outcomes in people with seizure disorders. He went on to study acupuncture in the 1970s and, in 1976, helped establish the Centre for Traditional Acupuncture (now Maryland University of Integrative Health). From 1976 to 1980, he served on the faculty of the University of Maryland Department of Family Practice, where he developed the first holistic medicine course offered at a U.S. medical school. Dr. Ross has achieved board certification in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine, and currently maintains active certification in Internal Medicine.

Dwight McKee, MD, CNS, ABIHM 

Dr. McKee has been the Chairman of the Mederi Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board since 2010 and is one of the most knowledgeable researchers and clinicians in the world. After becoming board certified in Internal Medicine, he completed a three-year fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at Scripps Clinic, in La Jolla, CA, and subsequently became board certified in both disciplines. Since completing training in medical oncology, hematology, and immunology, Dr. McKee has been involved in the development of integrative cancer care, working to create a synthesis between conventional cancer medicine and alternative/complementary medicine. In 2003, he became board certified in nutrition by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists, of the American College of Nutrition, and in 2007 he became Board Certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine through the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Dr. McKee has been a member of the Internal Medicine staff at Scripps Clinic and served as a consultant for the San Diego Cancer Research Institute from 2001 through 2010.

Young J. Lee, MD

Dr. Young Joo Lee is a board-certified hematologist and oncologist with extensive patient care and research experience, including clinical trials in many different cancer types. She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Hematology, Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Dr. Lee has worked in large academic cancer centers as well as community cancer programs in the greater Baltimore-Annapolis region for more than 20 years. A graduate of Brazil’s Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Medical School, Dr. Lee completed her internal medicine training and hematology oncology fellowship at Jackson Memorial Hospital. She also completed training through Harvard Medical School Structural Acupuncture Program for Physicians. She is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the Maryland/District of Columbia Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Lee is passionate about providing the most effective cancer therapies with minimal toxicity and is a strong proponent of integrating the wisdom of other traditional healing practices into modern medicine.

Leslee Rogath

Leslee Rogath has served on the board of several art organizations, including The Stamford Museum and Nature Center and The Bruce Museum, where she was an active member on both the Nominating and Exhibition committees. With her husband David, she founded Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts, which focuses on 20th and 21st century art. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Leslee earned her master’s degree from Columbia University. She later served as a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Currently, the Halpern-Rogath Fine Arts Traveling Fellowship provides selected fine arts students with funding to allow them to travel nationally and internationally to exhibitions, museum, and art centers. Leslee avidly supports ShatterProof, a national non-profit dedicated to reversing the addiction crisis in the United States. She also worked to combat child abuse and neglect for the State of Florida Division of Family Services.