Officers - COG Research Foundation, LLC

Douglas S. Hawkins, MD

PRESIDENT

​Professor of Pediatrics
Seattle Children’s Hospital and University of Washington School of Medicine

​Dr. Hawkins is Group Chair of the Children's Oncology Group (COG).  Prior to becoming COG Group Chair in 2020, he was the Chair of the COG Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee, overseeing the conduct of biology studies and clinical trials for rhabdomyosarcoma and other soft tissue sarcomas across North America.  His academic career has focused on clinical research, particularly in the treatment of pediatric sarcomas. He was the chair of two COG clinical trials, one for Ewing sarcoma and another for rhabdomyosarcoma. He chairs the international EURO EWING Consortium External Advisory Board, and also chairs the international Frontline and Relapse in RhabdoMyoSarcoma Study (FaR-RMS) Data Monitoring Committee.

Deborah L. Crabtree​

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER 

Deborah serves as Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the COG Research Foundation and as a member of the Board of Advisors. Deborah also oversees the Membership and Communications & Publications Departments, the library of member institution-facing groupwide policies and groupwide standard operating procedures, arranging of semi-annual meetings and retreats, and operations for COG’s philanthropic 501(c)(3) entity.  She has 25 years of experience in grants administration and association management, having previously worked in state government and a cancer research professional organization. Deborah holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from St. Joseph’s University, as well as a Master of Community Health, Health Policy and Administration Specialization degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ronald Wilson, JD​

VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY & SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTS MANAGEMENT

Ronald Wilson is the inaugural Director of the Contracts Management department at Children’s Oncology Group where he is leading the implementation and launch of a new contracts management department - incorporating existing resources, new staff and systems - shaping its strategy, processes, and culture. Ronald has more than 10 years research contracting experience in the sponsored research sector where he previously served at the University of Texas, the George Washington University and Northwestern University. Prior to joining the scientific research community, Ronald was an executive in the entertainment and media sectors where he served in a number of leadership roles, including business and legal affairs. Ronald is a graduate of the College of Alameda, where he was concurrently enrolled at the University of California Berkeley. Ronald also earned his Bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College and a Juris Doctor from the Hofstra University School of Law.

John “JP” Plunkett MBA, CIA, CRMA

CONTROLLER & ASSISTANT TREASURER​

JP serves as Controller and Assistant Treasurer, where he leads the accounting and finance department with a focus on financial operations and federal grant compliance. He brings over 20 years of experience in financial management within higher education and corporate environments, having previously served as Controller at Lindenwood University. Prior to his work in higher education, JP spent nearly a decade in the paper and packaging industry in internal audit and project controller roles. He holds professional certifications as a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA). Additionally, JP earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Oakland City University and his MBA from Lindenwood University.

Daniel T. Woods

ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY

Dan serves as Assistant Vice President and Assistant Secretary of COG Research Foundation, while also managing operations for COG’s philanthropic 501(c)(3) entity.  He has 20 years of experience in the financial services and nonprofit sectors, having previously worked as a consultant for a variety of community-based nonprofits and educational institutions.  Prior to Dan’s work in the nonprofit sector, he had 10 years of experience helping to manage multi-billion dollar investment portfolios in the private equity real estate and hedge fund industries.  Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from La Salle University, as well as a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Villanova University.