Who We Are
Board of Directors & TCAF Staff
Kim Jones
Founder & CEO of TCAF: October 9, 2009 - Present
Until October 26, 2007, I was a mother, a wife, and a mortgage banker. On that day, however, my life was changed in immeasurable ways. That was the day my son's battle with testicular cancer began at the early age of 13. Everything I had done up to that point in my life, no longer mattered. The only job that mattered was being a mother and watching my son fight for his life. I watched him go through life-threatening surgeries, six cycles of chemotherapy, and countless hours of pain and suffering. Nothing I had done prior to this could have prepared me for what was to come… I wondered why I, along with countless others, was unaware that testicular cancer was such a common diagnosis in young men starting at the early age 15 but could strike any age from infancy to the elderly. Why had my son's cancer progressed to stage 4 (aka stage 3c) before we even knew he had it? If we had known about the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer, Jordan’s cancer would not have progressed. In 2009 I started the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation to raise awareness and promote the importance of monthly self-exams and early detection.
Unfortunately, Jordan Jones relapsed after 7 years of being cancer free and passed away June 8, 2016, at 22 ½. I promised him I would continue to fight against this disease, support those affected, and help save lives.
Lisa Roberts
Board President: January 2020 - Present
Lisa Roberts owns a successful commercial and residential appraisal company - Roberts Appraisals
She is a Licensed Certified General Real Estate Appraiser and holds the SRA designation through the Appraisal Institute, and is an approved FHA Appraiser.
Lisa shares the same passions as TCAF and wants to help make a difference in the fight against this disease.
Phillip M. Pierorazio, MD
Professor and Chief of Urology, Penn Presbyterian Hospital
Board Member & Medical Adviser: August 2014 - Present
Dr. Phillip Pierorazio is a Professor and Chief of Urology at Penn Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Pierorazio is originally from New York, received his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and his medical degree from Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City where he completed a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship in Urological Oncology.
Twitter: @drphil_urology
Facebook: Penn Medicine
Email: phillip.pierorazio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Click Here to see Dr. Phillip Pierorazio’s video on Testicular Cancer
Khalid Alkhatib, MD MMSc
Clinical Research Fellow, Penn Urology University of Pennsylvania
Board Member: July 2019 - Present
Dr. Khalid Y. Alkhatib is a Clinical Research Fellow at Penn Urology. Dr. Alkhatib is interested in urological oncology and men’s health after cancer. His research interests include the long-term side effect of cancer treatment, survivorship, the economic impact of cancer, sociodemographic disparities, and surgical urological outcomes in different health system settings.
He is a Two-Time Testicular Cancer Survivor. he was diagnosed at the age of 19 and late recurrence at 28. His medical education has evolved around testicular cancer and focusing on becoming specialized in Uro-Oncology. Dr. Khalid did his internship in Saudi Arabia and completed a postgraduate Global Clinical Scholars Research Training Program at Harvard Medical School. In addition, he is involved in Global Health Systems Research in regards to TC in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the middle east.
Dr. Khalid is aspiring to become a Urologist/Scientist and pursue advanced training and research in the USA. His interests include studying outcomes of testicular cancer disease, testicular cancer survivorship, onco-fertility and men’s health post remission.
Joseph Shirk, MD
Chief of Urology
Board Member: May 2023 - Present
Joseph D. Shirk, MD is Chief of Urology at the Greater Los Angeles VA Health System and Assistant Professor of Urology at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Shirk performs complex urologic oncology operations, including retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, and tumor thrombectomy. His primary research interests include the development and use of advanced, innovative imaging techniques.
For more information about Dr. Shirk, click here.
Sean Q. Kern, MD
Lieutenant Colonel, Army
Board Member: August 2023 - Present
Dr. Sean Kern is urologic oncologist in the Murtha Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. He is the founding Director of the military’s Testicular cancer Enterprise for Survivorship, Treatment, and Investigational Sciences “TESTIS” Program and the Program Director of the Walter Reed Urology Residency. He completed his urologic oncology fellowship at Indiana University. He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2023.
Email: sean.kern@usuhs.edu
Click here to learn more about Sean’s story.
Aditya Bagrodia, MD, facs
UC San Diego Health
Board Member: September 2023 - Present
Dr. Aditya Bagrodia is an Associate Professor of Urology at UC San Diego Health. Dr. Bagrodia leads the genitourinary disease team training medical students, residents, and fellows. He has focused his clinical and research interests on understanding molecular attributes of germ cell tumors, which cause testicular cancer, with the goal of ultimately improving treatments and clinical care. He also has been actively involved in understanding and overcoming societal and epidemiological barriers to optimal care in testicular cancer patients. He is dedicated to guiding his patients on a path that is best for them, both in terms of survival and quality of life including navigating the latest treatments.
Twitter: @AdityaBagrodia
Email: bagrodia@health.ucsd.edu
Nicholas G. Cost, MD
University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado
Medical Advisory Team: May 2015 - Present
Dr. Nicholas Cost is a Assistant Professor at University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus & Children’s Hospital Colorado Dr. Cost’s interest in testicular cancer has guided his training and career development. Testicular cancer is a disease that affects boys and men of all ages. For that reason, after completing his residency in Urology and Urological Surgery, he pursued fellowship training in both urological oncology and pediatric urology. This allows him to provide care to children, adolescents, and adults with testicular cancer at both “adult” and “pediatric” hospitals.
Twitter: @cost_nicholas
Facebook: University of Colorado Cancer Center
Email: nicholas.cost@ucdenver.edu
Bj lange
Board Member: June 2019 - Present
BJ Lange is a retired USAF Reserve medic, two-time testicular cancer survivor, and president of Professional Dumbass, LLC. An actor and comedian, BJ is an alumnus of iO West (formerly improvOlympic West), Upright Citizens Brigade Los Angeles, and a graduate and teacher at The Second City Hollywood. BJ serves as an ambassador and mentor in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program where he also serves as comedy coach teaching applied improv as part of the resiliency programs. BJ is also a proud cast member of DIAVOLO Dance Theatre’s Veterans Project a member of the Veterans of Comedy, the American Legion, and serves on staff of Veterans in Media & Entertainment. He is the company emcee for Warriors For Peace Theatre.
Furthering his advocacy he serves on the artist council for Armed Services Arts Partnership and as a board member of Combat Boots & Cancer.
Steven Crocker
Board Member & Treasurer: April 2021 - Present
Steven Crocker is a stage 2b testicular cancer survivor with a passion for spreading awareness for the disease. He was diagnosed and treated in 2019 and has taken his new one-nut identity on head first, using humor to make others comfortable talking about their testicles. Professionally, Steven produces training content for an international company and hosts the "It Takes Balls" Podcast for TCAF. Steven co-authored the children’s book What’s Wrong with Billy’s Balls with his wife in 2024. He graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2016 with a BA in communications. He hopes to continue using his talents and platforms to spread awareness for Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation. To connect with Steven, find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Toni Brown
Board Member: May 2020 - Present
Toni Brown is a retired attorney from Ottawa, Canada who’s son is a late-stage testicular cancer survivor.
”In 2014, Alexander, my son, received the following diagnosis: ‘Poor risk non-seminomatous germ cell tumor with extensive lung metastasis, brain metastasis, and primary tumor in situ.’ I flew to Vancouver intending to bring him home for treatment. I had packed for two weeks but stayed for a year as I helped Alex through VIP chemo, an orchiectomy, and two lung surgeries.”
shea roberts
Director of Operations: June 2024 - Present
Shea Roberts graduated from Colorado State University with a B.A. in Zoology in 2013 and moved back to the Western Slope from the Front Range in 2023. She is passionate about raising awareness for this disease and has seen firsthand the devastating effects of testicular cancer on both patients and their families.
She enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends and family exploring the outdoors.