Sharon Conley MD PhD
President & CEO
Founder and Product Development

Dr. Conley earned a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, which was followed by 10 years of experience as a bench researcher in molecular biology. She then obtained her MD at the University of Missouri and trained in Internal Medicine followed by a fellowship in Medical Oncology/Hematology at the University of Florida. She practiced as a medical oncologist at Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, from 1991 to 2003. Dr. Conley currently serves as a consultant for clinical research organizations and has authored multiple clinical trial documents and research papers.

Ned Buffington
Chief Operating Officer


Mr. Buffington obtained a BS in Business and Economics from Rollins College and has 35 years experience in economics, finance, senior management, marketing and business development. He has owned and managed his own companies as well as functioning in the capacity of C.E.O., General Manager and Executive Director of other successful companies. For the last 10 years, Mr. Buffington has worked with multiple emerging, high growth start-up companies in senior management positions with the responsibility for strategic planning, business plan implementation and capital strategy & acquisition.

Kathy O'Neal
Chief Financial Officer


Ms. O'Neal holds a BS in Mathematics from the University of Missouri. She also earned an MBA from California University. Ms. O'Neal worked at AT&T for 20 years, rising to the position of Financial Director, a senior management position in that Fortune 500 Company. In this capacity, she managed groups ranging in size from 2 to 185 people, with annual total budgets as high as $15 Million. While at AT&T, over $1 Billion was approved for various business proposals for which Ms. O'Neal had provided financials and their presentations.

James Varga
Chief Regulatory Officer


James Varga is a pharmacy and health care consultant, specializing in matters related to pain and symptom management as well as through leader - advocacy development. He has a BS in pharmacy and an MBA. Mr. Varga has worked in the health care and pharmaceutical industries in positions of management and leadership. He has published frequently in journals, contributed to four books, and has spoken internationally on a variety of health care related subjects.

Dolly Garlo, RN, JD, PCC
Vice President, Business Development


With extensive experience in both health care and health care law, Dolly Garlo has been a major contributor to the AVANCEN team since the company's inception. A 1978 BSN graduate of University of Michigan College of Nursing, she practiced critical care nursing at the University of Michigan Medical ICU, Ann Arbor, MI; and the LDS Hospital Shock Trauma ICU, Salt Lake City, UT. Dolly completed her law degree at the University Of Utah College Of Law in 1984 and practiced health care law until 2000.

Samara Bay
Executive Director, Marketing and Communications


Samara Bay has provided marketing direction and creative communication concepts for a diverse collection of US companies for more than 20 years. She has directed, developed, and implemented both traditional and web-based marketing/promotional campaigns and training programs and has been responsible for budgets ranging from $250,000 to $25,000,000. Her experience includes business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing, customer and dealer promotions, training, incentives and recognition.