The American Cancer Society GenNow Network of Philadelphia is excited to host a panel and networking event. The panelists will discuss their career path and how they have incorporated their passion for and dedication to the American Cancer Society.
Please contact Mary Jo Rohrer at [email protected] if you experience any issues with purchasing a ticket.
Desiree Berenguer Carton
Vice President of Communications and Marketing for the Northeast Region, American Cancer Society
In 2010, Desiree joined the ACS as director of communications and marketing and has since established herself as a leader on the regional and national level in the areas of media relations, storytelling, brand awareness, social media strategy, spokesperson recruitment and training, hosting and moderating webinars and events, as well as organizational communications.
She is known for creating lasting partnerships with key media outlets in the #1 media market in the nation, as well as raising awareness of the ACS brand to support income development while championing the ACS values of diversity, inclusion, and health equity. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she is a visionary focused on greater engagement of more diverse audiences to enable ACS to reflect the communities it serves. She has received many awards including the ACS CEOs Club 2021, the 2023 Amplification Award, and two separate diversity champion awards from PR Week for her work at ACS. She is proud to serve the Northeast Region, which encompasses seven of the top media markets in the U.S.
Prior to coming to ACS, Desiree was a broadcast journalist for 15 years. Desiree and her husband, Brian, are the proud parents of Connor and Alexandra, college and high school students, and two rescue dogs Ranger and Ellie.
Valerie P. Csik
Director of Quality and Care Transformation, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health
Valerie P. Csik is a healthcare executive with more than 15 years of experience advancing oncology service line strategy, population health programs, and enterprise-wide quality improvement. She currently serves as Director of Quality and Care Transformation at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson Health, where she leads strategic initiatives that expand cancer care services, optimize value-based payment models, and drive system-wide alignment of quality and safety goals.
A recognized leader in service line growth and transformation, Valerie has managed multimillion-dollar budgets, designed patient navigation infrastructure to improve retention and reimbursement, and partnered with executive leadership to implement enterprise performance strategies. Her work reflects a balance of operational excellence, strategic planning, and cross-functional team leadership, with a consistent focus on improving patient outcomes and experience.
In parallel with her professional career, Valerie has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to volunteer leadership and advocacy in the oncology community. She has been an active volunteer with the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) since 2005, holding numerous leadership roles at local, state, and national levels. She began her volunteer journey as a Relay For Life committee member and went on to found a Colleges Against Cancer chapter at the University of Scranton, while also leading youth engagement initiatives across Pennsylvania.
Valerie later served as Pennsylvania State Lead Ambassador for ACS CAN, where she mobilized volunteers and advanced advocacy priorities across the region. She has also served as Chair of the Greater Philadelphia Volunteer Leadership Council and founded the Young Professionals of the American Cancer Society in Philadelphia, strengthening engagement among emerging leaders. She currently serves on the Greater Philadelphia Volunteer Leadership Council of the American Cancer Society.
Nationally, Valerie contributes to the field through service engagement with American Society of Clinical Oncology’s. She is also a published author of nine book chapters, two edited volumes, and numerous professional articles.
Valerie holds a Master of Public Health from Thomas Jefferson University and is a Certified Professional in Patient Safety and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Driven by a belief in “an inability to accept the unacceptable,” Valerie brings passion, purpose, and a commitment to meaningful change to both her professional work and volunteer service.
Alan G. Howald
Vice President, Business Development, Temple Health
Alan Howald is a healthcare strategy and operations professional with deep experience supporting growth, physician alignment, and service line development within integrated health systems. At Temple Health, he focuses on advancing clinical programs and strengthening partnerships across the care continuum, with particular emphasis on specialty services, access, and market expansion. Mr. Howald brings a data-driven approach to healthcare management, combining market analytics, operational insight, and stakeholder engagement to drive measurable performance improvement. Prior to and during his tenure at Temple Health, he has contributed to projects spanning ambulatory network growth, specialty program development, and strategic planning in competitive regional markets. He has particular expertise in evaluating market demand, optimizing referral pathways, and supporting partnerships between health systems and independent providers.
Mr. Howald is a graduate of Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He resides in North Wales. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Mr. Howald serves as the Chair of the Greater Philadelphia American Cancer Society Board of Directors. He has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society over twenty years. Mr. Howald has also served on the Board of the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance.
