Leadership Team

  • Tochukwu Okwuosa, MD

    Founding Chair, Co-Founder, and Advisor
    Rush University Medical Center

    Professor of Cardiology and nationally recognized expert in the field. Dr. Okwuosa is the Cardio-Oncology Program Director at Rush and a founding member of CCCR. Her work focuses on reducing cardiovascular complications from cancer therapy and expanding educational access across Chicago.

  • Nausheen Akhter, MD

    Current Chair and Co-Founder
    Northwestern Medicine

    Dr. Akhter is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Northwestern and a leader in cardio-oncology education. She is committed to mentoring trainees and advancing cross-institutional collaboration.

  • Jeanne DeCara, MD

    Co-Founder and Advisor
    University of Chicago Medicine

    Dr. DeCara is a Professor of Medicine and a nationally recognized cardio-oncology specialist. She brings decades of experience in cardiovascular imaging and survivorship care.

  • Sunil Pauwaa, MD

    Immediate Past Chair and Advisor
    Advocate Health Care

    Dr. Pauwaa is an Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist who represents Advocate Health Care’s leadership in expanding CCCR beyond the city’s core academic centers.

Partner Institutions

What makes CCCR unique is the diversity of institutions and professionals who contribute to its success. Our leadership spans academic centers such as Northwestern, Rush, UChicago, Loyola, and the University of Illinois, as well as community hospitals and health systems including Advocate, Cook County, and NorthShore. We are also supported by professional societies like the Illinois Medical Oncology Society and strengthened by the active involvement of trainees and fellows who represent the next generation of cardio-oncology specialists. This inclusivity fosters a robust exchange of ideas and best practices that enhance both academic programs and community-based care across Chicago.