Board of Directors

James P. Carroll

In 2007, Jim along with fellow board member Judy Culbertson organized the first annual appendix cancer walk to raise money for ACPMP research and education in Philadelphia, PA, after his lifelong friend Dutch Culbertson passed away from pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP).

Jim subsequently Joined the ACPMP Research Foundation Board in 2009 and focused on fundraising and education. Jim assisted in planning, coordinating, and speaking at many of the early specialist and patient symposiums. Jim also assisted volunteers setting up events and attended many of the broad range of fundraisers.

In addition to the ACPMP Research Foundation Jim has several years of Board experience with a Pa. based 501(C3) Charity-“Friends for Friends” that assists families in times of medical and financial crisis.

Jim graduated from West Chester University in Pennsylvania in 1979, earning a BS in Criminal Justice. Mr. Carroll is a Charter member of the Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) and served on the testing/exam Committee. Jim has been a Certified Fraud Examiner since 1994 and is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP); He served on the AP Leaders Council for the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and on the LP Leaders Council for the National Retail Federation (NRF).

Mr. Carroll has 45 years of experience in retail Loss Prevention and retired in 2024 as the Department Head of the Staples US Retail Loss Prevention Team where he led all Corporate and Field loss prevention department functions including shortage control, fraud investigations, workplace violence prevention, cash revenue management, safety, and physical inventory.

Mr. Carroll resides in Springfield, PA with his wife and two daughters.

Click here to see Jim's video for Giving Tuesday

Judith Culbertson

Judy Culbertson, an early advocate within the ACPMP patient and medical community, brings a broad range of seasoned experience and enthusiasm to her new role as Treasurer of the ACPMP Research Foundation, a title that fits her professional life while she continues to Make a Difference in her personal life.

Judy brings to ACPMP more than 25 years of learned know-how in the world of accounting. In her professional life Judy presently works as a financial accountant, leveraging her skill set in the non-profit arm of the county education system in her community, where the focus is providing services to children and youth. She brings to that position her previous learnings from her employment as payroll manager and assistant business manager in the automobile industry and, prior to that, experience in the banking industry. Judy has more than a quarter-century of learned know-how in the world of accounting.

Judy’s talent and dedication came to ACPMP the hard way – a loved one’s diagnosis. In 2004 Judy’s husband, Frank “Dutch” Culbertson, was diagnosed with Appendix Cancer- Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP), and that watershed moment unleashed an unshakeable combination of positivity and persistence searching treatment for her husband, sadly he passed away in 2006. Since that time Judy has been a fierce advocate in all phases of advancing improved treatment options for newly diagnosed patients and to bringing more long-term hope to survivors.

As part of her personal mission in life, in 2007 Judy, along with fellow Board member Jim Carroll, organized the First Annual Appendix Cancer Walk held on Father’s Day in the suburbs of Philadelphia in honor of Dutch.

This walk, held over the following 16 years has evolved to the ACPMP Research Foundations largest virtual fundraising event nationwide and continues today raising close to $800,000 since inception. These funds and all the other funds raised through the generosity of our donors enable the ACPMP Research Foundation to award research grants to the scientific and medical community to fund studies to discover innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for appendix cancer patients, with the hope of one day finding a cure for all. These funds also support numerous educational and awareness programs for patients, their caregivers, and clinicians.

Judy resides in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and enjoys spending time in the company of her and Dutch’s three adult children.

Click here to see Judy's video for Giving Tuesday

Deborah Shelton

Deborah M. Shelton is grateful for the privilege that she has each and every day to contribute to the ACPMP Research Foundation her deep knowledge and extensive professional experience in drug development with a focus on rare cancers. Deborah has spent over 25 years as an FDA regulatory advisor to a diverse set of stakeholders, including patients and caregivers, researchers, drug and device developers, and legislative bodies. In her professional capacity, Deborah has helped this diverse group of stakeholders to navigate the complex considerations and regulations pertinent to clinical research, and the testing and commercialization of cutting-edge pharmaceuticals and medical devices directed at enhancing the timely diagnosis and effective treatments for cancers and other serious diseases. She is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law, a frequent presenter at FDA-related conferences and has authored numerous publications on various topics of interest in the regulatory sphere.

As with all of her colleagues at ACPMP, Deborah’s personal journey with appendix cancer inspired her to dedicate her time to ACPMP. Deborah’s spouse is a survivor of appendix cancer. She was diagnosed in August 2018 and underwent CRS/HIPEC that October. For several years prior to her spouse being diagnosed, Deborah had been actively engaged in patient advocacy and issues involving the need to incentivize innovation for the development of therapies to treat cancers and other diseases where there is critical unmet medical need. Her spouse’s subsequent diagnosis with ACPMP and their collective personal experience with the numerous challenges presented following that diagnosis has further fueled Deborah’s zeal for that work, taking the fight now to both a professional and personal level.

Deborah’s primary focus in her work at ACPMP is in further developing the ACPMPs research grant program, clinical trial network, and the organization’s scientific and educational initiatives.

Deborah resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with her spouse (Kate), Deborah's 85-year “young” mother, and their two rescue dogs. In her spare time, she loves exploring salt marshes by kayak with Kate, exploring beaches, and reading Nordic detective novels with a good cup of strong coffee in hand.

Click here to see Deborah's video for Giving Tuesday

Lisa Kurtz Luciano
Founder/President (July 2008-October 2012)

Lisa Kurtz Luciano earned her MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1989. She was an owner of Kurtz Bros., Inc. in Northeast Ohio for over 25 years. Kurtz Bros. manufactures and wholesales landscape products and provides commercial recycling services. Lisa oversaw the Human Resources, Accounting and Information Technology areas of the business.

Lisa was diagnosed with PMP in October, 2007, and had major surgery at UPMC in Pittsburgh in November, 2007 and at Washington Hospital Center in August, 2010. Lisa lost her battle to PMP in October 2012 but she continues to inspire and motivate everyone involved with ACPMP to carry on her mission to improve the lives of patients and find a cure for PMP.

Michael M. Dvorsky
Founding Board Member/Treasurer (July 2008-December 2012)

Michael M. Dvorsky was the CFO of Ringham Corporation and its related entities, a privately held, diversified investment company. Prior to joining Ringham Corporation, Mike obtained his CPA license while working as an auditor for Arthur Young & Company in their Pittsburgh office. He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1980 with a BS degrees in Economics and Business Administration. He had over 20 years of experience on boards of various local community organizations and private companies.

Mike was diagnosed with PMP in August 2004 and was treated at UPMC in Pittsburgh, PA. Mike passed away in December 2012. His dedication to ACPMP and its mission were an integral part of ACPMP’s success in its founding years, and his selflessness and professionalism set a tone that continues throughout the organization to this day.