Leadership

Board of Directors

Karen Albritton, MD
Cook Children’s Medical Center—Fort Worth, TX

Dr. Albritton was educated at Yale University and received her medical degree from the University of Texas. After completing two fellowships at the University of North Carolina, she is board certified in both pediatric and adult oncology.

Her main research focus is in health services for adolescents and young adults with cancer, including access to age-appropriate, disease-based care. She is particularly interested in understanding variables affecting differential survival outcomes of patients across an age spectrum with the same disease, especially sarcoma. Dr. Albritton is past Chair of the Adolescent and Young Adult Committee within the Children’s Oncology Group and was Co-chair of the National Cancer Institute’s Progress Review Group on Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology.

After serving as the director of the AYA oncology program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Albritton moved back home to Texas to start a community-based AYA Oncology Program at Cook Children’s Hospital and the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth.

Jim Coghlin Sr.
Chairman, Coghlin Cos., Inc.

Jim is Chairman of Coghlin Cos., Inc.,— a fourth-generation business — that, today, is an accelerated time-to-market product engineering and contract manufacturing company, providing concept-to-commercialization services to a diversified group of capital equipment innovators, device manufacturers and venture-backed technology companies throughout the U.S.

Today, Jim’s passion is DetecTogether, the organization he founded to grow awareness of the life-saving advantage of early cancer detection. Read more about Jim’s inspiration and the origins of DetecTogether.

In recognition of his business success and community service work, Jim has received many honors, including recognition by Massachusetts General Hospital as part of their “The One Hundred” Program in 2014 for his “commitment to the fight against cancer that inspires us all to take action.” Jim and DetecTogether were honored by the Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists with the 2018 Audesse Award for “outstanding efforts to educate the public about cancer care, prevention, and to enhance the quality of cancer care in Massachusetts.”

Jim and his wife, Nancy, live in Shrewsbury, Mass., and are parents of four grown children and grandparents of 13 grandchildren.

Chris Coghlin
President/CEO, Coghlin Companies, Inc.

Chris  is the President, CEO and Owner of Coghlin Companies and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Columbia Tech, a product development, manufacturing and global fulfillment services company, and Cogmedix, an FDA compliant medical device manufacturing and engineering services firm.

Chris has been with Coghlin Companies for nearly 30 years and has been President and CEO of both its subsidiaries for more than 15 years. He is a 1988 graduate of Saint John’s High School and a 1993 graduate of Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business. In addition to his business responsibilities, Chris is an active member of The Young Presidents Organization (YPO) New England Chapter, Mass Medic, MDG (Medical Development Group), and is an Ambassador to the Saint John’s High School Robotics Program. Chris is also actively involved in Northeastern University’s Co-Op Education Program, a United Way Community Trustee, Worcester Country Club member, accomplished musician, and a former youth sports coach. Chris serves as a volunteer, strategic advisor or board member to a multitude of other businesses and charitable organizations including the Joe Andruzzi Foundation (JAF), DetecTogether, Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cornerstone Bank, Shrewsbury Pitches In, E for All, Fuel for Fire, and The Worcester Regional Research Bureau.

Chris lives with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children, in Shrewsbury, Mass.

Eric Coghlin
Director in Equity Capital Markets, Bank of America

Eric is a Director in Equity Capital Markets for Bank of America in New York City. He specializes in equity-linked products and corporate equity derivatives across a variety of industries including the healthcare sector. He works with clients across the country and abroad. Prior to joining Bank of America, Eric spent more than 14 years at UBS Investment Bank as an Executive Director, working both in the New York City office as well as the Sydney, Australia office.

Eric began his investment banking career directly out of college. He received his BS in Finance from Boston College, where he graduated summa cum laude, and in the top 2% of his class from the Carroll School of Management. During his undergraduate years at Boston College, Eric spent a semester at the University of New South Wales School of Banking and Finance in Sydney, Australia. Eric attended the Bancroft School in Worcester, Mass.

Eric resides in Darien, Conn., with his wife, Vickie, and their four children.

Michael Davin
Entrepreneur

Michael has had a long and accomplished career in the medical device and aesthetics industry. He served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cynosure from 2003 to 2017. Cynosure is engaged in the development and manufacture of light-based aesthetic and medical treatment systems. During this time, sales growth went from $20 million to $430 million, including significant international expansion. Michael led the company’s initial public offering and listing on the NASDAQ and executed key acquisitions. Under his leadership, Cynosure became one of the largest and most profitable companies in the aesthetics industry. Cynosure was sold to Hologic for $1.65 billion in March 2017.

Prior to joining Cynosure, Michael co-founded Cutera, a global medical device company, based in California, engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, marketing and servicing of laser and other energy-based aesthetics systems for practitioners.

He was the 2008 recipient of Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Medical Devices category in New England.

Michael graduated from Southern New Hampshire University. He and his wife, Ellen, live in Boston, Mass.

Peter Deckers, MD
Dean Emeritus, University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine

Peter Deckers, MD, is a highly respected surgeon with a focus on breast and gastrointestinal tumor surgery. He is Dean Emeritus of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and former Executive Vice President of the University Health Center. During his 15-year tenure as Dean, he was responsible for a major transformation at the medical school by supporting the development of a new educational curriculum. He oversaw a dramatic increase in patient care provided by John Dempsey Hospital and the UConn Medical Group; and spearheaded strong growth in public and private research awards to biomedical scientists and clinicians.

Joining the University Health Center in 1987, Peter assumed the top administrative position on an interim basis in 1999 and, then, permanently in 2000. He helped engineer a turnaround that achieved $74 million in cost reductions and revenue enhancements; focused resources on areas of excellence; stepped up recruitment of nationally prominent physicians and researchers; and brought more patients to the Health Center.

Peter has published more than 150 scholarly contributions and served as president of the New England Cancer and New England Surgical societies. A Boston University School of Medicine graduate, he received top awards as a student and resident, and completed his fellowship training in the surgical branch of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. He continues to be involved with the University Health Center, sees patients, teaches, and assists with philanthropic and outreach efforts.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Peter has garnered many awards and honors. Peter and his wife, Barbara, live in Avon, Conn.

Bill Durgin
Management and Investment Consultant

Following a dedicated and successful 26-year career at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., Bill Durgin retired in 2010 and is currently a self-employed management and investment consultant. He works with senior management teams and boards on strategic and tactical financial, general management, and investment management strategies and operational improvements.

While at Holy Cross, Bill held the positions of Vice President, Business Affairs/Treasurer and then Chief Investment Officer. Under his stewardship, the College’s endowment grew from a few million dollars to more than $550 million. Bill oversaw the day-to-day management of financial assets, and worked with the Board of Trustees to make long term investment decisions for the College. During his tenure, he oversaw 19 campus construction and renovation projects, including six new buildings. Prior to Holy Cross, Bill worked at Tufts University.

In 1978, Bill received his MBA from Babson College. He and his wife, Linda, live in Whitinsville, Mass.

Patrick McCarty, PE
President, McCarty Companies

Patrick is President of McCarty Companies, a full-service design/build civil engineering construction firm serving the Massachusetts market.

Patrick has been with McCarty Companies from a very early age. His father founded the business in 1982 as a construction management firm and Patrick returned full time in 2004 when he founded McCarty Engineering, Inc, the civil design & permitting side of McCarty Companies. He is a 1996 graduate of Saint John’s High School and a 2000 graduate of University of New Hampshire’s College of Engineering & Physical Sciences. Patrick is a Registered Professional Civil Engineer in the State of Massachusetts. In addition to his business responsibilities, Patrick served as a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity of Central MA for 10 years, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Leominster Education Foundation, is active in the North Central MA Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Leominster Police Station Building Committee, and previously served on the Central MA Advisory Council of DetecTogether prior to joining the Board. 

Patrick lives with his wife, Jessica, and their two daughters, Sophie & Lilly, in Leominster, Mass.

Chris Palermo
CPA, Chief Financial Officer, Coghlin Companies: General Manager Columbia Tech

Chris is the Chief Financial Officer of the Coghlin Companies and its wholly owned subsidiaries: Columbia Tech, a product development, manufacturing and global fulfillment services company, and Cogmedix, an FDA-compliant medical device contract manufacturing and engineering services firm.

Chris also serves as the General Manager for Columbia Tech. Chris is a 1983 graduate of Saint John’s High School and a 1987 graduate of Assumption College. Prior to joining the Coghlin Companies, Chris began his career with KPMG and Bollus Lynch, where he achieved his Certified Public Accountant certification. Chris has served in several capacities for local non-profit organizations.

Chris and his wife, Katie, have three grown children, and reside in Shrewsbury, Mass.

---

Board of Advisors

---

Central Mass Advisory Committee

A group of dedicated and experienced advisors who help direct DetecTogether’s local efforts.

---

Fire Service Advisory Board

A group of professionals dedicated to improving the health and safety of firefighters; they advise DetecTogether on programs for members of the fire service.