Lisa White, Ph.D.

Lisa White, Ph.D., is a nonprofit management professional, wellness leader, and founder of Rock Against Cancer, a nonprofit organization she established around 1999 to bring music therapy and music programs to children undergoing cancer treatment. With more than 20 years of experience in program development, project management, organizational development, fundraising, and advocacy, she has dedicated much of her career to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer. She later became Director of YogAloha House, where she continues to promote healing and wellness through yoga, meditation, breathwork, movement, and other healing arts.

As Founder and Executive Director of Rock Against Cancer, Dr. White developed programs at hospitals and pediatric cancer centers including facilities in Atlanta, Children’s National, Hackensack, Mayo Clinic sites, UCLA, UCSF, and Primary Children’s. She worked with numerous well-known artists, including Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Matchbox Twenty, creating opportunities for young cancer patients and their families to experience music and, in some cases, attend concerts and meet performers backstage. Her advocacy extended beyond program development and fundraising, as she served as a founding member of CAC2, held leadership and volunteer roles with childhood cancer organizations, served as the North Carolina team leader for CureSearch, and traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for childhood cancer research and legislation.

Dr. White earned her bachelor’s degree from Lake Erie College and pursued her doctoral education in Biomedical Sciences at Wright State University, completing the first two years of medical school as part of her Ph.D. program. She later earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University to strengthen her transition into executive nonprofit leadership. She also participated in the National Cancer Institute’s grant peer-review process as a consumer advocate. After retiring from full-time advocacy in her mid-50s, she continued contributing through occasional consulting, grant writing, and volunteer work with Cat Angels cat rescue. Dr. White attributes her accomplishments to hard work, confidence, and her willingness to approach and connect with anyone. She also credits early career advice to never allow her gender to limit her ambitions, a principle that helped shape her approach to leadership and professional opportunity.