Our Leadership

Dr. Benedict Benigno

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

benedict_benigno Dr. Benedict Benigno is a world-renowned gynecologic surgeon and oncologist who has spent his career treating women with ovarian cancer. In 1999, he founded the Ovarian Cancer Institute and serves as its CEO. Through his alliance with the Georgia Institute of Technology he has become a forerunner in ovarian cancer research. Dr. Benigno is the principle investigator in numerous clinical trials including the new PARP inhibitor drugs. He is dedicated to the discovery of a 100% accurate diagnostic test, as well as, the development of more efficacious and less toxic ways of treating this dreadful disease.

He received his M.D. degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Benigno completed two fellowships in gynecologic oncology, one at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and the other at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston.

Dr. Benigno is the founder and President of University Gynecologic Oncology and the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of many societies including the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, the Felix Rutledge Society, and the American Society of Clinical Oncologists. Dr. Benigno is a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Emory University School of Medicine, the Morehouse School of Medicine, and Mercer University. He serves on the board of the Parker H. Petit Institute of Bioengineering and Bioscience at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Benigno has published numerous articles and textbook chapters, and travels the world speaking on various aspects of gynecologic cancer. He is the author of the book, “The Ultimate Guide to Ovarian Cancer: Everything You Need to Know About Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research. This book is sold all over the world and is a great help to patients and their families. He was honored in 2002 with the Hero of Medicine Award for the Most Innovative Cancer Research in the State of Georgia. In 2014, Dr. Benigno was appointed to the ovarian cancer steering committee based in the National Institute of Health.

In addition to his interest in ovarian cancer research, Dr. Benigno supports the Atlanta Symphony and Atlanta Opera. He is fluent in French and has been a lifelong student of the piano. His wife, Sheila, is a prominent portrait artist, and they have three children, Justin, Alexander and Serena.

Vicki Barnett

Chief Operating Officer

Vicki J. Barnett, MSN, RN, CNOR, earned a Master of Science in Nursing Administration from the University of Florida. Her career is punctuated by progressive clinical opportunities, challenging leadership projects and fulfilling management roles in complex perioperative settings.

She is honored to work with the Ovarian Cancer Institute as the Chief Operating Officer, after having served on the Board of Directors previously. Vicki worked with a surgical team to develop the initial process for surgical specimen procurement to the OCI research facility at Georgia Tech. She was director of surgical services for Northside Hospital in Atlanta Georgia and is currently a perioperative consultant. She served four years on the Board of Directors for the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and now serves on numerous national perioperative nursing committees and the Georgia Council’s Surgical Smoke Coalition.

Individual awards she has earned are Georgia Nurse of the Year, the AORN award for Outstanding Achievement in Perioperative Management and Georgia Council Outstanding Perioperative Nurse. Vicki speaks at conferences throughout the world on transformational leadership, and patient safety. She is also Vice President of Chapter AB, Georgia P.E.O.; a philanthropic educational organization supporting the international advancement of women’s education.

Vicki and Dave Barnett reside in Cashiers, NC, just north of the Christmas tree farm. They enjoy gardening, hiking, kayaking and their new hobby, riding E Bikes with friends.

Kathryn Harper Jones

Executive Director

Successfully working in nonprofit for over fourteen years, Kathryn Jones joined the Ovarian Cancer Institute in 2013. Sharing her expertise in marketing and fundraising, Kathryn was recruited to the Ovarian Cancer Institute after exceeding fundraising goals for Make-A-Wish after just five months with the organization. Prior to that, Kathryn managed and conducted over six major fundraising events and raised over $1.5 million during her three years as a Senior Community Director for the March of Dimes.

At the Ovarian Cancer Institute, Kathryn leads all business developments and operations. A “jack-of-all-trades,” her favorite part of the job is collaborating with over 100 volunteers working tirelessly to advance ovarian cancer research.

When not facilitating board meetings and organizing events, Kathryn enjoys competitive ballroom dancing with her husband Rex, golf, fishing, hiking, and traveling.

To learn more about our team, ovarian cancer research, and how you can help, contact the Ovarian Cancer Institute at 404-300-2997 or our our contact form.