IHCE is a team of like-minded educators with expertise in Medicine, Nursing, Ethics, Spirituality, Pharmacy, and Healthcare Administration. With over 200 years of clinical patient management experience, we recognize the impact of the social determinants of health.

Our goal is to respond to the expressed or implied community needs for justice in health care. We use a unique approach to teaching and improving access to ethics in health care education. 

Joseph A Caruana, MD, MS

Chair, Board of Directors

  • Dr. Caruana is a physician and clinical ethicist. Dr. Caruana received his undergraduate education at Canisius College, Buffalo, NY. He attended the SUNY Medical University in Syracuse and did his residency in surgery at the Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) in Buffalo.

    Dr. Caruana received a Master of Science degree in Health Care Ethics from Creighton University in 2019. He retired from surgical practice after 40 years. He is the co-chair of the Erie County Medical Center Ethics Committee and teaches medical ethics to students at the State University of New York Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He is a co-founding member of IHCE.

Rev. Gregory Jakubowicz, O.F.M

Board of Directors

  • Fr. Jakubowicz earned his B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and his J.D. from SUNY at Buffalo School of Law. He practiced law in New York State; then spent five years working for LexisNexis in Charlottesville, VA.

    His first ministerial assignment was Assistant Professor of Business Law at St. Bonaventure with subsequent service as the COO of the Washington Theological Union, a Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry.

    Fr. Jakubowicz has promoted medical ethics conversations with students and physicians for years. He is a co-founding member of IHCE.

Philip Reed, PhD

Board of Directors

  • Philip Reed, Ph.D., is currently on sabbatical from his positions of Professor of Philosophy and Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences at Canisius College, specializing in ethics, applied ethics, and moral psychology.

    As the Institute’s first academic fellow, he will pursue his primary research interests in bioethics; namely the doctrine of double effect, research ethics, paternalism, autonomy, and end of life issues. He is a member of the Home Community Based Care, Palliative Care, Ethics Committee for the Catholic Health System of Buffalo.

Michelle D. Seay, FNP, MS, DNP

Treasurer, Board of Directors

  • Dr. Seay earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree for Family Nurse Practitioners in 2021. Dr. Seay has worked in healthcare since 1998 as a general duty nurse, nurse practitioner, nursing supervisor, and nursing unit manager. Her current role is the Clinical Patient Care Liaison where she serves as the bridge between the patient, family, and hospital. Dr. Seay is also involved with the education and training for the Erie County Medical Center Corporation on the Patient/Human Experience. She is a member of the ECMC ethics committee and serves as an ethics consultant. Dr. Seay has gone on two medical mission trips to Haiti where she provided medical care and education to patients in Port-au-Prince and other parts of the Island Nation.

Scott V. Monte, PharmD

Secretary, Board of Directors

  • Dr. Monte is an assistant clinical professor at the State University of New York School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Buffalo, New York. He graduated with his PharmD in 2006 and subsequently completed a primary care residency and clinical fellowship. He is active in teaching pharmacy students and serves as a mentor for them. He has produced and directed ethics teaching conversations with pharmacy and medical students and practitioners. He is an entrepreneur with experience in business startups and development.

Julia Kabakov, CP

Executive Director

Charles J. Sellers, III

Vice Chair, Board of Directors

  • Charles J. Sellers, III is President of Charles J. Sellers & Co., a family-owned insurance agency founded by his grandparents in 1920. The firm is now in the fourth generation of family ownership.

    Mr. Sellers holds several insurance licenses and designations. He is a graduate of Canisius College with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting.

    Charles J. Sellers & Co. has insured physicians and attorneys through their professional societies for over 80 years. His work with physicians and attorneys has led to an interest in ethics and patient welfare.

Vincent J. Mancuso

Board of Directors

  • Mr. Mancuso is a graduate of Canisius University in Buffalo, NY. He is recipient of the distinguished LaSalle medal by Canisius. He retired from a career in banking after 38 years of service with HSBC. Canisius’s Alumni Association, and has provided strategic guidance to the college while serving on the Board of Regents and chaired its Regents Scholarship Ball.

    Mr. Mancuso currently is Chairman of Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, and Treasurer at Health Foundation for Western & Central New York Inc.

  • Ms. Kabakov is a graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. Ms. Kabakov has a technical and clinical background in prosthetics and orthotics and has been active in healthcare administration for the past 20 years. As program director and then chief executive of a large surgical practice in Buffalo, NY, she initiated insured wellness programs, published articles, and negotiated insurance and private payor contracts.

    Since 2010, Ms. Kabakov has worked independently as director of several online education projects. She managed creative teams, developed and produced content for patients and medical professionals. She is a co-founder of IHCE.