MEET PHA’S TEAM
CONTACT US: 301-565-3004
President & CEO
Brad A. Wong
President & CEO x741
Brad joined PHA in June of 2016 as the organization’s second President and CEO in its 25-year history. Prior to assuming this leadership role, he served as Executive Director of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. His accomplishments included creating innovative programs, raising the foundation’s visibility, establishing strategic partnerships and increasing and diversifying funding. Brad also brings broad knowledge of academic medicine and biomedical research environments, having served as Assistant Vice President of the University of California, San Francisco Foundation. In addition to leading a dedicated and talented staff, Brad works closely with public stakeholders and the PH community and leadership—including the PHA Board of Trustees, Scientific Leadership Council and Corporate Committee—to further PHA’s mission.
Executive Team
Azalea Candelaria
Vice President, Development x767
Azalea got her start in fundraising in 1998 at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and went on to hold national and regional leadership positions at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, March of Dimes and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation. She has a strong track record in fundraising strategy and execution, and extensive experience in partnering with volunteers. Azalea leads PHA’s development efforts including individual giving, events, corporate and foundation grants and planned giving programs.
Chris Forberg
Vice President, Finance x751
Chris is responsible for the oversight of the Finance and Database teams. Working closely with the President, he produces monthly financials, forecasting, and cash management reports. Chris also leads the annual budget and audit processes. As part of the management team, he is charged with organizing and developing office, staff, and system policies and procedures.
Michael Gray
Vice President, Quality Care & Research x770
Michael oversees the department’s involvement with PHA’s professional medical membership groups, PH Professional Network (PHPN) and PH Clinicians & Researchers (PHCR), helping to facilitate networking and other activities within these groups and promoting membership. Additionally, he works closely with the Scientific Leadership Council, which provides leadership and guidance for the mission of PHA and leads the development of the wide array of all PHA’s medical programming.
Lauren M. Lefkowitz
Vice President, Human Resources & Training x802
Lauren Lefkowitz leads the human resources department and manages recruiting, employee relations, training, benefits and compensation. She also oversees the information technology and office management functions for PHA. Lauren’s prior experience includes human resources management in the financial services and retail industries, as well as pro-bono work and board service with a variety of non-profit organizations.
Karen Smaalders
Vice President, Communications & Marketing x750
Karen leads the Communications and Marketing department, which manages the PHA brand, web, print, social media and e-communications, as well as PHA’s marketing and advertising efforts. Karen started her career as a journalist, working for newspapers and magazines. Since then, she has directed communications and marketing for a variety of nonprofit organizations and higher education, including the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American Diabetes Association, the University of Washington and Seattle University. She holds a B.A. in mass communication from the University of California, Davis, and a Master in Nonprofit Leadership from Seattle University.
Advocacy & Treatment Access
Katherine Kroner
Senior Director, Advocacy & Treatment Access x749
As PHA’s Senior Director of Advocacy and Treatment Access, Katie advocates on behalf of the PH community with federal policy makers, coordinates PHA’s grassroots advocacy network, and works to ensure that individuals living with PH have access to the specific PH therapies prescribed by their physician. She is the first point of contact for PH community members with insurance challenges and for anyone interested in fighting back through advocacy.
Communications & Marketing
Alanna Coogan
Design & Publications Associate x774
Alanna creates a variety of print and web materials for PHA, including brochures, posters, social media graphics, postcards, and PHA’s quarterly magazine, Pathlight. She loves the broad reach of visual marketing and hopes that her designs, whether in doctors’ offices, patients’ homes, community centers or online, effectively raise awareness of PH and inspire people to join the PH community.
Kathryn Frix
Web Services Manager x742
Kathy works to maintain PHA’s website and other e-channels and assists staff and the community at-large with online technical issues.
Roberto J. Hylton
Digital Media Associate x759
Roberto creates, manages and optimizes direct response media campaigns across multiple digital platforms such as social media, email and video. He reviews and analyzes social media data, and develops tactics and strategies to drive conversation about PHA and its impact. Roberto works to create meaningful impressions to build awareness, gain trust and increase audience loyalty.
Elinore Tibbetts
Communications and Marketing Manager x760
Elinore serves as PHA’s Communications and Marketing Manager. In this role, she is editor-in-chief of PHA’s quarterly magazine Pathlight as well as the association’s weekly e-newsletter PHANews. She is also responsible for overseeing the writing, design and production of all PHA print collateral. Her past experience includes managing communications and marketing for a variety of associations and businesses, including the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, the National Environmental Balancing Bureau and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. She has been published in a variety of industry-specific magazines and holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from American University in Washington, D.C.
Development
Michele Fernandez
Development Coordinator X810
As a development team member, Michele leads PHA’s general membership – an opportunity for individuals to join the PHA community and receive special benefits. She also partners with volunteer leaders on grassroots community fundraising events that benefit PHA programs and research. Michele is inspired by the individuals she engages with through her work in these programs.
Mira Kruger
Development Associate X756
As a part of the Development team, Mira supports PHA by helping process donations received by the organization. She manages donor information, and oversees the distribution of mailings and acknowledgement letters. She also supports the development team by assisting with event and membership efforts. Mira’s grandmother was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2006, and she volunteered with the Pulmonary Hypertension Association from 2008-2012. She is excited to get the opportunity to work for an organization that made such an impact on her and her family’s lives.
Finance
Karen Jackson
Associate Director, Finance x747
Karen is responsible for managing PHA payroll and accounts payable functions and supports the VP of Finance with general accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting processes. Prior to joining PHA, Karen worked for over 20 years for the Montgomery County Government Department of Finance as well as Public Accounting and Professional Services firms. Karen is a CPA, licensed in the State of Maryland.
Randall McLeod
Associate Director, Database & Finance x748
Randall oversees PHA’s donor database, The Raiser’s Edge. Randall serves PHA by ensuring all data is entered in a timely and accurate manner, and maintaining accurate records for all constituents. Randall assists the staff with any issues related to the database, and trains staff on how to use the database to serve their needs most effectively.
Talia Reiss
Associate, Data Entry and Finance x757
Talia works with the finance team to maintain PHA’s donor database, Raiser’s Edge, ensuring that constituent information, relationships and merchandise orders are up to date. Talia aids in processing applications, mailings and payments related to Support Group funding. She also assists with monthly financial reporting and reconciliations.
Meeting & Conference Planning
Pat Reilly
Meeting Planner x811
In his role as a Meeting Planner, Pat manages full logistics for PHA On the Roads, Corporate Committee, Board, Scientific Leadership Council, and the PHCC/PHPN committee meetings. He also manages exhibits for the Biannual Conference as well as the Conference/Symposium mobile apps. Pat also partners with the Senior Manager, Meeting & Conference Planning on a variety of other logistics.
Chanel Ricks
Senior Manager, Meeting and Conference Planning x779
Chanel is the Senior Manager of Meeting and Conference Planning department, with primary responsibilities including site selection and contract negotiation for all meetings and conferences, and managing 2 meeting planning associates. The Meeting and Conference Planning team manages all logistics for PHA’s major education events, Committee and Board of Trustee meetings. Chanel has over 12 years of experience planning meetings and conferences throughout the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada, ranging from 50 to 1500 attendees.
Office of the President
Elizabeth Summerville
Assistant to the President & CEO x801
Elizabeth “Liz” Summerville has an extensive background as a nonprofit executive right-hand professional and a strategic fundraiser and events planner. She joined PHA from Make-A-Wish of the Mid-Atlantic region, where she supported the CEO and worked closely with board members and funders. A dynamic, versatile, highly organized professional, Liz has strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects while remaining detail oriented, enthusiastic and determined. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Delaware – Lerner College of Business and Economics.
Operations & Administration
Jessica Ritter
Director, Operations x766
Jessica works closely with staff as a project manager for organization-wide projects. She acts as the liaison with our corporate partners and works closely with PHA’s Corporate Committee. Jessica is also responsible for administrative management, including facilities and technology.
Patient & Caregiver Programs
Michael Knaapen
Director, Patient & Caregiver Programs x758
Michael oversees PHA’s patient and caregiver programs. These programs ensure PHA’s patient and caregiver constituents are empowered to manage their health, develop resilience, connect to others and contribute to the PHA community in ways their health and interest allow. The department works with more than 400 community volunteers to provide peer support in person, online and by phone, as well as other resources to improve and extend the lives of people affected by PH. His team also supports PHA events like Conference and PHA on the Road, PHA’s international programs, Lantos Awards and more.
Abby Sickles
Program Associate, Patient & Caregiver Programs x777
Abby is responsible for connecting patients and caregivers to educational and psychosocial resources. She manages PHA’s private online community, myPHA, and is working to give every patient and caregiver a platform to connect and share experiences. Abby also manages the PHriends peer support program, which includes the 24/7 Patient-to-Patient Support Line, Email Mentors, and Online Chat Rooms. To ensure that our community voices are heard and concerns addressed, she coordinates seven special population advisory boards consisting of patients, parents and caregivers.
Quality Care & Research
Rebecca Aune
Associate Director, Medical Services x780
Rebecca helps direct activities and productivity of the Medical Services department, ensures ongoing programming and program evaluation, and provides training and supervision to associate staff members. Additionally, she works closely with PHA’s medical committees, administers grant funds and manages PHA’s Research Program. Rebecca’s prior experience includes directing, rebuilding and revamping programs and service delivery models for sustainability and scalability to serve both urban and rural markets, as well as evaluating programs and reporting results.
Zan Laughlin
Medical Communications Program Manager x776
As Medical Communications Program Manager, Zan has the primary responsibility of engaging and continuing to develop the committees on general patient education, primary care clinician disease awareness and education, specialist physician educational resources, and socioeconomic determinants of access to care. She is the primary staffer of the Scientific Leadership Council (SLC) Education Committee, the Early Diagnosis Campaign, and PH Care for All. She also works to ensure that medical information and educational messaging that is disseminated to external audiences is accurate, relevant, and consistent.
Lori Lopez
Patient Education Program Associate x744
As the Patient Education Program Associate, Lori supports and promotes patient education materials and programs on behalf of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. She is the program lead for annual patient and education forums for PHA’s on the Road events, and manages patient education content on PHA Classroom, an online educational portal geared towards creating easy and accessible learning for our PH community. In previous work, she has had experience in patient education and community development, working with DC’s impoverished communities. Lori is a firm believer in the phrase, “knowledge is power,” and that patient education is the cornerstone to enhancing quality of life and establishing a community of support.
Olivia Onyeador
PHCC Accreditation Program Manager x778
Olivia is responsible for guiding and managing the implementation for the Pulmonary Hypertension Care Centers’ (PHCC) process of accreditation. She maintains the modes of communication for each PHCC committee and PHCC taskforce as well as facilitates further discussion between these members. Olivia also provides support to the content management, resource development and organization of the PHCC website.
Emily Outtarac
Administrative Assistant x804
Emily Outtarac is the Administrative Assistant to the Medical Services department. In this position, Emily supports the Medical Services team and all of their program lines, including Building Medical Education in PH, relationship management of organizational allies, and scheduling for the PHCC Review Committee. Prior to joining PHA, she served in administrative roles for a development organization, professional association and collegiate charity.