The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) is able to fulfill its mission and continue its battle against Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis because of our dedicated board of trustees.

You can learn more about each of our current board members below:

OFFICERS

Maura Breen, Chairman

Maura Breen is a highly accomplished executive known for her transformative and tenacious leadership at critical junctures in the telecommunications industry.

As General Manager of  Verizon New York, Verizon’s largest wireline  P&L ($5B), Maura aggressively moved Verizon into Broadband and Video laying the groundwork for future revenue growth, launched competitive new bundling strategies, and won the largest cable franchise in the United States – New York City.  She reduced a $1B expense budget by over $150M in just over two years, while simultaneously improving customer service and employee productivity.  

As President & CEO of Verizon Long Distance, Maura led the team of executives charged with developing what became one of the nation’s largest long distance companies.  She achieved 40% market share and EBITDA positive results within 3 years of launching the business before being promoted to Chief Marketing Officer Retail Markets.  In the CMO role, Maura continued to manage the Long Distance Business and built industry leading communication bundles incorporating Verizon’s entire product line.

During her career, Maura has held a number of roles with increasing responsibility and size.  Leading teams from the very small to well over 18,000,  her career has spanned across more than eight key functions within Verizon, allowing her to play key leadership roles in marketing, sales and operations as well as running key business units like the New York Region. 

Maura currently serves on the Board of  Directors and Chairs the Compensation Committee for Express Scripts, the second largest pharmacy benefits management company in the United States.  She is a member of the Committee of 200, the New York Women’s Forum, Corporate Director’s Group and Women Corporate Directors. 

Maura is a David Rockefeller Fellow Alumnus and has been recognized for her achievements by the Academy of Women Achievers in New York, Telephony Magazine, Ad Age, St. Patrick’s Home for the Aging, Diversity Magazine, and Irish Today.

She is a graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York and resides in North Falmouth, Ma. with her husband Jay and son Ryan.  

Vance Gibbs, Esq., General Counsel

Mr. Gibbs is a partner in the Baton Rouge office of Kean Miller. He has practiced in commercial litigation and the health care industry for over 25 years and was named to the 2009 Best Lawyers in America in the field of medical malpractice defense. Mr. Gibbs is a dedicated volunteer and a parent of a child with Crohn's who worked with CCFA in rebuilding the Louisiana/Mississippi Chapter after Hurricane Katrina. President of his local CCFA Chapter Board, he led the chapter to Chapter of the Year in 2008 and helped to double its revenue twice over the last four years.

Paul Salerno, Treasurer

Mr. Salerno is the managing partner of the Melville, Long Island Office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, a global accounting and professional service organization. He is a hands-on financial professional who has provided services to both public and privately held companies in the manufacturing, distribution, and services industries. He has demonstrated board leadership in various organizations and his expertise in accounting, financial reporting, and oversight and controls will be of value to the Foundation. Mr. Salerno fosters a collaborative approach in dealing with his clients as well as with his fellow board members at various organizations. He is a Crohn's disease patient and was diagnosed with the disease in 1978.

Jim Lewis, MD, MSCE, Chair, National Scientific Advisory Committee

Dr. Lewis is Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, Senior Scholar at the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Senior Fellow in the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and Associate Director of the Penn Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program. He has been actively involved in research related to inflammatory bowel diseases since 1996 and has published more than 170 scholarly articles. His research covers a broad range of topics, but primarily focuses on issues related to medication safety and optimizing medical therapies. Examples include a series of studies investigating whether patients treated with various medications for IBD are at increased risk for cancer, infections, neurologic diseases, and death, and whether such risks are warranted given the effectiveness of the therapy.

Dr. Lewis is one of a limited number of investigators to lead NIH funded clinical trials of novel therapeutic strategies for IBD. He has directed two clinical trials of rosiglitazone to treat ulcerative colitis and a trial of using biomarkers to adjust medical therapy for ulcerative colitis. He is currently on the steering committee of an NIH funded trial examining the efficacy of methotrexate for ulcerative colitis. In recent years, Dr. Lewis and his colleagues have begun to focus their research on how diet and the microorganisms that inhabit the human intestine may influence the course of IBD. Dr. Lewis hopes that this research may help to identify novel strategies for treating IBD that are not based on systemic immunosuppression.

Lloyd Mayer, MD, Chair-Emeritus, National Scientific Advisory Committee

Dr. Mayer is Chair of the Gastroenterology Division at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Currently Professor and Chairman of the Immunology Institute, Dorothy and David Merksamer Professor of Medicine, and Professor of Microbiology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, Dr. Mayer graduated with a BS in Biology (Sigma Xi) from Union College and his MD (AOA) from The Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1976 where he received the Mosby Award for Clinical Excellence. Dr. Mayer took his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Bellevue/New York University (1976-1979) and completed his Gastroenterology fellowship at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in 1981. Dr. Mayer is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine with subspecialty certification in Gastroenterology. An author of over 300 papers and numerous book chapters, Dr. Mayer's research has focused on mucosal immunoregulation and lymphokine regulation of human B-cell differentiation. He has focused attention on the role of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) in regulatory T-cell responses in the gut. He has increased understanding of the major role that T-cell defects play in inflammatory bowel disease pathogenesis. Dr. Mayer's laboratory also initially described the role of T cells in isotype switching in man and identified a novel T-cell derived cytokine (446-BCDF) that is a potent stimulus for inducing antibody secretion by human B cells. He currently has five active NIH grants on immunoregulatory mechanisms and responses and is the PI of the Immunobiology training grant. He was the recipient of the 2000 Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America's Scientific Achievement Award.

Richard Geswell, President, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America

Mr. Geswell has had a distinguished career in nonprofit health agency management. Over the past 30 years, Mr. Geswell worked in all areas of resource development and field operations. His experience incorporates leadership positions in the American Heart Association, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. His background covers all aspects of development: major gifts, special events, direct response, planned giving, e-giving and corporate development. In addition to his impressive fund raising track record, he has served as a chapter director, regional director, Regional VP and National VP for Field Operations. Most recently, Mr. Geswell served for seven years as the Executive VP, Revenue and Marketing for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society where he more than doubled revenue during his tenure from $109 million to $225 million. He is dedicated to the principle of strategic planning and has both participated and led the strategic planning and business planning process. Mr. Geswell's professional accomplishments are only surpassed by his family focus. He and his wife Jackie have two sons, Matt and Ryan.

FOUNDERS

Shelby Modell, Co-Founder

Mrs. Modell serves as Vice President for Modell's Sporting Goods. As National Co-Founder, she has devoted her life to CCFA. As the Greater New York Chapter's Annual Dinner Co-Chair for more than 40 years, she raised many millions of dollars for the Foundation's research program. She also founded CCFA's Long Island Chapter and its Florida Chapter. Her distinguished career in philanthropy has benefited the fields of health, education, and the arts. Along with her husband Bill Modell (1921–2008), she is a founding member of the American Digestive Disease Society, the Jeffrey Modell Foundation for immunological research, the Gilda Radner Foundation, "Gilda's Club," and Hewlett House, a breast cancer resource center. She also is a former member of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center's prestigious National Health Council and was responsible for raising $150 million to build its Psychiatric Institute. Her commitment to the arts is equally impressive. She is a founding patron of the Metropolitan Opera and served as chairman of the Five Towns Development Fund for Lincoln Center. In 1987 she was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to the New York State Council of the Arts. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Mrs. Modell to the negotiating committee of the U.S. Panama Canal Treaty. Two years later, Mayor Abraham Beame appointed her as a commissioner on the New York City Youth Board. Mrs. Modell received her BA from Brooklyn College and an MA from Columbia University's Teachers College. She continues to serve as a vital member of CCFA's National Board of Trustees.

Irwin M. Rosenthal, Co-Founder and President Emeritus

Mr. Rosenthal has been in the leadership of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) since its inception in 1967 when he co-founded CCFA with his wife, Suzanne, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, M.D. Mr. Rosenthal served for 10 years as Founder and National President of CCFA and its predecessor organizations: the Foundation for Research in Ileitis (1963) and the National Foundation for Ileitis & Colitis. He devised its corporate, chapter and financial structure. He established the working partnership with the Foundation's lay and medical leadership and with the NIH adopting its peer review scientific system still used by CCFA today to evaluate research applications for its grant awards program. Mr. Rosenthal served, simultaneous to his CCFA leadership, as the Co-Founder of the American Digestive Disease Foundation. A corporate lawyer, he received his law degree from Yale University Law School and serves as a Partner at Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP. Over his lengthy career, Irwin has been involved with over 500 public offerings and Private Placements and has represented hundreds of companies in their corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and actively negotiates domestic and foreign licensing and joint venture agreements. Mr. Rosenthal's most recent significant involvement has been with newly organized biomedical and energy companies involved in R & D projects in cutting-edge science and technology. He is a former adjunct professor of Securities Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo Law School and was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Suzanne Rosenthal, Co-Founder and Chairperson of the Board Emerita

Mrs. Rosenthal has been a member of the volunteer leadership of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) since its inception in 1967. She founded the organization in 1967 with husband Irwin M. Rosenthal, William D. and Shelby Modell, and Henry D. Janowitz, MD. She has had Crohn's disease since 1955 and has held many key volunteer positions at CCFA. She is a former president of the Greater New York Chapter and during this term she initiated the support group model that was later developed and implemented as CCFA's national network of support groups. In addition, she served as National Chairperson of the Board from 1987 to 1991. She currently serves as a member of the Foundation's executive committee, Chairperson Emeritus of CCFA's Government Affairs Committee, and continues to be active in all advocacy efforts of the Foundation. Over the past 30 years, Mrs. Rosenthal has traveled throughout America to visit many of CCFA's chapters and to help establish new chapters. She has made numerous media appearances to raise public awareness of inflammatory bowel diseases and is the Founder and past President of the Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) which comprises more than 32 lay groups and professional societies, representing the research and healthcare legislative interests of people who suffer from digestive disorders.

NATIONAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dave Alberga

Mr. Alberga has served as CEO of the Active Network since 2000, the leading provider of technology and marketing solutions for event organizers, community organizations, and consumer brands that enable and encourage participation in the active lifestyle. Its award-winning online community, Active.com, brings together active lifestyle consumers, including members of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mr. Alberga received a medical discharge from the Army when he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. His involvement with the Foundation stems from his belief that people can successfully battle digestive diseases and also lead very active, fulfilling lives. He is also a board member of Running USA, a national non-profit trade organization dedicated to improving the status of road racing and long distance running in the United States. He and his wife, Christine, have two daughters.

Donald Burke

Mr. Burke currently serves as an independent trustee for the Goldman Sachs mutual fund complex, consisting of approximately 100 registered mutual funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P. and certain affiliates. Don also serves as a director of Avista Corp., an energy company headquartered in Spokane, Washington. He has been an active member of CCFA for more than 15 years, since the time his son was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of seven.

Prior to assuming his board positions, Mr. Burke was a Managing Director of BlackRock and served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the BlackRock US mutual funds. In addition, Mr. Burke held several positions at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM), including Managing Director of the firm as well as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the MLIM US mutual funds. He started his career with Deloitte and Touche (formerly Deloitte, Haskins and Sells). Mr. Burke is a certified public accountant and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Delaware and a Masters of Business Administration in taxation from Pace University

John Crosson

 Mr. Crosson is an accomplished executive with a varied background. For the past five years, he has worked at Scientific Imaginetics, a start-up medical device company in which he was an angel investor, CEO, and President. Responsible for all facets of the company and product launch, Mr. Crosson has worked to acquire FDA clearance to market and manufacture medical technology; has developed substantive product improvement and evolution (co-inventor on five pending patent applications in support of these technological advancements); and has directed marketing and sales/distribution staff to successfully introduce devices to the medical community.

Mr. Crosson also had a notable career in marketing and advertising. He was the President of Grey Advertising in Los Angeles from 1998 to 2005. At the time, Grey was the largest advertising agency in the United States and one of the six largest advertising agencies in the world. Prior to joining Grey, he spent 14 years developing his career at Dailey & Associates holding various positions including Executive Vice President at the time of his departure. As EVP, Mr. Crosson oversaw client relationships on accounts representing approximately half of the agency's revenue. He directly supervised several service departments, chaired the agency's operations committee, oversaw the agency's training and internship programs, and was responsible for leading all new business development activity

Lee A. Denson, MD

Dr. Denson serves as the M. Susan Moyer Chair in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Director of the Schubert-Martin Pediatric IBD Center; and Director of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Fellowship Training Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Denson graduated with a bachelor's degree in ocean engineering from M.I.T., a master's degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, and an M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his residency in Pediatrics from Yale Newhaven Hospital and a fellowship in Fellowship in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Yale University School of Medicine. He is certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology and actively studies inflammatory bowel disease, researching a wide-variety of areas including Immuno-genetic Determinants of Linear Growth in Pediatric IBD; Biomarkers for IBD Behavior and Treatment Response; andAn Open Label Study of Lactobacillus GG in Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis. Dr. Denson has received numerous awards including the CCFA Southwest Ohio Chapter Research Alliance Investigator Award, 2004-2009; CDHNF/Nestle Nutrition Young Investigator Award; and the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition Young Faculty Investigator Award. Dr. Denson is active in the medical and local communities, serving on various committees and faculties.

Jennifer Felkin

Ms. Feikin serves as an advisor to start-ups and major media companies as well as several non-profit organizations in Los Angeles.  Prior to being an independent advisor, Ms. Feikin was at Google, Inc.  She joined Google in 2002 and negotiated some of Google's first and largest search and advertising deals.  She then conceived of the idea for Google Video, which launched in 2005, and she managed the business side of the product including the content partnership team.  Ms. Feikin joined Google from AOL Time Warner's strategic development group.  Prior to AOL, Ms. Feikin worked in Hollywood in theatrical business affairs at Twentieth Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures as well as Morgan Creek Productions.  She began her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company in New York.  Ms. Feikin holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1993) and a B.A. from Duke University (1989).  She also was a Henry Luce Scholar.  Ms. Feikin, who is an ulcerative colitis patient, brings to CCFA a commitment to improving treatment effectiveness for each individual with Crohn's or colitis and ultimately finding a cure for these diseases.

Lawrence Finkelstein

Mr. Finkelstein has served as partner at Blank Rome LLP for over 25 years, where he advises clients on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; business succession and related planning for family and privately owned businesses; equity and debt financing transactions for lenders, investors, and businesses; and joint ventures and distribution arrangements and governance matters. He also represents investment funds in mezzanine financing transactions, An active member of the Foundation since 1988, Mr. Finkelstein served as President and Chairman of its Philadelphia/Delaware Valley Chapter and in 2000, was honored as the Chapter's Man of the Year. An honors graduate of the Wharton School and the Law School of the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Finkelstein is the president of his Undergraduate Class of 1973, is a member of the Board of Managers of the Law Alumni Society, and serves as a vice president and member of the Board of Trustees of the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia.

Steve Goodman

Mr. Goodman founded MeetingAdvice LLC, specializing in both high-end incentives and corporate and association meetings worldwide including unique destinations such as China, Turkey, and Italy. A graduate of Georgia State University with a B.S. in Business Administration, Mr. Goodman is an active member in the healthcare and professional communities, and has received various awards recognizing his many contributions throughout the years to nonprofit organizations.

John Hasenauer

Mr. Hasenauer is a founder and partner of Orion Advisors, LLC, an executive search and human resources consulting firm. The firm's focus is on senior level engagements on a global basis serving the investment management industry. Prior to founding Orion Advisors, Mr. Hasenauer spent 15 years in various positions of increasing responsibility in the financial services industry. He holds a BS degree from the University of Bridgeport and a MS in Financial Management from Fairfield University. Mr. Hasenauer has served on the board of advisors of various non profit and for profit organizations including Life Harbor Investments and the Fairfield Museum and History Center.  His family's experience with Crohn's disease has led him to become actively involved with CCFA.  He and his wife Jacqueline reside in Connecticut with their two children.

Matt Leavitt, DO, FAOCD

Dr. Leavitt is a Board Certified dermatologist and the founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of ADCS, the nation's largest dermatology practice that currently has more than 53 locations and 71 medical providers. Additionally, he is Founder and Chairman of Ameriderm, a division that provides billing and collections services for 72 dermatology practices outside of ADCS. He founded Medical Hair Restoration, a surgical hair transplantation group that became the second largest hair restoration company in the USA which had more than 77 offices at the time of its merger. Dr. Leavitt now holds the office of Executive Medical advisor with Bosley, the largest hair restoration group in the world.

Dr. Leavitt has served as President of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) and on the Board of Governors of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. He is a founding father of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgeons , where he served as its first vice president. The group administers board examinations and establishes standards for hair transplant surgeons. He was also the founder of the World Hair Society and the Hair Foundation, of which he is currently President. He has received countless prestigious awards, ranging from the Golden Follicle from the ISHRS, to the Smart Award for the Orlando Business of the Year. An avid contributor to the sciences and research community, he has been awarded numerous grants and recognition for his various research endeavors.

Dr. Leavitt is a Clinical Assistant Professor in dermatology for University of Central Florida, University of Florida and NOVA Southeastern University

David N. Levenson

Mr. Levenson is the President of Wealth Management at The Hartford. As head of the division, he is responsible for the company's Individual Annuity, Individual Life, Mutual Funds, Retirement Plans, and Wealth Management Runoff businesses. Previously, Mr. Levenson served as executive vice president of The Hartford's Legacy Holdings business.

From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Levenson served as president and CEO at Hartford Life Insurance K.K., the company's Japanese subsidiary. Before serving in Japan, he was managing director at Hartford Investment Management Company (HIMCO), responsible for sales and marketing. Prior to joining HIMCO in 2005, he was head of Hartford Life's retail products group.

Mr. Levenson joined The Hartford in 1995 following a career at Fidelity Investments. Mr. Levenson earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a master's degree in business administration from Columbia Business School and a doctorate in business administration from The School of International Corporate Strategy at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, Japan. Levenson is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Joel Margolese

Somewhere.com President and co-founder, Mr. Margolese is an entrepreneur in the field of market research. He co-founded Somewhere.com, which focuses on the problem of people's online identities being spread across many social networks. He also co-founded MinutePoll, a major US provider of retail polling services using recorded voice for market research, customer satisfaction and political races.

Jeffrey Margolis

Mr. Margolis is the chairman and CEO of the TriZetto Group, the leading supplier of software and related services for the healthcare insurance industry, based in Newport Beach, CA. He has architected information technology solutions for some of the nation's largest and most innovative healthcare organizations, earning broad recognition as a futurist in the application of health care information technology. He is author of a book entitled "The Information Cure" and he is currently educating the industry about Integrated Healthcare Management, a new model for optimizing the coordination of benefits and care for consumers. Margolis serves on the boards of Hoag Hospital, The University of California at Irvine's Center for Healthcare Management & Policy, and a number of other corporate, not-for-profit and advisory boards. He also is a guest faculty member at Harvard School of Public Health's Forces of Change program. Mr. Margolis holds a B.S. in Business Administration--Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Jeffrey P. Nedelman

Mr. Nedelman is co-head of US Shares Sales for Goldman Sachs and has responsibility for the Pensions, Endowments and Foundations business in New York. He is also sales captain, responsible for all Equity Capital Markets transactions for the US franchise. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1993 as an associate in Private Client Services in Los Angeles. In 1997, he joined US Research Sales. In 1999, Mr. Nedelman relocated to San Francisco and was named co-head of the Pacific Area Institutional Department in 2001. He was named managing director in 2001 and partner in 2004. Mr. Nedelman earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1988 and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1993. He and his wife live in New York City with their three children.

Michelle Rubin, APN, CNS, CGRN

Ms. Rubin is a Certified Gastrointestinal Registered Nurse with over 30 years experience in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) at the University of Chicago Medical Center ranging from positions in nursing leadership and IBD research, to Clinical Nurse Specialist. Caring for patients with IBD has become her passion over the years as she worked closely with a multidisciplinary IBD patient management team at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Ms. Rubin is currently in a collaborative practice as an Advanced Practice Nurse with three IBD surgeons, managing the pre- and post-surgical care of patients. She manages the long-term follow up of patients recovering from complex IBD surgeries including the Ileal Pouch Anal Anastomosis procedure. Rubin believes in empowering patients with the knowledge and support they need to become active participants in decision-making with their plan of care and to ensure a safe and successful surgical recovery. Ms. Rubin is on the Foundation's National Scientific Advisory Committee, Professional Education Committee, Patient Advocacy Committee, and the Chapter Medical Advisory Council as the nurse liaison. She has chaired the Chicago CCFA Advances Conference for the last 3 years. Ms. Rubin is committed to building a strong CCFA alliance with the nursing community. She is starting a Nursing Task Force to increase nursing's participation and membership as well as build a network of IBD nurses committed to advancing IBD nurse education and research, patient education, and the development of nursing standards of care and support to IBD patients. She currently is the Chair of the Advanced Practice Nurse Group at the University of Chicago Hospitals and is on the Research Committee of the Society of Gastrointestinal Nurse Associates. She holds a Master's degree in Nursing from St. Xavier College in Chicago, IL and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She resides outside Chicago with her husband Lance and two children.

Francisco Sylvester, MD

Dr. Sylvester has a long and distinguished history with the Foundation. He received his first Senior Research Award in 1997 and a second award in 2002. Dr. Sylvester has been a member of the organization's National Scientific Advisory Committee's Pediatric Affairs Committee for many years. He served as Chair from 2005-2008, and is still actively participating as Immediate Past Chair. He has participated in many national fundraising events and has played an important role in growing the Foundation's pediatric research and education programs. His leadership and diplomatic skills have played critical roles in not only encouraging the various pediatric groups to form the Pediatric Network, but also to building trust within the pediatric community that CCFA is committed to advancing pediatric IBD research. He is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT and Attending Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT. Especially important to CCFA's mission are his expertise in pediatric Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis research.

Paul Tartell, MD, FACS

Dr. Tartell is co-founder of the South Florida Sinus and Allergy Center, and a founding Governor of the Weston Outpatient Surgical Center. Upon establishing his private practice in Florida, Dr. Tartell joined the Otolaryngology clinical faculty at the University of Miami School of Medicine. In addition to official laryngology duties for vocal artists performing at the Bank Atlantic Center, Dr. Tartell is one of the team physicians for the Florida Panthers NHL hockey club. He was one of only ten candidates accepted into the inaugural class of the Scholar's Program in Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, and received his medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in 1984. After completing his residency in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at UCLA, he became Assistant Professor of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, at the Tufts University School of Medicine, where he was Director of Head and Neck Surgery, Director of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and Co-Director of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Boston Floating Hospital for Children. He is a Diplomate of both The American Board of Otolaryngology, and The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. While teaching in Boston, he received the "Teacher of the Year" award. Dr. Tartell has been a research grant recipient, an invited lecturer at both national and international meetings, and, an author/co-author of peer-reviewed publications. He maintains fellowship and membership status in numerous professional societies and organizations. Over the past several years, IBD has become a significant interest of his, and, accordingly, Dr. Tartell has become increasingly active in CCFA.