BOARD OF DIRECTORS | MEMBER DIRECTORY

DIRECTORS

  • Linda Rozell-Shannon, PhD
    Linda Rozell-Shannon, PhD President & Founder

    Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon and her daughter, Christine, reside in upstate New York. Linda founded VBF after her daughter was born with a hemangioma on her lower lip and she was unable to find information on treatment options. Dr. Waner surgically removed Christine’s hemangioma in 1995. Linda and Dr. Waner wrote the only book for parents on the subject of birthmarks called “Birthmarks: A Guide to Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations.” Linda is also a chapter author in the Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America textbook on “Vascular Birthmarks of the Head and Neck” (published in 2001), which was guest edited by Dr. Marcelo Hochman. Dr. Linda completed her PhD in 2008 at Walden University. Her dissertation topic: Assessing the Impact of Hemangiomas on Maternal Stress, was written to support insurance appeals for families denied coverage.

    Read Dr. Linda’s story

  • Lauri Firstenberg
    Lauri Firstenberg Chair

    Lauri Firstenberg is a producer and curator based in Los Angeles with over 25 years of leadership in the nonprofit sector. She is a parent of Edie Yvonne, who was born with Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome (KTS). Lauri returned to the VBF Board of Directors in 2017 and now serves as Board Chair. She received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in the History of Art and Architecture department. Lauri is the founder of LAXART and IF Innovation Foundation and a founding partner of Via Art Fund.

  • Jeffery Bergen, MSN, RN, PHD (C)
    Jeffery Bergen, MSN, RN, PHD (C) Vice Chair

    Jeff Bergen is a former Navy Corpsman who completed 8 years of active service and was honorably discharged. After the Navy, he went to nursing school and later went on to attain a Master’s Degree in Nursing. As a Registered Nurse, he has worked in infectious disease and oncology nursing, and was a hospital epidemiology nurse. He is certified in infection control and health care quality, and is currently the manager of the Office of Licensure, Accreditation & Regulation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He has his PhD in Nursing through The Catholic University of America. Jeff is an established patient at the Beckman Laser Institute where receives treatment for his port wine stain.

  • Jody Lee
    Jody Lee Vice Chair / Director of Walk / Run Events

    Jody Lee and her husband, John, live with their daughter, Meghana in Lake Orion, Michigan. Meghana was born in 2015 with a port wine stain on the right side of her face. Prior to starting treatment, the Lee family connected with the VBF and received invaluable support and advice. Meghana is being treated at the University of Michigan by Dr. Jeff Orringer and has had 9 laser treatments to date. The Lee family organized the 1st Purple Polka Dot Race in August 2015, and has make it an annual event to raise awareness for vascular birthmarks and fundraise for the VBF. Jody is a physical therapist and works with people who have spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.

  • Melanie Mandonas, CFA
    Melanie Mandonas, CFA Secretary

    Melanie Mandonas is the proud mother of a son with a port wine stain birthmark.  Professionally she is a Managing Director at global investment firm Cambridge Associates.  Melanie manages investment portfolios for foundations, endowments, private clients, and pensions that range in size from $100 million to over $20 billion, focusing on asset allocation and manager selection. Prior to joining Cambridge Associates in 2010, Melanie held roles as an equity research analyst and as an intern at an investment bank. She received her BA in Economics from College of the Holy Cross and is a CFA charterholder.  Melanie resides in Boston with her husband and 2 kids; her youngest, James, was born in 2021 with a facial port wine stain birthmark, and Melanie is eternally grateful for all the support VBF has provided her family.

  • Debbie Lee
    Debbie Lee Treasurer

    Debbie Lee joined the Board in January 2020. She became a VBF supporter in 2015 after her granddaughter, Meghana, was born with a port wine stain on the right side of her face. She is retired and lives in Royal Oak, Michigan. Debbie’s background is in finance and accounting and she was director of finance for a Michigan public school district. Her daughter-in-law, Jody Lee, also serves on the VBF Board.

  • Sharon Israel
    Sharon Israel Conference Task Force Chair/ Parent Representative

    Sharon Israel has a BS in human development from Cornell University, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and over 20 years of work experience in education. Her daughter’s Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome went misdiagnosed until age 4, when her dermatologist referred her to Dr. Rosen who was able to get Olivia on the right path for treatment and pain relief. VBF is thankful for Sharon’s help and support of other parents and families as they navigate the medical, insurance, social and educational world of vascular birthmarks. Sharon is also instrumental as the VBF East Coast events coordinator.

  • Michelle Lai
    Michelle Lai Patient Representative

    Michelle has a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC Riverside. She was born with Arteriovenous Malformation on the right side of her face and attended her first VBF conference in 2016. For the last three years, she has traveled back and forth from California to New York for treatment with Dr. Waner and Dr. O. In 2017, she completed a shadowing internship with Dr. Waner and Dr. O at the Vascular Birthmarks Institute of New York. She has dedicated her time as a volunteer at conferences for multiple years and has been spreading awareness of vascular birthmarks, anti-bullying, and acceptance as a Global Ambassador. She resides in Monterey Park, California and is working towards her goal of matriculating into medical school.

  • Michelle Sario
    Michelle Sario Fundraising and Marketing Chair

    Michelle is a 20-year advertising professional with assignments across Asia – Philippines, China, Singapore and Cambodia. She, her husband (Jake), and, son (Jackson) moved to Greenwich, Connecticut in 2020. Jackson was born in 2018 in the Philippines and had a large infantile hemangioma across his chest. VBF became an information resource, provided advice, and connected the family to US-based specialists.

    Michelle is currently working with the family-run start-up, American Outdoor School, overseeing their growth strategy and expansion.

  • Madelyn Solnikowski
    Madelyn Solnikowski PHACES Representative

    Madelyn Solnikowski is a stay at home mother with four kids. Madelyn is Global Ambassador for VBF and is on the Awareness and Fundraising committees. Her youngest child, Ruby, was born in April 2020 and was diagnosed with infantile hemangiomas.

    At 6 weeks old, two strawberry hemangiomas appeared on Ruby; at 10 weeks old, Madelyn noticed a small bluish bump on Ruby’s eyelid.  Her pediatrician told her it was a different kind of birthmark which would go away and not to worry. Madelyn followed the doctor’s recommendations, but her instinct told her to keep watching it. Ruby  started to have issues drinking milk and Madelyn knew something was wrong.  At 8 months,  Ruby was diagnosed with an internal hemangioma near her temple.

    In her search for information, Madelyn came across VBF and Dr. Linda reached out to her, putting her in touch with VBF Board Member Jody Lee. It was through Jody that Madelyn’s family was connected with their wonderful team of doctors in their home state of Michigan. Ruby is now on propranolol; her hemangiomas are shrinking and she has been in OT and is making improvements.

    In Madelyn’s words, “Through this whole journey I have discovered that I have a voice and I will stand up for my daughter and do whatever I feel is right regardless of what doctors may think. I have found a purpose with the VBF and I want to be able to help to ease, educate and inspire other parents! I am so proud to be a Global Ambassador and am excited for the future!”

  • Tritia Medrano
    Tritia Medrano Big 7 Foundation / Sturge-Weber Syndrome Representative
    Tritia Medrano, her husband Joey, and five children live in Los Angeles, California.  In 2018, their daughter Sloane was born with a rare disease, Sturge Weber Syndrome, which for Sloane includes a port wine stain covering the right side of her face, glaucoma in her right eye, and abnormalities in two parts of her brain.
    It became a mission for Tritia to help parents and families like her own find the resources, strength, hope, and support to embrace and advocate in their new reality of living with Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
    In 2020, Tritia and her husband Joey launched their own non-profit THE BIG 7 FOUNDATION, an organization dedicated to funding research for Sturge-Weber syndrome, look for ways to help manage and prevent epilepsy, and give children with the syndrome the fighting chance they deserve.  As part of their mission, they strive to provide their community with resources and information that parents and caregivers could use as tools to advocate for their child with Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
    Tritia works as a mindfulness educator and yoga instructor. She is passionate about bringing this modality into the lives of parents, caregivers, and children who find themselves dealing with the struggles and trauma of living with a rare disease.
  • Samantha Drazin, LMHC
    Samantha Drazin, LMHC Patient/Parent Advocate

    Samantha Drazin, LMHC is a licensed therapist in Florida. Samantha has clinical experience treating patients at the residential, IOP and outpatient level of care. At a higher level of care, Samantha mainly focused on treating addiction, substance abuse, eating disorders and other dual diagnoses including personality disorders. Samantha’s practice now consists of treating patients at the outpatient level of care, and she works with people who suffer from a range of life-stressors and/or diagnoses that affect self-esteem, relational distress, stress, anxiety and overall life satisfaction. In addition to private practice, Samantha is the co-founder of Khospace. Khospace’s mission is to make therapy and wellness available to all. Samantha is a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, received her Masters in Public Relations from University of Miami and later pursued her Masters in Clinical Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. Samantha is on the board of young advisors at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, Florida and is a board member of Vascular Birthmark Foundation. Samantha is the proud mother of a daughter with a port wine stain birthmark. She resides in Miami, Florida with her husband, two children and mini-goldendoodle.

  • Carla Mannix
    Carla Mannix Patient Representative

    Carla Mannix serves as the Insurance Specialist for the VBF network and supports the VBF International Day of Awareness campaign. She advises families on strategies for winning appeals for insurance coverage and prior authorization. Carla has shared her varied experiences as a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, ESL educator, non-profit affiliate developer, and surgical coordinator with VBF since 2014. Her passions are serving the needy and volunteering with social justice and peace groups. She lives in Reading, PA with her husband and three children. Her daughter bravely manages multiple venous malformations in her legs.

MEDICAL DIRECTORS

  • Martin C. Mihm Jr., MD
    Martin C. Mihm Jr., MD

    Dr. Martin C. Mihm has more than 50 years of experience specializing in dermatopathology. He is founder of the Vascular Anomalies Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, and director of the Mihm Cutaneous Pathology Consultative Service through the esteemed Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Known for his knowledge concerning problematic pigmented lesions, lymphoma and dermatological inflammatory diseases, he is an integral figure for the medical centers continued success. In addition to his work in this position, Dr. Mihm shares his expertise with students as a professor of dermatopathology and dermatology at the Harvard University School of Medicine. Dr. Mihm received an AB from Duquesne University in 1955. He continued at the University of Pittsburgh to earn an MD in 1961. In 1990, he was honored with an MA from Harvard University.

  • J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD
    J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD

    Dr. J. Stuart Nelson is Medical Director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic, and Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. He is also the Director of the Vascular Birthmarks and Malformations Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Dr. Nelson’s university-based clinical practice and research combines his expertise in engineering, optics, medicine, and surgery. He has published more than 340 scientific articles and 15 book chapters

  • Roy G. Geronemus, M.D.
    Roy G. Geronemus, M.D.

    Dr. Roy G. Geronemus is the Director of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. He is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the New York University Medical Center where he has founded its laser program and served nine years as its Chief of Dermatologic and Laser Surgery. He is also the Director of the Skin/Laser Division in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary. He has been involved with the development of several new laser systems and therapeutic techniques, which are now commonly used throughout the world. He has been listed in New York Magazine’s Best Doctors in New York 12 times, three times in Woodward and White’s Best Doctors in America and in Town & Country’s Best Cosmetic Surgeons. Dr. Geronemus is also the Chairman of the Board of the New York Stem Cell Foundation.

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTORS

  • Giacomo Colletti, MD
    Giacomo Colletti, MD

    Dr. Giacomo Colletti is one of the leading facial surgeons in Europe for complex vascular malformations and has a particular interest in the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of AVMs. He is a distinguished Maxillo Facial Surgeon at the University of Milan San Paolo Hospital and is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Milan.

iTEAM MEDICAL DIRECTORS

  • Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D.
    Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D.

    Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon and her daughter, Christine, reside in upstate New York. Linda founded VBF after her daughter was born with a hemangioma on her lower lip and she was unable to find information on treatment options. Dr. Waner surgically removed Christine’s hemangioma in 1995. Linda and Dr. Waner wrote the only book for parents on the subject of birthmarks called “Birthmarks: A Guide to Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations.” Linda is also a chapter author in the Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America textbook on “Vascular Birthmarks of the Head and Neck” (published in 2001), which was guest edited by Dr. Marcelo Hochman. Dr. Linda completed her PhD in 2008 at Walden University. Her dissertation topic: Assessing the Impact of Hemangiomas on Maternal Stress, was written to support insurance appeals for families denied coverage.

  • Robert J. Rosen, MD
    Robert J. Rosen, MD

    Dr. Robert Rosen, an expert in interventional radiology and endovascular surgery, is Director of The AVM Center of New York at Lenox Hill and founder of the Division of Interventional Radiology at NYU’s Medical Center. A lecturer and author, he has created many specialized techniques and medical devices. Dr. Rosen generously hosts the VBF Conference and Clinic every other year in New York City.

VBF HONORARY CO-CHAIRS

  • Frank & Barbara Catalanotto
    Frank & Barbara Catalanotto VBF is proud to have former professional baseball player Frank Catalanotto and his wife Barbara as Honorary Chairpersons. The Catalanotto family has had a strong connection with VBF for many years. Their personal enthusiasm and support, and their financial gifts through the Frank Catalanotto Foundation, help VBF make a real difference in this world. Frank Catalanotto was one of the top hitters in the Major Leagues in 2001, finishing with a batting average of .330 and challenging for the American League batting title. When he and Barbara had their daughter in 1999, they were perplexed by a strange mark on her face that was soon diagnosed as a type of vascular birthmark called a "hemangioma."

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

  • Greg Antonelle
  • Elysa Baron, DC
  • Saige Cavayero
  • Lianne Chase
  • Sherry Crummy
  • Leslie Graff
  • Jennie Legary
  • Erin Miller
  • Fran Muscarella
  • Paige Parrish
  • Maria Beuthe, MD
  • Natalie Bolinger
  • Brian Bolinger, JD

STAFF & PAID CONTRACTORS

  • Scott L. Cupples
    Scott L. Cupples Chief Operating Officer

    Scott Cupples is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation (VBF). He has lived his entire life with an untreated Port Wine Stain vascular birthmark until starting treatments in 2016 (thanks to VBF). When talking about his birthmark, Scott says, “Of course there have been times where my birthmark has made me feel insecure or has had a negative impact, but I’ve always had the mentality that it will never keep me from accomplishing what I want in life. My goal with VBF is to help as many families as possible who are affected by vascular birthmarks, be a positive role model in the community, and to continuously spread awareness.”

    Previous to his role as COO, Scott established and operated as Director of the VBF Global Ambassador program. In addition to his role at VBF, Scott has served 19+ years in the United States Air Force, currently serving as a First Sergeant in the New Jersey Air National Guard. Scott has an extensive background running high-pace operations, leading accounting departments and being a senior leader in a variety of settings and organizations. Scott holds an MBA from Rowan University, a B.S. in Accounting from Kean University, and is pursuing his doctorates in Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Thomas Edison State University.

  • Lauren Palmateer
    Lauren Palmateer Office and Finance Manager

    Lauren has been with VBF since the very beginning, joining as Office Manager in 2000. She received a Master’s degrees in Archaeology and Education from the University at Albany and Union College respectively, and has many years of experience working in the education field.  Since joining VBF, she has been inspired by those affected by vascular birthmarks and is committed to VBF’s dedication to those affected by vascular birthmarks and their families. Lauren lives in the Albany area with her family and 30 parrots.

  • Gina Rothe
    Gina Rothe Marketing and Communications Manager

    Gina became Marketing & Communications Manager for VBF in June 2022 after working with the organization for a year as Project Associate. With 20 years of project management experience in scientific-, corporate-, and product-based marketing and communications, Gina brings her passion for storytelling, science, health, wellness, marketing, communications, and photography to VBF. Before VBF, she handled social media for Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. Before Omega, Gina spent several years handling communications for Curia (formerly AMRI), a contract research and manufacturing organization, and in various editorial roles within the pharmaceutical trade publishing industry. Gina is a graduate of Rider University with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and American Studies and a Minor in Women’s Studies. She lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York with her husband, daughter and labrador retrievers.

  • Christine Molluso
    Christine Molluso Executive Assistant
    Chris is the Executive Assistant at VBF. A graduate of Siena College and a life-long upstate New York resident, she has over 25 years of professional administrative experience. Chris  brings her positive energy and enthusiasm to support the VBF team and community.
  • Sophia Molluso
    Sophia Molluso Marketing and Graphic Design Coordinator

    Sophia is the VBF Marketing & Graphic Design Coordinator. She is a 2020 graduate of Sacred Heart University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, along with Minors in Digital Marketing and Graphic Design. Sophia brings her creative spirit and passion for branding to the VBF team. She lives in upstate New York with her family and her cat, Pumpkin.

  • Ava Pyles
    Ava Pyles VBF Global Ambassador Coordinator

    Ava has been an exceptionally active member of the VBF volunteer community for years in the VBF Global Ambassador Program. She has led committees on the VBF Global Ambassador council, served as secretary for board committees, assisted and hosted numerous fundraising events, spread awareness through social media, and participated in many conferences and clinics. Ava understands the VBF mission and is looking forward to helping the VBF Global Ambassador Program grow and continue to help promote VBF’s mission.

  • Missy Scott
    Missy Scott Technology Consultant

    Missy has been working with VBF since 1999 on website development, IT management, and other technology needs.

  • Katie Campbell-Smith
    Katie Campbell-Smith Fundraising and Event Coordinator

    Katie Campbell Smith, a seasoned fundraising and event management professional based in South Carolina, holds a Master’s degree in Parks Recreation and Tourism Management with a focus on fundraising events. During her impactful tenure at Clemson University, Katie orchestrated approximately 40 annual events, including high-profile visits from distinguished individuals such as President Joe Biden, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and Bill Gates. Her commitment to achieving fundraising goals and executing impactful events provided valuable support in the university’s successful $1 Billion “The Will To Lead” capital campaign.

    Alongside her professional achievements, Katie, and her husband Daniel, are part of the birthmarks family, as her daughter, Campbell, was born with a hemangioma. Now stepping into a new role with the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation, Katie is a dynamic and compassionate advocate. As a mother of a child with a hemangioma, she brings a deeply personal connection to the foundation’s mission, ready to contribute with both expertise and heartfelt dedication.

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