Dr. Parekh’s research and clinical interests include 3D printing of bones, total ankle replacements, foot and ankle injuries of athletes, minimally invasive foot and ankle trauma surgery, tendon injuries of the foot and ankle, and the adoption and development of novel technologies in foot and ankle surgery. He has been an active speaker at regional, national, and international meetings, helping to teach other orthopaedic surgeons about best practices and novel techniques for the care of foot and ankle patients.

In January of 2010, Dr. Parekh and his wife organized and established the only orthopaedic foot and ankle conference dedicated to foot and ankle surgery in India. The meeting was held in Mumbai. An international faculty, including four US surgeons, accompanied Dr. Parekh. These US surgeons were able to operate on needy patients in India while teaching over 100 Indian orthopaedic surgeons different techniques in foot and ankle surgery. This has become an annual tradition for the Parekhs in India.

Dr. Parekh’s personal website is www.seleneparekhmd.com. At this website, you will find patient friendly animations and educational materials. Dr. Parekh blogs on orthopaedic injuries of high profile athletes. You can read this on his website and follow his blog on @seleneparekhmd.

Dr. Parekh has worked closely with industry partners to develop and improve many innovative products, instruments, and devices currently used in orthopaedics.

Dr. Parekh has been recognized as one of North Carolina’s Best Doctors annually since 2009. 

Mark is the Director of the Tissue Operations Center at New England Donor Services and is responsible for the 24-hour operations center. Mark has been with New England Donor Services for over fifteen years, he has served in the Quality Department as well as in the Operations Center determining donor eligibility and working with families to obtain authorization. Mark is the co-chair of the Membership Committee, he is currently the Secretary of the RADE Council as well a member of The AOPO Tissue Council. Mark  is a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist.

Michael E. Gilbert, MBA, CTBS is a Technical Trainer, Donor Services with CryoLife. He is a 2010 graduate of Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor Degree in Sport Management, and a 2012 graduate of Shorter University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration. Michael obtained his CTBS designation in 2006, and is also certified as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. 

Michael began working at CryoLife in 2004, after transitioning from a career in the Fire/EMS industry. He started as a Donor Services Coordinator in the Donation Support center where he would screen donors with the Recovery Partners. After about a decade in the role (with increasing responsibilities) he was promoted to his current position as a Technical Trainer. As a Trainer, Michael has held workshops with Recovery Partners across the country, focusing on cardiovascular tissue recovery techniques. 

Patrick AbdelMessih is Vice President of Recovery Operations for Birth Tissue Donor Services of Tennessee, a mission-driven organization that acquires birth tissue to help those in need of transplantable grafts.

Patrick has been in the tissue banking industry for over 25 years. He started in eye banking and eventually moved into cadaveric tissue, overseeing operations for a large OPO in Tennessee for almost a decade before moving into his current role in birth tissue.  

Patrick has been involved in multiple AATB workgroups and contributed to the recently updated physical assessment in the current edition of the published AATB standards. He is currently co-chair of the AATB Membership Committee.  

Patrick received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Virginia. He is certified as an Eye Bank Technician through The Eye Bank Association of America and as a Tissue Bank Specialist (AATB).

Nick has spent the majority of his career working for or with accredited tissue banks. For the last five years, Nick has served as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Biologos. Where he has had the unique opportunity to partner with many tissue processing teams around the country. He is excited to be a part of the Membership Committee and the Living Donor Council. He is also a proud tissue recipient and appreciates the incredible gift of donation!

Alyssa Harrison serves as the VP of Tissue Operations at LifeShare Network. She has been in the donation industry for over 10 years, starting at United Tissue Network, a non-transplant domination organization.  In her current role, she oversees all aspects of Tissue Recovery and Donation Services, including day-to-day management, donor assessment and evaluation, organization policy, procedure protocol application, training, strategic planning, and administrative duties. She reviews and evaluates all performance metrics and key performance indicators with a primary focus on identifying opportunities for improvement and growth for both departments.  She works as an executive leader to develop and execute strategic plans and annual operative and capital budgets.

Alyssa is a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist and is an active member of AATB, having served on numerous committees, councils, and the Board of Governs. 

She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Adult Education and a Master of Business Administration.

Anna Tirrell is the President of Birth Tissue Recovery, LLC., in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Anna began her tissue banking career more than ten years ago, processing amniotic membrane allografts.  Since then, she has expanded her roles and responsibilities to include successfully guiding 510k medical device clearance, CE mark, and quality system design.  She has extensive experience with FDA and ISO, quality system build-up, and industry knowledge.  She is an AATB-Certified Tissue Bank Specialist and serves the Association as a member of the Standards Committee.  Anna is dedicated to, and passionate about educating others about the benefits of human tissue donation,

As Exsurco’s leader of their Amalgatome devices, Codi helps burn clinicians solve challenges in excision and skin grafting.  Codi is available to assist surgical and burn centers in clinical evaluations, data collection, training labs and to provide support during burn and trauma procedures.

Codi has performed over 2,000 tissue recovery procedures resulting in life-saving allografts used in burn and trauma, cardiac and vascular applications.  He is sitting for the Certified Wound Care Specialist (CWS) this summer, adding that certification to his credentials. 

Adam helps maximize clinician experience with the Exsurco’s burn and surgical applications.  He leads training labs for our customers, conducts in-services, attends initial cases, assists in clinical evaluations of the system, works closely with Sterile Processing Departments and compiles documentation to support Value Analysis requirements. 

Adam has recovered over 16,000 life-saving skin allografts in his 11+ years as a Certified Tissue Banking Specialist (CTBS).  He plans to add Certified Wound Care Specialist (CWS) to his credentials soon.

Ryan’s passion is for training customers to ensure Exsurco products and services add value to the work they do every day.  In this role, he provides hands-on training programs, conducting in-services, providing product troubleshooting support regarding safety, handling, operation, and maintenance of the products in tissue banks.

Ryan understands the value of fostering a team approach to recovery based on his 14 years of experience in the Tissue Banking industry.  His guidance helps significantly increase split-thickness skin recovery yields at every site visited.

With Exsurco since its inception in 2010, Amber led the company’s growth into tissue and surgical settings to redefine excision science.  She supports Exsurco’s community of healthcare professional customers who are advancing the healing power of skin to patients who need it the most.

Uncovering customer needs, problem-solving, and providing solutions is nothing new to Amber who started her career as a Surgical Technician and Combat Medic in the U.S. Army.  After completing active duty, she remained in the reserves and found her home in the transplant industry at Lifeline of Ohio.  Her second day on the job was the September 11^th attacks on our nation and Amber knew then saving lives would become her lifelong passion.

Amber worked with the team of engineers that developed the Amalgatome MD for skin grafting procedures in tissue donation, which since 2010 has resulted in over half a million life-saving dermal allografts for burn survivors.

Exsurco is proud to be a partner of the Phoenix Society and The Spiegel Burn Foundation for Burn Survivors and an advocate for Tissue Donation Across America through Donate Life America and the American Association of Tissue Banks.

Thomas Willett is an Assistant Professor in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo where he directs the Composite Biomaterial Systems Laboratory and contributes to the undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program and a graduate level NSERC CREATE training program in Global Biomedical Technology Research and Innovation. He has been involved in skeletal tissue mechanics research (both soft and hard tissues) for over 15 years, starting with cartilage mechanics (MASc, Queen’s University), then damage mechanisms in tendons (PhD, Dalhousie University) and a broad range of studies in bone quality and mechanics (Mount Sinai Hospital and University of Toronto). He has conducted research in the structural allograft processing area for approximately 8 years. Current research focusses on cortical bone fracture mechanics, the factors affecting cortical bone quality and mechanical properties including processing and sterilization in tissue banking, and the development of 3D printable composite biomaterials for bone reconstruction. He has published 45 peer reviewed journal articles and his laboratory has received major funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Foundational for Innovation and the Ontario Ministry for Research and Innovation.

Dr. Sharon Castellanos is an expert nurse practitioner in the field of Maternal-Fetal Medicine with a strong internal medicine background. She has spent the last 25 years as a champion in the field of diabetes, developing, implementing and deploying innovative curriculums within Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara and Kaiser San Jose. Her goal is to improve access, value and meaningful care to obstetrical patients. She recently retired from Kaiser and returned to practice within Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center, serving her community as a Maternal Fetal Medicine Nurse Practitioner. She has received many awards for her contributions in nursing clinically and within the community. Her life shifted in 2006 when she became a donor mom. This loss exposed her to the increasing health disparities around tissue and organ donation. To bridge this gap, she founded Brandon’s Crossroads Foundation Inc., a non-profit foundation whose mission is to educate adolescents on tissue and organ donation. She obtained her Doctorate from Northern Consortium of Nursing Practice, in June 2014 and has continued research in this field of tissue and organ donation education. 

Shannon has been involved in the tissue bank community since 1998. She began her work in transplant at the University of California San Francisco Tissue Bank as a tissue team leader and developing comprehensive training programs. She later moved to Arizona and worked in Quality & Regulatory Affairs for the Donor Network of Arizona. Shannon then worked at Transplant for Life, first as the Director of Quality and later as the Tissue Bank Director, where she helped develop the facility’s birth tissue program.  She currently works for Gift of Life Michigan as the Tissue Recovery Manager.  

Shannon received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Cornell College and her master’s in health administration from Grand Canyon University.

Emmitt serves as Manager of Tissue Recovery and Research Training at LifeGift Organ Donation Center, providing leadership, training, and evaluation of tissue recovery for implantation and tissue for research. Emmitt also serves his colleagues by designing educational and training curricula and courses to increase staff competency and retention for the critical work performed.

Emmitt is passionate about leadership, training, developing individuals and teams, and helping advance the programs in which they work to achieve goals. Emmitt obtained his CTBS in 2013 and has continued to progress upward positionally to his current role while learning leadership, process development, and improvement strategies.

Before launching a career in tissue donation, Emmitt studied at the University of Houston toward a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minored in Health, where his value of science and healthcare has driven him to excel and contribute in the way he is doing so today.

Jennifer has been with AlloSource for 15 years and provides overall management and leadership to the Quality Control, Product Suitability & Release and Quality Management Systems departments. She and her team support the development and implementation of quality improvement initiatives and Design Control (New Product Development) at AlloSource. Under her leadership, AlloSource has developed a robust Quality infrastructure using evidence based best practices to mitigate risk and resolve process deficiencies. Jennifer is AlloSource's Management Representative and acts as liaison with the FDA, ISO, AATB and other regulatory authorities, as well as customers. 

Dr. Collins serves as a forensic pathologist with Newberry Pathology Associates and is a Medical Director for SharingHope SC, the Organ and Tissue Donation Services for South Carolina. After receiving her BS in microbiology, magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Georgia, Athens, Dr. Collins earned her MD from the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta. Following medical school, Dr. Collins completed an anatomic and clinical pathology residency at Wake Forest University/Bowman Gray School of Medicine. After residency, she completed a forensic fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina where she remained on faculty as a Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Director of Forensic and Autopsy Pathology, and Chief Medical Examiner. Dr. Collins is a Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology, board-certified in anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and forensic pathology. She is a member of the College of American Pathologists and past Chair of the Autopsy Committee. She is past President of the South Carolina Society of Pathologists, and past Chair for the Pathology/Biology Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. She serves on the Board of Directors and is past-President for the National Association of Medical Examiners.

Dr. Mark Giffen began his journey to Forensic Pathology in New York State, working with his father in the funeral industry. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Upstate New York with a Bachelor of Science in 2008 and then graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania in 2013. He pursued a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, graduating in 2017 before completing a 1-year fellowship in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Dr. Giffen has presented at the national meetings of the National Association of Medical Examiners and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences as well as locally through the North Carolina Area Health Education Consortium. He carries board certifications in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology from the American Board of Pathology. Special interests include forensic radiology and advanced forensic imaging techniques.

Dotti Owens assumed the position of Ada County Coroner in January 2015 and served as the county coroner until January 2023. Following her retirement, Dotti remains dedicated to enhancing the field of medicolegal death investigation and implementing high standards through her consulting firm. Her professional background boasts an impressive array of accomplishments, including:

• Obtaining a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice administration.
• Certification in Medicolegal Death Investigation from The American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators
• Accreditation from the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners
• Accreditation from the National Association of Medical Examiners
• Authorship of numerous Policy & Procedure Manuals and planning documents
• Overseeing the second office in the nation to achieve dual accreditation from both organizations.
• Development of Regional Facilities within the State of Idaho to Include a 30 million dollar forensic pathology facility.

Dotti Owens actively participates in various boards and committees affiliated with the National Association of Counties (NACo). She contributes her expertise to the Idaho Governor's Child Fatality Review Team and the Idaho State Association of County Coroners. Dotti also serves as a member of the Medicolegal Consensus Body of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Standards Board (AAFS) and holds an executive board position in the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME), among other professional organizations.

She frequently conducts training sessions for Coroner/Medical Examiner agencies nationwide and is currently involved in the development of the Eastern Idaho Forensic Pathology Center. Dotti's proficiency extends to advising on the establishment of Coroner/Medical jurisdictions in the region. Her commitment to suicide and drug overdose prevention has led her to introduce the Man Therapy campaign to the State of Idaho. Dotti has played a significant role in bridging the gap between Coroners and Medical Examiners and their involvement in Suicide and Overdose Prevention. Recognizing the coroner's pivotal role in public health, she continues to champion its importance.

Roman Hitchev, M.D., MPH, is Vice President & Chief Science Officer for the American Association of Tissue Banks. Dr. Hitchev has more than 20 years of tissue banking and procurement experience. Prior to joining AATB, Dr. Hitchev served as president and chief medical officer for Tissue Bank Osteocentre BG (OCBG), a tissue procurement organization licensed in Europe under EU Dir. 2004/23/EC. Prior to this position, Dr. Hitchev was vice president international of Osteotech Inc. (OSTE, now Medtronic) and president of Osteotech’s European subsidiary. Dr. Hitchev also served as executive director with Lions Eye and Tissue Bank and Research Foundation (Lions of Distirt 22-C) and organ procurement coordinator with the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium.

Dr. Wolfe is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Disease at Duke. Dr. Wolfe is also the Chief Medical Director for Duke’s Emerging Pathogens Unit, which focuses on preparedness in the event of emerging biothreats, especially at the moment, the 2019 novel Coronavirus.  He also serves as one of the core Transplant Infectious Disease faculty.   Locally, he lectures in the Community Preparedness and Disaster Management class at the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, as well as at Duke University Medical School. Nationally, his expertise in the fields of transplantation and emerging infections in the immunocompromised has been recognized with appointment as the Chair of the national HHS Disease Transmission Advisory Committee from 2016-2018.

Cameron now serves as an At-Large member of the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.  Under his leadership, the OPTN and national organ procurement sganizations fostered the re-writing of the PHS Increased Risk Guidelines for organ donors, and re-wrote policy accounting for emerging pathogens, including Zika, ebola and MERs-CoV.    Dr. Wolfe maintains an active HIV practice and continues his clinical research, with multiple influenza and respiratory viral studies ongoing at Duke.  

Dr. Emily Duncanson is a cardiovascular and forensic pathologist. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School. She completed an anatomic pathology residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan and a two-year forensic pathology fellowship at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, including a year of forensic cardiovascular pathology. She has been a cardiovascular pathologist at the Jesse E Edwards Registry of Cardiovascular Disease since 2008 along with Dr. Shannon Mackey-Bojack. The Registry pathologists examine almost 2000 postmortem cardiac specimens per year, including over 1500 post-valve recovery donor hearts. 

Marion is the Director of Donor Family Services and Community Outreach for Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network, while currently serving as President for the Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation. With over 11 years’ experience as a champion for community outreach and a passion for educating and engaging people on the importance of organ and tissue donation.  Her oversight includes the grassroots education and outreach to communities whether they are at work, play, school, church or home, as well as ensuring Family Services assists donor families with finding a “new normal” after the loss of a loved one.  As the former radio host of Let’s Talk Donation with Gift of Hope, Marion raised awareness on a local, regional and national platform to address and combat the myths and misconceptions about organ and tissue donation. Marion contributed and co-authored the research article “African-Americans' perceptions of organ donation: Simply boils down to mistrust”. She holds a Master’s of Philosophy in Management, from Walden University, a Master’s in Human Resource Management from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, a Bachelors in Leadership Studies from Kendall College and she is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Organizational Leadership and Change at Walden University. as well as, Chair of the Donate Life Illinois State Team, past Advisory Council Member for Donate Life America, past Healthcare Co-Chair for Rainbow/PUSH and Committee Member for the 7^th Congressional District of Illinois Health Advisory Committee.  Marion is a courageous donor wife, and has one daughter and resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Freda G. Sampson is an advocate for justice and equality, entrepreneur, creative, and author. Her passion stems from observing her father, Rev. Dr. Frederick G. Sampson, II, who was a civil rights leader and pastor who fought for equality for all people. Witnessing that love in action has formed the direction of her personal and professional journey. A diversity and inclusion professional, Freda provides consulting, training and facilitation services to corporations and organizations throughout Michigan and Canada on diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency.

Remonia A. Chapman is the community outreach manager and director of the Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) Gift of Life Michigan.  She is also the past national president of the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT).  Under Chapman’s leadership, Gift of Life MOTTEP and the Detroit MOTTEP Foundation have received many national awards for increasing organ awareness and donation rates in Michigan. During Chapman’s tenure with the organization, National MOTTEP has honored the Gift of Life MOTTEP as a model program because of its community collaborations, partnerships and community empowerment.  Chapman is a devoted health advocate whose career exemplifies spirituality and service. She was recently honored by the Detroit News as one of the 2018 Michiganians of the Year.

Chapman earned a bachelor’s of science degree in biology and psychology from Wayne State University. She has also completed post-graduate health education programs at Wayne State University and Case Western Reserve University-School of Medicine. She has also completed graduate studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Leadership Detroit’s Class XXXIII and Harvard Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute. Remonia is an associate minister at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Charles Christian Adams, and Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams.  She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Rho Omega Chapter, and serves on the local, regional and international levels. 

Donyale R. Padgett is an educator and communications professional with 20 years of progressive industry experience and over 15 years of teaching experience at the college level. She currently serves as Associate Professor of Diversity, Culture, and Communication in the Department of Communication at Wayne State University (WSU), where she has worked since 2002. Professor Padgett holds a doctorate degree from Howard University in rhetoric and intercultural communication. She also holds a master’s degree in organizational communication/public relations and a bachelor’s degree in journalism – both from Wayne State University. Much of her research focuses on issues of race and culture, with particular emphasis on crises that affect marginalized and underrepresented groups. She has published numerous articles in academic journals and presents her work at regional and national conferences. She is also a very active practitioner, a sought-after speaker on topics of diversity and inclusion, and works with numerous organizations to improve communications programming and provide more inclusive workspaces.

Charles is a graduate of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary with a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Sacred Theology where he focused on American Religion and Culture. He has previously served as a Family Advocate and the Religious Affairs Coordinator for Southeast Tissue Alliance. Charles currently serves as a Hospital Development Coordinator for HonorBridge, formerly Carolina Donor Services, where he focuses on rural and smaller urban hospitals. Charles has worked in the tissue banking and OPO industries for 19 years.

On a more personal note, Charles' mother was a tissue donor early in his tissue banking career. Charles serves as a chaplain for his local Cub Scout pack and is a published fiction author.

Beth Cameron, Manager of Family Aftercare with ARORA, is a Certified Child Life Specialist, a Certified Volunteer Manager, and is Certified in Thanatology: Death, Dying and Bereavement. The Family Aftercare team at ARORA provides care and support to families and coordinates ARORA’s volunteer program.  Beth is a member of AATB’s Donor Family Services Council and is part of the subcommittee devoted to exploring ways to increase communication between tissue donor families and recipients.  Beth is passionate about donation, providing support to grieving families, animal rescue, volunteerism, and pediatric oncology camps.

Josh Brennan spent six years as an EMS professional and was an educator for the Red Cross. Josh has been with New England Donor Services since 2008 in various roles in the Tissue Operations Department. He is currently the Director of Tissue Operations. He has published three abstract articles with the American Association of Tissue Banks and was part of the creative development team for the Hopes Heroes - Donor Family Program. He has been invited to speak at multiple workshops/conferences/webinars on various topics, including Electronic Tissue Authorization, Call Center Scheduling, Algorithmic Tissue Screening, Electronic Tissue Allocation, DRAI competency & training, and Grief Concepts. Josh is currently serving on the AATB Education Committee and was the project co-manager on the development of the Sepsis Education Online Learning Tool for the RADE Council.

Deborah has been with LifeNet Health since 2011 beginning her career as a Family Support Coordinator, working with families in the hospital at the time of their loved one’s death. She approached families for donation, provided education on donation, completed all necessary paperwork, and supported the family until their loved one went for procurement. In 2014 Deborah became the Manager for Donor Family Services and was promoted to Director of Donor Family Services in 2015. Prior to coming to LifeNet Health, Deborah served as Director of Children’s Ministries Family Ministries at two local churches and led a team of consultants in direct sales as an Advanced Director. Prior to that, she was an elementary guidance counselor with Norfolk Public Schools implementing the guidance program, writing curriculum, and securing grants to provide additional services to students within the school.

Deborah earned her Master of Science in Education from Old Dominion University and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Radford University. She is an active member of the AATB Donor Family Services Council and the AOPO Donor Family Services Council. 

Erin has worked in the field of donation and transplantation for 20 years. As her role as an Aftercare Specialist, she is responsible for providing support to organ, tissue & cornea donor families, as well as acting as a liaison to the transplant and tissue banking communities. Erin is an active member of the AATB Donor Family Services Council.

Kristen has worked in the Organ and Tissue donation field for the last 5 years. She has mostly been in the Donor Referral Center screening donors and approaching families, currently, she is the department Supervisor. Kristen is a Certified Grief Counselor and studying to get her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is passionate about donation, working with donor families, mental health, and helping combat mental health issues for those in the donation world, first responders, hospital workers, etc.

Dr. Hammers is a Board Certified Anatomic, Clinical and Forensic Pathologist who performs autopsies and teaches the Forensic Pathology course for the fifth-year students in the Master of Anthropology Program at Boston University and the Master of Forensic Science and Law Program at Duquesne University. Dr. Hammers has a particular interest in cardiac pathology and actively participates in research related to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). After training in forensic pathology in at the New York City Medical Examiner’s office, she worked for several years in Massachusetts and New York City. Dr. Hammers then accepted a position in a private practice located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she worked for over five years before establishing Jennifer Hammers Pathology, which serves several counties in Western Pennsylvania by providing autopsy services. Dr. Hammers also performs autopsies and medical legal consultations at the request of families and attorneys.

As the Westmoreland County coroner, Timothy Carson is responsible for investigating the facts and circumstances of deaths that occur within the county, regardless of where the cause thereof may have occurred. The purpose of the investigation shall be to determine the cause of death and manner of death. He is also responsible for determining whether or not there is sufficient reason to believe that any such death may have resulted from criminal acts or criminal neglect of persons other than the deceased.

Timothy Carson worked in the Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office from 2000-2011 as the Director of Community Affairs and Grant Coordinator. He served as Chief Deputy in the Register of Wills Office from 2011-2012. Timothy is a 1989 graduate of Southmoreland High School and 1993 graduate of Waynesburg College. He resides in Scottdale and has three daughters and two sons.

Call 2-1-1 for Social Services. Help Starts Here. 

Lauralee Brown joined MTF Biologics in 2001 after 10 years of working in the field of donation and transplantation. Her introduction to the field began as a critical care cardiovascular nurse caring for heart and lung transplant recipients. She then accepted a position working for LOPA as a recovery/hospital development coordinator. In 1994, she joined the Midwest Transplant Network and was promoted in 1997 to Manager of Operations with responsibilities overseeing Quality Management, Staff Development and Training, Community Education, Donor Family Services, and Special Projects. Lauralee currently serves as a senior regional director, managing client relations, overseeing donor services communication, and other projects for MTF Biologics.

Melissa Chiumiento is an Aftercare Specialist at New England Donor Services. She has served thousands of donors’ families over the course of her five year career. She graduated Suffolk University in Boston, MA in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. As someone who works with and for donor families every day, Melissa offers extensive knowledge and insight into the true needs and expectations of this population. She also specializes in maintaining professional relationships with local transplant centers & recipient acknowledgement/engagement with donor families.

 Dr. Karl E. Williams is a life-long Pittsburgher, graduating as valedictorian from South Hills High School, in 1965, and subsequently being inducted into its Hall of Fame for Medicine/Science. His passions are his family, (son, Michael), music, literature, sailing, France and Armagnac!

 At Oberlin College, his undergraduate years were spent pursuing a major in Biology and a minor in Religion.

Following Oberlin, he attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Class of 1974), where he worked as a bench scientist at Mellon Institute and won an essay award from the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

Following graduation with a MD degree, he completed an internship in Washington DC Veteran’s Administration Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital. He then worked four years as an Emergency Room physician in Scranton, before returning to residency programs in Pathology at Allegheny General Hospital under the directorship of Dr. Robert Hartsock, and at Shadyside Hospital, under the directorship Dr. Edwin Fisher.

After completing his training in Pathology, he was employed for two years at the Coroner’s Office of Allegheny County. 

The science of Pathology holds the keys to understanding the most complex diseases and discrepancies of the body. It is also central to resolving Medicolegal issues in Forensic Pathology.

Karl is triple boarded in Anatomic, Clinical and Forensic Pathology, as well as having a Master’s in Public Health, from the Graduate School of Public Health of the University of Pittsburgh, in Occupational/Environmental Medicine.

Before becoming Allegheny County’s first appointed Medical Examiner, he was the Laboratory Director of Ellwood City Hospital, as well as the Medical Director of that hospital’s Occupational Medicine division. He was, additionally, Director of a high-tech start up medical biotech research and lab which performed testing of malignancies for the purpose of evaluating chemotherapy options.  

The Office of the Medical Examiner is one of the rare facilities in the country to have the complete set of Crime Laboratories integrated with its morgue and Death Scene Investigation System.

The collaboration of these two aspects of investigation can be applied in novel issues in Public Health, such the current drug overdose epidemic ravaging the country, as well as to frontier areas such as the use of DNA in the court system.

Some prominent cases that Karl has been involved with during his career include the crash of USAir 427 in 1995, the arrest and conviction of the Ross Township serial rapist, the cyanide poisoning of a local physician by her husband and the Tree of Life Synagogue slayings.

For the past decade one of his principal concerns have been with the on-going drug overdose epidemic. He works with the Pitt School of Pharmacy in creating and maintaining a unique resource Overdose Free PA.

John A. Grant, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Dip. Sport Med., is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon whose practice includes sports medicine and shoulder surgery with a focus on complex knee and cartilage/joint preservation surgery. He completed his PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary Sport Medicine Centre. This was followed by medical school and orthopaedic residency at the University of Calgary. He then came south across the border to undertake a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the University of Michigan. Following two years of elective sports medicine practice in Canada with an appointment as an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University, he returned to join the Orthopaedic Surgery faculty at the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor. In 2013, he was the Canadian Orthopaedic Association’s representative for the North American Travelling Fellowship (NATF). He is the Head Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for Eastern Michigan University Athletics and a Team Physician for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program based in Plymouth, MI. He is a member of multiple committees within the Canadian Orthopaedic Association (COA) and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), as well as the Director of Orthopaedic Resident Education for the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the University of Michigan. His research interests focus on the management and outcomes associated with both cartilage and multi-ligamentous injury of the knee as well as the optimization of rehabilitation following orthopedic sports medicine procedures. 

Dr. Bloor (CEO Videregen Limited) has over 30 years of experience in medical devices and regenerative medicine, with key expertise and leadership in strategic R&D, clinical compliance, and regulation specific to these areas having worked in US multinationals (J&J, Covidien/Medtronic) and UK start-up companies.

Formerly Chief Scientific Officer at Tissue Science Laboratories (TSL) plc., where Dr Bloor led the development of TSL’s unique regenerative tissue-based technology which was successfully commercialized in the EU, USA and Australasia. TSL listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) via IPO, and was subsequently acquired by Covidien/Medtronic where Dr. Bloor became Vice President of R&D.

After the integration of TSL technology into Covidien/Medtronic, Dr. Bloor founded Videregen with a spin-out of world-leading tissue engineering IP from UK research organizations. Via angel investment and regional VC’s leveraged by UK and European Horizon 2020 grants, Dr. Bloor has led Videregen through preclinical and manufacturing development, and regulatory approval with the first human clinical trial imminent.

Dr. Pryhuber has been a neonatologist for over 30 years, caring for newborn infants who need the support of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the first days to months of their lives. For over 20 years, she has also been an active researcher and author in fields of human lung injury and neonatal immunology in the Departments of Pediatrics and Environmental Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The majority of her work is focused on respiratory problems occurring in children due to prematurity, environmental exposures and infections. Dr. Pryhuber collaborates extensively with other investigators and doctors in many medical centers and fields of study, including neonatology, pulmonology, infectious disease, obstetrics/perinatology, immunology, microbiology, pathology, molecular biology and genomics, perinatal development and disease, with an ultimate goal is to reduce respiratory morbidity in children, especially those born prematurely. Dr. Pryhuber has led for the last 5 years, the Human Tissue Core for the Lung Development Molecular Atlas Program (LungMAP HTC). In partnership with the UNOS transplant network, the LungMAP HTC has created an extensive repository of consented, transplant-quality pediatric research tissues that provides multiple research centers with unique opportunities to explore the developing human respiratory tract and immune system in an unusually high quality and holistic manner (see LungMAP.net; LGEA Web Portal). Our success with building a pediatric lung tissue repository that includes many additional components of the immune system is unique and so valuable to translating from basic science laboratories to the bedside of infants and children.

Laura LeGuin, BSN serves as the Research and Donation Support Coordinator for LOPA – the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. She started her career at LOPA in 2011 as a Tissue Recovery Coordinator, moved to the role as a Quality Support Coordinator where she also began the Neonatal Donation Program in 2013. In 2017 the role of Research and Donation Support Coordinator was created where Laura’s main focus is the Neonatal Donation Program while also assisting with the Research Department.

Anna McDonald, M.D. - Medical Director Birth Tissue Recovery, LLC Winston-Salem, North Carolina Dr. McDonald completed her medical degree at Duke University Medical School prior to her training at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency), Harvard-affiliated Boston Children's Hospital (Pediatric Pathology fellowship), and the Boston Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (Forensic Pathology fellowship). She served as a staff Pediatric Pathologist at Boston Children's Hospital and a Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2014, she joined the Wake Forest Department of Pathology as an Assistant Professor of Pathology with specialty interests in forensic/autopsy pathology and perinatal/placental pathology. She was appointed as Medical Examiner for the State of North Carolina since 2014. She joined Birth Tissue Recovery, LLC as Medical Director in 2016, allowing her to integrate her expertise in placental/perinatal pathology and tissue and organ donor service experience. She is certified by the American Board of Pathology in Forensic Pathology, Pediatric Pathology, and Anatomic and Clinical Pathology.

Jonathan has worked in multiple roles in the tissue banking and transplant industry, including recovery and leadership. Jonathan is currently the Director of Education at AATB, overseeing educational programming development and the Certified Tissue Bank Specialist program. Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree in communications and a master’s degree in science in management. Jonathan is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. 

Jonathan is an active member of the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME), an Affiliate Member of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and an active committee member of IACME, NAME, and Donate Life America. 

After earning a BS in microbiology from McNeese State University and finishing up 6 years as a special operations forward air controller in the Louisiana Air National Guard, Kip Hanks began employment with the FDA as a field investigator in 1997. After a few years as a generalist covering multiple FDA-regulated products, he became a district biologics specialist and then the Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) biologics national expert. In this role, Kip was responsible for providing regulatory and guidance interpretation and application to ORA staff, training and mentoring new investigators, serving on policy and document workgroups and advising ORA senior leadership on biologics-related matters. In July 2021, he joined the American Association of Tissue Banks as its first director of regulatory and governmental affairs. In this role, Kip establishes and communicates the AATB official position regarding regulatory issues that may impact AATB member organizations to the FDA and other applicable governmental and standard-setting organizations. He provides expert interpretation, guidance, strategy and counsel on existing laws, regulations, standards, and guidance that impact AATB members.

Sharon O’Callaghan is a Consumer Safety Officer with the Division of Inspections and Surveillance, Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.  Ms. O’Callaghan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Prior to joining FDA, she worked at a community hospital as a bench tech and supervisor in all areas of the laboratory.  She joined the FDA in 1988 as a medical technologist. Ms. O’Callaghan has managed the Biological Product Deviation Reporting since 1990.  She was instrumental in developing the regulation on Biological Product Deviation Reporting (21 CFR 600.14 and & CFR 606.171), which was published September 7, 2001.  She also developed two guidance documents to accompany this rule.  Ms. O’Callaghan also developed the deviation reporting system for the Human Cells, Tissues and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products (HCT/Ps) and was instrumental in developing the guidance for HCT/P deviation reporting (21 CFR 1271.350(a)). She has participated in many outreach efforts to the blood and plasma industry, the traditional biological product industry, as well as the HCT/P industry. 

Jonathan has worked in multiple roles within the tissue banking and transplant industry, including recovery and leadership roles. Jonathan is currently the Director of Education at AATB where he oversees the development of educational programming and the Certified Tissue Bank Specialist program. Jonathan earned his undergraduate degree in communications and a master’s degree of science in management. Jonathan is a Certified Tissue Bank Specialist and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Jonathan is an active member of the International Association of Coroners & Medical Examiners (IACME), an Affiliate Member of the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME), a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), and an active committee member of IACME, NAME, and Donate Life America. 

Kristen joined Miracles in Sight in 2019 as the Vice President of Client Relations.  She has over 23 years of eye banking experience focusing on clinical operations, technician training, process improvement, and new service line development.  She is a Certified Eye Bank Technician (CEBT) and Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (CTBS).  She has served on numerous Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) committees and sub-committees over the years including the Technician Education Committee, the Certification Board, and Research Committee. Kristen has served as faculty for the EBAA Technician Education Symposium and Slit Lamp Course.  Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton and a Masters of Health and Human Services Administration from St. Mary’s University in Minnesota.

Kelly Keyes is a Research Forensic Scientist at RTI International in the Center for Forensic Science Advancement and Application, following a 25-year career as a Medicolegal Death Investigator at the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office.  She has investigated and certified thousands of cases in her career and retired as a Supervising Investigator.  She has a BS in Animal Physiology from UC San Diego, is a California POST Certified death investigator, and is a diplomat with ABMDI. Ms. Keyes is the president-elect of the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME), a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and the chair of the medicolegal death investigation subcommittee at OSAC. Her current research revolves around various aspects of medicolegal death investigation and coroner and medical examiner systems in the United States, including improving accuracy and thoroughness of data produced by these populations.

Brian Bricker began his career at the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) in 1998 as an Organ Procurement Coordinator. Brian currently serves as the Director of Clinical Operations, overseeing the Donor Referral, Recovery, and Procurement Departments. Brian is a registered nurse and a Certified Procurement Transplant Coordinator through the American Board of Transplant Certification.

In 1971, while working as a Surgical Technician, Dr. Powers had his first exposure to tissue donation. He later received a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from Old Dominion University and trained further in blood banking and HLA immunology. This training allowed him to work closely with the kidney transplant program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. A DDS was earned at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1987 followed by a General Practice Residency at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals. Ralph has over 40 years exposure to all facets of transplantation. The last 25 were focused on allograft use in dentistry. Currently, he has “the best job in the world” – retirement. However, he stays active as a medical writer and consultant focused on health communications and non-profit management. Ralph actively supports the American Association of Tissue Banks in their educational efforts.