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Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research Staff Members

Mary McGowan
Chief Executive Officer

Mary joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research as the organization’s first-ever Chief Executive Officer in 2020. As CEO, Mary serves as the primary representative and spokesperson for FSR and leads the organization’s strategic vision with patient engagement, strategic partnerships, fundraising, advocacy efforts, program direction, and an aggressive communications and research agenda.

Mary brings 35 years of nonprofit leadership and management experience to the role. Prior to joining FSR, she served as Executive Director at The Myositis Association (TMA.) As Executive Director of TMA, McGowan was featured and highlighted as a preeminent rare disease leader by numerous entities including American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Global Genes and the National Organization for Rare Diseases for her innovative national campaigns including Women of Color and Myositis and her leading telemedicine initiatives for autoimmune patients during COVID-19.

Prior to her time at TMA, Mary served as CEO of WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.  During her 8 years with WomenHeart, McGowan ensured the organization’s long-term growth and sustainability as the leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease. McGowan also served as Executive Director of the Allergy & Asthma Network, the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating suffering and death due to asthma, allergies and related conditions. She held various positions with the American Academy of Pediatrics during her service of 18 years. McGowan earned a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Development from the George Washington University and a B.A. from Trinity University.

To view Mary’s reflections from her first year as CEO, read her blog here.

Tricha Shivas
Chief of Staff and Strategy

Tricha Shivas joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) in December of 2020.  As the Chief Strategy Officer, she works with various stakeholders including individuals living with sarcoidosis and their loved ones, academic researchers, clinicians, industry partners, regulators and policy-makers to advance FSR’s mission to support patients and accelerate sarcoidosis research in the search for a cure.

Tricha is a collaborative and strategic leader with over 15 years of non-profit results-driven experience.  Tricha has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those with complex chronic illness and rare diseases. Tricha has served patients in her roles with the Washington Regional Transplant Community, The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), The National Quality Forum (NQF), WomenHeart – the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, and The Myositis Association (TMA).  In these roles, she helped build comprehensive patient engagement and awareness programming, developed robust diversity, inclusion, and equity programming, worked with the NIH, FDA, and industry to expand therapeutic pipelines and to increase patient centricity in drug develop, and worked with the CDC, HHS, regulators, and state and federal legislators to improve national health policy strategies, patient access to care, and healthcare quality measures.

Tricha received her bachelors in American Studies from Albright College and her Masters of Bioethics from University of Pennsylvania.  She currently serves on Drexel University’s Health Administration Department Advisory Council and Global Skin’s Rare Disease Steering Committee.  Tricha lives in Ohio with her husband, Daryl, and her dog, Dooley.

Angela O’Malley
Senior Director of Development

Angela O’Malley joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in 2017. As the Director of Development, she oversees all fundraising activities at FSR. This includes building relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporations, and special event management. Angela works closely with the executive director and the board of directors to implement strategic growth initiatives to continue to help build an organization that improves the lives of those who suffer from sarcoidosis.

Angela has extensive experience in developing and fostering client relationships and business marketing. She is passionate about improving the client experience as well as providing superior service. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Spanish from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Angela was the recipient of North Central College’s Presidential Scholarship and was inducted into Psi Chi- the International Honor Society in Psychology.

Manny Lozano
Senior Director of Global Patient Programs

Manny joined the FSR in May of 2023 after 23 years of service in the United States Navy. As the Senior Director of Global Patient Programs, he is responsible for developing, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives that advance all of FSR’s patient education and support programs.

Manny is a performance driven senior healthcare leader with 20+ years of healthcare experience with an additional five years in healthcare training and project management. Manny has experience developing teams and launching projects from the ground up, including facilitation of medical emergency preparedness and response. Most recently, he was responsible for delivering strategic business solutions by planning and executing complex training scenarios and project initiatives. Manny’s diverse set of skills and experience in the Navy have included tours and assignments with hospitals, Marines, submarines, and special warfare units. He earned his Bachelors of Sciences in Health Sciences from TUI University in June of 2008.

David Fischer
Director of Operations

David joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research team in March 2024. As Director of Operations, he will collaborate with FSR’s senior leadership and management team in the development of long-term operational plans, policies, and standard operating procedures to increase efficiencies and ensure smooth completion of the organizations day-to-day activities.David graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, IA with bachelor’s degrees in business management and marketing. Prior to FSR, he spent his professional career working in pharmacy and retail operations. Through this 20-year career he focused on change management and execution strategies that supported operations for small to large programs and projects. David was drawn to FSR for their dedication to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. David lives near Chicago, IL with his wife Erin and children, Mary Jo and Patrick.

 

Cathi Davis
Senior Communications and Marketing Manager

Cathi Davis joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research team in April 2021, inspired by a friend affected by sarcoidosis. As Senior Communications and Marketing Manager, she manages the strategy for all external communications, website, and public relations messages and collateral to consistently articulate FSR’s mission.

Cathi graduated from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL with a bachelor’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications. Prior to FSR, she spent her professional career creating content and marketing campaigns for several non-profits, mainly focused on efforts that support people with disabilities. Working in the nonprofit industry, she has learned how to build effective communication strategies to reach a variety of audiences. She hopes to continue using her skills to increase awareness for sarcoidosis research to help accelerate treatments and possibly a cure.

Stacy Ahlberg
Development Grants and Corporate Partnership Manager

Stacy joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in April of 2023. As the Development Grants and Corporate Partnership Manager, she will work with the Director of Development and Chief Strategy Officer on the management of the organization’s grants and corporate relationships including cultivating, growing, and managing the organization’s partners.
Stacy graduated from Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Prior to FSR, Stacy has spent 20 years working in the fundraising and special events industry at several non-profit organizations specializing in areas of relationship management, event planning, grant management, as well as high level individual and corporate fundraising. Stacy lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter.

Timothy Legenzoff
Research Manager

Timothy joined the FSR in September 2023. As Research Manager, he executes strategic and operational plans for research development and growth. He is dedicated to accelerating sarcoidosis research through collaboration with clinical research partners, and management of the Foundation’s research grant giving program. Timothy also supports the FSR registry, public health engagement projects, and big data and AI efforts.

Timothy graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. During this time, he became passionate about scientific research through his independent studies on enzyme kinetics. He was drawn to medicine from his time volunteering in local hospitals and motivated by his family’s battle with autoimmune and immunological diseases.
Timothy served as Clinical Research Coordinator for nearly four years where he coordinated clinical trials, observational research, and quality assurance and quality improvement projects in autoimmunity, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and critical care, and infectious disease. Timothy specialized in research data management and supported the development of rare disease research registries. Tim lives near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife, Jenna, and pug, Milena.

Mia Kato
Senior Patient Outreach Coordinator

Mia joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in October of 2023. As the Senior Patient Outreach Coordinator, she is responsible for coordinating FSR’s patient education and support programs.

Mia recently graduated with a master’s degree in social work with a pathway in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use from the University of Michigan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Seattle University. Prior to FSR, she worked at several non-profit organizations and in the legal field for over 5 years. Mia is passionate about connecting patients with resources and providing patient-centered service.

Sam Spinner
Operations and Development Administrative Coordinator

 Sam joined the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research in November 2023. As Operations and Development Administrative Coordinator, he supports critical operations and processes necessary for the organization’s workflow. He supports day-to-day and operational functions of the organization, financial matters, and coordinates community outreach.

Sam is a graduate of Clark University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, where was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. He also holds a post-baccalaureate American Bar Association approved Paralegal Certificate. Before joining FSR, he worked in education and law for 6 years in Japan and Australia, as well as the United States. He lives in Chicago with his lab rescue, Elvira.

 

Stephanie Mizell
Social Media and Marketing Coordinator

Stephanie joined the FSR team in February 2024, and is proud to serve as the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator. With over 15 years of experience in the dynamic field of marketing, her journey has been a colorful blend of creativity and strategy. With a degree in Graphic Communications, providing a solid foundation for diverse roles in both large and small organizations. Stephanie’s professional voyage has been marked by versatility. From designing captivating visuals to steering social media strategies, she has demonstrated expertise in various areas. A seasoned professional with a heart for non-profit causes, Stephanie has dedicated over five years to the sector, honing skills in Design, Layout, Social Media Management, Video and Digital Marketing, and Email Marketing. Her proficiency extends to all Adobe programs, and she has had the privilege of sharing her expertise by teaching Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator at the college level.

Stephanie’s connection to the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research goes beyond professional alignment. A personal journey navigating a Sarcoidosis diagnosis has fueled her passion to contribute meaningfully to an organization making a difference. Committed to supporting FSR’s mission, she brings not only her skills but also a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by sarcoidosis.

Khaleelah Cohen
Diversity & Inclusion Programs Consultant

As Diversity & Inclusion Programs Consultant, Khaleelah manages efforts to improve diversity and inclusion for patients and physicians and other stakeholders by managing programs such as the Women of Color Committee. Khaleelah has over six years of research and collegiate teaching experience; and a professional background in non-profit program development and volunteer services spanning over 12 years.  In her previous roles, she oversaw the enhancement and execution of numerous program initiatives and national training conferences. As Director of Programs at WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease, she managed community-based education initiatives, peer support programs, social media campaigns and led the planning and execution of the organization’s annual conferences for patients and national hospital partners. In 2017, Khaleelah launched her consulting business and has worked for clients such as WomenHeart and The Myositis Association, managing and directing various aspects of patient volunteer programs, training, and volunteer services. She continues her work in the non-profit sector, serving community members through her position as Community Benefit Specialist with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and continues to offer consulting services for non-profit organizations.  Khaleelah received her MA in Sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and B.A. from the University of California, Riverside where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa.  She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Open My Heart Foundation and The Talking Drum, Incorporated. Khaleelah is a California native and resides in the District of Columbia with her husband and three kids.

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