ProfNet Experts Available on Ebola Virus, Menopause, Holiday Entertaining, More

NEW YORK, Oct. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Below are experts from the ProfNet network that are available to discuss timely issues in your coverage area. If you are interested in interviewing any of the experts, please contact them via the contact information at the end of the listing. To receive these updates by email, send a note to [email protected] with the industries you cover, and we'll add you to the appropriate edition. 

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EXPERT ALERTS

• Circulating Tumor Cell Technology
• Eliminating the Mess When Entertaining
• Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause

EXPERT ROUNDUP

• Ebola Virus

MEDIA JOBS

• Photo Editor – Associated Press (NY)
• Reporter – North Bay Business Journal (CA)
• Managing Editor – Dallas Business Journal (TX)

OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES

• How to Become Socially Credible
• Media 411: Are You TV's Sexiest Male News Anchor?
• Writing Business Stories That Matter

EXPERT ALERTS:

Circulating Tumor Cell TechnologyDena MarrinucciChief Scientific Officer
Epic Sciences
"Circulating tumor cells escape from solid tumors and enter the bloodstream, where they provide detailed and timely information about a patient's cancer. At Epic, we are developing diagnostic tests that accurately quantify and characterize circulating tumor cells in the blood to provide essential, real-time information of a patient's cancer for better therapy matching and drug resistance monitoring."Dr. Marrinucci is an expert on circulating tumor cell technology and can discuss its impact on personalized medicine in cancer. She has more than a decade of experience in the field. Her doctoral dissertation research from The Scripps Research Institute became the basis for the molecular diagnostics company, Epic Sciences. She can discuss how circulating tumor cells in the blood are being used to match patients to cancer therapies and monitor for drug resistance. She has authored more than ten publications in Nature, Journal of Oncology, and other top cancer journals. She has a BS in chemistry from University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in cancer biology from The Scripps Research Institute. She specializes in cancer research, circulating tumor cells, personalized medicine, targeted therapies, molecular diagnostics, companion diagnostics and clinical trials.
Website: http://epicsciences.com
Bio: http://www.epicsciences.com/leadership.php
Media Contact: Madeline Hirshan, [email protected]

Eliminating the Mess When Entertaining Meryl SantopietroFounder
Simply Spotless NY
"Start by keeping your furnishings perfect, I would recommend that you purchase a good quality throw for your light colored furniture. Throws should always be used by the homeowner to keep your favorite chair or sofa covered up. It is the everyday usage that adds the most dirt and grime to those pieces. Another great tip for keeping your furnishings clean and fresh is to vacuum them once a month. That will keep surface dust and dirt from settling in the fabric. Use a large tray for your favorite ottoman, it makes a great serving table for small snacks and cocktail napkins. Try to have side tables available for guests to stash their drinks on, this eliminates unnecessary spills."
Santopietro is an award-winning interior designer creating and redefining style throughout the country and across the pond to London. Her portfolio ranges from classical and traditional, to modern and contemporary. Her flexibility in styles enables her to satisfy a diverse, high profile range of clientele with the most discriminating tastes.  Her educational background reflects her commitment to art – university fine arts major with advance studies in art history at the University of California at Berkeley with certificate work at Rhode Island School of Design and a membership in the American Society of Interior Designers.  She has tips on decor, design and etiquette for holiday parties big and small (as they relate to how to do up your apartment, home or space).
Media Contact: Jose Martinez, [email protected]

Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause
Dr. Rebecca BrightmanOB-GYN
East Side Women's OB-GYN Associates
"If lifestyle modifications don't help, women should be encouraged to discuss their symptoms with their healthcare provider. The good news is that there are several ways a woman can treat her menopausal symptoms. Hormone replacement is known to effectively treat symptoms, but has risks and is not for all women. For those women who prefer a non-hormonal alternative, only low dose paroxetine has received FDA approval for the treatment of night sweats and hot flashes. While some women have found relief with soy, vitamins and nutritional supplements, there are potential safety concerns and these substances rarely have been found to be more effective than placebo."Dr. Brightman, a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) certified menopause practitioner, can talk about non-hormonal treatments for hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Relizen, made from a unique Swedish flower pollen extract, has been available in Europe for the last 15 years, and has been used by over one million women.
Website: http://www.eswobgyn.com
Media Contact: Elizabeth Maxim, [email protected]

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EXPERT ROUNDUP: Ebola Virus

Following are experts who are available for interviews on the Ebola virus. If you need additional experts on the topic, you can also submit a query to reach hundreds of thousands of experts in the ProfNet network.

Dr. Ivan OranskyVice President and Global Editorial Director
MedPage Today
As VP and global editorial director for MedPage Today, Oransky's primary responsibility is to lead the global content strategy by developing new offerings in news, features, and commentary. He teaches medical journalism at New York University's Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program, and is the vice president of the Association of Health Care Journalists. He has been executive editor of Reuters Health; managing editor, online, of Scientific American; deputy editor of The Scientist; and editor-in-chief of the now-defunct Praxis Post. For three years, he taught in the health and medicine track at the City University of New York'sGraduate School of Journalism. He earned his bachelor's at Harvard, where he was executive editor of The Harvard Crimson, and his M.D. at the New York University of School of Medicine, where he holds an appointment as clinical assistant professor of medicine. He is available to speak about many aspects of the Ebola virus, including: warning signs, preventative measures; potential of wider spreading and national health crisis; what we can learn from last week's unfortunate death; and the myths and truths of the Ebola virus.
Media Contact: Candace Disler, [email protected]

Michael SmithNorth American Correspondent
MedPage Today
Smith is a three-time winner of the Science and Society Journalism Award of the Canadian Science Writers' Association. After working for newspapers in several parts of Canada, he was the science writer for the Toronto Star before becoming a freelancer in 1994. His byline has appeared in New Scientist, Science, the Globe and Mail, United Press International, Toronto Life, Canadian Business, the Toronto Star, Marketing Computers, and many others. He is based in Toronto, and when not transforming dense science into compelling prose, he can usually be found sailing. One of Smith's past articles on the Ebola virus can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/m8tzwsh. He is available to discuss many aspects of the Ebola virus including: warning signs, preventative measures, potential of wider spreading and national health crisis; what we can learn from last week's unfortunate death, and the myths and truths of the Ebola virus.
Media Contact: Candace Disler, [email protected]

Gabriel CrenshawPsychologist, Adjunct Lecturer
University of Southern California School of Social Work
"The Ebola virus is creating a psychological threat to rational thinking. Many Americans are experiencing a heightened level of fear and anxiety, with concerns about their safety and the health of their children. Getting the facts will help keep us safe and sane. If you feel yourself becoming escalated with anxiety, turn off the news for a bit."
"Dr. Gabe" Crenshaw is an on-air TV/radio personality, touted as America's Best "Lifechanger" while serving a two-year stint as psychologist on the TV show "Extra." He is the creator/host of his own digital media program, "Mental Minute w/ Dr. Gabe," and a contributing expert on various news broadcasts. He appears on "The Doctors," "The Ricki Lake Show," Jamie Foxx's "Foxxhole" Radio, The UK's "The Lawrence Styles Show," etc. He is featured in various print/digital media (thedoctorstv.com, TVNewsCheck.com, Extratv.com, Star Magazine, Orange County Register, Canada'sCottage North Magazine, etc.). A gifted clinician and educator, his contributions have been honored by a number of establishments, including Children's Hospital Los Angeles/USC School of Medicine, for his work on psycho-social factors of Spina Bi?da patients; California State Legislature for SADA (Students Against Drug Abuse); and The Cancer Support Group/Ohio Chapter. He currently serves on the board of directors for the American Red Cross LA/Santa Monica, and is also a mentor with the Sons of Abraham, a faith-based boys group.
Media Contact: Alexis Hankh, [email protected]

Jonathan Lai, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biochemistry
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
"The Sudan strain can be associated with large outbreaks, including what was -- before this epidemic -- the largest ever outbreak of an Ebola virus in 2000, but there are few antibodies available for it. All the experimental antibody treatments used during this current outbreak (including ZMapp and TKM-Ebola) were designed to treat the Zaire strain. Generally, antibodies against one strain are not effective against the others."
Dr. Lai has spearheaded the development of a potential antibody therapy for the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, one of the two most lethal strains, and is also working on antibodies that can fight multiple strains. (The Zaire ebolavirus is the strain responsible for the current epidemic in West Africa.) He recently received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for this research. His lab is also looking to find an antibody or cocktail of antibodies that not only fights the Sudan strain, but multiple species of Ebola simultaneously. He can speak to the advancements and challenges of developing antibody treatments for Ebola, and provide general insight into convalescent serum therapy, which is the WHO-recommended front-line therapy for this current outbreak.
Q&A: http://tinyurl.com/o75hcpw
Media Contact: Deirdre Branley, [email protected]

Dove Pressnall
Founder
Survivors' Truths
"People need to know that Ebola can be brought under control, so there can be increased compliance with needed interventions, and for medical personnel to be safe to do their work. Many have left Liberia because it is so dangerous -- not just the risk of infection but the risk of unrest. There are all kinds of conspiracy theories: 'Maybe Ebola isn't real. Maybe they're just doing this to get more international aid, so they can embezzle it.' People mistrust the government that much. Still, Liberia has incredibly strong cultural norms around caring for people and around communities coming together. The missing piece in Ebola eradication efforts is the need to understand and leverage cultural assets, and gain public trust at the outset of an outbreak. There is an opportunity. So let's build treatment centers, but let's also have a model of caring in the community and show how that actually can happen."
Pressnall is a social entrepreneur and the founder of Survivors' Truths, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that empowers communities by collaborating with marginalized groups to challenge stereotypes and raise awareness through powerful storytelling. It aims to bring together the best of social service and social media to promote positive social change. At the start of the Ebola outbreak, the organization established a division in Monrovia, Survivors' Truths Liberia, a local entity to carry out peace-building work through strategic communications. The focus of Survivors' Truths is on strengths, and helps those who share their stories. These stories inspire reflection, hope, and action, and create social change by challenging the way we think and talk about people affected by violence and discrimination.
A licensed psychotherapist in private practice since 2001, Pressnall is inspired by the possibilities for challenging less respectful ways of describing those we seek to help and the opportunities created by new media to connect, ally, and advocate. Her work is also heavily influenced by her experience at, and ongoing relationship with, Woodbury University and its College of Transdisciplinarity. While she earned an undergraduate degree in business administration at Woodbury, she eventually migrated to the helping professions, serving individuals, families and communities. She credits Woodbury's embrace of transdisciplinarity, "the breaking down of the silos of understanding and seeing the connection between things," as providing context for that shift -- and a new framework for her work in and for Liberia.
Website: http://www.survivorstruths.org; http://cot.woodbury.edu</a>
Media Contact: Ken Greenberg, [email protected]

Steven C. LairdMedical Malpractice Lawyer
Law Offices of Steven C. Laird, Fort Worth, Texas
"The death of Ebola virus patient Thomas Eric Duncan at a Dallas hospital on Oct. 8 has raised questions about what legal protections are available to his family and the public. However, existing laws may prevent either group from having any meaningful chance in a Texas courtroom. Even if Duncan's relatives or others contract the deadly disease from him, Texas tort reform measures enacted in 2003 will make it almost impossible for a related lawsuit to succeed. Emergency facilities and health care providers such as the one Duncan visited are virtually exempt from civil penalties unless you can prove that a staff member willfully and wantonly injured the patient. It is horribly ironic that these restrictive laws were touted as protecting Texans' health, but, as this case shows, they're actually protecting those health care providers who may have made serious errors with the initial care and diagnosis of a contagious patient."
Media Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected]

David M. Walsh IVHealth Care Appellate Lawyer
Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson, P.C., Dallas
"The medical case of Thomas Eric Duncan should serve as a reminder to hospitals to verify that their electronic medical record systems and procedures for handling infectious diseases are in place. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned U.S. health care providers for months about the Ebola threat, but initial media reports still indicated that Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas prematurely released Duncan -- who since has died, in part because physicians couldn't see the patient information that was entered into the nurses' medical record system. Though the hospital later said its record system was operating properly, it's important that health care providers double-check their medical record systems' connectivity to make sure that all caregivers are on the same page when it comes to sharing patient information. In addition, hospitals should ensure that staffs are properly trained in obtaining patient histories."
Media Contact: Dave Moore, [email protected]

Magdeline Aagard, RN, Ed.D.
Nursing@Simmons Professor, Master of Science in Nursing Program
Simmons College
Aagard recently spent time in Liberia working to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the country. She can speak to her experience working in the Liberian hospital and, more specifically, the role nurses play in handling disasters such as these in the U.S. or abroad.
Media Contact: Jemila Woodson, [email protected]

Carole Lieberman, M.D.
Psychiatrist, Public Health Expert
"The CDC is currently scrambling to come up with a protocol for a public health response that works. There has been no precedent set in recent times for an epidemic like Ebola, and the magnitude of the work needed to train all medical personnel at hospitals and doctors' offices across America is staggering. What needs to be done -- before it is too late -- is to stop all travelers coming into the U.S. from West Africa. It is not only the responsibility of the CDC, but that of Congress and the White House to act now before cases multiply exponentially. It is also another urgent reason for our borders to close to undocumented aliens. People need to turn their fears into action by contacting elected officials, public health departments, the CDC and more to urge them to act now to stop the flow of potentially infected people onto our shores."Dr. Lieberman was also recently quoted by the Associated Press as saying the apparent breach is a grave concern she compared to "a puddle of gasoline that is spreading out, and the match could be lit at any time."
A well-known psychiatrist with an M.D. and a master's degree in public health, Dr. Lieberman has the distinction of having received an NIMH grant in behavioral science and epidemiology.
Contact: [email protected]

Patty TaylorVice President, Professional Education and Clinical Affairs
Ansell
Taylor has been a nurse for almost 40 years and oversees hundreds of nurse consultants around the world for Ansell, one of the largest and oldest manufacturers of protection solution products. She is available to discuss how to protect and prevent the spread of Ebola, including the role of protective gear in hospitals and clinics; the importance of hygiene and glove compliance in the workplace; and proactive measures Ansell is taking to assist countries during this time of need. Taylor recently participated in a recent interview on this topic: http://tinyurl.com/prjlxbj
Media Contact: Caitlin Brown, [email protected]

Redentor S. Mendiola Jr., M.D.
Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine Physician
Summit Medical Group, Berkeley Heights, N.J.
"EVD is not an airborne disease. It is primarily transmitted during close contact with body fluids of infected individuals (skin, mucous membranes) when that person is symptomatic. Illness usually starts with fever, headache, and flu-like symptoms. GI symptoms may follow, as well as cough, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and jaundice. Symptoms can occur between two and 21 days, but must follow a history of travel to West Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) in the past 21 days in order to be considered symptoms of Ebola. Signs and symptoms of Ebola (patients are not contagious in the incubation phase): fever greater than 38.6 degrees C (101.5 degrees F); headache (severe); joint and muscle aches; weakness; diarrhea; vomiting; stomach pain; lack of appetite. Anyone with such a history should go to a hospital emergency department. Alerting the emergency department ahead of time will also enable them to prepare and apply appropriate isolation precautions. Ebola patients are not contagious to others when they are asymptomatic. Symptoms must be present for the patient to be considered contagious."Dr. Mendiola can speak to infectious diseases, preventive measures, diagnosis and treatment.
Bio: http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/doctor/rmendiola/
Media Contact: Maureen Bennett, [email protected]

James Korman, PsyD, ACT
Director, Behavioral Health and Cognitive Therapy Center
Summit Medical Group, Berkeley Heights, N.J.Dr. Korman can discuss the mental health angle of Ebola. His expertise includes adjustment to medical conditions and treatment for anxiety, panic and persistent worry.
Bio: http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/doctor/jkorman/
Media Contact: Maureen Bennett, [email protected]

Albert GoldsonExecutive Director
Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC
Goldson is executive director of Indo-Brazilian Associates, an NYC-based boutique global advisory firm and think tank that provides executives with cross-cultural tools and risk management information to successfully negotiate internationally. He is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers(AFIO) and Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP). He has contributed numerous published articles on Ebola with respect to security issues and its urban impact and possible weaponization, and was one of the panelists on the Emmy Award-winning "Fresh Outlook" cable TV program on the Ebola issue, most recently this past Saturday, Oct. 11. See: http://tinyurl.com/pnqcys7 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhW-hnkXrqU
Expert Contact: [email protected]

Dr. Jim Arbogast, Ph.D.
Vice President, Hand Hygiene Sciences and Public Health Advancements
local, state, national, and international agencies to develop and distribute training programs and educational materials related to disaster and emergency preparedness for individuals, businesses, and communities. IDEP is a national center originally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). Under Dr. Rokusek's direction, the institute has become a leader in developing and implementing interdisciplinary all-hazards preparedness training and educational materials. She has spoken to a number of state and national medical groups on preparedness issues related to practice and post-disaster recovery.
Media Contact: Jeremy Katzman, [email protected]

Rone GeorgeHealthcare Nation Awareness Foundation
"The effects of a major outbreak like Ebola would be enormous if an uninsured individual was to be affected and have to pay the medical bills in excess of $200,000. But that does not take into consideration the cost of the effects of the fear. For example, if there is a major shift in the amount of people going to the ER in a short span, the overall health landscape is not designed to deal with that much activity."
George has acquired a substantial amount of experience as a former agent for Humana in the Medicare sector. He has worked with many of the top providers in the industry, including Cigna, Aetna, Colonel, AIG and many others. He has been extremely successful when it comes to securing enrollments at some of some of South Florida's biggest institutions, including Miami International Airport, Palm Beach International, Dade County School Board, Miami Jackson Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Wal-Mart. Healthcare Nation Awareness Foundation's management team is highly skilled in the general field of insurance and insurance sales. They possess great knowledge and a thorough understanding of the targeted demographic, which encompasses those who will be more likely to enroll by way of the exchange and Medicare.
Media Contact: Adrienne Mazzone, [email protected]

Brian ShortFounder and CEO
allnurses.com
Short is a Registered Nurse, self-taught website designer, entrepreneur, and passionate online community developer. In 1996, when the Internet was in its infancy, he started what would later become allnurses.com, the largest online nursing community on the Web. Today, allnurses.com has more than 855,000 active members who contribute more than 300 new topics daily. This past weekend, the site conducted a survey of their membership on how they were feeling about the Ebola situation, with the vast majority saying they do not feel prepared or safe with the unfolding situation. Short is available to discuss the survey results, as well as how the nursing profession feels about the Ebola crisis and what nurses feel they need to be prepared to handle new cases. He is also available to poll the allnurses.com community if a journalist has a specific question on which they would like the collective opinion of nurses.
Media Contact: Melissa Rubin, [email protected]

Robert Hitchcock, M.D., FACEP
Chief Medical Informatics Officer
T-System
Based out of Dallas, Hitchcock is a nationally recognized regulatory and patient safety expert, as well as a practicing ER physician. He is an Emergency Department Practice Management Association board member, and an active member of the HIMSS Physician Committee and other HIMSS subcommittees advocating usability and regulatory issues. He currently serves as T-System's chief medical informatics officer, leading the company's efforts for solving regulatory issues and identifying emerging trends. In 2001, he earned recognition for excellence in teaching from internal medicine residents, and in the early 2000s, he trained basic and advanced life-support EMS providers. His combination of regulatory and patient safety expertise, along with clinical experience from frontlines of emergency medicine, provides him with a unique perspective on the issue of Ebola. He is available to discuss issues such as preventative measures, treatment and recovery, experimental treatments, infectious diseases, mental health, CDC guidelines and protecting healthcare workers.
Media Contact: Ann Baty, [email protected]

Ben FavretPresident and CEO
Vestagen Technical Textiles
"Nobody is talking about how to protect frontline healthcare workers who might be exposed even before a patient tests positive for the virus. The sad reality is that healthcare workers are exposed to dangerous pathogens day-in and day-out and need to be equipped with better protection."
Favret founded Vestagen Technical Textiles Inc. in 2009 to deliver advanced performance textile technologies to the medical market, focusing on protecting health care workers and reducing acquisition and transmission of hospital-acquired pathogens. A 23-year veteran of the health care industry, Favret has broad experience in sales and marketing management, product launches and startup business leadership. He is also a board member of the International Safety Center. He is available to discuss gaps in healthcare worker safety, legislative efforts underway to improve healthcare worker protection from pathogen transmission, healthcare worker PPE standards, and textile advances available to provide better protection from contaminants.
Media Contact: Jackie Vos, [email protected]

Charles Haas, Ph.D.
Environmental Engineer, Biological Pathogen Risk Assessment
Drexel University
"Twenty-one days has been regarded as the appropriate quarantine period for holding individuals potentially exposed to Ebola virus to reduce risk of contagion, but there does not appear to be a systemic discussion of the basis for this period."
Dr. Haas can comment on how government agencies are deriving their recommended procedures for preventing the spread of Ebola. Haas, who has extensive background in analyzing the risk of transmitting biological pathogens, has analyzed data from previous Ebola outbreaks to determine that the 21-day quarantine, which is standard for individuals who could have been exposed to Ebola, might not be long enough to fully mitigate the threat of transmission. His paper "On the Quarantine Period for Ebola Virus" was published in "PLOS Currents: Outbreaks" this week. He is the head of the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department at Drexel.
Media Contact: Britt Faulstick, [email protected]

Dr. Robert QuigleySenior Vice President of Medical Assistance
International SOS
One of International SOS' medical teams evacuated two Dutch doctors with possible exposure to the Ebola virus from Sierra Leone on Sept. 14. They were transported from a remote location and then flown by an International SOS air ambulance from Freetown to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Dr. Quigley is available to discuss the evacuation process and can share advice to companies on what to do before they travel.
International SOS, the world's leading medical and travel security services company, helps corporations and NGOs manage the health and security risks facing their international travelers and expatriates. This includes developing preparedness plans tailored to the company's industry and specific needs; providing emergency medical care and evacuation during a medical or security emergency; and access to information and tools providing preparation, compliance, tracking, and communications to reduce health and safety risks employees abroad may face.
Media Contact: Mattie Walker, [email protected]

Mark Stibich, Ph.D.
Founder, Chief Scientific Officer
Xenex Disinfection Services
"The risk of a patient in a U.S. hospital contracting the Ebola virus is low. The risk is much higher for a patient to contract one of the superbugs like C.diff that are prevalent in the U.S. right now -- which is why forward-thinking hospitals have invested in technology that destroys these microorganisms before they make patients sick. Xenex robots are currently deployed in more than 250 U.S. hospitals, including the Dallas hospital where Ebola patient Mr. Duncan was recently treated."
An epidemiologist, Dr. Stibich oversees scientific research, product development, facility assessments, and protocol design. He leads new technology development and is an inventor on multiple patents. He meets frequently with infection prevention representatives at healthcare facilities, helping them understand and solve their infection control problems while analyzing hospital results. He has conducted CEU sessions for APIC chapters, has presented at SHEA and AHE conferences, and is regarded as a thought leader in the infection control community. He holds a doctoral degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health; a master's degree in health science, also from Johns Hopkins; and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. He has conducted research in Russia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, Kenya, the United States and Brazil.
Media Contact: Melinda Hart, [email protected]

Michael Greenberger, JD
Founder and Director, Professor of Law
University of Maryland Centerfor Health and Homeland Security
Since joining the School of Law in 2001, Greenberger designed and teaches two courses focused on counterterrorism and emergency response. He also led the development and oversees the teaching of three related crisis management and public health courses. He is a member of the Baltimore Washington Cyber Task Force; serves by appointment of the Governor of Maryland on the Commission on Maryland Cybersecurity Innovation and Excellence; is a member of the American Bar Association'sLaw and National Security Advisory Committee; and is a provisional member of The National Academies' Committee on Science, Technology, and Law. He has also previously served as both the vice chair and chair of the Maryland Governor's Emergency Management Advisory Council. He routinely comments on homeland security and emergency management topics for local and national media outlets, presents at professional conferences, and is among a handful of experts chosen in 2014 to sit on the inaugural Editorial Board for the International journal Disaster and Military Medicine. He is available to discuss legal, policy and protocol issues surrounding Ebola response.
Bio: http://www.mdchhs.com/our-team/michael-greenberger
Media Contact: Danielle Lueking, [email protected]

Trudy Henson, JD
Public Health Program Manager, Adjunct Professor of Law
University of Maryland Centerfor Health and Homeland Security
Henson joined the Center for Health and Homeland Security as a law and policy analyst in September 2008 and became a senior law and policy analyst an 2011. During law school, Henson worked on the Journal for Health Care Law and Policy and interned for the Securities and Exchange Commission. She has worked on and led a variety of projects, including those in public health preparedness and response, strategic planning, and legislation proposals, as well as focusing on issues of energy assurance and homeland security. As an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Henson also teaches the center's Law and Policy of the Public Health Response course. She is available to discuss legal, policy and protocol issues surrounding Ebola response.
Bio: http://www.mdchhs.com/our-team/trudy-henson
Media Contact: Danielle Lueking, [email protected]

Amy Major, JD
Associate Director
University of Maryland Centerfor Health and Homeland Security
Major joined the Center for Health and Homeland Security as a law and policy analyst in January 2008. Through her leadership skills and extensive hands-on work with the center, Major was named an associate director in 2012. She primarily oversees the academic and professional development efforts of CHHS, including the Extern and Research Assistant Program and staff publication and presentation opportunities, while also supporting several public-health-related projects. Major is also an adjunct faculty member at the Law School, where she has taught Law and Policy of the Public Health Response, and was appointed as a committee member of the American Bar Association'sSpecial Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Response in 2013. She is available to discuss legal, policy and protocol issues surrounding Ebola response.
Bio: http://www.mdchhs.com/our-team/amy-major
Media Contact: Danielle Lueking, [email protected]

Peggy Stewart, MSW, LCSW, Ph.D. Candidate Clinical Psychology
Adjunct Lecturer, Virtual Academic Center
University of Southern California School of Social Work
"If hysteria escalates, the potential for discrimination against African-Americans and anyone of color could begin to surface, especially in areas where racism is already a factor. The African-American community, much like the LGBTQ community when HIV first began to surface, could become targets of racial violence and hate crimes if the virus begins to spread throughout the United States."
Stewart is available to discuss the need for a bipartisan media campaign educating people about the facts regarding how Ebola is spread so that we dispel some of the misinformation, i.e., the belief that it is airborne, and provide facts. She says it is important to begin this process now so truths and facts, rather than rumors and wrong information, are communicated. Those affected by this virus are at risk for isolation emotionally and psychological trauma much like the social stigma associated with leprosy historically. Health care workers who test positive for Ebola will also be at risk for mental health issues due to the possibility of stigmatization and discrimination. As social workers and mental health professionals, we have a responsibility to begin this dialogue on both a micro and macro level with peers and with society in general.
Media Contact: Alexis Hankh, [email protected]

Judy AxonovitzClinical Professor, Field Education and Director
University of Southern California School of Social Work
"With the continued news of Ebola as a potential international public health issue, there is an increase in anxiety and concern about how to avoid infection. Recent reporting of additional cases in the U.S. create challenges in how to keep a measured outlook to this situation and the unlikely situation that one would become infected. With so much media coverage, each of us must test our ability to be rational and measure our response to what is triggered. Our vulnerability gets activated by how this disease spreads, especially with its presence in our country and less-than-effective protocols that have been prescribed by CDC. This only serves to augment fears, especially now that the disease has moved from remote countries in Africa to American metropolitan areas. It is imperative to create reassuring conversations with family and children to decrease fears and put the likelihood of contracting the virus in context."
Axonovitz has extensive clinical experience working in both an AIDS/ HIV unit and one that dealt with Legionnaire's disease. Additionally, she worked in crisis management with Hurricane Katrina survivors immediately after the event. Prior to joining the USC School of Social Work in 1983, she was a clinical practitioner at two leading Harvard teaching hospitals in Boston, the University of Colorado Medical Center-Denver and several Los Angeles hospitals, where she also served as a field instructor for local schools of social work training graduate students. In addition, she was director of a hospital social work department with in-patient medical and psychiatric services. As a clinical specialist at the VA Medical Center in West Los Angeles, she worked in all areas of in-patient health care delivery, teaching students and overseeing continuing education for all social workers employed by VA medical centers in southern California.
Media Contact: Alexis Hankh, [email protected]

Mark MoselyVice President, Global Essential Medicines
MAP International, Atlanta
"Quality personal protective suits (PPEs) and proper training are vital to allowing health care workers in West Africa to safely treat patients. PPEs have a short useful life, usually just one day or one work shift for a doctor or nurse, so ramping up worldwide production and distribution is very important, particularly if infection rates rise at rates anticipated by CDC and WHO sources. Essential medicines, particularly rehydration salts, are also key to treatment."
Mosely is VP, Global Essential Medicines, for MAP International, a global humanitarian organization that delivers medicines, medical supplies, and health services around the world in response to man-made and natural disasters and to people living with neglected tropical diseases and in severe poverty. Each year, MAP provides more than $330 million in essential medicines to 30 million people in more than 100 countries. Mosley is available to discuss Ebola work in West Africa, personal protective suits and rehydration medicines.
Website: http://www.map.org
Media Contacts: Anne Isenhower, [email protected] or Mitch Leff, [email protected] 

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• Photo Editor – Associated Press (NY)
• Reporter – North Bay Business Journal (CA)
• Managing Editor – Dallas Business Journal (TX)

See more listings here.

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OTHER NEWS & RESOURCES:

Following are links to other news and resources we think you might find useful. If you have an item you think other reporters would be interested in and would like us to include in a future alert, please drop us a line at [email protected]

• HOW TO BECOME SOCIALLY CREDIBLE. Finding a story to share with your social media audience is important. Yet, the struggle may be to find the right story at the right time to share on your Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn page. We recently spoke with Scredible's social and data marketing manager Lori Friedrich, who explained how Scredible works as well as how it can help with their social media efforts: http://prn.to/1sdmuhb
• MEDIA 411: ARE YOU TV'S SEXIEST MALE NEWS ANCHOR? PEOPLE MAG WANTS YOU. We all know that every year People magazine puts out a Sexiest Man Alive issue -- but did you know that this year they are placing another sexy man on the cover in addition to Hollywood's hottest hunk? If you're a news anchor, sports anchor or weather anchor, now's your chance to get in on the action! Details here: http://prn.to/1tGpQVw
• WRITING BUSINESS STORIES THAT MATTER. There's more to business writing than earnings and executive appointments. For our latest Twitter Q&A, we asked freelance writer Gwen Moran, award-winning small-business expert and writer specializing in business and money, to share some of her insight on how to find the part of the story that moves it from a dry business profile to a piece that matters: http://prn.to/1vxzRXy

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SOURCE ProfNet