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| Board of Directors |
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Birthmarks.com Staff:
(Please scroll down for our Medical Advisory Board) |
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 Michael Steffano, Executive Director & Founder: Birthmarks.com started out as Michael's contribution to helping people with a need to gather information about this condition and possibly seek treatment. Over the years it has attracted wonderful like-minded people, and grown and changed in ways he could never have imagined.
Michael has over 25 years experience in software development and business startups. He received a bachelor's degree in Computer Sciences with honors from Southern Methodist University in 1983 while on a National Merit Scholarship.
Since moving to Austin, TX from northern CA in 1996 with his family, Michael has managed Austin Programmers Group, a software and hardware consulting services firm specializing in networked business and database applications. Based on a video technology he patented, he co-founded a venture capital backed startup that "dot-commed" then "dot-bombed". In 2006 he co-founded Austin Data Storage, a provider of online data backup services. Throughout all this he has continued to spend time on Birthmarks.com. |
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 Dr. Bill Ritchie: Dr. Bill R. Ritchie was born in Salem, Oregon, where he lived until his graduation from Willamette University with a B.A in Psychology. He then moved to California, where he earned his doctorate in Theology and Ethics at the School of Theology at Claremont. During his graduate years he also attended the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where he received a Certificate. Bill then pastored Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Bellingham, Washington. He also taught Management and Business Ethics at Western Washington State College. Following this Bill was pastor of Salmon Creek United Methodist Church until 1975 when he organized Crossroads Community Church, a Calvary Chapel Fellowship. Crossroads is a church of 8,000 with a staff of 165. Bill has a radio program called "Brand New" on over 400 radio stations daily, has authored two books and is finishing a third, and launched a foundation called ABC (A Better Chance) to help at-risk kids get a solid education, tutoring and mentoring to give them a better chance at life. Along with his lovely wife of 39 years Betty, he enjoys landscaping and gardening.
Bill's son Geoff has an extensive birthmark on his face. Geoff was the subject of a Discovery Channel Extreme Surgery program. More information can be found in our article, "My Birthmark Does Not Define Me". |
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 Dorothy Steffano, M.Ed: Dorothy founded and was President of Community Outreach of SaddleBrooke, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization in Tucson, AZ. Currently, Outreach provides a wardrobe of new clothes to 1500 disadvantaged school children twice a year. Membership is close to 500 volunteers. She was named “Greater Tucson Leader” by the Greater Tucson Leadership Council in 2000.
She received a Master of Education in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California-Berkeley, majoring in English Literature.
Currently she is the owner and operator of a small business selling Antiques and Collectibles.
Dorothy's son Michael founded Birthmarks.com. |
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| Medical Advisory Board |
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 David H. Darrow, MD, DDS: Dr. Darrow is associate professor of otolaryngology and pediatrics, Eastern Virginia Medical School and attending otolaryngologist at the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, Norfolk, VA. He is Director of the Center for Hemangiomas and Vascular Birthmarks at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Dr. Darrow was educated at Amherst College in Amherst, MA, New York University College of Dentistry in New York, NY, and Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. After completing a residency in otolaryngology at the University of California, San Diego, he served a fellowship in pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Memorial Medical Center in Chicago, IL.
Dr. Darrow obtained his training in management of vascular anomalies under the tutelage of Dr. Milton Waner, and his practice includes laser and surgical management of port wine stains, hemangiomas, and venous and lymphatic malformations of the head and neck. Dr. Darrow serves on the Vascular Anomalies Task Force of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology. He has also served ten years on the executive committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
A native of New York City, Dr. Darrow now resides in Virginia Beach, VA. He is married, with two sons and a daughter.
Contact information for Dr. Darrow. |
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 Roy G. Geronemus, MD: Dr. Geronemus, Director of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, graduated from Harvard University and pursued his medical education at the University of Miami School of Medicine.
He trained in dermatology at the New York University Medical Center where he was chief resident and subsequently underwent a fellowship training in Mohs micrographic surgery under the auspices of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. He is clinical professor of dermatology at the New York University Medical Center where he founded its laser program and served nine years as chief of dermatologic and laser surgery. He is also the Director of the skin/laser division in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, Immediate Past President of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and President of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery.
Dr. Geronemus has been a featured speaker of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Society and the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery for many years, as well as speaking to other national and international audiences. He has published over 165 medical articles, chapters, and books, including the most recent 2nd Edition of Illustrated Cutaneous and Aesthetic Laser Surgery. He has been involved with the development of several new laser systems and therapeutic techniques which are now commonly used throughout the world. He has been listed in New York Magazine's "Best Doctors in New York" nine times, twice in Woodward and White's "Best Doctors in America", and in Town & Country's "Best Cosmetic Surgeons".
Present Appointments:
• Director, Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York
• President, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
• Immediate Past President, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
• Clinical Professor of Dermatology, NYU
• Director, Skin Laser Division, Department of Plastic Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
Contact information for Dr. Geronemus.
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 Marcelo Hochman, MD, FACS: Dr. Hochman is the director of The Facial Surgery Center, a private practice, multi-disciplinary vascular birthmarks treatment center headquartered in Charleston, SC.
Dr. Hochman has extensive experience in the management of vascular birthmarks. Dr. Hochman is double board certified in Head/Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Hochman has again been listed in "The Best Doctors in America" and recently listed in "America's Top Surgeons" in facial plastic surgery. He is the editor/author of many publications including "Vascular Birthmarks of the Head and Neck". The doctor has been featured on "The Discovery Channel", quoted/interviewed in Parents magazine, ePregnancy magazine, and Cosmetic Surgery Times on vascular birthmarks. He also sat on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Hochman volunteers his expertise and time as The Vascular Birthmark Foundation's "Ask The Doctor". The doctor is recognized by his peers as an expert on vascular birthmarks. He has a network of other medical specialists involved in the activities for the not-for-profit organization he founded, The Hemangioma Treatment Foundation.
Contact information for Dr. Hochman. |
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 J. Stuart Nelson, MD, Ph.D: Dr. Nelson is Professor of Surgery, Dermatology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine and Associate Director of the Beckman Laser Institute and Medical Clinic. The principal goal of Dr. Nelson's research has been to integrate experimental and theoretical descriptions of light propagation in biological tissues to yield a basis for dosimetry of laser-tissue interactions. He has published 12 book chapters and 270 scientific articles in authoritative journals covering basic science and multiple medical disciplines. He has been awarded nine patents for developing biomedical devices from the Patent and Trademark Office, United States Department of Commerce.
Dr. Nelson and colleagues developed a novel and efficient method of cooling human skin in conjunction with laser dermatologic surgery. “Dynamic” or cryogen spray cooling promotes rapid and spatially selective epidermal cooling to low temperatures without affecting the target chromophore temperature before the laser pulse is delivered. Clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of this approach during laser treatment of hypervascular skin lesions, removal of unwanted human hair, wrinkle reduction, scar improvement and management of acne. Worldwide, this methodology developed by Dr. Nelson has now been incorporated into several thousand laser devices.
Dr. Nelson served as President of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) 2001-2002 and was the Program Chairman of the Joint International Laser Conference (co-sponsored by the ASLMS, British Medical Laser Association and European Laser Association) held in Edinburgh, Scotland in September 2003. He was also Program Chairman for the 2005 Annual ASLMS meeting held in Orlando, Florida in April 2005.
Contact information for Dr. Nelson. |
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 Paul M. Friedman, MD: Dr. Friedman was educated in dermatology at New York University School of Medicine, where he served as Chief Resident. He trained in dermatologic laser surgery and Mohs micrographic surgery at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. He has been recognized as a leading researcher and physician in the field, speaking extensively on a national basis, and receiving accolades for his research in both dermatologic and laser surgery. Dr. Friedman is board certified in dermatology and is a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, and the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology. He is on staff at The Methodist Hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Medical School.
Contact information for Dr. Friedman. |
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 Martin Kassir, MD, FAAD: Dr. Kassir is a board-certified dermatologist, who has practiced in Dallas for six years. Dr. Kassir specializes in cosmetic dermatology and laser treatments. He is an internationally recognized speaker on aesthetic procedures and has served as a Course Instructor on Lasers, Botox and Fillers.
Dr. Kassir received his M.D. degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX. He completed an Internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Affiliated Hospitals, as well as a Residency in Internal Medicine and a Residency in Dermatology. Dr. Kassir is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a Fellow of the American Society of Laser Medicine & Surgery.
Contact info for Dr. Kassir. |
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 Ilona J. Frieden, MD: Dr. Frieden is a Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology, and founder of the UCSF Vascular Anomalies Center, which began in 1991. She has been President of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, is Co-Editor-in-Chief of Pediatric Dermatology, and is currently President of the American Board of Dermatology.
She has a long-standing interest in vascular birthmarks, particularly hemangiomas and is founder of the Hemangioma Investigator Group. She is member of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies and currently serves on its Scientific Committee. Dr. Frieden has published over 150 articles, numerous chapters, and lectured widely about vascular anomalies and is considered an international authority in the field.
Contact info for Dr. Frieden
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 R. Rox Anderson, MD: Dr. Anderson graduated from MIT, then received his MD degree magna cum laude from the joint MIT-Harvard medical program, Health Sciences and Technology. After completing his residency in dermatology and research fellowships at Harvard, he joined the faculty there, where he is a Professor in dermatology, Director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine; and a Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at MIT. Dr. Anderson conceived and developed many of the non-scarring laser treatments now widely used in dermatology. These include selective photothermolysis for birthmarks, microvascular and pigmented lesions, tattoo and permanent hair removal. He also contributed to laser lithotripsy, laser angioplasty, photodynamic therapy, and optical diagnostics. The highest-resolution imaging device approved for human use, an infrared confocal microscope came from his laboratory. Dr. Anderson has contributed to basic knowledge of human photobiology, drug photosensitization mechanisms, tissue optics, and laser-tissue interactions. In addition to research at the Wellman Center, Dr. Anderson practices dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and teaches at Harvard and MIT. Active research includes diagnostic tissue imaging and spectroscopy, photodynamic therapy, mechanisms of laser-tissue interactions, low-level light effects and novel therapy for skin disorders. Dr. Anderson has been awarded over 50 national and international patents.
Contact info for Dr. Anderson |
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 Dr. Anne Comi: Anne M. Comi M.D. is a pediatric neurologist and the Director of the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. She directs the multidisciplinary clinical and research services of the Center. The Hunter Nelson Center provides evaluations in Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Epilepsy, Neurology, Endocrinology, Psychiatry, Neuropsychology, and Medical Rehabilitation to families from around the United States and from other countries. Her clinical expertise is in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Dr. Comi’s research interests center around improving the clinical care of patients with SWS and increasing our understanding of the cause of SWS-related neurologic deterioration. One primary focus is in developing safe means of monitoring infants at risk for Sturge-Weber syndrome so that the diagnosis of brain involvement can be made early and a plan for care instituted. Dr. Comi is also studying new approaches to protecting the young brain from injury, caused by problems with blood flow (stroke), as well as enhancing recovery. |
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