Ilisa Halpern Paul has more than 20 years of experience in government relations, advocacy, and policymaking in non-profit, academic, federally funded, and government settings. Ilisa leads the firm’s Lobbying & Advocacy team as managing government relations director and is president of the District Policy Group. Ilisa’s practice centers on advising hospital and health systems, medical technology companies, national patient advocacy organizations, health professional societies, and other health care related entities with respect to advancing their federal legislative, regulatory and programmatic policy agendas. She works with clients to establish and strengthen relationships with elected officials and federal agencies, develop and implement government relations and advocacy programs, craft effective grassroots campaigns, establish coalitions and third-party stakeholder partnerships and effect the outcomes of appropriations measures, authorizing legislation, and federal regulatory actions.
Dr. Bill Miller has been a physician in academic and private practice for over 30 years. He is the author of The Microcosm Within: Evolution and Extinction in the Hologenome. He currently serves as a scientific advisor to OmniBiome Therapeutics, a pioneering company in discovering and developing solutions to problems in human fertility and health through management of the human microbiome.
Emma is a freelance writer currently living in Boston, MA. She writes most often on education and business. For eye care professionals Emma recommends All About Eyes. To see more from Emma, say hi on Twitter @EmmaSturgis2
Over the past 10 years, Dr. Stephen Scionti has developed the largest and most experienced practice for prostate cancer treatment using minimally-invasive thermal ablation technologies such as HIFU, Cryoablation and Prostate Laser Ablation. He has achieved global recognition for his experience, skill and groundbreaking clinical contributions in the field of MRI image-guided prostate cancer ablation with HIFU. He is also an internationally recognized authority in innovative prostate cancer diagnostics.
To learn more about Vituro Health and comprehensive prostate care, visit http://www.viturohealth.com.
Dr. Babak Dadvand grew up in Philadelphia and went on to pursue an Ivy League education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he double majored in chemistry and fine arts. Later, he attended medical school at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, followed by the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Soon after, he became double Board-Certified and was accepted to the top-tier plastic surgery program at Indiana University Medical Center. Currently he is Medical Director at Beverly Hospital and Olympia Medical Center, where he also stands as Chief of Surgery in Los Angeles, CA. Today, Dr. Dadvand has his own practice in Beverly Hills and is an expert in men’s cosmetic surgery procedures including gynecomastia, liposuction, and more.
Shakia Baskerville, MPH, is a Public Affairs Specialist in FDA’s Office of Minority Health
Vincent Del Gaizo is the father of three, including one son diagnosed with a systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis. For the past 12 years, he has been actively involved in the field of pediatric rheumatology research, directly contributing the patient voice and perspective to research initiatives in these rare diseases. He serves as a member and co-chair of PCORI’s Advisory Panel on Rare Disease.
Neal D. Shore, MD, FACS, is Medical Director for the Carolina Urologic Research Center.
Ray Bullman is the Executive Director of the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE)—a non-profit coalition of diverse member organizations working together to promote the smart and safe use of medicines through trusted communications. In concert with the FDA and the American Pharmacists Association, Ray oversaw the launch of Be MedWise, a national, research-based campaign that works to educate consumers about the seriousness of over-the-counter (OTC) drug products.
In addition to his role at NCPIE, Ray was also a founding member of the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition, a group of 10 leading consumer, patient, and healthcare provider organizations committed to the safe use of acetaminophen—a popular pain reliever and one of the most common drug ingredients in the U.S.