Staff
Meet the people behind the mission!
Sara Loud
Chief Executive Officer
Stephanie Buxhoeveden
Chief Scientific Officer
Hollie Schmidt
Vice President of Scientific Operations
David Gwynne
Director of Alliances and Collaborations
Lindsey Santiago
Development Associate
Jan Weaver
Operations Manager
Jordan Caines
Program Manager
Mark Gilliland
Program Manager
Jennifer Hill
Project Manager
Grace Okafor
Clinical Trials Manager
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors plays an integral role in providing operational and financial oversight for ACP. We are grateful to our Board members for sharing their talents and time with us. Our members represent a wide range of professionals with the singular desire to see MS cured.
Patrick Curley, Board Chair
Managing Partner, Curley Law Firm, LLP
Lisa Buettner
Founder, President, and Senior Consultant, Anchor Consulting, LLC
Kristy dosReis
Director of Communications, Brown University
Melanie Drayton
Vice President Regulatory Affairs, Vaxart, Inc.
Aakruti Gorde
Senior Director of Program Management, Trames Bio
Linda Kanner
(Retired) Principal, Orchard Group
Michael Middlebrook
Investment Analyst, Holocene Advisors
Pamela Saussy
(Retired) Executive Director, Literacy Council of Montgomery County
Scientific Steering Committee (SCC)
Farren Briggs, Ph.D. Sc.M.
Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Sciences
Stephanie Buxhoeveden, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer, ACP
Melanie Drayton
Vice President Regulatory Affairs, Vaxart, Inc.
Mark Gilliland, B.A. Program Manager, Data Analytics, ACP
Aakruti Gorde
Senior Director of Program Management, Trames Bio
David Gwynne, Ph.D. Director, Alliances and Collaborations, ACP
Elizabeth M Keithley, Ph.D. (Betsy) Emeritus Professor, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego
Ben Kostiuk, Ph.D. Director of Life Science Partnerships, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Sara Loud, M.S., MBA Chief Executive Officer, ACP
Laurel MacMillan, M.S. Analytics & Operations Lead, Centaur Labs
Unsong Oh, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Clinician-Researcher, Virginia Commonwealth University
Amy Olex, Ph.D. Senior Bioinformatics Specialist, Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Virginia Commonwealth University
Gregory Tranah, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, Sequoia Center for the Science of Aging, Sutter Health
Governance of iConquerMS
The iConquerMS people-powered research network was designed and developed, and operates with the guidance of people diagnosed with MS, caregivers, researchers, healthcare providers, funders, and representatives from other MS organizations. Their commitment to serving on the iConquerMS governance ensures the Network reflects the needs and priorities of the MS community.
iConquerMS Governing Board
The Governing Board provides oversight as to the strategic direction, impact, and financial sustainability of the iConquerMS initiative. The Governing Board members include:
- Jemima Akinsanya, D.O.
- Emily Blosberg*
- Stephanie Buxhoeveden* (Co-Chair)
- Dimika Cavalier*
- Kathleen Costello
- Lisa Emrich* (Co-Chair)
- Fiona Hoey*
- Ann Marie Johnson*
- Linda Kanner*
- Laura Kolaczkowski*
- Joe Laferrera*
- Sara Loud
- Jon Strum
iConquerMS Engagement Committee
The Engagement Committee supports the activities associated with the recruitment and engagement of a diverse membership into iConquerMS. The Engagement Committee Members include:
- Natalie Blake
- Jordan Caines (Co-Chair)
- Dimika Cavalier*
- Matt Allen Gonzales*
- Nohora Gutierrez*
- Alexis Crispino Kline
- Nicholas LaRocca, PhD
- Sara Loud
- Dawn Morgan* (Co-Chair)
- Yahaira Rivera
- Christina Roman
- Lindsey Santiago*
- Robert Sarles*
- Tracy Todd*
- Anita Williams*
- Teresa Wright-Johnson*
iConquerMS Research Committee
The Research Committee reviews and approves the research and research-related activities that are conducted via iConquerMS. The Research Committee members include:
- Farren Briggs
- Shawn Feliciano* (Co-Chair)
- Yolanda Hardy*
- Farrah Mateen
- Michael McClennen*
- Sarah Minden
- Louise Palmer
- Jeanine M. Palumbo
- Rob Poh*
- Hollie Schmidt (Co-Chair)
- Kara Skorupa
- Amanda Windhof*
* Person with MS
Additional Steering Committees and Councils
In addition to the Governing Board, Engagement Committee and Research Committee, the iConquerMS initiative is guided by the following committees and councils:
