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Board of Directors > Committees

COMMITTEE OVERVIEW

There are 10 standing committees of the NAO Board (Committee on Research and
Evaluation, Communications, Conference Planning, Education, Executive, External
Relations, Fund Development, Membership, Nominating, and Public Policy) and the
Journal of the National AHEC Organization Editorial Board.

Typically, each standing committee is co-chaired by a member of the Program Director
Constituency Group (PDCG) and a member of the Center Director Constituency Group
(CDCG). Each committee shall have a minimum of three members, at least one of whom
is a current member of the Board of Directors and serves as liaison to the Board.
Committee members are staff or board members of NAO organizational members,
Individual members, or student members in good standing. Committee work is generally
conducted by regularly scheduled monthly or every other month conference calls
supported by the NAO. Work groups or task forces may also be established within
committees, depending on need.

SYNOPSIS OF COMMITTEES

Committee on Research and Evaluation (CORE) – establishes a standard set of evaluation
measures for the NAO network, develops an Annual NAO report, conducts research on
new models of evaluation measures for NAO, provides recommendations to the Board
relative to the federal reporting requirements, and provides technical assistance to NAO
members to facilitate the practice of rigorous examination and evaluation of the
effectiveness of their individual programs.

Communications Committee - charged with all aspects of NAO internal and external communication strategies, including development, planning, and implementation of activities that promote the visibility and understanding of NAO and the AHEC/HETC programs; development of marketing and educational materials related to NAO and the AHEC/HETC mission; and offering recommendations regarding communications policies and activities.

Conference Planning – charged with conference planning for biennial national workshops and annual policy/leadership conferences. This includes planning theme/content/tracks and solicitation/review/selection of abstracts/proposals for presentation. The committee works collaboratively with selected management company for conference logistics, including site selection.

Education Committee – aids in the development and implementation of ongoing
educational programs for NAO and its members including planning and conducting New
Director Orientation sessions, leadership development, and providing K-12 program
expertise to the AHEC Network.

Executive Committee - shall act for the Board between meetings of the Board, but cannot
modify any action taken by the Board. All actions of the Executive Committee are
subject to review by the Board at its next meeting. Members consist of the President (who
chairs the Executive Committee), President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate
Past President.

External Relations - develops guidelines and principles for prioritizing external relations
and develops systems and tools for managing and evaluating external relations
operations. The committee is composed of two separate subcommittees: 1) Liaison
subcommittee (which identifies NAO member linkages to organizations; establishes and
maintains liaison with organizations; and identifies potential areas for collaboration); and
2) Collaborative Initiatives subcommittee (which conducts an annual environmental scan;
develops and maintains collaborative initiatives, and oversees collaborative initiative
work groups that may form as a result).

Fund Development Committee – charged with identifying funding and development
opportunities that relate to the AHEC/HETC mission and soliciting funding from
identified and approved sources to help support the work of the NAO.

Membership Committee – plans, oversees and evaluates NAO membership services and
issues in an effort to maintain a diverse, comprehensive membership of Programs,
Centers, associates and individuals who support NAO activities. The committee expands
membership through recruitment efforts and determines membership categories and dues
structure.

Nominating Committee - members of this committee are appointed by the President and include the Past President and three other members reflective of each constituency group. The immediate Past President shall Chair the Nominating Committee. The nominating committee develops an annual slate of Officers for the Board of Directors.

Public Policy Committee - responsible for advising the Board and membership on federal legislative and policy issues, ensuring that the views and perspectives of the AHEC and HETC community are heard in all appropriate federal legislative and regulatory venues, and ensuring that the membership possesses the knowledge and skills to advocate on behalf of AHEC and HETC.


AD HOC COMMITTEES

Awards Committee – responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing the implementation of a comprehensive awards program for the NAO. This committee is appointed every two years to review and refine criteria for awards of excellence for AHEC Programs and Centers and HETC Programs and oversees the process leading up to and including the presentation of awards at the awards ceremony at the biennial National AHEC Workshop.

Journal of the National AHEC Organization EDITORIAL BOARD - oversees publication of the Journal of the National AHEC Organization on behalf of the NAO. The Editorial Board determines the theme of each issue, solicits articles, composes and produces the two issues of the Journal each year. At least ten and not more than fifteen members comprise the Editorial Board who serve a four-year term renewable for up to two additional terms. The three Co-chairs of the Editorial Board are elected by current Editorial Board members, subject to confirmation by the NAO Board. Work of the Editorial Board is typically done via monthly conference calls as well as two face-to-face meetings each year.
 


Advocacy Committee
A-TrACC
Awards Committee
Bylaws Committee
Center Directors Consitutency Group (CDCG)
Committee on Research & Evaluation (CORE)
Communication Committee
Communications Committee
Conference Planning Committee
Editorial Board
Education Committee
External Relations
External Relations Committee
Fund Development Committee
Journal of the National AHEC Organization Editorial Board
Membership Committee
Nominating Committee
PDCG Program Directors Constituency Group (PDCG)
Public Policy Committee
 

Advocacy Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
H. John Blossom, MD
GOLD MEMBER - California AHEC Program
Fresno,CA
Co-Chair jblossom@fresno.ucsf.edu
Michael F. French
ATSU/KCOM AHEC Program Office
Kirksville,MO
Co-Chair mfrench@atsu.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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A-TrACC

Name Position Contact E-mail
Gretchen Forsell, MPH, RD
Northern Nebraska AHEC
Norfolk,NE
Leadership Team gforsell@nnahec.org
Mary Wainwright, MS, RN
East Texas AHEC
Galveston,TX
Leadership Team mary.wainwright@utmb.edu

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Awards Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Tom Bacon
North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Program
Chapel Hill,NC
Co-Chair tom_bacon@med.unc.edu
Suzanne Matthew
Northern Wisconsin AHEC
Wausau,WI
Co-Chair smatthew@nahec-wi.org
Peter House

Member phinneyb@uw.edu
Sandy Ryman

Member sryman@eou.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Evelyn Tackett

Member evelyn.trackett@kctcs.edu

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Bylaws Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Daphne Byrd-Verizzani
SPCC Atlanta AHEC
Atlanta,GA
Chair dbyrd24@bellsouth.net
Andy Fosmire, MS
Northwest Oklahoma AHEC
Enid,OK
Immediate Past President ahecadmin@nwosu.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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Center Directors Consitutency Group (CDCG)

Name Position Contact E-mail
Daphne Byrd-Verizzani
SPCC Atlanta AHEC
Atlanta,GA
Chair dbyrd24@bellsouth.net
Tricia Harrity, MS
Northwestern Connecticut AHEC, Inc.
Waterbury,CT
Chair pharrity@nwctahec.org
Kathy Ellis-English
Three Rivers AHEC
Columbus,GA
Representative kellis@threeriversahec.org
Mary J. Mitchell
Manhattan-Staten Island AHEC
New York,NY
Representative mmitchell@institute2000.org

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Committee on Research & Evaluation (CORE)

Name Position Contact E-mail
Mindy Bateman
Utah AHEC Program Office & Crossroads Center
Salt Lake City,UT
Co-Chair mindy.bateman@slcc.edu
Steve Boulanger
South Carolina AHEC
Charleston,SC
Co-Chair boulang@musc.edu
Elizabeth Imbo Walsh
Self Central Alaska AHEC
Member Elizabeth.walsh@providence.org
Gerald Ackerman
Nevada AHEC Program
Reno,NV
Member gerald@med.unr.edu
Katy Branch
Alaska Center for Rural Health
Anchorage,AK
Member ankeb@uaa.alaska.edu
Detra Brown
Georgia Statewide AHEC Network
GA
Member detbrown@mcq.edu
Pat Conway
North Dakota AHEC
Minot,ND
Member pconway@medicine.nodak.edu
Linda Cragin
PLATINUM MEMBER - Mass AHEC Network
Shrewsbury,MA
Board Liaison Linda.cragin@umassmed.edu
Dr. G. Cuboni

Member g.cuboni@gmail.com
Sandi Duggan
South Texas AHEC
San Antonio,TX
Member duggan@uthscsa.edu
Nan Ewing
Central Louisiana AHEC
LA
Member nan@clahec.org
Gretchen Forsell
Northern Nebraska AHEC
NE
Member gforsell@nnahec.org
Brittany Franken
Indiana AHEC
Indianapolis,IN
Member brssutto@iupui.edu
Debbie Hawkins
University of Florida AHEC Program
Gainesville,FL
Member dhawkins@ufl.edu
Janet A. Head, RN, EdD
ATSU/KCOM AHEC Program Office
Kirksville,MO
Member jhead@atsu.edu
Lisle Hites
Arizona AHEC
Phoenix,AZ
Member Lhites@UAB.edu
Sharon Hull
Ohio Region III AHEC
OH
Member shull1@neoucom.edu
Matt Janey
Oklahoma AHEC Program
Tulsa,OK
Member matt.janey@okstate.edu
Beth Landon, MBA, MHA
Alaska Center for Rural Health - Alaska's AHEC
Anchorage,AK
Member anbml@uaa.alaska.edu
Michael P. Lischke, Ed.D., M.P.H.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem,NC
Member mlischke@wfubmc.edu
Sharon Hull
Ohio Region III AHEC
Member
Allen Meyer
San Francisco AHEC
San Francisco,CA
Member ameyer@sfccc.org
Patricia Moulton
North Dakota AHEC
Minot,ND
Member pmoulton@medicine@nodak.edu
Berengaria Navarre
East Texas AHEC Program Office
Member
Gloria Pressley-McGruder, EdD
Kentucky AHEC Office
Louisville,KY
Member gjpres01@louisville.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Brittany Sutton
Indiana AHEC
Member
Katie Thudium
Missouri AHEC
Kirksville,MO
Member kthudium@atsu.edu
Mary Wainwright, MS, RN
East Texas AHEC
Galveston,TX
Member mary.wainwright@utmb.edu
Elizabeth Imbo Wals
South Central Alaska
AK
Member elizabeth.walsh@providence.org
Yuanyi Zhang
East Texas AHEC
Galveston,TX
Member yuazhan@utmb.edu

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Communication Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Marty Schaller

Co-Chair martys@newahec.org
Sherry Strafford

Member sherry.stafford@sr-ahec.org
Nealy Stapleton

Member nstapleton@sowega-ahec.org
Matt Janey

Member matt.janey@okstate.edu
Chris Guastaferro

Member cguastaferro@healthyoregon.com
Amy Nelson

Member anelson@healthyoregon.com
Robert J. Alpino, MIA
Eastern Virginia AHEC
Norfolk,VA
Member alpinorj@EVMS.EDU
Shelley Cohen

Member cohens@sjhs.com
Joel Davidson, MA, MPA
Southwest Wisconsin AHEC
Madison,WI
Member jdavidsonswahec@onecommail.com
Karen Mantzouris

Member karen.mantzouris@sr-ahec.org
Steve Shelton

Member srshelto@utmb.edu
Kelley Withy, MD, PhD
Hawaii Pacific Basin AHEC Program
Honolulu,HI
Member withyk@hawaii.rr.com

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Communications Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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Conference Planning Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Sally Henry
Centennial AHEC
Greeley,CO
Co-Chair shenry@cahec.org
Anne Maynard
University of S Florida AHEC Program
Tampa,FL
Co-Chair amaynard@health.usf.edu
Gloria Pressley-McGruder
KYAHEC PC
Member gjpres01@louisville.edu
Dalice Joyner
NV AHEC
Member djoyner@nvahec.org
Daphne Byrd-Verizzani
SPCC Atlanta AHEC
Member dbyrd24@bellsouth.net
Tom Ayers
Champlain Valley AHEC
Member tayres@cvahec.org
Louise Anderson
West Central Indiana AHEC
Member louise.anderson@indstate.edu
James Ballard
University of Kentucky
Lexington,KY
Member jaball0@email.uky.edu
Petra Clark-Dufner
Connecticut AHEC Program
Member clarkduffner@uchc.edu
Jennifer Craig
Southwest Indiana AHEC
Member jlcraig3@usi.edu
Mary Craig
Erie-Niagara AHEC
Buffalo,NY
Member craigme@enahec.org
Sarah Cunningham, PhD
Central Nebraska AHEC
Grand Island,NE
Member sarah@cn-ahec.org
Beth Ingram
Colorado AHEC System
Member beth.ingram@ucdenver.edu
Paula Overfelt
Northwest Missouri AHEC
Member paul.overfelt@heartland-health.com
James Scherger, DDS
Sandusky AHEC
Sandusky,OH
Member sahec@firelands.com
Mark Scott, BBA
Piney Woods AHEC
Nacogdoches,TX
Member mscott@pwahec.org
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Glenda Stanley
Big Bend AHEC, Inc.
Tallahassee,FL
Member gstanley@bigbendahec.org
Robert M. Trachtenberg, MS
National AHEC
Oak Creek,WI
Inerm Executive Director (Ex-Officio) rtrachtenberg@nationalahec.org
Jacqueline Wynn
North Carolina AHEC Program
Director jacqueline_wynn@med.unc.edu

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Editorial Board

Name Position Contact E-mail
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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Education Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Mary Craig
Erie-Niagara AHEC
Buffalo,NY
Co-Chair craigme@enahec.org
Gloria Pressley-McGruder, EdD
Kentucky AHEC Office
Louisville,KY
Co-Chair gipres01@louisville.edu
Jean Thoulag

Member thoulagj@confsm.fm
Benjamin Rackley

Member benjamin.rackley@va.gov
Francisco Lucio

Member flucio@institute2000.org
Sally Lavery

Member slavery@stark.kent.edu
Shannon Kirkland

Member skirkland@ttuhsc.edu
Iva Greywolf

Member Iva Greywolf
Jacob Frego

Member jfrego@esahec.org
Jessika Beam

Member jessika.beam@searhc.org
Karen Cruz

Member kcruz@uguam.uog.edu
Brenna Dunlap

Member bhines@eou.edu
Louise Anderson

Member louise.anderson@indstate.edu
Brenden Ashby
Northeast Minnesota AHEC
Hibbing,MN
Member bashby1@range.fairview.org
Sarah Cunningham
Central Nebraska AHEC
Grand Island,NE
Member sarah@cn-ahec.org
Penny Eubanks

Member peubanks@wfahec.org
Shera Felde
Oregon AHEC Program
Portland,OR
Member feldes@ohsu.edu
Sharon Grundel

Member sharon.grundel@umassmed.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Glenda Stanley
Big Bend AHEC, Inc.
Tallahassee,FL
Member gstanley@bigbendahec.org
Kristine Wenzel
Central Colorado AHEC
Aurora,CO
Member kriswenzel@centralcoahec.org

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External Relations

Name Position Contact E-mail
Brenda Fitzpatrick
NorthWest AHEC
Louisville,KY
Co-Chair bfitzpatrick@fhclouisville.org
Janet A. Head, RN, EdD
ATSU/KCOM AHEC Program Office
Kirksville,MO
Co-Chair jhead@atsu.edu
Richard Perry, MA
Oklahoma AHEC Program
Tulsa,OK
Co-Chair richard.r.perry@okstate.edu
Griffin Jeansonne

Member cgiffin@wcahec.org
Mary Amundson

Member mary.amundson@med.und.edu
Glenda Stanley

Member gstanley@bigbendahec.org
David Schneider

Member dschnel13@slu,edu
Elyse Perweiler

Member perweiea@umdnj.edu
Rob Trachtenberg

Executive Director rtrachtenberg@nationalahec.org
Andy Fosmire

President ahecadmin@nwosu.eud
Sandra Pope

Member spope@hsc.wvu.edu

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External Relations Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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Fund Development Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Carol Giffin-Jeansonn, EdD
Western Colorado AHEC
Grand Junction,CO
Chair cgiffin@wcahec.org
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu

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Journal of the National AHEC Organization Editorial Board

Name Position Contact E-mail
Joel Davidson, MA, MPA
Southwest Wisconsin AHEC
Madison,WI
Co-Chair jdavidsonswahec@onecommail.com
Rosemary Orgren, PhD
New Hampshire AHEC Program
Lebanon,NH
Co-Chair rosemary.orgren@dartmouth.edu
Robert J. Alpino, MIA
Eastern Virginia AHEC
Norfolk,VA
Member alpinorj@evms.edu
Thomas J. Bacon, DrPH
North Carolina AHEC Program
Chapel Hill,NC
Member tom_bacon@med.unc.edu
Daphne L. Byrd-Verizzani, M.Ed.
SPCC/Atlanta AHEC
Member dbyrd24@bellsouth.net
Kathy English, BBA
Three Rivers AHEC
Columbus,GA
Member kellis@threeriversahec.org
Gretchen Forsell, MPH, RD
Northern Nebraska AHEC
Norfolk,NE
Member gforsell@nnahec.org
Shannon Kirkland, MBA
West Texas AHEC
Lubbock,TX
Member shannon.kirkland@ttuhsc.edu
Andrea Novak, MS, RN-BC, FAEN
Southern Regional AHEC
Fayetteville,NC
Member andrea.novak@sr-ahec.org
Kenneth L. Oakley, PhD, FACHE
WNY Rural AHEC
Warsaw,NY
Member koakley@r-ahec.org
Stephen L. Silberman, DMD, MPH, DrPH
Mississippi AHEC Program Office
Jackson,MS
Member ssilberman@familymed.umsmed.edu
Kelley Withy, MD, PhD
Hawaii Pacific Basin AHEC Program
Honolulu,HI
Member withyk@hawaii.rr.com

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Membership Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Steve Shelton
East Texas AHEC
Galveston,TX
Co-Chair steve.shelton@utmb.edu
Sharon Womack
Central Louisiana AHEC
Alexandria,LA
Co-Chair sharon@clahec.org
Steve Bronsburg, MS, MHSA
Nova Southeastern University AHEC Program Office
Ft. Lauderdale,FL
Member bronsbur@nsu.nova.edu
Freddie Jaquez
San Luis Valley AHEC
Alamosa,CO
Member freddie@slvahec.org
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Kelley Withy, MD, PhD
Hawaii Pacific Basin AHEC Program
Honolulu,HI
Member withyk@hawaii.rr.com

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Nominating Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
TBD

Chair

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PDCG Program Directors Constituency Group (PDCG)

Name Position Contact E-mail
Elyse Perweiler
AHECs of New Jersey
Stratford,NJ
Chair perweiea@umdnj.edu
Mary Amundson
North Dakota AHEC
Grand Forks,ND
At Large Member Mamunson@medicine.nodak.edu
H. John Blossom, MD
GOLD MEMBER - California AHEC Program
Fresno,CA
Member jblossom@fresno.ucsf.edu
Linda Cragin
PLATINUM MEMBER - Mass AHEC Network
Shrewsbury,MA
Recorder Linda.cragin@umassmed.edu
Lisa Dodson, MD
Oregon AHEC
Portland,OR
At Large Member dodsonli@ohsu.edu
Ragan Dubose-Morris
South Carolina AHEC
Charleston,SC
At Large Member dubosr@musc.edu
Debbie Hawkins
University of Florida AHEC
Gainesville,FL
At Large Member dhawkins@ufl.edu
Rick Kiovsky, MD
Indiana AHEC Program
Indianapolis,IN
At Large Member rkiovsky@iupui.edu
Richard D Kiovsky
Indiana AHEC Program
Indianapolis,IN
Member rkiovsky@iupui.edu
Richard Perry, MA
Oklahoma AHEC Program
Tulsa,OK
At Large Member richard.r.perry@okstate.edu
Patti Thornborough
Ohio Statewide AHEC Program
Rootstown,OH
At Large Member pthornborough@neoucom.edu
Robert M. Trachtenberg, MS
National AHEC
Oak Creek,WI
Executive Director rtrachtenberg@nationalahec.org
Kathy Vasquez, MSEd
Ohio Statewide AHEC Program
Toledo,OH
Member kathy.vasquez@utoledo.edu
Jack Westfall, MD
Colorado AHEC System
Aurora,CO
At Large Member Jack.Westfall@uchsc.edu
Kelley Withy, MD, PhD
Hawaii Pacific Basin AHEC Program
Honolulu,HI
Member withyk@hawaii.rr.com
Stephanie Young
Mississippi AHEC
Jackson,MS
At Large Member Syoung2@familymed.umsmed.edu

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Public Policy Committee

Name Position Contact E-mail
Susan Moreland
North Lousiana AHEC
Bossier City,LA
Co-Chair moreland@nlahec.org
Kathy Vasquez, MSEd
Ohio Statewide AHEC Program
Toledo,OH
Co-Chair kathy.vasquez@utoledo.edu
H. John Blossom, MD
GOLD MEMBER - California AHEC Program
Fresno,CA
Advocacy Subcommittee Board Liaison jblossom@fresno.ucsf.edu
Dale Dirks
Health and Medicine Counsel of Washington
Washington,DC
HMCW Rep ddirks@hmcw.org
Andy Fosmire, MS
Northwest Oklahoma AHEC
Enid,OK
Immediate Past President ahecadmin@nwosu.edu
Michael F. French
ATSU/KCOM AHEC Program Office
Kirksville,MO
Re-Authorization Task Force, Advocacy mfrench@atsu.edu
Mary Sienkiewicz
New York State AHEC System
Buffalo,NY
NAO President (Ex-Officio) mjs35@buffalo.edu
Robert M. Trachtenberg, MS
National AHEC
Oak Creek,WI
Executive Director rtrachtenberg@nationalahec.org

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