About
Board committees
AHCJ relies on board members and other volunteers from the membership to help us remain relevant to health journalists, financially viable, a strong voice for openness and transparency and, above all, an indispensable resource. Committee membership by volunteers is a way of giving back to the profession and is a good introduction to what service would be like on the board. While the number of committees remains fairly consistent, the board often appoints "task forces" or "working groups" falling under specific committees for specialized or limited-term projects. If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail AHCJ President Charles Ornstein at charles.ornstein@propublica.org and Executive Director Len Bruzzese at len@healthjournalism.org.
Executive Committee
Traditionally made up of the board's four officers, plus one other director from the board. The Executive Committee shall have the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business of this corporation in the interval between meetings of the Board of Directors, and the Executive Committee shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.
Charles Ornstein, president
ProPublica
Karl Stark, vice president
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Julie Appleby, secretary
Kaiser Health News
Ivan Oransky, treasurer
Reuters Health
Felice J. Freyer, board member
The Providence Journal
Finance and Development Committee
The Board of Directors may designate a Finance Committee composed of the treasurer and at least two other directors designated by the Board of Directors. The Finance Committee shall have general oversight over all financial affairs of this corporation, including fundraising activities, and shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.
Ivan Oransky, treasurer (chair)
Reuters Health
Karl Stark, vice president
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Irene Wielawski, board member
Independent journalist (Pound Ridge, N.Y.)
Marshall Allen, AHCJ member volunteer
ProPublica
Luis Fabregas, AHCJ member volunteer
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Chris King, AHCJ member volunteer
St. Louis American
Membership Committee
Recommends and maintains membership requirements, handles vetting of member applicants, conducts outreach, works with staff to encourage renewals. Committee seeks out and recommends adopting new benefits to enhance membership. Works with city and regional chapters to maintain consistent mission. Shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.
Phil Galewitz, board member (chair)
Kaiser Health News
Jim Berklan, AHCJ member volunteer
McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Katie Gibas, AHCJ member volunteer
YNN-Syracuse, N.Y.
Gideon Gil, AHCJ board member
The Boston Globe
Kenny Goldberg, AHCJ member volunteer
KPBS-San Diego
Scott Hensley, AHCJ board member
NPR
Shuka Kalantari, AHCJ member volunteer
KQED-San Francisco
Amy Lotven, AHCJ member volunteer
Inside Health Policy
Michael Schroeder, AHCJ member volunteer
Angie's List Indianapolis
Andrew Seaman, AHCJ member volunteer
Reuters
David Wahlberg, AHCJ member volunteer
Wisconsin State Journal
Freelance Committee
This committee creates a team of freelance members who can research and recommend to the full board appropriate benefits and resources for independent journalists, and offer voice to their concerns.
Maryn McKenna, board member (chair)
Independent journalist (Atlanta)
Irene Wielawski, board member
Independent journalist (Pound Ridge, N.Y.)
Andy Miller, board member
Georgia Health News (Atlanta)
Heather Boerner, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (San Francisco)
Joseph Burns, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Falmouth, Mass.)
Lola Butcher, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Springfield, Mo.)
Dan DeNoon, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Atlanta)
Jeanne Erdmann, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Wentzville, Mo.)
Sherree Geyer, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Lake Forest, Calif.)
Nancy Groves, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Lawrenceville, Ga.)
Elise Oberliesen, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Westminster, Colo.)
Tammy Worth, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Blue Springs, Mo.)
Lisa Zamosky, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (San Diego)
Contest Committee
Recommends rules and categories for annual Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. Works with staff to establish procedures and deadlines. Selects screeners and judges, looks into and makes final determinations on any issues that arise. Shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.
Julie Appleby, secretary (chair)
Kaiser Health News
Blythe Bernhard, AHCJ member volunteer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Trudy Lieberman, AHCJ member volunteer
Columbia Journalism Review
Naseem Miller, AHCJ member volunteer
International Medical News Group
Cate Vojdik, AHCJ member volunteer
CNN/Anderson Cooper 360
Right-to-Know Committee
Promotes the free flow of health and medical information, advises the board on potential First Amendment advocacy positions and serves as a resource for members on access issues. Shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the Board of Directors.
Felice J. Freyer, board member (co-chair)
The Providence Journal
Irene Wielawski, board member (co-chair)
Independent journalist (Pound Ridge, N.Y.)
Blythe Bernhard, AHCJ member volunteer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Walter Eisner, AHCJ member volunteer
Orthopedics This Week
Denise Fulton, AHCJ member volunteer
IMNG Medical Media/Elsevier
Kathryn Foxhall, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Hyattsville, Md.)
Rose Hoban, AHCJ member volunteer
North Carolina Health News
Peggy Peck, AHCJ member volunteer
Medpage Today
Bob Roehr, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Washington, D.C.)
Deborah Schoch, AHCJ member volunteer
California Healthcare Foundation Center for Health Reporting
Task forces and Working Groups
Task forces or working groups are currently active in these topic areas:
- Curriculum development
- Conference planning
- Workshop planning