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
Trudy Lieberman, immediate past president
Columbia Journalism Review
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
Las Vegas Sun
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
Sara Austin, AHCJ member volunteer
Self
Jim Berklan, AHCJ member volunteer
McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Gideon Gil, AHCJ member volunteer
The Boston Globe
Kenny Goldberg, AHCJ member volunteer
KPBS-San Diego
Molly Hennessy-Fiske, AHCJ member volunteer
Los Angeles Times
Scott Hensley, AHCJ member volunteer
National Public Radio
Amy Lotven, AHCJ member volunteer
Inside Health Policy
Hiran Ratnayaka, AHCJ member volunteer
The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal
David Wahlberg, AHCJ member volunteer
Wisconsin State Journal
Kelley Weiss, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Sacramento, Calif.)
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 (Minneapolis)
Andy Miller, board member
Independent journalist (Atlanta)
Irene Wielawski, board member
Independent journalist (Pound Ridge, N.Y.)
Tara Ballenger, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Seattle)
Lola Butcher, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Wentzville, Mo.)
Meryl Davids, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Jeanne Erdmann, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Wentzville, Mo.)
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
Victoria Colliver, AHCJ member volunteer
San Francisco Chronicle
Bob Garrett, AHCJ member volunteer
The Dallas Morning News
Jeff Porter, special projects director
Association of Health Care Journalists
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 (chair)
The Providence Journal
Blythe Bernhard, AHCJ member volunteer
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Bob Finn, AHCJ member volunteer
International Medical News Group
Kathryn Foxhall, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Hyattsville, Md.)
Rose Hoban, AHCJ member volunteer
WUNC Public Radio
Dan Keller, AHCJ member volunteer
Keller Broadcasting
Angie Marek, AHCJ member volunteer
Smart Money
Alicia Mundy, AHCJ member volunteer
The Wall Street Journal
Jeremy Olson, AHCJ member volunteer
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Peggy Peck, AHCJ member volunteer
Medpage Today
Bob Roehr, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist (Washington, D.C.)
Eric Rosenthal, AHCJ member volunteer
Oncology Times
Task forces and Working Groups
Task forces or working groups are currently active in these topic areas:
- Curriculum development
- Conference planning
- Workshop planning