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. Professional, associate and allied members may all serve on committees. If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail AHCJ President Felice J. Freyer at felice.freyer@globe.com.

 

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.

Felice J. Freyer, president
The Boston Globe

Gideon Gil, vice president
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Jeanne Erdmann, treasurer
Independent journalist

Sabriya Rice, secretary
Kaiser Health News

Marlene Harris-Taylor, at-large member
WVIZ/PBS Ideastream, Cleveland

 

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.

Jeanne Erdmann, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
Independent journalist

Gideon Gil, AHCJ board member
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Scott Hensley, AHCJ member volunteer
NPR

Andrew Kitchenman, AHCJ member volunteer
KTOO and Alaska Public Media

Leah Rosenbaum, AHCJ member volunteer
Forbes

Irene Wielawski, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Pound Ridge, N.Y.

 

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.

Sebastián Martínez Valdivia, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
KBIA/NPR

Joseph Burns, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Massachusetts

Blake Farmer, AHCJ member volunteer
Nashville Public Radio

Gideon Gil, AHCJ board member 
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Marlene Harris-Taylor, AHCJ board member
WVIZ/PBS Ideastream, Cleveland

Michael Schroeder, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Indianapolis

 

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.

Jeanne Erdmann, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
Independent journalist, Wentzville, Mo.

Andrea King Collier, AHCJ member volunteer (Committee co-chair)
Independent journalist, Lansing, Mich.

Laura Beil AHCJ board member  
Independent journalist, Cedar Hill, Texas

Deborah Blumberg, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist

Erin Boyle, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Honesdale, Pa.

Sonya Collins AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

Randy Dotinga, AHCJ board member
Independent journalist, San Diego, Calif.

Tara Haelle, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Dallas 

Katti Gray, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Monticello, N.Y. 

Jay Joshi, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Chicago, Ill.

Fran Kritz, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Silver Spring, Mass.

Sandra Lamb,  AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Denver

Nora Macaluso, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Philadelphia, Pa.

Michele Cohen Marill, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Decatur, Ga. 

Linda Marsa, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Los Angeles

Maryn McKenna, AHCJ member volunteer
Wired, Atlanta

Ruth Nasrullah, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Houston, Tex.

Katja Ridderbusch, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

Deborah Schoch, AHCJ board member
Independent Journalist, Long Beach, Calif.

Cheryl Weinstock, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Weston, Conn.

Tammy Worth, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Blue Springs, Mo.

Jasenka Piljac Zegarac, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent Journalist, Okemos, Mich.

 

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.

Carrie Feibel, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
NPR

Christine Herman, AHCJ board member (Committee co-chair)
Side Effects Public Media/WFYI

Pauline Arrillaga, AHCJ member volunteer
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Joyce Frieden, AHCJ board member
MedPage Today

Sabriya Rice, AHCJ board member
Kaiser Health News

Jonathan Rockoff, AHCJ member volunteer
Wall Street Journal

 

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.

Sabriya Rice, AHCJ board member (Committee co-chair)
Kaiser Health News

Joyce Frieden, AHCJ board member (Committee co-chair)
MedPage Today

Sarah Boden, AHCJ member volunteer
90.5 WESA News, Pittsburgh, PA

Kristina Fiore, AHCJ member volunteer
MedPage Today

Felice J. Freyer, AHCJ board member
The Boston Globe

Kathryn Foxhall, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Washington, D.C. area

Hanna Furfaro, AHCJ member volunteer
Mental Health Reporter, The Seattle Times

Jim Gutman, AHCJ member volunteer
University of Maryland Global Campus

Kimberly Leonard, AHCJ member volunteer
Business Insider

Nicole Lou, AHCJ member volunteer
MedPage Today

Janice Paskey, AHCJ member volunteer
Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta

Bob Roehr, AHCJ member volunteer
Freelance biomedical journalist, Washington, D.C.

Deborah Schoch, AHCJ board member
Independent Journalist. Long Beach, CA

Irene M. Wielawski, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent Journalist, Providence, RI

 

Task Forces and Working Groups

Task forces or working groups are active in these topic areas:

  • Curriculum development

  • Conference planning

  • Workshop planning

  • Mentoring