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 Ivan Oransky at ivan-oransky@erols.com and Executive Director Andrew Smiley at andrew@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.

Ivan Oransky, M.D., president
Spectrum

Felice J. Freyer, vice president
The Boston Globe

Gideon Gil, treasurer
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Sabriya Rice, secretary
University of Georgia

Maryn McKenna, AHCJ board member
Independent journalist, Atlanta

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.

Gideon Gil, treasurer (Committee chair)
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Felice J. Freyer, vice president
The Boston Globe

Marshall Allen, AHCJ member volunteer
ProPublica

Scott Hensley, AHCJ member volunteer
NPR

Andrew Kitchenman, AHCJ member volunteer
KTOO and Alaska Public Media

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.

Marlene Harris-Taylor, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
WVIZ/PBS Ideastream, Cleveland

Gideon Gil, AHCJ board member
Stat/Boston Globe Media

Salynn Boyles, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Nashville

Joseph Burns, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Massachusetts

Blake Farmer, AHCJ member volunteer
Nashville Public Radio

Erika Check Hayden, AHCJ member volunteer
University of California, Santa Cruz

Ellen James Martin, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Washington, D.C.

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.

Keren Landman, AHCJ board member
Independent journalist, Atlanta

Maryn McKenna, AHCJ board member
Independent journalist, Atlanta

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

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

Sonya Collins AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

Andrea King Collier, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Lansing, Mich.

Tara Haelle, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Dallas

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

Judi Kanne, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

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

Sandra Lamb, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Denver

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

Linda Marsa, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Los Angeles

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

Katja Ridderbusch, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

David Wild AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Toronto

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

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.

Tony Leys, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
Des Moines Register

Carrie Feibel, AHCJ board member
NPR

Joyce Frieden, AHCJ board member
MedPage Today

Sabriya Rice, AHCJ board member
University of Georgia

Julie Appleby, AHCJ member volunteer
Kaiser Health News

Cate Vojdik, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist

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, AHCJ board member (Committee chair)
The Boston Globe

Sabriya Rice, AHCJ board member (Committee vice chair)
University of Georgia

Joyce Frieden, AHCJ board member
MedPage Today

Max Blau, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Atlanta

Kathryn Foxhall, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Hyattsville, Md.

James Gutman, AHCJ member volunteer
Maryland-based book author, writing professor

Liz Kowalczyk, AHCJ member volunteer
Boston Globe

Kimberly Leonard, AHCJ member volunteer
Business Insider

Charles Ornstein, AHCJ member volunteer
ProPublica

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

Bob Roehr, AHCJ member volunteer
Independent journalist, Washington, D.C.

Deborah Schoch, AHCJ member volunteer
California Healthcare Foundation Center for Health Reporting