Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Michelle Barlow
Ruth Breitrick
Christine E. Pasela
Ralf Paus, MD
Sylvia Shawcross (Honorary Member)
Mary Veta
Lynn E. Wedell, Attorney at Law
Christos C. Zoubouils, MD

MEMBERS AT-LARGE
Ron Hoggan
Barbara Krueger

The members of the HSF Board of Directors graciously volunteer their time and expertise to support the mission and goals of the HSF. Their contributions are instrumental to the success of the organization and are greatly appreciated.

BIOGRAPHIES

Michelle Barlow
President, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc.
Since being diagnosed in October of 2003, Michelle has devoted herself to understanding HS, and has taken proactive steps in order to provide accurate and relevant public health information to those with HS. Prior to starting her own graphic design company in 1991, Michelle worked in a wide variety of fields. She looks forward to seeing serious inroads into discovering the cause, better treatments, and ultimately a cure for HS.

Ruth Breitrick
Ruth Breitrick has been involved with a variety of health and environmental advocacy issues since the mid 1990s. She became actively involved in furthering HS awareness and providing support within the HS online community when she was diagnosed with HS in 2002, although she has had HS since she was about 8 years old. Her professional background includes over 15 years experience in Information Technology, including 5 years as the IT Manager of a hospital and physical rehabilitation center.

Ron Hoggan
Ron Hoggan was diagnosed with celiac disease in 1994. His subsequent research on the disease has been published in numerous newsletters, journals and websites. He is a widely respected lecturer and writer within the gluten-sensitive and medical communities and the co-author of the book "Dangerous Grains." Ron has served on the board of directors of the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association for 10 years, and for 1 year on the national board of the same non-profit organization. He also served for 5 years on the board of directors of Direct-MS, a non-profit organization aimed at investigating dietary interventions in multiple sclerosis. Ron would like to learn more about HS and hopes to use his expertise to help the HSF.

Barbara Krueger
Barbara Krueger served on the board of the National Marfan Foundation, (a non-profit for a rare
heritable disorder called the Marfan Syndrome) and helped strengthen local chapters, raise awareness, form local clinics, and disseminate information to emergency rooms. She also has expertise in marketing and seniors issues. Barbara looks forward to using her experience and knowledge to help the HSF establish itself in a way that will make a difference in the lives of those affected.

Christy Pasela
Christy Pasela is the President of Creative Fusion, Inc., in San Diego, California. She is a skilled marketing strategist, graphic designer and illustrator, and oversees the daily operations of her company. She looks forward to helping the HSF meet its mission and goals by developing unified communications materials to increase HS public awareness and promote the HSF position and brand.

Dr. Ralf Paus
CHAIR, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB)
Director of Basic Research, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Ralf Paus is a Professor of Dermatology and Experimental Dermatology and the Head of Experimental Dermatology at the University Hospital, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. His goal is to apply his specific expertise in basic skin and skin appendage research to HS. In close collaboration with Dr. Christos Zouboulis, he hopes that this will help to stimulate the pusuit of novel HS research avenues and to forge new cooperative and truly interdisciplinary HS research and treatment networks, as the essential basis for making much more rapid progress in the management of HS as we have seen during the last couple of decades. Download CV

Sylvia Shawcross
Syl Shawcross has over 6 years of intensive personal and professional experience in actively raising the profile and understanding of HS, and is a co-author in the new book “Hidradenitis Suppurativa.” She is also the author of a humor collection entitled, "But Never Mind All That," released in January 2007. In 1997, she helped co-found the Canadian-based and internationally focused “Hidradenitis Suppurativa Information and Development Exchange” (H.I.D.E.), a self-help and supportive group of patients who worked together to find more effective treatments for HS. H.I.D.E. was cited as both a health-related and patient support resource in a variety of peer-reviewed journals of the time, including the British Medical Journal, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology, and the British Journal of Dermatology.

Mary Veta
Mary Veta has worked for a large, health-related non-profit for 23 years. She has over 15 years experience in development and fund raising. Mary's expertise is in procuring private and public grant/funding and organizing special events. She has participated on the board of directors for two other non-profits in San Diego and is excited to be a part of HSF.

Lynn Edward Wedell
Lynn Edward Wedell specializes in business transactions, estate planning and tax related matters. His practice covers virtually all areas relating to business entities such as the formation of profit and non-profit corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, franchising, employer/employee relations and continuing legal advice to developers and operating business entities, including merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Wedell's practice includes estate planning, asset protection planning and succession planning for the owners of the closely held businesses represented by the firm. Mr. Wedell graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1975 and received his Masters in Tax from University of San Diego School of Law in 1980. He is a member of the ABA Forum On Franchising and has served two terms as Chairman of the Business Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association. Mr. Wedell has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, and has been an adjunct law professor teaching courses in corporations, partnerships and taxation. Prior to law school Mr. Wedell served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran.

Dr. Christos C. Zouboulis
VICE CHAIR, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB)
Director of Clinical Research, Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Christos C. Zouboulis is a Professor of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology and the Director of the Departments of Dermatology and Immunology, Dessau Medical Center, Dessau, Germany. His goal is to apply his specific expertise in skin and skin appendage research to HS/AI and to conduct clinical studies in the field. In close collaboration with Prof. Ralf Paus, Dr. Zouboulis hopes that this will help to develop novel ideas for the aetiology of HS/AI and target them by collaborative basic and clinical research. He is convinced that a close cooperation of field experts will accelerate the acquisition of knowledge on HS/AI. Download CV