Board Members

  • Rod Spadinger | Treasurer

    Rod was born and raised in Hawaii, and was diagnosed with CF at the age of three months. He received a Bachelors degree from the University of Hawaii, and lived in Chicago, where he earned an MBA from DePaul University. He now work as a Business Analyst at Bank of Hawaii. Rod is am extremely proud to display the talents of CF patients through the website Cystic Fibrosis Artists, a space dedicated to publicizing the gifts of those of us in this community. This website is intended to show the world that people with CF are a group to be recognized and respected, despite their challenges. Rod understands the importance of exercise for those who have CF, and how a faithful regimen can lead to a healthy, productive, and fulfilling life. He is excited to work with this team at CFLF to promote this lifestyle throughout the CF community.

  • Laura Spiegel | Board Member

    Laura lives in Indianapolis with her husband and two children. A Marketing and Sociology graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she has over 12 years of Marketing and Sales experience in the medical device industry. A professional specialty and consistent passion of Laura’s has been working with healthcare providers and people living with chronic disease to help address the emotional and psychosocial aspects of their care. On August 13, 2013, this experience became instantly personal when her 5-week-old daughter Emily was diagnosed with CF. Now a feisty two-year-old, Emily is doing well, and Laura and her family are hopeful that a promising drug pipeline and positive approach to her day-to-day care will position her for a long and fulfilling life. In addition to enjoying traveling, writing, and nightly dancing in the kitchen with her kiddos, Laura is incredibly excited to contribute to the important mission of the CFLF.

  • Barbara Harison | Board Member

    Barbara Harison, lives in Ventura, CA. She is now retired after a long career in public parks and recreation administration and management of her own consulting business, Harison & Associates. Barbara has an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and M.S. and B.A. degrees in Recreation Administration. Barbara lost a sister to CF over 44 years ago and learned at the age of 64 years that she also has CF. In memory of her sister, Barbara established the Loretta Morris Memorial Fund with CFLF in 2010. The CFLF mission matched well with her career and active lifestyle. Since its inception, the Fund has awarded 91 Recreation Grants, totaling approximately $44,000. Barbara currently serves on Ventura Community College District Personnel Commission and has served many other community organizations. Barbara is an avid lap swimmer and enjoys golf, walking, reading, cultural arts and travel.

  • Joan DeCelie-Germana, MD | Advisory Member

    Joan DeCelie-Germana has over 18 years experience in Cystic Fibrosis that include serving as the director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, New York for the past four years. Prior to this she had served as co-director of the Center for five years. Dr. Germana also spent nine years as director at the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Stony Brook, New York and was the Center Director at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan, where she was Brian Callanan’s doctor. Before that, she served as Director of University Medical Control at Stonybrook for five years. Dr. Germana is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. Joan has been involved in clinical trials for CF and is a strong advocate for living well with CF through adherence to medical therapies, nutritious diets and regular physical exercises. She is the proud mother of three sons.

  • Thomas Lahiri, MD | Advisory Member

    Tom Lahiri met CFLF’s founder/director, Brian Callanan, almost a decade ago when Brian came to him as a patient. Dr. Lahiri worked with Brian on formulating some early principles of CFLF and currently serves as the director of the Vermont Cystic Fibrosis Center. Tom grew up outside Hartford, CT and studied at McGill University and the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and trained at Children's Hospital in Boston to become a pediatric pulmonologist. He wholeheartedly agrees with the mission of CFLF and tries to keep active himself, continuing to compete in running and triathlons.

  • Laurie A. Whittaker-LeClaire, MD | Advisory Member

    Laurie A. Whittaker, MD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine and Cell & Molecular Biology at the University of Vermont in Burlington. Dr. Whittaker holds the position of Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program Director/Associate Center Director at the University of Vermont College of Medicine/Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. Dr. Whittaker received her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont in Burlington and her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. She completed her Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver. Dr. Whittakercompleted her fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr. Whittaker has been the recipient of many awards including the BRIN Award for Genetic Research from the University of Vermont, an American College of Chest Physicians Leadership Award, an NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Award, and a Travel Award for the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence. In addition, she has served as Principal Investigator for several clinical trials and is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the American Thoracic Society and the Northern New England Cystic Fibrosis Consortium. Dr. Whittakerhas co-authored articles for peer-reviewed publications including the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, American Journal of Pathology, Journal of Immunology, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, among others. She has also edited co-authored multiple book chapters and research abstracts.
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