Rachel Miller
Retired Fundraising Professional
Wife of Esophageal Cancer survivor

John J. Miller
Real Estate Professional
Esophageal Cancer survivor

Leigh Ann Ruggles
Director, Employer Solutions Group
Healthways, Inc.

David M. Saltzberg, M.D.
Towson Gastroenterology Associates

Stephen C. Yang, M.D.
Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Johns Hopkins Hospital

Andrew Miller
Residential Title

Executive Director
Mindy Mintz Mordecai
Widow of Esophageal Cancer patient

Bruce D. Greenwald, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
University of Maryland and Greenebaum Cancer Center

“As a gastroenterologist dedicated to fighting esophageal cancer, I fully support ECAN's efforts in improving awareness of this disease and improving awareness of heartburn as a risk factor.”

Bruce D. Greenwald, MD is a cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine magna cum laude in 1987. He completed Internal Medicine internship and residency training at the University of Virginia Hospital, then returned to the University of Maryland to complete fellowship training in Gastroenterology. After serving as chief medical resident for one year, he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1993. He was promoted to Professor of Medicine in 2009.

Dr. Greenwald’s clinical and research interests focus on cancer and pre-cancerous conditions of the esophagus. Early in his career his research focused on genetic and epigenetic changes in the esophagus in cancer and Barrett’s esophagus. More recently his research has centered around minimally invasive staging methods and endoscopic treatments for esophageal cancer. He has pioneered the use of low pressure liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy for the treatment of Barrett’s esophagus with high-grade dysplasia and early stage esophageal cancer. He is an active member of the Thoracic Oncology Program of the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland.

Dr. Greenwald has authored 35 peer-reviewed publications, 13 non-peer reviewed publications, and five book chapters, many focused on esophageal disease. He is director of the Gastroenterology and Hepatology fellowship training program and is active in clinical care, teaching, and research.

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Jeffery Valentine
Associate Vice President, Strategic Communications
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

"The illness and subsequent death from esophageal cancer of one of my dearest friends, and the impact of that loss on my friend's family and friends, motivated me to get involved in efforts to increase awareness about this little-known and -understood disease.  Through greater awareness, we hope to promote additional focus on research that might lead to an eventual cure for this terrible disease."

Jeff Valentine brings 40 years of experience in communications and public policy to his role as vice chairman of the Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN).  He currently is Associate Vice President of Strategic Communications for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the Mid-Atlantic Region's largest health insurer with more than 3.4 million members in Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. 

Earlier, he served as Deputy Director and Vice President of Public Policy for the Greater Baltimore Committee, a private sector, economic development organization comprised of the region's largest employers.  Earlier in his career, Jeff worked 10 years as a reporter and editor for the Baltimore Evening Sun, where he covered government and politics for Baltimore City, Baltimore County and the State of Maryland.  A graduate of the University of Maryland - College Park, Jeff also serves on the Board of Leadership-Baltimore County and recently stepped down after 14 years as a Director of the Maryland School for the Blind.

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Karen M. Singer
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Corporate Office Properties Trust

“There is a lot of work to be done to educate the public to achieve an earlier diagnosis, additional testing for patients and additional dedicated research funds to find a cure or cessation to this disease.  I could not think of a better organization than ECAN to dedicate my resources and am happy to serve on the ECAN Board to help achieve those goals.”

Karen M. Singer is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Corporate Office Properties Trust.  She is responsible for all legal matters and supervises the Company’s legal department.  Ms. Singer has been involved with the creation of all leases, sales contracts, financing documents and other legal instruments involving the company since 1996 when she joined the company as Assistant General Counsel.  Ms. Singer was promoted to Associate General Counsel in 1999 and then to General Counsel in 2004.

Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Singer was with the law firm of Weinberg & Green (now known as Saul, Ewing).  Ms. Singer graduated cum laude with a BS in Economics from the Wharton School and obtained her law degree from the University of Virginia, where she graduated Order of the Coif and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society.  She is a member of the Maryland State and the American Bar Associations. 

Ms. Singer participates in several civic organizations such as CREW-Baltimore and is a member of the Board of Directors of Art With A Heart, Inc., Maryland Zoological Association, Inc. and Esophageal Cancer Action Network.

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Rick Smith
Certified Public Accountant, Partner
Gary R. Bozel & Associates, P.A.

"Having served on the board of a well established national charity, I welcomed the opportunity to use my skills in helping to build ECAN and advance its mission to bring awareness to the general public."

Rick Smith is a Certified Public Accountant and shareholder with Gary R. Bozel & Associates, P.A. a medium sized firm based in Towson MD. Rick has 28 years experience as a CPA in both the public and private sector.

He served as an auditor and controller for a large national homebuilder for 7 years of his career. His public experience covers a wide range of services and clients including financial statement preparation, litigation services and tax planning and preparation in regards to for profit and not for profit entities.

Rick served as President and Treasurer of his homeowners association for 5 years which consisted of 280 single family homes. His more recent responsibilities include serving on the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore for the past 9 years in the position of chairman overseeing investments, finance and operations as well as serving as an officer on the Executive Committee as Treasurer.

Rick is married with two children.

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Albert J. Aboulafia, M.D.
Co-Director, Sarcoma Services
Sinai Hospital

“Treating patients with cancer all of my adult life did not lessen the sadness and feeling of helplessness that I had watching my friend Monte Mordecai and his family combat esophageal cancer.  In addition to my personal attachment to this cause, I feel strongly about the mission of ECAN and hope and believe that I can make a meaningful contribution to its goals.”

Dr. Aboulafia is Co-Director of Sarcoma Services at the Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Center of Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.  He also currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Maryland.  Dr. Aboulafia serves on the editorial board of numerous orthopedic journals and publications.  He has authored more than 50 peer reviewed journal articles and has authored numerous textbook chapters and has served on the faculty of over 100 courses both nationally and internationally.  He is extremely active within the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.  He is the president-elect of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society whose mission it is to advance the care of patients with benign and malignant tumors affecting bone and soft tissue.

Dr. Aboulafia's academic career began as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine at which time he also served as a consultant to the surgery branch at the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.  He then served as Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine and Chief of Orthopedics at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Hospital until moving to Baltimore, Maryland in 1999 when he joined the faculty at Sinai Hospital and the Alvin and Lois Lapidus Cancer Center. 

He attended the University of Michigan Ann Arbor earning both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, majoring in Near Eastern Studies and Anthropology/Zoology.  He continued his education at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor where he received a Doctorate of Medicine.  After completing medical school, Dr. Aboulafia went to the University of Southern California Medical Center where he did an internist in General Surgery and residency training in Orthopedic Surgery.  He did an Orthopedic Oncology fellowship through the Washington Hospital Center, Children's National Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health.  He recently continued his education at the Johns Hopkins University where he received a Masters in Business Administration.  Dr. Aboulafia is the proud father of two daughters, Arielle age 13 and Alanna age 11.

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Theresa Crawford
Director, Electronic Media
Lockheed Martin

Ms. Crawford has worked in the communications field since 1978.  She began her career in local news in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland as a photographer, editor, reporter, and producer.

She moved to the headquarters of CBS in New York where she served as an Associate Producer for CBS News, covering live and breaking news.  Ms. Crawford then became Director of Media and Executive Producer for Broadcast Publicity for CBS Inc, CBS Entertainment and CBS Sports. 

Theresa Crawford currently serves as Director of Electronic Media at Lockheed Martin where she creates, directs, produces and writes media for Advertising, Internal Communications, Domestic and International Business Development, Financial Departments (CFO and Banking), Human Resources, various companies throughout the corporation and the Executive Office.  Ms. Crawford is chair of ECAN’s marketing committee.

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Scott A. Feeser, M.D.
Internal Medicine
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

“I support ECAN and its mission to help prevent esophageal cancer because I've seen the devastating effects of esophageal cancer both among my friends and my patients. As a primary care doctor, much of my time is devoted to helping patients either prevent disease by living healthfully or detect deadly diseases early enough to be cured. Because treatments for advanced esophageal cancer are rarely curative, early detection is essential. ECAN can help make early detection more the norm than it is currently.”

Scott Feeser, MD, a primary care doctor since 1993, is currently the Office Medical Director at Johns Hopkins Community Physicians (JHCP) at Water's Edge, and is also the Director of Patient-Centered Medical Home for JHCP.

Dr. Feeser earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Duke University, graduating summa cum laude in 1982. He then obtained a Master's in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley in 1983 and subsequently worked for 3 years at the RCA David Sarnoff Reasearch Laboratory developing robotics automation.

Dr. Feeser returned to Duke for medical school, graduating in 1990, and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. He has worked with Johns Hopkins since finishing residency. Dr. Feeser lives with his wife and 2 children in Baltimore.

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Arlene A. Forastiere, M.D.
Professor of Oncology
Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine

"I serve on the ECAN Board of Directors because of my belief in the need for a strong esophageal cancer advocacy group to promote public awareness of this disease and to lobby for greater funding of esophageal cancer research from government and from philanthropy." 

Arlene A. Forastiere, MD is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of head and neck and esophageal cancers.  Dr. Forastiere has made numerous research contributions that have led to the current standards of care for the curative treatment of these diseases.  Dr. Forastiere is Professor of Oncology, and Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Radiation Oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

She completed a Research Fellowship in Hematology-Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in 1980 and subsequently was Senior Investigator at the National Cancer Institute-Baltimore Cancer Research Program and on the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Forastiere then joined the faculty of the University of Michigan Medical School and was Director of Hematology-Oncology at the Ann Arbor Veterans Administration Medical Center. 

She has been on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine since 1988.  Dr. Forastiere is the Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at ITA Partners, Philadelphia, PA., where she focuses on health care strategies to improve access to quality care for cancer patients.

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Melinda Maxwell
Owner, Acadia Broadcast Partners
Widow of Esophageal Cancer patient

“I don't want another person to suffer the heartbreak my family and I have felt after losing such a vital man in the prime of his life. No one should die from a disease which could have been successfully treated if only it was discovered at an earlier stage.“

Melinda Maxwell has worked in radio since 1971 and in radio sales since 1980. With decades of experience, in 1997 she and her husband, Conrad Maxwell, a veteran radio broadcaster with 25 years in radio management, joined forces with another veteran radio partner to start their own radio stations. Today, Ms. Maxwell is co-owner of three radio stations throughout Louisiana.

In January of 2005, her husband Conrad was diagnosed with stage three esophageal cancer. Like so many others, the Maxwells had never heard of esophageal cancer. Her husband's first indication that something was wrong was the heartburn he had all the time. When Conrad Maxwell choked on a piece of food and had pain in his chest, his primary care doctor gave him a prescription. It was Mrs. Maxwell who insisted that her husband go to specialist for an upper endoscopy and that was when the cancer was discovered. Three and a half years later, after treatment at MD Anderson and Duke University, Mr. Maxwell lost his battle with esophageal cancer. He was just 56 years old and was expecting his first grandchild.

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Andrew Miller
Residential Title

“I became interested in ECAN after the death of my friend, Monte Mordecai. I just knew that I wanted to do something to spread the word about the dangers of this dreaded disease and for the first time in my life, I felt that I, myself, could actually make a difference. As one of the only lay-persons on the Board, I feel that I bring a unique perspective to the group and I look forward to the challenges that lay ahead for us.“

A lifelong resident of the Baltimore area, Andrew Miller is a graduate of The Park School and the University of Vermont, where he majored in Sociology and Aging. After years in Outside Sales, Andy has spent the last eight years in the Title Industry, and becoming a licensed Settlement Agent in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Andy is married to Dr. Randi Miller, a Baltimore-area Psychologist, and has two daughters, ages 16 and 13. He enjoys live sporting events, live music, and is an avid reader.

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Rachel Miller
Retired Fundraising Professional
Wife of Esophageal Cancer survivor

“Esophageal Cancer changed our lives forever. I know how lucky my family is that my husband survived this horrible disease, and now I want to help others. I am committed to increasing public awareness of the risk caused by reflux, and of the need for early detection.“

Ms. Miller's career spanned fourteen years in the non-profit sector as Associate Regional Director for the United Way of Central Maryland; Director, American Heart Association, Maryland Region; and Associate Director for Howard Hospital Foundation. Prior to working in the non-profit sector, Ms. Miller spent ten years at The Ryland Group, Inc. and worked in the areas of marketing, public relations and training.

Ms. Miller's husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January, 2007 - he is a three-year survivor. She feels strongly about the need to create greater public awareness and increased early detection. Rachel Miller is chair of ECAN's development committee.

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John J. Miller
Real Estate Professional
Esophageal Cancer survivor

“The incidence of esophageal cancer is rapidly growing in the United States.  As a three-year survivor of esophageal cancer, I am a fervent believer and advocate of increased awareness and early detection of this dangerous disease.”

Mr. Miller’s professional career spanned more than 40 years in the engineering, information technology and strategic planning fields.  After graduating from the US Merchant Marine Academy with a BS, Marine Engineering, Mr. Miller spent several years as an engineering officer aboard various American-flag merchant vessels.

Coming ‘ashore,’ he served as the Training Director for the Washington Engineering Services Company (WESCO), the Director of Custom Business Application Development for LEASCO (a major computer company), senior system analyst for Operations Research, Inc. (ORI), and then he spent over 31 years in the Federal Government, primarily with the Department of Justice. 

During his tenure as a federal employee, Mr. Miller served as the Director, Automated Systems Development (Office of Information Management); Director of Special Studies (Office of Information Systems); and the Director of Strategic and Tactical Planning (Technology Information Technology).

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Leigh Ann Ruggles
Director, Employer Solutions Group
Healthways, Inc.

“I support ECAN because its cause is simple yet profound.  To spread the message of how esophageal cancer is caused will have a tremendous impact on hundreds of thousands of families.”

Leigh Ann Ruggles is Director of Business Development in the Employer Solutions Group for Healthways, Inc., the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and well-being and, as a result, reduce overall costs. As part of the Employer Solutions Group, she works with health plan partners to develop and support new business with self-insured employer groups who are seeking solutions to help healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best possible health for those already affected by disease.

Leigh Ann serves is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Mid-Atlantic Chapter.  She also helped found the Potomac Chapter of Women in Technolgoy, International (WITI) and served as a Steering Committee Member of the Mentor-Protégé Program for Women in Technology.

Leigh Ann graduated from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.  She enjoys traveling, restoring historic homes with her husband, and participating in sprint triathlons, although not actually sprinting them.  Ms. Ruggles is chair of ECAN’s strategic planning committee.

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David M. Saltzberg, M.D.
Towson Gastroenterology Associates

“As a gastroenterologist, I have seen first hand the pain and suffering associated with esophageal cancer. Acid reflux plays a primary role in the development of this difficult to treat problem. My hope is that ECAN can educate people with acid reflux to see their physicians and receive treatment before cancer develops. For those with cancer, we can offer support and direct them to resources to assist them in their battle with esophageal cancer.“

David M. Saltzberg, MD is a graduate of The Boston University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The Medical College of Virginia Hospital and a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Temple University Hospital. After spending six years on the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, he entered the private practice of gastroenterology in 1990. Currently, he is a partner at Towson Gastroenterology Associates, and serves as Medical Director of Lutherville Endoscopy Center.

He has been married to Elise for almost twenty years and they have three children. He holds a M.A. degree in Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew University, and is a board member and manager for Wellwood Little League Baseball.

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Stephen C. Yang, M.D.
Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Johns Hopkins Hospital

Stephen C. Yang, M.D. is The Arthur B. and Patricia B. Modell Professor of Thoracic Surgery, the Chief of Thoracic Surgery, and Professor of Surgery and Oncology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions.  He serves as the medical student Surgical Clerkship and Curriculum Director, Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program, and Associate Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency.  A graduate from Duke University and medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, his training included a general surgical residency at the University of Texas Health Science in Houston, a 3 year thoracic surgical research fellowship at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and a cardiothoracic surgical fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia.

He is the recipient of the 2006 Thoracic Surgery Directors Association Mentor Award, and the 2008 Johns Hopkins Deans Faculty Award for Clinical Teaching.  He chairs the Institutional effort in faculty development and educating all faculty in developing their own personal educators portfolio.   He serves on numerous national and international committees including the Taskforce Chair on the “Looking to the Future” Residency Scholarships for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Chair-elect of the Surgery Clerkship Directors Association.  He is the Thoracic Surgery Section Editor for The Annals of Surgical Oncology, co-editor of the book “Current Therapy in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery”, and book series editor-in-chief of “The Early Diagnosis of Cancer.”

His laboratory research interests include using molecular techniques for lung cancer screening and predicting recurrence following surgical resection.  His clinical practice and research covers the breath of general thoracic surgery in pulmonary and esophageal surgery, video-assisted and robotics thoracic surgery, mediastinal and pleural diseases, lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema, and work in the areas of patient safety and geriatric thoracic surgery.  Dr. Yang is chair of ECAN’s medical research committee.

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Mindy Mintz Mordecai - Executive Director
Widow of Esophageal Cancer patient 

“This effort is borne out of my frustration that a disease that could have been cured if found at an early stage stole our family’s happily ever after.  Few things are more important to me than working to make sure other families do not suffer the pain esophageal cancer has caused my own family.”

ECAN’s founder and Executive Director Mindy Mintz Mordecai is an experienced, award-winning media professional and attorney with a proven track record for leadership of nonprofit organizations that achieve positive change on issues of public importance.  Ms. Mordecai is passionate about the work of ECAN in large part because she lost her husband of 14 years to Esophageal Cancer in 2008.

Prior to launching this organization, she had been an award winning television reporter and anchor for two decades, working for the past ten years as a reporter and host for Maryland Public Television where her work has received several Emmy nominations.  Ms. Mordecai consistently garnered top journalistic honors while reporting and anchoring at commercial television stations in the Midwest prior to moving to Baltimore to report and anchor for WBAL-TV in 1986.  Ms. Mordecai also worked in public radio for several years, selected in 1998 as Baltimore City Paper’s Best Radio Talk Show Host.

In 1989, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law and upon graduation became a litigator at Smith, Somerville & Case in Baltimore.  In 1991, Ms. Mordecai was recruited to develop and lead an education advocacy project for Advocates for Children and Youth where her work resulted in better educational opportunities for Baltimore City Public School students.  She later served as director of Public Safety Policy for the Greater Baltimore Committee where she spearheaded an effort to increase public funding of drug treatment and raised more than $2,000,000 from corporate and foundation sources to establish a community court in downtown Baltimore.  Ms. Mordecai is the mother of two young daughters and resides in Baltimore County, Maryland.

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