Staff

The ACHA staff plays an integral role in the day-to-day workings of the organization, liaising between members of ACHA, ACHA's Board of Directors and Medical Advisory Board, and medical professionals around the world.

Amy Verstappen, President/Chief Executive Officer
Amy Basken, Advocacy Coordinator
Tim Clair, Chief Operating Officer
Ann Gianola, Research Manager
Jennifer Hotsko, Events and Development Coordinator
Bridget McDugall, Data Management Assistant
Paula Miller, Membership Services Manager
Jessica Phelan, Development Manager
Ruth Phillippi, Education and Outreach Manager
Terri Schaefer, Communications Manager
Christine Sullivan, Administrative Assistant

Amy Basken, Advocacy Coordinator, joins ACHA with a background in grassroots advocacy as the National Advocacy Coordinator for Mended Little Hearts. As mother of Nicholas, congenital heart defect survivor, Amy became an active participant in grassroots advocacy for the congenital heart community early on, at both the local and national level. Her experience includes coordinating Washington D.C. Lobby events, in-district visits and several media contacts, designing and managing grassroots action activities, and grassroots advocate training and development. Additionally, Amy is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Master in Speech Pathology degree, offering a unique patient perspective as a licensed medical speech pathologist providing treatment to those who have suffered a cardiovascular event.

Tim Clair, Chief Operating Officer, has more than fifteen years of experience working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, equipping them to better serve individuals and communities. Prior to joining ACHA, Tim served as Executive Director of the Fairmount Community Development and as Director of Operations for the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. He has also been an adjunct instructor and guest lecturer at several local universities. In 2006, Tim was selected and trained as an emerging leader in nonprofits through Bank of America’s national Neighborhood Excellence Award program. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Messiah College and an MBA from Eastern University.*

Ann Gianola, Research Manager, joins ACHA with seven years experience in research administration and project management. She was a contract negotiator and federal grants administrator at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine and most recently, a project administrator at the University of Pennsylvania. Her previous research focused on television advertising and children, access and availability of food in urban areas and risk perceptions of disease and related behavioral outcomes. Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science with an emphasis on international studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Arts in Health Communication from The Johns Hopkins University.*

Jennifer Hotsko, Events and Development Coordinator, comes to ACHA from Angel Flight East, where she helped facilitate free air transportation for seriously ill patients in need of treatment at facilities far from home. Her work experience includes fundraising event planning, direct mail campaigns, and program and volunteer oversight. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Syracuse University.*

Bridget McDugall, Data Management Assistant, joins ACHA after serving as an Ambassador for the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children. Stationed in El Salvador, Bridget worked in a rural medical clinic primarily assisting with program development and data management. Her background also consists of experience throughout the Philadelphia area with various nonprofit organizations. Bridget holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Biomedical Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania.

Paula Miller, Membership Services Manager, has been involved with ACHA since 2000. She first served as a conference volunteer and later was appointed to the Board of Directors, a position she held for 6 years. She was Vice Chair of the Board from 2005-2007. Paula received a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in 1973 and an M.S. in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1977. In her career, she has worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner, a medical legal consultant, a nursing professor and a clinical research coordinator. As an adult with Tetralogy of Fallot, working with ACHD patients and families is her passion.*

Jessica Phelan, Development Manager, joins ACHA with a background in development and nonprofit communication from her work at Isles, Inc., a community development organization. Her work experience includes grant writing and administration, budget development, and internal and external communication management. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Professional and Business Communication, both at La Salle University.*

Ruth Phillippi, Education and Outreach Manager, joins ACHA with four years of nonprofit operations and communications experience. Her own experiences as an adult with complex congenital heart disease and exposure to the growing ACHD community led her back to school. There, she developed new methods to elicit, employ, and teach personal stories to help bridge the gaps between healthcare providers, patients and their families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Grove City College and a Master of Science in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University.*

Terri Schaefer, Communications Manager, joins ACHA with seven years experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical publishing. Most recently a senior editor and web editor at a national healthcare trade journal, her work experience includes writing and editing, managing website content, developing promotional materials and branding. Terri holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Rider University.*

Christine Sullivan, Administrative Assistant, brings to her position at ACHA her background in nonprofit operations and her enthusiasm for assisting others. Her work at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Delaware Valley Grantmakers prepared her to serve the membership of ACHA and to provide responsive administrative assistance to the staff and board. Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Pennsylvania.*

Amy Verstappen, President/Chief Executive Officer, joined the ACHA board in 2000, and was ACHA's first Fundraising Chair. She became ACHA Board President in 2002, and stepped off the ACHA Board to become ACHA's first paid President and Executive Director in January 2006. Before her personal experiences as a complex congenital heart survivor led her to patient advocacy, Amy worked as an educator with children and adults in a variety of settings. Amy received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology-Anthropology from Swarthmore College in 1983 and a Masters in Education from Lesley College in 1989. She has co-authored a number of publications on adults with congenital heart disease and has served as an ACHD consultant in venues such as the American College of Cardiology (ACC), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD). Click here for Amy's biographical sketch.*


*Photo by Carryn M. Golden