Healthy NewsWorks Board & Advisory Board
Our Board of Directors
Distinguished professionals representing a broad range of disciplines provide oversight of Healthy NewsWorks’ programs, policies, financials, and operations.
Amy B. Ginensky, J.D., President
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Amy is a senior partner Troutman Pepper and president and CEO of its Pepper Center for Public Service. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. She is past president of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and a current member of its executive committee. She earned her law degree at the University of Virginia. Amy joined the Healthy NewsWorks board in 2016.
James W. Buehler, M.D., Vice President
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Jim is a former City of Philadelphia health commissioner and is a teaching professor of health management and policy at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. He previously was an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where he worked in epidemiology, maternal and child health, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Jim is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine. He joined the board in 2016.
Andrew D. Magnus, Vice President
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Andrew is owner and president of BTC Envelopes & Printing LLC. He has more than 25 years experience in the print, envelope, and promotional advertising industries. He received a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Scranton. He was an assistant buyer for Strawbridge & Clothier and John Wanamaker. He started his sales career with Harris/3M and later joined Clinton Envelope/Printers Inc., rising through the ranks to vice president of sales. He joined the board in 2016.
Laurita Hack, D.P.T., M.B.A., Ph.D., Secretary
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Laurie is a professor emeritus at Temple University, where she chaired the physical therapy department. She was a board member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and was honored with APTA’s two highest honors—as Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA and with the Mary McMillan lectureship. She earned doctoral degrees from the MGH Institute of Health Professions and the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from Penn’s Wharton School. She joined the board in 2014.
H. George Shoffner, C.P.A., Treasurer
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George is president and a founding partner of Lewis, Shoffner & Co., an accounting firm specializing in tax planning and preparation for individuals and small businesses. He is active in several community organizations and is a co-author of The McGraw-Hill 36-Hour Course: Finance for Non-Financial Managers. He earned a B.S. in business and finance from Lehigh University and is a certified public accountant. He joined the board in 2013.
Joel Catindig
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Joel is manager of Digital Solutions at Independence Blue Cross where he oversees internal communications. Prior to Independence Blue Cross, he worked for Cendant Corporation and several design agencies. He is also a board advisor for the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and an officer of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals. Joel attended Rutgers University-Camden. He joined the board in 2020.
Luther T. Clark, M.D.
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Luther is deputy chief patient officer and global director of scientific, medical and patient perspective in the Office of the Chief Patient Officer at Merck. Before joining Merck, he was head of cardiovascular medicine and director of adult cardiology training at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Luther earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He joined the board 2021.
Moriah Hall, M.P.H.
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Moriah is associate director of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at the University of Pennsylvania. She was formerly Temple University’s MPH coordinator and clinical instructor in Harrisburg, Pa., and a project manager with The Food Trust in Philadelphia. She earned a bachelor’s in human services from the University of Delaware and an MPH from Temple University. She joined the board in 2011.
Katherine Hatton
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Katherine retired in 2022 after 17 years as general counsel of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the country’s largest private foundation focused on improving health and health equity. Prior to that, she served for 12 years as general counsel of Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and philly.com. She earned her law degree at Case Western Reserve University and a master of studies in law degree at Yale Law School. Katherine joined the Healthy NewsWorks board in 2023.
Kenny Johnson
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Kenny is community engagement manager for the Philadelphia Phillies. He also serves on the United Negro College Fund Mayor’s Masked Ball Auction Committee, the PHL Diversity Advisory Board, and the Philadelphia Non-Profit Advertising Agency’s Youth Sports and Education Fund Committee. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Villanova University. He joined the board in 2018.
Omar D. Joseph
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Omar is content engagement program manager at Facebook, where he works to align the communications strategy across the learning and development organization. Previously, he worked with Quest Diagnostics, JK Design, Inc., O.S. Randolph Group, and Tyco International. Omar earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and Puerto Rican & Hispanic Caribbean Studies from Rutgers University. He joined the board in 2020.
Sharon Manker, M.Ed.
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Sharon is director of supplier diversity for the Radian Group Inc. Â She previously worked for AmeriHealthy Caritas, American Water Works Service Company, Inc., Independence Mission Schools, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems. She has a master of education with specialization in organizational leadership from Northcentral University and a bachelor of science in communications and applied technology from Drexel University. Sharon joined the board in 2019.
Elizabeth Rappaport, M.D.
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Liz is a retired pediatric endocrinologist. Most recently she was as an associate professor from Thomas Jefferson University, where she researched childhood obesity and oversaw an educational program designed to engage underrepresented minority students in biomedical research. She has worked in basic and clinical research, public health, pharmaceutical development, and medical education. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Harvard Medical School. She joined the board in 2016.
Deborah Stern, M.A.T., Ph.D.
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Deborah is a long-time educator and leader who designs school programs, writes curriculum, and coaches educators for R4 Education Services, an independent educational consultancy. Deborah specializes in supporting teachers and academic programs to strengthen literacy and engagement for students. She has a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College, a master’s in teaching from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Deborah joined the board in 2019.
Ellyn Jo Waller, Ed.D.
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Ellyn Jo is an educator who advocates on behalf of students with special needs. She is devoted to education, women’s empowerment, and fighting human trafficking. She is president of the Community College of Philadelphia Foundation and a board member of Waldron Mercy Academy. She is a member of the United Negro College Fund Philadelphia Area Office Leadership Council and the Philadelphia chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Ellyn Jo joined the board in 2022.
AJ Vogt, J.D., Board Observer
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AJ comes to Healthy NewsWorks through the Board Observer Program, a partnership between the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the Delivery of Legal Services Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association. AJ earned his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh in 2019. Following law school, AJ clerked for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, practiced family law in the Philadelphia area, and is currently a government attorney. AJ is devoted to the mission of public service.
*Healthy NewsWorks became an independent 501(c)(3) in 2018 when it established its fiduciary board. Some board members served on the advisory board prior to that year.
Our Community Advisory Board
Community leaders help the Healthy NewsWorks board and leadership team to provide additional expertise and ensure a close connection between our program and the community.Â
Mike Banks
Managing Director for Employment Opportunities and Entrepreneurship, United Way
Steven Scott Bradley
President & CEO, Bradley & Bradley
Justin Campbell
Strategic Operations Manager, Comcast Corporation
Bettyann Creighton
Retired Executive Director of Health, Safety, & Physical Education, School District of Philadelphia
Courtney Ercole, M.S.W., M.H.S., PA-C
Michelle Davidson
Founder & CEO, Thunder Marketing & Public Relations
Ron Davis
Chief Diversity Officer, Parx Casino
Michael Days
Former Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Former Editor, Philadelphia Daily News
Greg DeShields
Executive Director, Tourism Diversity Matters
Stephen Fried
Author, Public Speaker, Editorial Consultant
Jared M. Green, P.E., D.GE
Leroy Howell
Manager, Einstein Healthcare Network
Government Relations & Public Affairs, Constituency Relations
Jane Isaacs Lowe, Ph.D.
Retired Program Director, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Victoria Kinzig
Co-Founder & CEO, KickUp
Amy Krulik
Executive Director, Main Line Reform Temple
Betsy Lee-Fong
Production Manager, IBIS Consulting Group
Lorina Marshall-Blake
President, IBX Foundation
Bonnie Offit, M.D.
CIO, Self Care Decisions
Co-Founder, Murphy Cares
Cary Rice
Attorney, Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin Schiller
Ilene Rothblat
Medical Operations, Quality and Regulatory, Quest Diagnostics
Eileen G. Ruby
Private Investor and Advisor
Diana Torralvo
Director of Communications and Community Relations, NBC Universal Media
Walter Tsou, M.D., M.P.H.
Public Health & Health Policy Consultant
Ilene Wasserman
President, ICW Consulting Group