CONSULTANTS
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Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Michigan Association is very fortunate to have a group of interdisciplinary professionals willing to serve as consultants in collaboration with the FAAMA leadership team. These individuals reflect a wealth of valuable expertise as they continue to make important contributions to their fields and communities. We are very grateful and delighted that these professionals generously share their perspective and abundant experience. |
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FAAMA Medical Professional Consultants
Donna DeCosta, MD is a radiologist and the married mother of two sons with life-threatening food allergies. Her desire to help other families navigate the challenges and risks of severe food allergy led her to write and publish a comprehensive food allergy book, A Little Bit CAN Hurt: The Shocking Truth about Food Allergies -- Why We Should Care, What We Can Do. She founded www.FoodAllergyMomDoc.com, an online community that was dedicated to promoting food allergy awareness, understanding and proactive advocacy. Dr. DeCosta also founded Food Allergy & Sensitivity Circle which is a food allergy & celiac online resource directory. Her background includes a BS from Cornell University, a MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, as well as post -graduate training from Howard University Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical System. Over the past 20 years, she has practiced diagnostic radiology. Dr. DeCosta lives in Maryland with her husband and two sons. In her free time, she enjoys photography, blogging and being a soccer mom.
Marcy DeCraene, BSN, RN served as a school nurse at Cranbrook Schools Brookside, the lower school of an independent day and boarding school in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan for over two decades. In addition to her role as the school nurse, Ms. DeCraene served as a health educator for grades 1-5. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, School of Nursing, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Ms. DeCraene also has professional clinical nursing experience in the fields of emergency and trauma healthcare. Ms. DeCraene was the second full time school nurse hired at Cranbrook School Brookside. She was very instrumental in developing and defining the role of the nurse and health educator at Cranbrook Schools Brookside. She provided school health services for approximately 350 elementary-aged students. She was fortunate to be part of a team of nurses in a PK-12 school that values health and well-being and for opportunities for collegial collaboration on health matters in developing a consistent and holistic approach for attending to the health of the students. She enjoyed her dual role responsibilities as school nurse and health educator. As a health educator, she sees the teaching component of her role as an opportunity to “really get to know” the children and enjoys developing curriculum that explores how the body works, with the ultimate goal of learning how to best protect and care for one’s body.
Marcy DeCraene, BSN, RN views the school nurse component of her dual role as adding a very different dimension which is constantly changing, challenging and exciting. As a result of the increasing number of students with food allergies in schools, Ms. DeCraene developed programs to address food allergy school management which benefit students, parents/guardians and faculty. She recognizes that for children with health concerns, coming to school is the first of many, often frightening, steps in becoming independent. Ms. DeCraene appreciates the importance of safety, skill development and education, and therefore has been highly involved in policy development as well as training and education programs for students, parents/guardians, faculty and administrators. Being in the school every day, getting to know the children and families over time, as well as working closely with Food Service and school administrators creates a unique perspective to managing all sides of food allergies (and other health concerns) in the school setting.
Marcy DeCraene, BSN, RN views the school nurse component of her dual role as adding a very different dimension which is constantly changing, challenging and exciting. As a result of the increasing number of students with food allergies in schools, Ms. DeCraene developed programs to address food allergy school management which benefit students, parents/guardians and faculty. She recognizes that for children with health concerns, coming to school is the first of many, often frightening, steps in becoming independent. Ms. DeCraene appreciates the importance of safety, skill development and education, and therefore has been highly involved in policy development as well as training and education programs for students, parents/guardians, faculty and administrators. Being in the school every day, getting to know the children and families over time, as well as working closely with Food Service and school administrators creates a unique perspective to managing all sides of food allergies (and other health concerns) in the school setting.
Evilia A. Jankowski, MSA, BSN, RN earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Northern Arizona University in 1980, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1983 from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University in 2010. Currently, she serves as the State School Nurse Consultant for the state of Michigan.
Evilia A. Jankowski, MSA, BSN, RN has 12 years of professional clinical experience as a charge nurse in Labor and Delivery/Obstetrics/Pediatrics. She became interested in the field of public health nursing in 1993 and has been involved in school nursing ever since. She is a past President of the Michigan Association of School Nurses. She has worked on the state asthma program for over 15 years.
Evilia A. Jankowski, MSA, BSN, RN has 12 years of professional clinical experience as a charge nurse in Labor and Delivery/Obstetrics/Pediatrics. She became interested in the field of public health nursing in 1993 and has been involved in school nursing ever since. She is a past President of the Michigan Association of School Nurses. She has worked on the state asthma program for over 15 years.
Olga Kagan, PhD, RN completed her nursing studies in the former USSR in 1996. She holds a Baccalaureate Degree from Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, NY and Master’s in Nursing Administration with Informatics from Molloy University, NY. Over the years, she has worked in the in-patient critical care setting at Weill-Cornell Medical Center and Lenox Hill Hospital. In 2002, she joined a team of medical professionals in the role of Clinical Nurse Coordinator at the World Trade Center Worker & Volunteer Medical Screening & Monitoring Program at the Mt. Sinai Selikoff Centers for Occupational Health, of the Department of Preventative Medicine in the Icahn School of Medicine. Currently, she works with individuals, teams and organizations on various healthcare projects as an independent nurse consultant. Olga Kagan, Ph.D, RN's professional memberships include: The New York Academy of Medicine, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Epsilon Kapa Chapter, and The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). Her contributions to the community include spearheading of health related activities, disability awareness programs, and educational campaigns. She volunteers her time on school boards advocating for health and safety of school aged children. Having two children with food allergies has propelled her personally and professionally to get involved in policy, research and education to bring about awareness and precautions necessary to keep individuals predisposed to food-induced anaphylaxis safe and included.
Sara Kwiatkowski, RD is a Registered Dietitian with experience working with food allergic patients and families and she has a child with severe food allergies. Mrs. Kwiatkowski has previously worked for Grand Rapids Allergy in Michigan where she provided nutritional counseling to those affected with multiple food allergies. She currently works for a large food distributor and provides nutrition and food safety expertise to customers. Previous professional experience includes working as a Clinical Dietitian in a healthcare setting. Sara Kwiatkowski, RD received her dietetics degree from Michigan State University and completed her dietetic internship through Western University.
Travis A. Miller, MD, FACAAI, FAAAI, FAAP is in private practice as the Medical Director of The Allergy Station at SACENT in Roseville, California. He specializes in treating allergic, respiratory and immunologic conditions in children and adults where he conducts clinical trials of asthma, allergy, skin and immunologic diseases. Dr. Miller earned his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at the Los Angeles County/University of Southern California and later a fellowship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical Center, in Ann Arbor. His primary interests include chronic sinus disease, asthma, food allergies, and immune deficiencies. He has participated in a number of clinical studies sponsored by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the University of Michigan’s Center for Biologic Nanotechnology, and LAC/USC on the subjects of chronic rhino-sinusitis, aspirin desensitization and genetic expression in nasal polyposis and severe asthma. He has served on the Editorial Board for Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and his abstracts have appeared in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Dr. Miller is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Miller is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has served on a number of committees for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association.
Dr. Miller has been the recipient of several awards, including the First Star Research Award at the UCLA School of Medicine, Intern of the Year at LAC/UCS Medical Center, Sutter Patient Appreciation Award, featured in the NCAA Champions Magazine and recognized by California Senator Bob Huff, Member Resolution No. 1212, for advocacy work on SB 352, and involvement in 2014 on SB 1266 for food allergy patient safety and protection. Dr. Miller has given hundreds of community outreach lectures and interviews on general allergy and asthma topics each year, and has participated in the ACAAI Nationwide Asthma Screening Program since 2008.
Dr. Miller is a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Miller is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has served on a number of committees for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology; He is a member of the American College of Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association and the California Medical Association.
Dr. Miller has been the recipient of several awards, including the First Star Research Award at the UCLA School of Medicine, Intern of the Year at LAC/UCS Medical Center, Sutter Patient Appreciation Award, featured in the NCAA Champions Magazine and recognized by California Senator Bob Huff, Member Resolution No. 1212, for advocacy work on SB 352, and involvement in 2014 on SB 1266 for food allergy patient safety and protection. Dr. Miller has given hundreds of community outreach lectures and interviews on general allergy and asthma topics each year, and has participated in the ACAAI Nationwide Asthma Screening Program since 2008.
Catherine C. Peterson, Ph.D earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from The George Washington University with an emphasis in child health psychology. She completed fellowship training in pediatric psychology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Case Western Reserve University/Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. She has held faculty positions in departments of pediatrics and psychology at Case Western Reserve University, the University of Michigan, and now at Eastern Michigan University. Her research focuses on the psychological and cognitive functioning in children with medical conditions, with a particular interest in the impact of the medical condition on the family.
Catherine C. Peterson, Ph.D is also a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in cognitive assessment and is interested in examining assessment and intervention for families of children with medical conditions. Current research projects in her Pediatric Psychology Lab at EMU include an examination of the family impact and psychosocial outcomes in children with severe food allergies, including the child’s allergy self-management behaviors, parent worry, family burden, and activity restriction. She and her graduate students have had several allergy-related presentations accepted to regional and national conferences.
Catherine C. Peterson, Ph.D is also a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in cognitive assessment and is interested in examining assessment and intervention for families of children with medical conditions. Current research projects in her Pediatric Psychology Lab at EMU include an examination of the family impact and psychosocial outcomes in children with severe food allergies, including the child’s allergy self-management behaviors, parent worry, family burden, and activity restriction. She and her graduate students have had several allergy-related presentations accepted to regional and national conferences.
Elisabeth Scannell Stieb, RN, BSN, AE-C is a food allergy and asthma nurse at Mass General Hospital Food Allergy Center. Mrs. Stieb has over 30 years of pediatric experience with 22 years specializing in allergy and pulmonary nursing. She is a nationally certified asthma educator and co-author of the book, The Asthma Educator's Handbook. In her role at the Food Allergy Center she participates in leadership, clinical care, advocacy, research and education.
Elisabeth Scannell Stieb, RN, BSN, AE-C has lectured locally and nationally on the topics of food allergies and asthma. She also has experience as a part time school nurse for 10 years. She was a member of the Massachusetts Department of Education task force which developed guidelines for managing food allergies in the school setting. Mrs. Stieb and her husband are parents of three sons, two of whom have food allergies.
Elisabeth Scannell Stieb, RN, BSN, AE-C has lectured locally and nationally on the topics of food allergies and asthma. She also has experience as a part time school nurse for 10 years. She was a member of the Massachusetts Department of Education task force which developed guidelines for managing food allergies in the school setting. Mrs. Stieb and her husband are parents of three sons, two of whom have food allergies.
FAAMA Legal Consultant
Michael R. Dorfman, Esq completed undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan and earned his J.D. at the University of Detroit-Mercy Law School. His law practice is located in Detoit, Michigan at Lewis and Munday where he serves as a Senior Attorney. His areas of practice include Commercial Litigation, Education Law and Transportation Litigation. Attorney Michael Dorfman is an experienced litigator helping business owners, professionals, partnerships, and individuals protect their interests in an aggressive and professional manner. Mr. Dorfman has represented and defended clients in complex civil cases in state, federal, and appellate courts. He is known and respected for his wide range of knowledge and record of success in the courtroom.
Mr. Dorfman also represents families with students in special education when schools deny legally-entitled services to students and other educational issues such as food allergies, expulsion and suspension, and other educational-related disabilities. Mr. Dorfman is often sought out by advocacy groups and educational professionals to speak regarding the application of federal and state education laws and has published extensively on these issues. Mr. Dorfman is often quoted in newspapers, radio, and television regarding his high-profile cases. Common sense, professionalism, excellent writing skills, and drive are what has made Attorney Michael Dorfman successful in handling the needs of clients in and out of the courtroom. Mr. Dorfman lives with his wife Wendy, and three children in West Bloomfield where they are active in the community and sports.
Michael R. Dorfman, Esq completed undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan and earned his J.D. at the University of Detroit-Mercy Law School. His law practice is located in Detoit, Michigan at Lewis and Munday where he serves as a Senior Attorney. His areas of practice include Commercial Litigation, Education Law and Transportation Litigation. Attorney Michael Dorfman is an experienced litigator helping business owners, professionals, partnerships, and individuals protect their interests in an aggressive and professional manner. Mr. Dorfman has represented and defended clients in complex civil cases in state, federal, and appellate courts. He is known and respected for his wide range of knowledge and record of success in the courtroom.
Mr. Dorfman also represents families with students in special education when schools deny legally-entitled services to students and other educational issues such as food allergies, expulsion and suspension, and other educational-related disabilities. Mr. Dorfman is often sought out by advocacy groups and educational professionals to speak regarding the application of federal and state education laws and has published extensively on these issues. Mr. Dorfman is often quoted in newspapers, radio, and television regarding his high-profile cases. Common sense, professionalism, excellent writing skills, and drive are what has made Attorney Michael Dorfman successful in handling the needs of clients in and out of the courtroom. Mr. Dorfman lives with his wife Wendy, and three children in West Bloomfield where they are active in the community and sports.
FAAMA Public Health Policy Consultant
Nona Narvaez, BA, MA founded the Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) in 2001 with her husband, Jeffrey Schaefer, after the diagnosis of their son’s multiple life-threatening food allergies. She now serves pro bono as AFAA Executive Director. Ms. Narvaez received a national award for drafting and spearheading food allergy laws, including epinephrine in Minnesota ambulances (2002); epinephrine in Minnesota schools (2004); amino acid elemental formula agreement with Minnesota medical insurance companies (2007); St. Paul Restaurant Task Force and Ordinance (2009); and school stock epinephrine (2013). She has provided legislative analysis to Congressional Members on the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (2004) and food allergy legislation in other states.
Nona Narvaez, BA, MA has provided policy analysis to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, Ms. Narvaez has served on the national Food Allergy Research Education (FARE) Advocacy Leadership Council, FDA Food Code Rule Revision Committee for Minnesota, and national Conference for Food Protection (CFP). She developed curriculum and regularly trains school and restaurant staff on food allergy management, meets with policy makers, testifies before legislative committees, and lectures at conferences. Her expertise has been tapped by the National Restaurant Association for evaluating testing of ServSafe’s online allergen course. She has over 14 years of food service experience, is a Certified Food Manager, and has served as a member of the food industry’s Touchpoint Resource Pool and the Food Safety Partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She also serves on the AFAA Board of Directors. Before co-founding AFAA, Ms. Narvaez was a public policy analyst for the Minnesota Legislature and U.S. Congress, and a freelance writer.
Nona Narvaez, BA, MA founded the Anaphylaxis & Food Allergy Association of Minnesota (AFAA) in 2001 with her husband, Jeffrey Schaefer, after the diagnosis of their son’s multiple life-threatening food allergies. She now serves pro bono as AFAA Executive Director. Ms. Narvaez received a national award for drafting and spearheading food allergy laws, including epinephrine in Minnesota ambulances (2002); epinephrine in Minnesota schools (2004); amino acid elemental formula agreement with Minnesota medical insurance companies (2007); St. Paul Restaurant Task Force and Ordinance (2009); and school stock epinephrine (2013). She has provided legislative analysis to Congressional Members on the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (2004) and food allergy legislation in other states.
Nona Narvaez, BA, MA has provided policy analysis to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition, Ms. Narvaez has served on the national Food Allergy Research Education (FARE) Advocacy Leadership Council, FDA Food Code Rule Revision Committee for Minnesota, and national Conference for Food Protection (CFP). She developed curriculum and regularly trains school and restaurant staff on food allergy management, meets with policy makers, testifies before legislative committees, and lectures at conferences. Her expertise has been tapped by the National Restaurant Association for evaluating testing of ServSafe’s online allergen course. She has over 14 years of food service experience, is a Certified Food Manager, and has served as a member of the food industry’s Touchpoint Resource Pool and the Food Safety Partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture. She also serves on the AFAA Board of Directors. Before co-founding AFAA, Ms. Narvaez was a public policy analyst for the Minnesota Legislature and U.S. Congress, and a freelance writer.
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