Meet the Team
Michael Wong, Founder/Executive Director
Michael is a recognized healthcare and patient safety expert, founding PPAHS to further use his knowledge, passion and efforts to:
• Reduce medical errors
• Improve patient adherence (i.e. helping patients to take their medications as prescribed by their physicians)
• Enhance patient access to healthcare
Michael writes and speaks at conferences about health care and patient safety, so many – including some media and health care organizations – think he’s a doctor. Although a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, he’s an attorney who has worked for many years with pharmaceuticals and medical device companies (both Fortune 500 and start-ups).
Michael has been behind many healthcare initiatives, including encouraging people to quit smoking, get tested and treated for hepatitis, and take their medications as prescribed by their physicians.
He sits on many committees and wears other patient safety hats – such as, being on the editorial board of the peer-reviewed Journal of Patient Compliance and the only non-physician on the recently created board to certify and re-certify physicians in patient safety through the American Board of Physician Specialties, one of the United States’s main recognized physician multi-specialty certifying bodies.
For more on Michael, please click here.
Lynn Razzano (RN, MSN, ONCC), Clinical Nurse Consultant
Lynn is a recognized healthcare expert and patient safety consultant has developed high-quality protocols for academic institutions, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and ambulatory surgery centers.
As an RN for more than 35 years, Razzano is well known for advice on quality initiatives, regulatory compliance, and patient safety endeavors. Razzano is a writer and conference presenter on current issues like the Affordable Care Act and known to be a strong patient advocate fluent in harm reduction and prevention strategies. Razzano was Director of Quality and Corporate Compliance for a long-term acute care facility, and instrumental in being a lead facilitator for The Joint Commission surveys where she has worked.
Nirit Yadin, Grant Manager
After over twenty years as a professional writer (journalism, books, corporate communications, translations, and editing), Nirit Yadin refocused her career on grant writing to help others. She completed the American Grant Writers’ Association grant proposal writing program as well as the advanced grant proposal writing course at Middlesex County College. Nirit is passionate about working toward a safer, better healthcare system for all.
Elise M.V. Wong, Director of Communications & Research
Elise is the Director of Communications & Research for the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety. She was the key researcher in PPAHS’s study with the American Hospital Association on nursing attitudes and beliefs to identify medical practices and technologies to reduce the occurrence of respiratory compromise and failure in patients receiving opioids. This research was presented by her at the International Conference on Opioids at Harvard University.
Elise has also conducted independent research on maternal and child health during the opioid epidemic, specifically on the care of opioid-using pregnant women and their newborns. During this time, she evaluated national and international clinical guidelines, examined those guidelines in practice through interviews with medical professionals and experts, and developed policy recommendations in managing the care of these patients.
Elise graduated from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs with a certificate in Global Health & Health Policy. She has worked in Washington, D.C for both McAllister & Quinn, a government relations and business development firm, and Capitol Street, a consulting firm that provides U.S. health care policy research and analysis.
Sean Power, Community Manager
Sean Power is the Community Manager for Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, managing the organization’s relationships with online patient safety communities in support of PPAHS’ strategic objectives. Sean is an independent marketing communications consultant whose client roster includes for-profit and nonprofit organizations in clinical research, patient safety, global health and healthcare strategy consulting. Companies engage Sean when they need extended support for their core marketing communications team.
Sean sits on the Board of Directors at Habitat for Humanity Durham and has previously served as the Vice President of the Board of Directors at Durham Outlook for the Needy, a charity that serves 50,000 meals per year to hungry people in the east part of the Greater Toronto Area.
Sean holds a B.A. (Distinction) in History with a minor in English from the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada and a Graduate Certificate (Hons.) in Marketing Management from Humber College in Toronto, Canada.
Rachelle Rotunda, Digital Community Manager
Rachelle is the driver of PPAHS’s digital awareness effort. As PPAHS’s digital “go-to” expert, she helps drive engagement, improve website traffic, and enhance visibility among the digital community.
Rachelle brings almost 10 years of experience in search engine marketing, brand management and business development expertise to the team. With a Masters in Marketing Management from Davenport University in Michigan, she finds great joy in using her search engine and digital marketing expertise to help PPAHS make a difference!
Briggs Adams, Editorial Manager
A former reporter, Briggs has been instrumental in helping PPAHS get better known by those in the media.
Briggs Adams is editorial coordinator PPAHS. A former journalist and long-time communications professional, Briggs has researched and reported on a wide range of patient-safety issues.
Patricia Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC (Nurse Consultant & Podcast Moderator)
Pat is a respected nationally known expert in the field of legal nurse consulting. She founded and managed an independent legal nurse consulting business for 28 years before selling it in 2015. In her capacity as a nursing expert witness and legal nurse consultant, she has discussed or reviewed thousands of medical malpractice cases. This knowledge has led to her deep commitment to patient safety. Ms. Iyer served on the board of directors of the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants including one year as president of the association.
Pat is a prolific author who has written, edited or coauthored more than 200 books, chapters, case studies, online courses or articles. She is a member of the National Speakers Association, and has been the moderator for some of PPAHS’s podcasts.
Juan Zheng (Visual Designer)
Juan Zheng is an amazing visual designer whose first relationship with PPAHS was as an enthusiastic volunteer with a great passion for patient safety. A graduate of the Wuhan University of Technology, Juan received her MA at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Juan has designed in diverse fields ranging from technology and environment to sports and health. She has been responsible for a variety of projects including print materials, digital materials, video editing, GIF animation, and mobile applications. A long-time US permanent resident, Juan embodies the US immigrant work ethic and believes in the old saying: “work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” Her “noise” can be seen by clicking here for her portfolio.
Siva Sanchana (health IT intern)
Siva Sanchana is a stellar medical student who works as an intern. She is passionate about the healthcare system and helping people get the care they are entitled to. She diligently focuses on areas that could be improved in the medical field to increase the compliance of patients. She is innovative with new ideas for the betterment of society. She constantly empathizes with people, advocates for patients, and acts fiercely for what she believes. She aims to make the medical facilities accessible to everyone in need unbiased to their social status.
Kelechi Nwachukwu (Web Specialist)
Kelechi is a goal oriented nationally known Web development expert, managing the organization’s web user interface and user experience as well as also optimizing website performance and implementing upgrades. His is excellent with communication skills and problem-solving skills which makes he also passionate about connecting people with information technology. He possess a wide range of skills including proficiency in programming languages such as HTML, CSS, JAVASCRIPT, REACT.JS and PHP, as well as expertise in using web development frameworks and content management systems like Wix , WordPress, and Shopify. Frequently praised as focused and ambitious by peers with a growth mindset that keeps him learning new skills to keep up with the technology trends.
