Staff
Myrl Weinberg, CAE, is president of the National Health Council, and her career has focused on health, medical research, long-term care, social security, and related issues that affect persons with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers. Before joining the Council, Ms. Weinberg held numerous managerial positions at the American Diabetes Association, including serving as Vice President for Corporate Relations and Public Affairs.
Ms. Weinberg has a long history of board and committee service. She is currently a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Value Incentives Learning Collaborative, an activity of the Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care, Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) Board of Advisors, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Aligning Forces for Quality Program National Advisory Committee, Brookings Active Surveillance Implementation Council, Roche Science and Ethics Advisory Group and Clinical Research Ethics Advisory Group, Coalition Against Major Diseases Coordinating Committee, Advisory Board for the journal Drug Development, and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization Board of Directors.
Ms. Weinberg also serves on the Independent Sector (IS) Nonprofit Sector Programs and Practice Committee, and the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Board of Directors, it’s Panel on Charity Effectiveness, and it’s Communications and Marketing Committee.
Ms. Weinberg is a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and an ASAE Fellow. She has served on ASAE’s Board of Directors, ASAE Joint Finance Committee, ASAE Ethics Task Force, and ASAE Fellows Nominating Committee.
Ms Weinberg is a founding member of the Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP). Ms. Weinberg was also instrumental in the creation and operations of the International Alliance of Patients’ Organization (IAPO), where she also served as Chair of the Governing Board.
Ms. Weinberg pursued advanced graduate study at Purdue University. She holds an MA in Special Education from George Peabody College and a BA in Psychology from the University of Arkansas.
Marc M. Boutin, JD, was promoted to Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer on January 1, 2008. He previously served as the Executive Vice President and prior to that as the Vice President, Policy Development & Advocacy. In addition to overseeing financial management and operations at the National Health Council, Mr. Boutin builds consensus among member patient advocacy organizations enabling them to speak with one voice on systemic policy initiatives resulting in legislation and regulations that address the collective needs of patients and their family caregivers.
Throughout Mr. Boutin’s career, he has been highly involved in health advocacy, policy and legislation. He has designed and directed advocacy strategies for legislative initiatives, which have included issues ranging from access to health care to cancer prevention. Before joining the Council, Mr. Boutin most recently served as the Vice President of Government Relations and Advocacy at the American Cancer Society for New England. In addition, he was a faculty member at Tufts University Medical School, where he lectured on health care policy.
Susan Lau has worked with the National Health Council since 2003 and currently holds the title of Vice President, Member Services. In that capacity, she oversees the Standards of Excellence® Certification Program, provides technical assistance to member VHAs on management and governance issues, and develops member recruitment and retention strategy. Susan had a consulting practice for a number of years, providing a range of management and publishing services to clients including the American Diabetes Association; COPD Foundation; Spina Bifida Association; and United Telecom Council. Earlier in her career, she held the position of National Vice President of Publications and Publisher at the American Diabetes Association with full P&L responsibility for a $25 million publishing program including periodicals, scientific journals, and books.
Donna K. O'Leary was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Organizational Affairs & Meetings on January 1, 2008. She previously served as the Director of Organizational Affairs & Meetings. Prior to joining the Council in April 1995, she was the computer system manager/executive assistant for one of Washington's top 10 lobbying law firms. Donna's background consists of over 25 years in administration, data processing, meeting planning, and computer management. Donna has received her business of meetings certification.
Carol Sadoff, CPA, joined the NHC in March 2004 as Director of Finance & Administration. Carol’s not-for-profit health care work experience includes Director of Finance for The Stanley Medical Research Institute and The American Kidney Fund. Earlier in her career, Carol worked as an Audit Manager with a large public accounting firm and as Controller for profit motivated businesses. Carol earned a BA degree from Dickinson College and an MBA from Rutgers University.
Emily Noonan is the Manager, Communications and Marketing. She previously served as the Office Associate. Before joining the National Health Council she worked as a graduate researcher for Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. As a researcher, Emily worked on the African Legislatures Project in which she revised and reviewed coding measuring the power differentiation between executive and legislative branches of multiple African countries. Emily received her BA in Political Science from James Madison University in May 2006.
Nancy Hughes, APR, is the assistant vice president of communications and marketing. Prior to joining the National Health Council in October 2008, she was the vice president of communications and information services at the American Academy of Physician Assistants for 15 years. Hughes began her career as a radio and television reporter in Colorado covering politics and local government. She transitioned to the other side of the microphone to work as the deputy press secretary for Colorado Governor Dick Lamm. Hughes has also served as press secretary for Colorado Congressman David Skaggs, vice president of communications for the Denver Chamber of Commerce, and public affairs manager for MCI-West Division.
Kelly Garrity is the executive associate. She previously worked with human resources at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP., and Brandon Technology Consulting. She received her BA in International Business from Strayer University in 2005 and will complete her MA in Public Administration from Central Michigan University in 2011.
Caroline Shewmaker joined the National Health Council in February 2009 as the Office Associate. Currently, she is enrolled in the Sociology Graduate Program at George Mason University and is expected to receive her MA in Fall 2011, after which she hopes to become a member of a research team for a nonprofit organization concerned with youth issues. She received her BA in both English and Psychology from Clemson University in South Carolina, where she worked as a NCAA Student-Athlete tutor throughout her undergraduate career.
Eric Gascho was promoted to Associate Director, Government Affairs in December 2010. He has been with the NHC since August 2009. For the two years prior to joining the NHC, he worked in the government relations department of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. Eric earned his BA degrees in Political Science and Business Management from the University of Redlands in California in May 2006.
