Alex. Calcagno is
Director of Federal Relations for the Massachusetts Medical Society. She
is responsible for advocating the MMS positions before the Massachusetts
Congressional Delegation, Federal Agencies and the Executive Office.
Alex. has over 20 years experience lobbying in Washington, D.C. Before
coming to Massachusetts she was Assistant Director of the Washington
Office for a national medical association and worked on Capitol Hill for
a Member of Congress. Email: acalcagno@mms.org
Prior to joining the Medical Society as its
Communications Director in 1998, Frank Fortin worked on both
sides of the proverbial media fence: in public relations and journalism.
From 1978 to 1993, he was a television news producer and newspaper
editor in Providence, R.I. From 1993 to 1998, he was a partner in a
regional public relations firm, serving clients principally in the
health care, technology, hospitality and retail industries. Email: ffortin@mms.org
Before joining MMS as media relations
manager on July 15, 2002, Richard P. Gulla was the public
relations director for The Boston Globe, where he established the public
relations department and served as public relations director for 14 of
his 16 years on the staff of the newspaper. At the Globe, he was
responsible for public relations, media relations, and community
relations and served as a trustee of The Boston Globe Foundation. Prior
to joining the Globe, he spent nearly nine years at the United Way of
Massachusetts Bay in Boston, where he was vice president of public
affairs and communications.
Email: rgulla@mms.org
Dana (Holmes) Cooper is
reimbursement coordinator in the MMS Health Systems Department, and
co-staff Liaison to the Task Force on Accurate and Effective Insurance
Claims Processing. She has over seven years of physician advocacy
experience in the Massachusetts managed care environment. In addition to
assisting physicians with managed care or reimbursement issues, Ms.
Holmes’ responsibilities include HIPAA education, managing the
Physician Practice Resource Center, and staffing various committees at
MMS. Email: dcooper@mms.org
Lisa A. Prader joined the Massachusetts
Medical Society in September, 2003, as the Communications Assistant. She
is a recent cum laude graduate of Clark University with a degree in
Communications. Lisa also has over 20 years' experience in marketing,
management, and administration - predominantly in the health care and
legal arenas. Email: lprader@mms.org
William Ryder, the MMS's Director of Regulatory and
Legislative Affairs, has been with the Society since 1987. He represents
the MMS before state regulatory agencies such as the Board of
Registration in Medicine and the Department of Public Health. Before the
state legislature, Mr. Ryder frequently testifies on scope of practice,
pharmaceutical, alternative medicine, state budgetary and other issues
of concern to physicians. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Email: wryder@mms.org
Steve Shestakofsky has been
Director of State Legislation for the MMS since 1997. Prior to arriving
at the Society, he worked extensively in non-profit and public sector
organizations primarily focusing on the needs of people with
disabilities and ex-offenders in Massachusetts and New York.
Professionally trained in law, he holds both J.D. and LL.M. degrees,
respectively earned at Columbia University and NYU. Email: sshestakofsky@mms.org
Ronna Wallace has been a
Legislative Consultant to the Medical Society for over 10 years. Prior
to consulting, Ms. Wallace was Research Director of the Massachusetts
Joint Committee on Health Care in the State House. Email: rwallace@mms.org
Tom Walsh is a partner at RDW Group, Inc.,
communications counsel to the Massachusetts Medical Society. He is a
former political reporter and editor at the Providence Journal. Mr.
Walsh has also written for the Washington Post, the Christian Science
Monitor, Newsweek and for various regional magazines. Email: twalsh@rdwgroup.com
