Executive Staff

Ryan Phelan, President
Trish Brown, M.S., CGC, Vice President of Clinical Affairs
Cynthia Brown, Vice President of Finance
Leah Sparks, Vice President of Business Development
Mark Reis, Director, Marketing
Mark Miller, Senior Sales Executive
Ann Tofolo, Director, Program Office
Nick Caulfield, Director, Technology

Clinical Leadership

Thomas J. Musci , M.D., Medical Director
Stephen A. Brown , M.D., Medical Geneticist
Trish Brown, M.S., CGC, Vice President of Clinical Affairs
Scott D. McLean, M.D., FACMG, Medical Editor
Lisa Kessler, M.S. CGC, Senior Genetic Counselor
Andi Ybarra, M.S., CGC, Senior Genetic Counselor
Theresa Boomer , M.S., CGC, Senior Genetic Counselor
Tracy Futch, M.S., Ph.D., CGC
Amisha Shah , M.Sc., M.S., CGC

Medical Advisors

David L. Barker, Ph.D., former Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Illumina, Inc.
Paul Billings, MD, Ph.D., Medical Director, EL Camino GMI
Allan T. Bombard , M.D., CMO of Sequenom Inc.
George Church, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School and Harvard Lipper Center for Computational Genomics
Philip D. Cotter, Ph.D., Director, Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics, Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland.
Andy Faucett, M.S., CGC, Director, Genomics and Public Health Program, Emory University School of Medicine
Ora Karp Gordon, M.D., M.S., Director, GenRISK Program, Cedars-Sinai and Co-director, Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Screening Program
Brad Popovich, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Sirius Genomics
Katherine A. Rauen, MD, Ph.D. University of California, San Francisco Pediatrics and Medical Genetics Faculty

Executive Staff

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Ryan Phelan is an entrepreneur and businesswoman - influential in diverse fields from education and health care to software development and the equestrian industry. She excels at starting for-profit businesses, as well as non-profit organizations, building their staff, board, and partnerships, turning concept into reality, resulting in high quality service and products.

Phelan's current business and focus is DNA Direct, a company that provides guidance and decision support for genetics to consumers, healthcare plans, healthcare providers and laboratories.

Phelan has been a strong consumer health advocate for the past 25 years, having started the first medical library for consumers in 1978. As Founding Director of Planetree, a nonprofit consumer health care organization, she helped create a national model for humanizing hospitals, (an experimental 13-bed medical surgical unit at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco)  and a national model for providing health information to the public, the Planetree Resource Center.

Today the Planetree Alliance is a group of over 85 innovative hospitals and health care institutions with shared values, goals and experiences dedicated to implementing Planetree programs. http://www.planetree.org/about.html

In 1995 she founded Direct Medical Knowledge (DMK). DMK was an extensive consumer health web site highly regarded for its unique content depth and innovative search interface. DMK developed proprietary software that enabled users to drill down through the most current medical literature and retrieve personalized health and medical information. As CEO of DMK, Ms. Phelan forged alliances with major medical institutions, national health care plans, publishers, and consumer groups. In 1999 Direct Medical Knowledge was acquired by WebMD, a leader in the Internet health information industry. DMK's content became the backbone of WebMD's consumer health site, http://my.webmd.com/

She is a co-founder of the ALL Species Foundation, a global science initiative to discover all life on Earth in the next 25 years. In 2002, Phelan served as CEO for the ALL Species Foundation and continues her involvement today by serving on the Governing Board of Directors.

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Trish Brown is an executive with over 15 years of experience in the business of medical genetics. She is a board-certified genetic counselor with a passion for personalized medicine and consumer advocacy. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Trish was an Associate Vice President at LabCorp and Director of Strategic Technology Management and Implementation. In this role she oversaw the commercialization of new technologies and developed expertise in operations, project management, strategic planning, and product development. She was also responsible for LabCorp’s genetic information services which included a specialized genetics call center and clinical genetic counseling services.

Trish received her undergraduate degree in Genetics at the University of California, Davis. She obtained her genetic counseling degree at Sarah Lawrence College, and then practiced prenatal and craniofacial genetic counseling at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her next career step was at Duke University Medical Center in the Maternal Fetal Medicine department where she provided prenatal counseling and was on the Faculty for the Department of Pediatrics and Genetics for the Medical Genetics Fellowship Program. Trish has authored over forty five peer reviewed posters, publications, and presentations. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Women Business Leaders of the U.S.  

Cynthia Brown
Vice President of Finance

Cynthia has over twenty years of experience leading organizations through strategic change, revitalization and accelerated growth. She has led the integration of mergers, has been involved in multi-million dollar product launches and raised funds from angel investors. Cynthia is responsible for finance, accounting, human resources and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Cynthia was the VP of Finance for Enclara Health, a start up that delivers pharmacy services to hospice and end-of-life case management to health plans. Prior to Enclara Health, she built a billing department that supported the growth of the Medicare and health plan business for LifeMasters Supported Selfcare, Inc. and developed a client profitability model that was then integrated into the contract pricing process. Cynthia also, managed the contract pricing and financial analysis departments for a pharmaceutical distribution division of Bristol-Myers Squibb. She started her career in the brokerage industry working for Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab & Co, Inc. Cynthia is a CPA and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Economics with a Management Concentration from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982.

Leah Sparks
Vice President of Business Development

Leah Sparks has worked in a variety of business development roles for 10 years. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Leah had a 6-year career at McKesson Corporation, a Fortune 50 healthcare services corporation. At McKesson, she most recently served as Vice President, Oncology Services. In that role, Leah was responsible for developing and implementing a business plan to jumpstart McKesson’s entry into the oncology market.  The execution of that business plan ultimately led her to oversee a large sales organization focused on community-based oncology providers.

Prior to her leadership position in the Oncology Services unit, Leah held a variety of strategy and business development roles within McKesson. Her responsibilities included developing competitive strategy recommendations, leading due diligence for major acquisitions, and ensuring the operational integration of acquired business units. Additionally, she sourced, structured and negotiated complex distribution services contracts with pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers. 

Before business school, Leah led the marketing efforts at a specialized architecture firm with a worldwide practice. Leah received her MBA from the University of Virginia in 2001 and holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Tennessee.

Mark Miller
Senior Sales Executive

Mark Miller joined DNA Direct as a 9-year veteran of healthcare sales and account management. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Mark had a 7-year career in specialty pharmacy at McKesson Corporation, where he most recently served as Director, Payor and Provider Services. In this role, Mark managed two separate national sales teams responsible for strategic payor account management and provider sales.

In Mark’s leadership position at McKesson, he was involved in developing and implementing payor sales and account management strategies, payor implementation, data analytics, and provider marketing and sales strategies. His efforts provided consistent revenue growth and unsurpassed client retention. Additionally, Mark was selected by divisional management to represent Specialty Pharmacy on the McKesson Corporate State Government Affairs Council and the President’s Circle of Excellence. Prior to his leadership role, Mark was a consistently high performer in direct sales and account management roles.

Mark holds a B.S. in Business from Montana State University, and currently resides and works in Boulder, CO.

Mark Reis
Director, Marketing

Mark Reis has spent the last 12 years in the healthcare sector focusing on pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthcare information technology (HIT) marketing and communications. As Sr. Director of Marketing at LumaSense Technologies, he developed marketing strategy and managed relationships with key accounts integrating temperature and gas sensors into patient monitors. Prior to LumaSense, he was Director of Marketing Communications in the informatics group at Philips Medical Systems (formerly Stentor, Inc.). Mark has worked internationally in Canada and France representing accounts such as Bristol Myers Squibb and QLT Phototherapeutics. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Western Ontario and completed the journalism program at the University of Laval in Quebec City.

Ann Tofolo
Director, Program Office

Ann Tofolo is DNA Direct’s Program Office Director. Ann has been delivering IT and strategic initiatives for healthcare and related organizations for over 11 years; working directly with providers, payors and patients. She spent many of these years negotiating the complexities of large healthcare IT organizations; delivering projects on-time and on-budget. Ann is also very involved in recruiting and hiring IT talent and has built much of DNA Direct’s amazing IT delivery organization.

Ann received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis; and has studied Information Services and Project Management at University of California, Berkeley.

Nick Caulfield
Director, Technology

Nick Caulfield is a technology executive with over 12 years experience focusing in the healthcare and retail industries. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Nick was Director of Enterprise Architecture at a leading retailer and managed strategic direction for transactional and analytical systems. Prior to his architecture role, Nick spent 7 years consulting for healthcare clients, specializing in business integration and data analytics for specialty pharmaceutical services and distribution programs. Nick also worked for a web consultancy, Proxicom, and Accenture delivering transactional applications, portals, and content management systems for clients.
 
Nick received his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Clinical Team

Thomas J. Musci, M.D.
Medical Director

Thomas J. Musci, M.D., is DNA Direct’s Medical Director. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and Medical Genetics. Following his training, he was a tenured faculty member at University of California, San Francisco in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Dr. Musci remains on the clinical faculty of UCSF as an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. Dr. Musci specializes in prenatal diagnosis, including CVS, amniocentesis, and genetic screening for a variety of indications. Dr.Musci has published extensively in the areas of clinical obstetrics, clinical genetics, and basic molecular genetics. He also serves on national committees involved in establishing policy in obstetrics and gynecology.

Stephen A. Brown, M.D.
Medical Geneticist

Stephen A. Brown, MD, is DNA Direct’s Medical Geneticist, and is associate professor of Ob/Gyn at the University of Vermont. He is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinical Genetics, Clinical Molecular Genetics and Molecular Genetic Pathology. Dr. Brown has a broad experience in reproductive genetics, including prenatal diagnosis of single gene disorders, chromosomal disorders, malformation syndromes and related issues. Currently, his lab is researching patterns of differential DNA methylation in human placenta and its relevance to prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal disorders.

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Trish Brown is an executive with over 15 years of experience in the business of medical genetics. She is a board-certified genetic counselor with a passion for personalized medicine and consumer advocacy. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Trish was an Associate Vice President at LabCorp and Director of Strategic Technology Management and Implementation. In this role she oversaw the commercialization of new technologies and developed expertise in operations, project management, strategic planning, and product development. She was also responsible for LabCorp’s genetic information services which included a specialized genetics call center and clinical genetic counseling services.

Trish received her undergraduate degree in Genetics at the University of California, Davis. She obtained her genetic counseling degree at Sarah Lawrence College, and then practiced prenatal and craniofacial genetic counseling at St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her next career step was at Duke University Medical Center in the Maternal Fetal Medicine department where she provided prenatal counseling and was on the Faculty for the Department of Pediatrics and Genetics for the Medical Genetics Fellowship Program. Trish has authored over forty five peer reviewed posters, publications, and presentations. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation, and the Healthcare Business Women’s Association.

Scott D. McLean, M.D., FACMG
Medical Editor

Scott McLean is a pediatrician and clinical geneticist with broad and deep interests in genetic health care, ranging from dysmorphology and newborn screening to genomic medicine for adults and health care policy. During his 26 year career in the US Army, COL(Ret) McLean delivered both primary and consultative care to military beneficiaries across the globe and has been privileged to teach and learn from innumerable medical students, residents and fellows in primary care and specialty training during these decades. As Consultant for Clinical Genetics to the Army Surgeons General, Dr. McLean made significant contributions to Army and Tricare initiatives in uniform, universal newborn screening; genetic non-discrimination; and genetic workforce analysis and development. He served ex officio as the Department of Defense representative to the American College of Medical Genetics Expert Group that developed the landmark report Newborn Screening: Toward a Uniform Panel and System, and on the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS).

Scott was raised in Towson, MD, and attended Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, where he majored in English. He earned his medical degree at the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine in Bethesda, trained in Pediatrics at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, WA, and enjoyed fellowship in clinical genetics at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He has been stationed in Seoul, Northern Virginia , El Paso, San Antonio, and Iraq. Dr McLean maintains board certification in both Pediatrics (since 1989) and Clinical Genetics (since 1993).

Lisa Kessler, M.S., CGC
Senior Genetic Counselor

Lisa R. Kessler is a board-certified genetic counselor with a background in medical genetics and research. Kessler worked in adult genetics at the University of Pennsylvania, Division of Medical Genetics, where she had the opportunity to meet with patients and families with a variety of different medical concerns including hemochromatosis, hereditary cancer syndromes, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, and Marfan syndrome.

Kessler helped design and manage research for individuals who have had Aortic Dissections and she presented the findings at several national conferences. Kessler also has experience providing genetic counseling to women with hereditary breast cancer as part of a research study that focused on African American women. One of the goals of this project was to create a successful referral network including local hospitals, physician offices, and support groups. Kessler has had several publications resulting from this research and enjoyed the opportunity to reach out to women who may not otherwise benefit from access to genetic counseling.

Kessler is often inspired by her patients, learning from their determination, strength, and commitment to helping others. She has observed the development and utilization of support groups, and the significant impact these groups have made. Kessler is enthusiastic about helping DNA Direct create lasting relationships with advocacy organizations to promote increased access to genetic services.

Andi Ybarra, M.S., CGC
Senior Genetic Counselor

Andi Ybarra is a board-certified genetic counselor with experience in clinical genetics, genetics laboratory-support, research, and DNA diagnostics. Andi comes to DNA Direct from LabCorp where she fulfilled many roles, including prenatal clinical genetics, genetics laboratory support, technical training, business development, and managing a team of clinical and laboratory-based genetic counselors. In her clinical role, Ybarra enjoyed meeting with patients, facilitating their understanding, and helping them through what could be an emotional time. She is a strong patient advocate who believes in a patient’s rights to their genetic information without fear of discrimination. In her genetics laboratory-support role, she was able to aid physicians and their staff in their understanding of genetic test results and relaying those results back to their patients. Ybarra also worked at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX in both genetics research and clinical DNA diagnostics laboratories. She worked mainly with the trinucleotide repeat disorders, such as fragile X syndrome and Huntington’s disease, and finds the genetics of these conditions fascinating.

Following completion of her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University in College Station, TX, Ybarra then completed her Master of Science degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, graduate program in genetic counseling. Following graduation, Ybarra has enjoyed training new genetic counselors as a clinical supervisor for the genetic counseling program. Ybarra coordinated the genetic counseling students’ experience in the prenatal clinic and cytogenetics laboratory rotations at LabCorp.

Theresa Boomer, M.S., CGC
Senior Genetic Counselor

Theresa Boomer is a board-certified genetic counselor with specialized laboratory expertise in both Molecular Biology and Cytogenetics. Prior to joining DNA Direct, Theresa was a Genetic Counselor at Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute in San Juan Capistrano, CA. She served as the primary clinical liaison between the Cytogenetic laboratory and ordering physicians, hospitals, and clinics, ensuring all critical results were relayed as quickly and clearly as possible. She also developed expertise in oncology cytogenetic testing and result interpretation. Theresa practiced for several years as a genetic counselor conducting rural outreach clinics for Shodair Children’s Hospital in Helena, MT. There she met the unique challenge of providing prenatal, pediatric, adult, oncology, laboratory, and fetal pathology counseling all in one setting. In addition to clinical services, she also functioned as the Administrative Director for Department of Medical Genetics.

Prior to clinical practice, Theresa spent many years in the laboratory as both a Cytogenetic and Molecular Technologist. She enjoyed positions at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, Dianon Systems in Stratford, CT, Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs, CO, and briefly at the University of Chicago.

Theresa received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Colorado College in Colorado Spring, CO, and her graduate degree in Genetic Counseling at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Theresa has authored over 35 posters, publications and presentations. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors, board-certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling, and has dual certifications in Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology through the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA).

Tracy Futch, M.S., Ph.D.,CGC
Senior Genetic Counselor

Tracy Futch is a board-certified genetic counselor with a background inlaboratory genetics and molecular biology. Prior to joining DNA Direct,Futch was a laboratory genetic counselor at LabCorp working with thebiochemical genetics, molecular genetics, and cytogeneticslaboratories. Her roles included writing genetic test reports,discussing results with providers, and preparing educational materials.Futch has also worked as a clinical counselor at the Children’sHospital in Aurora, Colorado.

Futch received her undergraduate degree in Biology form the Universityof North Carolina. Before attending graduate school, she worked inresearch laboratories at the University of North Carolina and theNational Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences in ResearchTriangle Park, North Carolina. Futch received her Ph.D. in molecularand cellular biology and her master of science degree in geneticcounseling from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.  As agenetic counselor, Futch enjoys the challenge of helping peopleunderstand their genetic testing results and what those results canmean for themselves and their families.
 

Amisha Shah, M.Sc., M.S., CGC
Senior Genetic Counselor

Amisha Shah is a board-certified genetic counselor with a background in molecular genetics and seven years experience in clinical genetics. Amisha received her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences/ Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai (India). She earned a masters degree in medical molecular genetics from University of Aberdeen, Scotland (UK), prior to earning a masters degree in genetic counseling from Sarah Lawrence College, NY.

Amisha comes to DNA Direct after having worked as a Senior Genetic Counselor at Elmhurst Hospital Center, NY (an affiliate of Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC), where she provided prenatal, pediatric and cancer genetic counseling. In addition, she served as a manager and supervisor of the genetics unit and its staff members respectively. As a genetic counselor, she is sensitive to the implications of genetic testing and to the responsible and effective communication of such information toward an individual’s health management. Amisha understands the significance of educational outreach and continues to enjoy her interactions with people of diverse skill sets while giving presentations regarding clinical genetics and genetic counseling. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors and New York State Genetics Task Force, and a diplomat member of the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

Medical Advisors

David L. Barker, Ph.D., is the former Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Illumina, Inc and now serves on their Scientific Advisory Board. He serves on the board of directors of Cell Biosciences, NextBio, and Microchip Biotechnologies, Inc. While at Illumina, Dr. Barker participated in the selection and acquisition of Solexa, a company with new DNA sequencing-by-synthesis technology. Prior to Illumina he was the VP and Chief Scientific Officer of Amersham Pharmacia Biotech (now General Electric).

Paul Billings, M.D., Ph.D., is a board certified internist and clinical geneticist, was appointed as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Cellpoint Diagnostics (CPD) in February, 2008. CPD, a Mohr, Davidow Ventures backed enterprise, seeks to revolutionize cancer care through the provision of products and services focused on circulating tumor cells. Dr. Billings is also Executive Chairman of Signature Genomics Laboratories LLC, and serves on the Board of Directors of BioScale Inc., Cyntellect Inc., Lipomics, Inc. and several not-for-profit public interest organizations. Until September 2007, he was Senior Vice President and Senior Geneticist at Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Inc. He has been Professor of Anthropology (adjunct) at the University of California at Berkeley and has published extensively on topics in immunology, genetics and medicine. Dr. Billings has interest and expertise in diagnostics in medical care and genomic medicine.

Allan T. Bombard, M.D., FACOG, FACMG, is Chief Medical Officer of Sequenom.  He has been the CEO at Lenetix Medical Laboratories, Chief Medical Officer for San Diego's Sharp Mary Birch Hospital, and he served as medical director at DNA Direct from 2007-2008. He has also held upper-level positions with the Lutheran Medical Center of Brooklyn, Aetna Inc., the Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

George Church, Ph.D. is professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and director of the Harvard Lipper Center for Computational Genetics, U.S. Department of Energy Genome Technology Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health Centers of Excellence in Genomic Science.

Philip D. Cotter, Ph.D., FACMG received his doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from the Department of Human Genetics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. He is board-certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics in both Clinical Cytogenetics and Clinical Molecular Biology and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics. Dr. Cotter is currently Vice President of Clinical Laboratories at Biocept Inc., San Diego, Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California San Francisco and Director of Cytogenetics and Molecular Genetics at Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, California.

Andy Faucett, M.S., CGC, is Director of the Genomics and Public Health Program at Emory University School of Medicine. He has an Interagency Professional Agreement (IPA) appointment at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and serves as Program Coordinator of the CETT Program (www.cettprogram.org) for the NIH Office of Rare Diseases. Previously he worked as a clinical genetic counselor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX. He received his Master's of Science in Human Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College. He has served on the Board of Directors for National Society of Genetic Counselors and the American Board of Genetic Counseling.

Ora Karp Gordon, M.D., M.S. is Director of the GenRISK Adult Genetics Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and co-director of the Gilda Radner Ovarian Cancer Screening Program. She is an assistant professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). A diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Medical Genetics, Dr. Gordon's primary research interests include the study of common disease genetics and prevention of breast cancer in high-risk patients.

Brad Popovich, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer at Sirius Genomics in Vancouver. Before joining Sirius, Popovich was the VP, Operations at Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Prior to joining Xenon, he was a tenured professor at Oregon Health Sciences University in the Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics. Popovich has over 20 years of experience in the commercialization of DNA-based diagnostic tests. He has served on the boards of both public and private sector companies, including TM Biosciences and Roche Diagnostics.

Katherine A. Rauen, M.D., Ph.D. served as medical director of DNA Direct from 2004-2007 and is currently on the faculty at the University of California, San Francisco and Stanford University in both Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. She attends on both thegeneral and biochemical genetics service. Her research program involves the clinical and basic science study of cancer syndromes to identify underlying genetic abnormalities that may affect common developmental and cancer pathways. Recently, her team discovered the genetic cause of cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome (CFC). Rauen received her doctorate in Genetics at the University of California at Davis, and obtained her medical degree at the University of California at Irvine.