Medical Advisory Board

Elizabeth Vella, Ph.D

Elizabeth Vella, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern Maine. Dr. Vella received her Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences from Virginia Tech in 2005, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh in 2007. Her research interests include the link between psychosocial factors and cardiovascular risk, and the physiological mechanisms that may explain these associations, as well as the implications for stress management interventions in improving quality of life and reducing physiological responses to stressors among at risk populations. Dr. Vella has authored or co-authored numerous articles published in peer reviewed scientific journals and presented her research at a variety of conferences. She is a reviewer for 10 scientific journals and a member of 5 scientific societies, including the Association for Psychological Science.

Stanley J. Pappelbaum, M.D., MBA, FAAP, FACC, CPE, FACPE

Dr. Stanley Pappelbaum has been the managing partner of Pappelbaum, Turner & Associates, a national healthcare consultancy, based in Del Mar, California, adjacent to San Diego since June 2000. Pappelbaum, Turner & Associates advise hospital, medical group, health insurance, and governmental healthcare clients throughout the United States. From February 1996 to June 2000, Dr. Pappelbaum was affiliated with ScrippsHealth in San Diego, California. ScrippsHealth is a five hospital not-for-profit system with 2,500 affiliated physicians. As of July 2000, it had annual revenues of $1 billion and employs 10,000 San Diegans. Dr. Pappelbaum joined Scripps in 1996 as Chief Transformational Officer in charge of creating and implementing Scripps’ strategic vision of the future. In 1997, he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In 1999, he was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer. He resigned to return to consulting in June 2000. From 1969 to 1984, Dr. Pappelbaum taught and practiced Pediatric Cardiology at the University of California, San Diego and at San Diego Children’s Hospital where he was Chief of Pediatric Cardiology from 1972-1978. From 1985 to 1995, he was the managing partner of Professional Health Consulting Group in Del Mar, California, a national company of physician executives who analyzed and managed change for complex not-for-profit healthcare systems clients throughout the United States. Dr. Pappelbaum’s expertise spans over 15 years of experience in academic and private practice medicine in California urban and rural communities as well as over 10 years experience as a senior executive in complex not-for-profit health systems. He is well known for his expertise in contemporary and comparative healthcare financing and delivery systems. Dr. Pappelbaum currently holds teaching appointments as Clinical Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and as Adjunct Faculty, Division of Health Services Administration, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University. Dr. Pappelbaum completed his undergraduate work at McGill University, Montreal and received his medical degree from the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, in Vancouver. He completed his residency in pediatric medicine at Montreal Children’s Hospital of McGill University and did graduate studies in cardiovascular physiology and a fellowship in pediatric cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He also was awarded an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned an Master's degree in management (health option) from MIT. Dr. Pappelbaum is Board Certified by the American boards of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology. He is a certified Physician Executive of the American College of Physician Executives. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physician Executives. He is a retired member of the San Diego County Medical Society, and the California Medical Association. He is an active member of the American Medical Association. Dr. Pappelbaum is a past chair of the Medical Quality Subcommittee of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CALPERS). He is a past chair of both the National Committee on Child Health Financing and the National Council on Pediatric Practice of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was a consultant member of the non-partisan National Leadership Commission on Healthcare in the 1980’s based in Washington, D.C. chaired by then Former Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. In addition, Dr. Pappelbaum was a trustee of Scrippshealth, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Foundation of Medicine and Science and Catholic Healthcare West. He was a member of the Health Care Systems Governing Council for the American Hospital Association. He was a board member of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. Dr. Pappelbaum has authored numerous articles and publications covering a wide range of healthcare and clinical issues. He is a well-known speaker and retreat facilitator on healthcare issues. Dr. Pappelbaum’s primary objective is to provide a strategic framework for successful change, especially involving physicians, hospitals, and insurance companies, in order to enhance patient access and affordable quality care.

Charles J. Fisher, Jr., M.D., FACP, FCC

Dr. Fisher is the Chief Medical Officer, Executive Vice President Clinical & Regulatory Affairs of Cardiome Pharma Corp (NASDAQ – CRME). Dr. Fisher has over 20 years of experience in clinical research trials and Phase I to IV drug development. He was most recently divisional Vice President of Global Pharmaceutical Development at Abbott Laboratories Limited, responsible for the global development of pharmaceuticals, biologics and drug coated medical devices. Prior to Abbott Laboratories Limited, he was an Executive Director and Clinical Research Fellow at Eli Lilly & Co. During his time with Eli Lilly & Co., he was responsible for developing business strategy for critical care, cardiovascular, inflammation and bio-products, therapeutics areas, identification of disease state targets, and business development. Prior to joining industry, Dr. Fisher had a distinguished career as Professor and Head of Critical Care Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He has personally designed, conducted and executed over 20 clinical trials as Principal Investigator. From 1977-1997, Dr. Fisher held various professor and director positions at the University of Manitoba, the University of California at Davis Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Fisher has been a member of 16 scientific and advisory boards, a reviewer for 14 medical journals and a member of 13 professional medical societies, including the American Federation of Clinical Research and the Special Operations Medical Association. Dr. Fisher retired in January, 2010 from the United States Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel, United States Army, Special Operations Command, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. During his service, he received two Bronze Star Medals with “V” Devices.

Morton H. Shaevitz, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Shaevitz received his Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles and is Board-Certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Formerly, he served as the Associate Director for Counseling Services at the University of Michigan, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at UCSD, Director of Eating Disorders and Behavioral Health Programs and Associate Director of Weight Management programs at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. He is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCSD School of Medicine and serves as the Clinical Director of Shaevitz and Associates in La Jolla, California. Dr. Shaevitz is the author or co-author of three books, Sexual Static, Lean & Mean and Making It Together.

Terry Clark, M.D., FACS

Dr. Clark is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps (reserve) and a veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. A board certified General Surgeon, Dr. Clark is also President and C.E.O. of MD Informatics, LLC. Dr. Clark has over 20 years experience in healthcare and nine years experience in information sciences. Dr. Clark has completed a two-year fellowship in Medical Informatics and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture internationally on information technology in healthcare. Most recently, Dr. Clark served as a commissioner on a Presidential Task Force to make recommendations to improve healthcare for America’s Veterans and as an advisor to Humana Veterans Healthcare Services.

Glenn Schiraldi, Ph.D

Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., has served on the stress management faculties at the Pentagon, The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and the University of Maryland, where he received the Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Health and Human Performance. He is the author of various articles and books on human mental and physical health. His books on stress-related topics include: The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery & Growth; World War II Survivors: Lessons in Resilience; The Self-Esteem Workbook; Conquer Anxiety, Worry & Nervous Fatigue: A Guide to Greater Peace; The Anger Management Sourcebook; Ten Simple Solutions to Building Self-Esteem; Hope and Help for Depression: A Practical Guide; and Facts to Relax By: A Guide to Relaxation and Stress Reduction. Another book on resilience training is nearing completion. Glenn's writing has been recognized by various scholarly and popular sources, including the Washington Post, American Journal of Health Promotion, the Mind/Body Health Review, and the International Stress and Tension Control Society Newsletter. While serving at the Pentagon, he helped to design and implement a series of prototype courses in stress management for the Department of the Army—including hostility/anger management and communication skills. For the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation he designed and presents resilience training to prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in high-risk groups (such as military, police, and firefighters). Serving at the University of Maryland since l980, he has pioneered a number of mind/body courses, which have taught skills to a wide range of adults to prevent stress-related mental and physical illness. His recent research indicates that multiple mental health indicators can be favorably impacted by semester’s courses. He has trained clinicians in the U.S. and Canada on treating PTSD and teaching self-esteem and resilience skills. Because of his expertise in practical skill building to prevent mental illness, he was invited to join the Board of Directors, Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association, founded as a Johns Hopkins University, Department of Psychiatry, cooperative. He also serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and on the ABC News Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder working group. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, and holds a doctorate from the University of Maryland. His research interests center on personality and stress, including resilience, post-traumatic stress, self-esteem, depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety.