Leadership - Bay Area Lyme Foundation

“I continue to struggle with late-stage Lyme disease. If only I had gotten an accurate diagnosis and had been treated earlier, my life would be so much different. My goal as Co-Founder of Bay Area Lyme Foundation is to ensure that we develop reliable diagnostics and a cure so that others don’t have to go through what I have. It is awful.”

Laure Woods offers a unique perspective to Bay Area Lyme Foundation as a clinical researcher and a person with late-stage Lyme disease. Her clinical research experience includes trials for treatment of cystic fibrosis, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, cancer and infant nutrition. She has held clinical research positions at California Bay Area companies like Matrix Pharmaceutical and Genelabs Technologies. Early in her career, she founded Woods Consulting, Inc., to advise companies that test the safety and efficacy of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use. Laure is the President and Founder of LaureL Foundation, a private foundation focused on the education, health and welfare of children. She also is the President and Founder of LaureL STEM Fund who’s mission is to promote STEM education. Laure serves on the Board of the L.K. Whittier Foundation, a private foundation focused on medical and technology research. Ms. Woods holds a BS in Animal Science from the University of California at Davis.

Bonnie Crater, Founder & Co-Chair of the Board of Directors

“I founded Bay Area Lyme Foundation with my friends to help end their suffering. I fundamentally believe we can stop this disease. With the right talent and entrepreneurial approach, we can find a cure for Lyme.”

Bonnie Crater co-founder and co-chair of Bay Area Lyme Foundation and former chair of the BAL science committee which drives the research agenda, champions innovation, and seeks partners to chart new paths in Lyme research. Bonnie is co-founder and board director of Center for Lyme Action, an advocacy group focused on growing federal funding for Lyme and tick-borne conditions. She is the former president and CEO of Full Circle Insights, a multi-time vice president of marketing in Silicon Valley and held executive positions at Oracle, Salesforce.com and Netscape. She currently serves on the board of the CB Wellness Foundation and on the Town of Portola Valley’s Nature and Science Committee. Ms. Crater holds an AB in Biology from Princeton University.

Susan Strehlow, Secretary, Board of Directors

“Watching friends struggle with the effects of Lyme disease has inspired me to take a part in an amazing organization that is truly making a difference in Lyme research. I am both honored and proud to have the opportunity to support the Bay Area Lyme Foundation in its mission to find new diagnostics and treatments for Lyme disease.”

Susan Strehlow joined the Bay Area Lyme Foundation in 2016 and serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors. She brings a background in finance, strategic planning, communication, process improvement, innovation, organizational development, team building and leadership. Her senior management roles in both Finance and Operations at Cisco Systems and Abbott Laboratories provide the team with experience in creating a collaborative team environment, policy development, critical thought leadership and is valued for her insight into management and business issues. She is also active in other non-profit organizations in the Bay Area and appreciates the opportunity to give back to her community. She lives in Portola Valley with her husband and daughter and enjoys hiking, running and spending time outdoors.

Advisory Board

Wendy Adams, Research Grant Director & Advisory Board Member

After suffering from undiagnosed Lyme disease for many years, I am passionate about the development of reliable diagnostics and improved treatment for this devastating disease. I now have the opportunity to marry my avocation with my professional experience in biotech and I am excited to do this through my work at Bay Area Lyme Foundation.

As Research Grant Director and member of the Advisory Board, she leads our research grant strategy. Wendy is also an active member of the Board of Directors for the Lyme Disease Biobank. Her unique perspective and knowledge as a former Lyme patient—as well as her background in product development and business strategy for companies like Cowen, Genentech and Aviron—make her skillset valuable to BAL. Wendy has spent over 20 years in the biotechnology field and most recently served as Chief Business Officer at Full Spectrum Genetics, Inc., an antibody engineering company pursuing programs in immuno-oncology and autoimmune disease. Previously, she ran B2DC LLC, a business development consultancy to biotech clients in infectious and autoimmune disease, therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines, oncology, drug delivery and neurology. Wendy holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley, where she also served on the faculty in Entrepreneurship, and an AB from Duke University. She served as a member or subcommittee member of the HHS Tick Borne Disease Working Group Federal Advisory Committee from 2017-2020 and currently serves as a Programmatic Reviewer for the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program in Tick-Borne Disease. She also serves on the Lyme Disease Advisory Committee for the California Department of Public Health.

Bernadette Clavier, Advisory Board Member

“Thanks to a thoughtful friend, my family’s Lyme story, unlike many, started with an immediate referral to an excellent Lyme-literate doctor. However, it took me too long to grow out of the traditional doctor-patient relationship and realize that we wouldn’t get better unless we took charge of our own health. As much as it’s uncomfortable to think that doctors don’t have all of the answers, it’s useful to embrace a warrior mindset. The community of Lyme patients deserves better. As the precursors in an epidemic that promises to grow much bigger with climate change and the onslaught of environmental stressors in our lives, we owe future generations to try and develop robust health infrastructures to address chronic illnesses broadly.”

Bernadette Clavier recently retired from her role as the Director of the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business to focus on advancing the cause of Lyme patients. While at the helm of the Center, which educates insightful leaders for social and environmental change, she led a profound transformation of its offering to meet the development needs of modern day impact leaders hoping to leverage markets for social good and to reform capitalism. She led the design, launch, and growth of a social enterprise incubation program, an impact investing fund, a mentorship program, traditional classroom curriculum, as well as a certification, an internship, and multiple fellowship programs. Before transitioning to academia, Clavier led a 10-year business career in procurement where she witnessed first hand the social, and environmental challenges of our global economy and developed an unwavering belief that purposeful leadership can change the world.

Brandi Dean, Advisory Board Member

“My personal experience as a young mother with Lyme disease has made me determined to make a positive difference in the lives of patients who suffer from these terrible, persistent tick-borne infections. I have been a passionate advocate for patients with Lyme disease since 2011 and most recently for children and adolescents with PANS and PANDAS. Bay Area Lyme is leading the way to fund vital research for diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of tick-borne illness. The foundation’s collaborative efforts highlight the need for continued advocacy, bringing together experts to continue down the path to education and visibility.”

In 2015, Brandi Dean founded the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Acting as an advisor and advocate, she joined hands with physicians and leadership at Spaulding Rehab to help open the first center embedded in a major academic medical institution focused on treating patients with chronic tick-borne illnesses. She continues to serve as an active Advisory Board member for the Dean Center for Tick-Borne Illness. Brandi also led Ride Out Lyme, a charity event she designed to raise financial grants for adults with tick-borne illnesses. The event was held annually at SoulCycle in Boston, NYC, and Los Angeles with expansion into other cities. She is also an active Board member of The Alex Manfull Fund, an organization supporting awareness, education, and research to further understand the incidence, etiology, and best treatment of post-infectious neuroimmune disorders. Prior to her work in the field of Lyme disease, Brandi’s professional life included a four-year tour of duty in the United States Coast Guard plus a decade of experience in leadership in the hospitality industry. She earned a degree in Business from Boston University.

Lia Gaertner, Advisory Board Member

“Tick-borne diseases are easy to contract from a tiny tick the size of a poppy seed, yet the diseases are disproportionately difficult to diagnose and cure. It is critical to bring together scientists, health providers, policy makers, and the public in collaboration towards the goal of improving diagnostic tools and effective treatment options for those who suffer from tick-borne illnesses.”

Lia Gaertner is a scientist who is passionate about cultivating better research and recognition for tick-borne illnesses. She has served on the Bay Area Lyme Foundation Science Committee and is the former Director of Education and Outreach. She experienced firsthand the obstacles to effective diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne illness when she was first bitten by a Lyme-carrying tick in 1998 but was misdiagnosed until 2008. Lia has over 30 years of international experience in scientific and field research, technical writing, teaching, and project management. She has also worked for several science and medical companies as a consultant, project manager, content producer, and affiliate relations director. Ms. Gaertner earned a Master of Translational Medicine degree from the joint UCSF-UC Berkeley bioengineering program, a Master of Science (Ethnobotany) from Cornell University, and a BS in Environmental Science (Ethnobotany and Agroecology) from UC Berkeley. She lives in the Bay Area with her Lyme-literate physician husband, Sunjya Schweig, MD, director of the California Center for Functional Medicine, and their two children (when they are home from college).

Joelle Grove, Advisory Board Member

“My family fell into despair when my father was diagnosed with ALS; my brother, however, pushed my father to be tested for Lyme disease after losing a mentor to the same misdiagnosis years prior. After paying for the testing out-of-pocket because the HMO refused to test him or acknowledge that Lyme existed in CA, my father was correctly diagnosed with Lyme disease. My father was practically paralyzed by the time that we arrived at the Lyme diagnosis, but he was subsequently treated by a doctor familiar with Lyme disease in Northern California who had experience treating Lyme patients. During his Lyme treatment, my dad managed to walk again and even began breathing without a ventilator. After two long years of treatment, my father eventually did pass away from complications of Lyme disease. About two years after my father passed away, we tested my mother, and she tested positive and has been in treatment since that time. We have watched my cousin and his entire family walk through years of treatment that has impacted them in so many ways. After this disease affected so many members of our family, we knew that we wanted to support the Lyme community in some way. Being involved with the Bay Area Lyme Foundation has brought meaning to the suffering that not only my father endured, but also my mother, cousin, his wife, and their children. I’ve had the privilege of supporting BAL through fundraisers and awareness campaigns such as LymeAid, Walk for Lyme San Diego, and Ride Out Lyme California. Our entire family has met the BAL team and they have been our inspiration since 2015. We all support their efforts to make Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure.”

Heather Hearst, Advisory Board Member

“Wouldn’t it be nice if you went to the doctor with symptoms of Lyme Disease or another Tick-Borne Illness and you felt confident that you would get a proper diagnosis and the treatment you need right away? Time is critical in curing these diseases and we need our docs to get it right the first time. I’m working with Bay Area Lyme because I believe they are on the path to solving the diagnostic, therapeutic and patient challenges of tick-borne disease.”

Heather Hearst founded Hearst Project Lyme in 2015, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating awareness and education for Lyme disease on a national and global scale. Project Lyme is a global awareness organization dedicated to making Lyme disease a household name and tick prevention commonplace.

Richard Horowitz, MD, Advisory Board Member

Dr. Richard Horowitz is a board certified internist in private practice in Hyde Park, N.Y. He is medical director of the Hudson Valley Healing Arts Center, an integrative medical center which combines both classical and complementary approaches in the treatment of Lyme Disease and other tick-borne disorders. He has treated over 12,000 Chronic Lyme disease patients in the last 29 years, with patients coming from all over the US, Canada, and Europe to his clinic.

He is former Assistant Director of Medicine of Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and is one of the founding members and past president elect of ILADS, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society. He is also past president of the ILADEF, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education of health care professionals on tick-borne diseases. He was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year award by the Turn the Corner Foundation for his treatment of Lyme Disease, and has dedicated his life to helping those stricken with this devastating illness. His book “Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease” was released through St Martin’s press, November 2013, which explains his full classical and integrative approach to helping those stricken with tick borne diseases and resistant chronic illness. In addition, Dr. Horowitz’s new book “How Can I Get Better? An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme and Chronic Disease” was released from St Martin’s Press in 2017. In September 2023, he announced the publication of his new article on chronic Lyme disease and associated co-infections including Bartonella. in the Journal Microorganisms.

Charlotte Mao, MD, Advisory Board Member & Science Team Member

Charlotte Mao, MD MPH is a pediatric infectious diseases physician whose area of clinical focus is Lyme disease and associated infections. She graduated from Harvard Medical School and completed her pediatric residency and pediatric ID fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital. Her prior area of subspecialty during 25 years at Boston Children’s Hospital was pediatric HIV clinical care and clinical research. She turned her focus to Lyme disease and associated infections on gaining extensive clinical experience with pediatric Lyme disease in the referral ID clinic there. Later joining the Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Massachusetts General Hospital, she provided consultative pediatric ID specialty care in a multidisciplinary clinic for children with complex Lyme disease and associated infections at the Dean Center for Tickborne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She is Curriculum Director for Invisible International’s online accredited physician education initiative that focuses on vector-borne and environmental illness. Click here to read her published paper entitled Microbes and Mental Illness: Past, Present, and Future.

Carolyn Margiotti, Advisory Board Member

“After getting sicker than I’ve ever been, with symptoms I couldn’t describe, I connected the dots to this thing called Lyme. Late at night from a business trip, I called my doctor for a test. After being refused, I started down the long path that so many Lyme sufferers travel. And like many, I’m no couch potato. Having competed in Ironman triathlons for years, I knew my body well and knew something was very wrong. Previously feeling pain or overtired was welcomed, to be pushed through for strength or speed. But I learned a new word, fatigue, an entirely different state that saps strength and is not meant to be ignored. It is a sign your body is being attacked. Still fighting the disease, but determined to find a solution, I sought out an organization to support that could eliminate this awful disease. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation is intelligent, targeted and on the path towards what is needed—accurate diagnostics, effective treatments and a cure.”

Carolyn Margiotti, CFA, is a member of the Portfolio Research team at asset management firm Boston Partners Global Investors. She also manages a number of the firm’s key relationships and serves on the Proxy Voting Committee. Carolyn holds a B.S. degree from Purdue University and an M.B.A. from the University of San Francisco. She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, an instructor for the CFA review program and a member of the Financial Women of San Francisco. Carolyn holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, FINRA licenses 7 and 63, and has over 20 years of investment experience. She lives in Marin County with her family.

Gib Myers, Advisory Board Member

“Our youngest son went four years with undiagnosed Lyme and then another four years recovering. Thankfully, he is in good shape now. My wife Susan and I crisscrossed the country looking for both a diagnosis and a cure. We are very familiar with how devastating the disease is and are excited to think that the Bay Area Lyme Foundation can make a difference.”

Gib Myers was a general partner at Mayfield Fund, a venture capital partnership, from 1970 until his retirement in 1998. Prior to joining Mayfield, Gib worked for Hewlett-Packard for four years in computer systems. Gib is the founder of the Entrepreneurs Foundation, a Bay Area nonprofit with the mission of developing corporate citizenship and philanthropic efforts to benefit the community. Gib is also Vice-Chairman of American Prairie Reserve, which has the mission of assembling the largest wildlife reserve in the lower 48 states, an American Serengeti. Gib is a co-founder of the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Previously, he was a member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Board, on the President’s Leadership Council of Dartmouth College, and a senior fellow and board member of the American Leadership Forum. Mr. Myers earned an AB degree in Engineering Science from Dartmouth College in 1964 and a MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1966. Gib and his wife, Susan Myers, live in the San Francisco Bay Area, have two sons and a daughter and three grandchildren.

Susan Myers, Advisory Board Member

Our youngest son suffered with Lyme disease for eight years before getting well. I wish to work with others to make a difference in this devastating disease, so less people suffer from Lyme the way my son did. I am especially committed to supporting research that will create better diagnostic tools for Lyme disease.

Susan Myers serves on the board of the American Prairie Reserve, whose mission is to establish a three-million acre wildlife reserve on the high plains of Montana. The reserve some day will rival the African Serengeti. She is also a member of Impact Partners, a social interest film fund that invests in documentary films that will have a social impact. Susan and her husband, Gib Myers, live in the San Francisco Bay Area, have two sons and a daughter, and three grandchildren.

Kathleen O’Rourke, Advisory Board Member

“In a state of deteriorating health for many years, I had no inkling of the cause until my son contracted an acute presentation of Lyme disease. Even with a known tick bite, it took months to find a doctor who ran the proper clinical tests to make his diagnosis. With that diagnosis and new knowledge, I discovered the cause of my own more chronic presentation of symptoms. The status of Lyme disease as an unspecified illness in the medical community is cause for alarm. I helped found Bay Area Lyme Foundation to find a cure and to remediate the lack of proper education around the issues of Lyme prevention, diagnosis and early treatment.”

Kathleen O’Rourke brings a unique combination of marketing, science, and design expertise to Bay Area Lyme Foundation along with the experience of growing and managing a small business. She has worked at Oracle Corporation in product marketing, developed a design consulting business serving the California Bay Area, and founded Culinary Alchemy Inc., a gourmet food company located in Silicon Valley, CA. She also brings the dual perspective of a Lyme patient and a parent of a child with Lyme. Ms. O’Rourke holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University.

Dana Parish, Advisory Board Member

Dana Parish is a NYC-based SonyATV singer/ songwriter known for her powerful voice and emotional delivery. Parish’s first single, “Not My Problem”, from her debut album Uncrushed, charted at #23 on Billboard, and she soon became one of the highest-charting independent artists ever. This led to several appearances on major talk shows, including The CBS Morning Show, Good Morning America, and KTLA. An in-demand songwriter, Parish penned two songs (Thankful and Always be Your Girl) on the most recent Celine Dion album and had the #1 song in China with “Someday I’ll Fly” by G.E.M. Her song “Broken Ones” performed by Jacquie Lee, The Voice Season 5 finalist, was a chart success. She is now working on the albums of superstars. While still fully engaged in her music career, Dana has become an advocate and champion for those suffering with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. In May 2016, she performed “Pull You Through” at LymeAid, Bay Area Lyme’s annual fundraiser, helping to raise more than $815,000 to fund research for Lyme disease. Read her Lyme Disease Story here.

Kirsten Stein, Advisory Board Member

“Like many other Lyme patients, I suffered for several years from the life-altering mental and physical symptoms of Lyme disease and co-infections. It took 15 doctors and two-and-half years before I was finally diagnosed with four CDC positive tick-borne diseases. During my time of despair, I discovered the Bay Area Lyme foundation – their mission to develop reliable testing and find a cure gave me the hope I needed to keep fighting. I am honored to partner with them.”

In 2010, Kirsten Stein was stopped in her tracks by Lyme disease and several co-infections. Her life trajectory suddenly changed, a once active lifestyle of Crossfit, mtn biking and skiing became intolerable and neurological Lyme forced her to abandon plans for her master’s degree. Ten years since the onset of symptoms and now in remission, Kirsten is on a mission to support those who battle the disease and to protect the next generation from this debilitating illness. Harnessing her experience as the president of her organizing and design company, her extensive training in non-profit leadership and her political science degree, she is working hard to educate others about tick-borne diseases. She speaks publicly about her struggle with Lyme disease at events, with mainstream media and social media outlets. In addition to her advocacy, she consults newly diagnosed Lyme patients on where to find treatment and how to navigate their own road to recovery. Committed to improving the quality of life for people with Lyme, she has set her sights on educating doctors and insurance companies to support those afflicted with chronic Lyme disease. Kirsten lives in Marin County with her husband and two teenage children.

Executive Director

Linda Giampa

“It’s simple: I want to help. Several of my family members and friends have suffered with Lyme. Working with Bay Area Lyme Foundation puts me on the front line in the search for an accurate diagnosis and the battle for a cure. I’m thrilled to take my executive experience and apply it to a worthwhile cause, and truly make a difference in someone’s life.”

Drawing on the skills and know-how developed in the high-tech industry, Linda has brought the practice of responsibility and accountability to the foundation and its donors. Since joining the foundation in 2013, Linda’s leadership skills have solidified Bay Area Lyme as the premier public charity supporting tick-borne disease research, awareness and prevention in the US. Before devoting herself to philanthropy, Linda spent 25 years in high tech, beginning with eight years at Oracle, followed by executive leadership positions, including CEO, in a number of successful software start-up companies. Those companies include Pure Software (IBM), Optimal Networks (Compuware), Ejasent (Symantec) and Versata. Linda currently sits on the board of Lyme Disease Biobank, and the Advisory Boards of Center for Lyme Action, LiveOn.org, Project Lyme.

Staff

Jo Ellis, Director of Education

I know too many people whose lives have been derailed by Lyme. I love the outdoors and the stunning beauty of the Bay Area, but it is imperative that we are all informed and safe when we are outside in nature. I want to help educate everyone about this insidious disease so we can prevent more cases occurring.

Jo Ellis has over 20 years of experience developing and marketing educational programming for schools, nonprofits, and corporations. A native of the UK, Jo was Product Development Executive for BBC Education & Training, developing award-winning educational programs distributed worldwide. Here in the US, Jo worked as Director of Executive Education at Stanford and then for Charles Schwab, launching “Schwab U,” the company’s internal management education provider. When Jo started a family, she went back to school and got her Montessori teaching qualification. She received her BA/MA from Cambridge University, and a post-graduate high-school teaching certification from the University of London. Jo holds the AMI middle school teaching certification, and is a nationally recognized gifted and talented educator with Johns Hopkins University.

Katariina Tuovinen, Scientific Project Manager

“It is an honor to be part of an organization that is taking an innovative approach towards developing better diagnostics and treatment for Lyme. After seeing close friends suffer from the disease, I am inspired to help support the amazing work of Bay Area Lyme Foundation.”

Katariina Tuovinen uses her project management skills to help to support the work of the Science Committee and our grant recipients. She has over ten years of experience in public service management including at Yosemite National Park and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Katariina has worked on natural resource management issues in the United States and South Asia, and she also has private sector experience working on international business management strategies. Katariina has a B.S. in Natural Resources from Cornell University, an M.A. in International and Area Studies and an M.S. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of California at Berkeley, and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. In her free time, Katariina enjoys camping, kayaking, hiking, traveling and spending time outside with her husband, two young children, and their golden retriever.

Katie Wiederholt, Development Programs Manager

“I’ve spent most of my life checking for ticks—after playing in the woods as a child, hiking with my boys, mountain biking on dirt trails and playing golf (poorly, so frequently in the bushes). Understanding the immense risks of tick borne diseases made me eager to assist this fabulous organization.”

Katie leverages her corporate sales experience to obtain funding for Bay Area Lyme Foundation. Working with corporations for employee matching, grants and sponsorship opportunities, she keeps her eye on the revenue needed to fund our research projects. Katie’s career in finding, nurturing and closing large deals for Silicon Valley start-up organizations makes her a welcome addition to the team. She has a BS degree in Mathematics from University of California Santa Barbara.

Wendy Adams, Research Grant Director & Advisory Board Member

“After suffering from undiagnosed Lyme disease for many years, I am passionate about the development of reliable diagnostics and improved treatment for this devastating disease. I now have the opportunity to marry my avocation with my professional experience in biotech and I am excited to do this through my work at Bay Area Lyme Foundation.”

Wendy Adams provides strategic research advice and helps identify, vet, and manage our research opportunities. She is Research Grant Director at Bay Area Lyme Foundation. Her unique perspective and knowledge as a Lyme patient—as well as her background in finance and business development for companies like Cowen & Company, Aviron and Affymax—make her a great addition to Bay Area Lyme Foundation. Wendy runs B2DC LLC, a business development consultancy to biotech clients in infectious and autoimmune disease, respiratory disease, oncology, drug delivery and neurology. Previously, Wendy served as Vice President of Business Development at Principia Biopharma, a drug development company focused on cancer and autoimmune disease. Wendy holds an MBA from the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley, where she also served on the faculty in Entrepreneurship, and an AB in Comparative Area Studies from Duke University.