Our Leadership & Staff

Location: West Linn, OR

Background: Mike started off on a traditional academic career path in the field of biomedical engineering. He earned a master’s from Northwestern, a PhD from the University of Washington, and spent time teaching community college biology along the way. In 2014 he left a postdoctoral research position at OHSU for a role at the National Psoriasis Foundation where he found his home doing mission-focused, nonprofit work. In 2018, he left NPF as their Senior VP of Research and Clinical Affairs for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at PeDRA where he’s been ever since.

Current Role: As PeDRA’s Executive Director, Mike gets to have his hands in all the different pies being baked by the organization, including its centralized research infrastructure, grants and fellowships, educational programs, membership programs, communications, and events. He spends a significant portion of his time working with external partners spanning patient advocacy, industry, and academia who share an interest in PeDRA’s mission and vision. He also spends time on fundraising and manages the business aspects of PeDRA while working closely with the PeDRA Board of Directors to strategically shape PeDRA’s future. But probably the most important thing he does is work to cultivate a positive and productive work environment for PeDRA’s amazing team of employees.

Fun Facts: Mike likes running, hiking, baseball, and building stuff. He’s also a sucker for karaoke and any choreographed line dance he can jump in with or without knowing the moves.

Hope for PeDRA’s Future: It’s a common nonprofit mantra, but his dream is that PeDRA will become obsolete (while the PeDRA team are all gainfully employed elsewhere or happily retired, of course!). But in his version of the future, childhood skin diseases and conditions will be predicted, treated, prevented, and cured. Meanwhile, any research needs will be adequately supported by institutions, agencies, and companies with more resources and authority than PeDRA could ever dream of.

Jenn Dawson brings more than 15 years of mission-based nonprofit experience to her role overseeing PeDRA’s education and podcast activities. Jenn specializes in program development and works closely with key stakeholders to make sure the educational needs of members are being met.

Location: Chattanooga, TN

Background: Caitlin joined PeDRA in 2022, bringing more than ten years of experience in strategic communications, event planning, and academic administration. Before joining PeDRA, she worked at universities and research institutions including Harvard Medical School, Vanderbilt University, and Cornell University. Her work has spanned academic advising, program accreditation, student engagement, and postdoctoral program administration, giving her experience collaborating with students, researchers, clinicians, healthcare professionals, and staff across a range of fields. Caitlin holds a master’s degree in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in education, from the University at Buffalo.

Current Role: In her role at PeDRA, Caitlin leads strategic communications and membership initiatives that strengthen the community and raise awareness of PeDRA’s resources and programs. Her work includes managing the website, sharing news and stories across the organization’s communications channels, and supporting development efforts, including the Dash for Discovery fun run and end-of-year giving campaign. She enjoys wearing many hats and collaborating with staff and the greater PeDRA community to promote educational programs, including the PeDRA Pearls Podcast, as well as funding opportunities, events, and member engagement. Through this work, Caitlin aims to celebrate community achievements and expand PeDRA’s impact across research, health, and education in support of its mission.

Fun Facts: Outside of work, you’ll likely find her outdoors, walking, playing tennis (or her newest sport, padel), biking around town with her family, or dabbling in a yard project. She also loves exploring new cities, seeing live music, trying new restaurants, and getting lost in a good book.

Hope for PeDRA’s Future: Looking ahead, Caitlin hopes PeDRA will continue advancing research that brings hope to children and families affected by skin conditions, regardless of how rare a condition is or the barriers they face in accessing care and treatment.

David joined PeDRA in 2019 following more than 15 years of nonprofit development and fundraising experience. David’s experience and commitment to serving children in need will help PeDRA with the growing field of pediatric dermatology.

Katherine joined PeDRA in 2017 following more than five years as a clinical research coordinator for the Medical College of Wisconsin. Katherine’s knowledge and attention to detail help in her role supporting PeDRA’s many grant programs, committees, and research initiatives including Focused Study Groups and ongoing research studies.

Sherry Baluch brings a unique blend of clinical and technical experience to PeDRA. She attended medical school before earning a Master’s in Computer Science and transitioning into healthcare technology. In a previous role as a Technical Project Manager, she led strategic modernization initiatives to improve lab operations and data systems. Sherry is passionate about supporting PeDRA’s mission to advance collaborative research that improves the lives of children with skin disease.

Location: Atlanta, GA

Background: Eunice joined PeDRA in 2023 as the organization’s first intern. Prior to joining PeDRA, she developed a strong background in chemistry, earning her Master’s degree in chemistry from Georgia State University, along with gaining experience in research, healthcare, and organizational operations. With these interdisciplinary experiences, she brings a unique perspective and diverse skill set to her role at PeDRA.

Current Role: As PeDRA’s Membership and Operations Coordinator, Eunice oversees membership onboarding, renewals, and engagement while supporting the organization’s daily operations. She also assists with conference planning and registration, financial processes, database management, and administrative coordination to ensure a positive experience for PeDRA’s members and the greater community.

Fun Facts: Outside of work, Eunice loves traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. She also has a love for fashion and enjoys expressing her creativity through personal style.

Hope for PeDRA’s Future: Eunice hopes to see PeDRA continue growing as a collaborative research community, expanding its membership, and creating more opportunities for researchers at every career stage.

Amy Buros Stein is an expert in a variety of advanced statistical analyses and has contributed to more than 60 peer-reviewed publications in clinical, epidemiological, and basic science research. Dr. Stein provides centralized statistical support to PeDRA Members working on PeDRA Studies.

Location: Gainesville, FL

Background: Delaney is an MD-PhD student at the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he is pursuing a PhD in Epidemiology. He is an NIH NIAMS F30 Predoctoral Fellow and earned his BS in Human Biology, Health, and Society with Honors in Research from Cornell University. His research interests include dermato-epidemiology, data science, and patient-centered outcomes in pediatric and complex medical dermatology.

Current Role: As a PeDRA Research Fellow, Delaney supports research infrastructure, grant and fellowship programming, and efforts to evaluate the impact of PeDRA’s research and trainee initiatives. He enjoys working with PeDRA’s members and staff to strengthen research collaborations and create opportunities for the next generation of pediatric dermatology researchers.

Fun Facts: Outside of research, Delaney enjoys CrossFit, teaching yoga-inspired circuit training, playing musical instruments, trying new places to eat, and spending time with his dogs and cats.

Hope for PeDRA’s Future: Delaney hopes PeDRA continues to grow as a collaborative community where researchers at every career stage can connect, learn from one another, and pursue meaningful research. He’s excited about expanding opportunities for trainees, fostering collaborations across institutions, and helping ensure that research reflects the priorities of children with skin disease and their families.

Mitch Hanson is a pediatrics resident at Mass General for Children and graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, where he earned both his MD and MPH. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies with interests in pediatric dermatology, health equity, skin of color, quality improvement, LGBTQ+ health, and medical media. As PeDRA Education Fellow, he supports educational programming, podcasts, student outreach, and community building efforts within pediatric dermatology.