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Executive Team & Board of Directors
Andrew B. Wigglesworth
President & CEO
Mr. Wigglesworth has over 20 years of extensive experience in the health care field in the non-profit, for profit and public sectors. He brings to the MedicAlert Foundation a strong commitment to enhance the Foundation’s role and mission as an advocate for individuals and families navigating today’s complex health care system particularly in emergencies.
Prior to joining the MedicAlert Foundation, Mr. Wigglesworth was a Partner at TRG Healthcare LLC where he worked with hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations on strategic planning, governance, policy development, financial solutions, crisis communications, government relations, operational improvement and new business development.
Previously Mr. Wigglesworth served for 12 years as CEO of the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council representing more than 150 hospitals and health systems in the tri-state greater Philadelphia area. In addition, he created and led the Health Care Improvement Foundation, a 501 c 3 charitable organization, that is focused on innovative patient safety/quality assurance initiatives, including a medication safety program for hospitals named by JCAHO as one of the top five large scale collaboratives in the country.
He was the founding CEO of Philadelphia International Medicine LLC a joint venture of eight leading hospitals to enhance their presence and business opportunities in the international health care market. Mr. Wigglesworth also was Senior Vice President of the Maryland Hospital Association, and top policy advisor to the Governor of Maryland for health care and health insurance policy issues.
Shilpun Patel
Chief Financial Officer
Shilpun joined MedicAlert Foundation in March 2009 as CFO. He brings over 20 years of leadership experience in Finance and Accounting working in the Printing, Publishing and Medical Diagnostics industries.
Previously, Shilpun was the Division Controller at Quebecor World in Merced, CA. Quebecor has a manufacturing facility printing magazines, phone directories, and catalogs employing over 700. Shilpun’s experience also includes working at R.R. Donnelley & Sons, Macmillan Publishing and Roche Diagnostics.
Shilpun is a member of Financial Executives International, has a MBA from University of Wisconsin, and is a CPA.
Ramesh Srinivasan
Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Business Development
Ramesh is directly responsible for driving new strategic business alliances with major nonprofit associations, foundations, membership-based organizations, health insurance companies, hospital systems, and leading corporations in technology and retail industry. As the key liaison to the international affiliates, Ramesh provides marketing and business development support to the Foundation’s international operations.
Since joining MedicAlert Foundation in 2002, Ramesh has focused on evangelizing MedicAlert’s emergency medical record and emergency information service. In 2003, Ramesh led the development and implementation of the Foundation's subject safety service identification model targeted at providing enhanced safety services for clinical trial participants.
Ramesh has more than 20 years of strategic marketing and business development experience. Prior to joining MedicAlert Foundation, Ramesh held key positions at several start-ups where he managed national product launches that provided web-based solutions for nonprofits, educational institutions, small business, and government. Ramesh has delivered several presentations addressing healthcare, technology, and economic development at national conferences including the National Managed Healthcare Congress, Center for Aging Services and Technology, Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, and at Annual White House Conferences.
Ramesh is an active participant in the consumer access workgroup of the Markle Foundation for increasing Privacy and Consumer Control over Personal Health Records. Ramesh has also contributed to the guidance document sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the protection of at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic. Ramesh has an MBA from Texas and a BS in Mathematics from India.
Melody Howard
Vice President of Call Center Operations
As Vice President of Call Center Operations, Melody is accountable for defining and delivering the sales and service experience through 65 call center specialists supporting over 2.3 million members in the United States. As the senior member of the customer operations team, she oversees customer service and emergency response support for the Foundation. She is responsible for MedicAlert's medical verification program as well as the quality assurance group. With over 20 years of experience at MedicAlert Foundation, she ensures a high degree of member satisfaction.
Mary Dean
Chair, MedicAlert Foundation International, Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer (Retired)
Mary Dean is a nationally respected advocate for children, having dedicated her career to improving the lives of young people through work in the healthcare, education and legal sectors. Mary is a visionary leader, focused on achieving results. Most recently, Mary was the Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer at the Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland where she was responsible for strategic planning, marketing, communications, public affairs and government relations. Mary’s former appointments include serving as Senior Vice President at Children’s Hospital Central California in Fresno, Associate Commissioner of Education in the Kentucky Department of Education, Dean of Administration and Development at the San Joaquin College of Law in Fresno and as a Director of Student Life at the University Hartford in Hartford, Connecticut. She is a former member of Leadership California and currently serves on the Board of The Ethnic Health Institute in Oakland. Mary received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Thomas A. Levin
Vice Chairman, MedicAlert Foundation International, Principal, Exceleration China
Tom has over 30 years of business leadership experience in healthcare. He works with a variety of health care organizations including biotechnology and healthcare information management. He recently spent 9 months as interim CEO of the California Health Collaborative, a health education and services organization helping people with limited access to health resources in the central valley of California. His career includes chief executive officer of managed care organizations, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
He is an active player in developing health policy at the national and regional levels, and an innovator in developing consumer healthcare products. He is highly respected for his insight and vision in solving complex healthcare issues, and for his ability to take on challenging circumstances and achieving exceptional results. He is currently a principal in Exceleration China, an investment management and client support company doing business in China.
Exceleration China, established in 2008, is a joint venture company with the city of Shanghai to bring renewable energy and cleantech solutions to China. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence, the Center for Biophotonics, Science, and Technology. Tom has served on numerous and diverse boards of directors. He was the first person recognized for work in civil rights and race relations by the University of Alabama in 1968. He has a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina.
Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., Ph.D., CAE
Treasurer, MedicAlert Foundation International, President, CCR & Associates
Colin C. Rorrie, Jr., Ph.D., CAE, formed CCR & Associates after twenty-six years in association management. He worked for the American College of Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians (“ACEP”) and Meeting Professionals International (“MPI”). He was CEO of ACEP and MPI. Colin has been an active volunteer leader serving as chair of the American Society of Association Executives, the ASAE Foundation, the American Association of Medical Society Executives, and MedicAlert International.
Claudia R. Adkison, J.D., Ph. D.
Secretary, MedicAlert Foundation International, Executive Associate Dean / Administration and Faculty Affairs and Professor of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine
Dr. Adkison rejoined Emory’s School of Medicine as Executive Associate Dean / Administration and Faculty Affairs in 1995. She functions as Chief Operating Officer, academic affairs facilitator, and faculty dean in the medical school. Prior to her present position, Dr. Adkison was a faculty member in Emory School of Medicine for many years. During the end of that period, she acquired a law degree that led her to leave Emory to practice law as an intellectual property attorney; as a copyright litigator; and also as a health care lawyer, in the international law firm Kilpatrick & Stockton. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the U.S. Patent and Trademark bar, in addition to numerous medical school, university, and professional society committees. Dr. Adkison received her Ph.D. degree from Tulane University and completed postdoctoral fellowship training in cell biophysics at Baylor College of Medicine. She was the first national chair of the new AAMC Forum on Conflict of Interest.
Maurice Q. Bectel, DSC
Former President & CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association Foundation
Dr. Bectel received his professional degree in pharmacy from Ferris State University in 1960 and an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1992. He served as Chairman of the American Pharmaceutical Association from 1982 and 1983 and as interim President and CEO in 1983 and 1984. In 1985, Dr. Bectel joined the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association Foundation as President and CEO. During his tenure at PhRMA he initiated and funded numerous research support programs for young students and faculty at numerous schools of medicine and pharmacy until retirement in 1997. Dr. Bectel joined the MedicAlert Board of Directors in 1995 and served as its Vice Chairman in 1997 and Chairman from 1998 through 2000.
Margaret Gradison, M.D., HHS-CL
Family Physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University Medical Center
Maggie Gradison is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Family Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. She has been involved in several activities during her career including clinical practice, education, administration, and research. She is currently the Medical Director for the Duke Physician Assistant Program. She has lectured and published on a variety of medical and health care topics. She has been involved with multiple research projects, most recently in women’s health, integrative approaches to oncology, and healthcare workforce concerns. She did her undergraduate work at Brown University and received her medical degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Gradison completed her internship and residency in Family Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and was in private practice as well as Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado, Department of Family Medicine. Before coming to Duke, she was Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Dr. Gradison received a Master in Health Science in Clinical Leadership in 2006 from Duke University, and completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in 2008.
Robert C. Johnson, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean and Adjunct Professor at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy, Glendale Arizona. President of R.C. Johnson Associates.
Robert C. Johnson received both a B.Sc. & M.S. degree from Wayne State University and an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Pacific. His career includes managing a community Pharmacy in Trenton MI 1959-60, CEO Michigan Pharmacists Assn. 1961-69, CEO California Pharmacist Association 1969-90, Chairman, President & CEO PCS Health Systems and Corporate Vice-President McKesson Inc. 1990-95. He currently serves as Assistant Dean and Professor Midwestern University College of Pharmacy Glendale, AZ. He is a Past President of the American Pharmacist Association and Remington Medalist.
Leonard R. Kelsey
Chairman and CEO of British Columbia Utilities Commission
Len is currently Chair and CEO of British Columbia Utilities Commission and has held a number of executive positions with the British Columbia Automobile Association. Len is active in the volunteer community. He served as Public Administrator and Board Chair of the North Shore Health Region, Board Chair of Lions Gate Hospital and is currently a Board member of the MedicAlert Foundation International. Len is also past Chair of the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation.
Allan Schurr
Vice President, Strategy and Development, IBM Global Energy and Utilities
Allan Schurr is responsible for IBM’s energy and utilities strategy worldwide. Schurr leads IBM’s work with partners, policy makers, and IBM services and technologies focused on solutions in customer management, advanced metering infrastructure, work & asset management, and distributed energy. Schurr is a frequent industry speaker and a 25-year veteran of the energy industry previously holding management positions at Itron, Silicon Energy, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Company, and at PG&E Energy Services. Schurr received his Bachelors in mechanical engineering from University of California, Davis and his Masters from St. Mary’s College. He is a registered engineer in the State of California.
Calvin Bland
Research Professor and Director, New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI) Program
Calvin Bland, M.S., research professor and director, serves as the program director of the New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI), a statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He previously served as chief of staff and special advisor to the president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Bland came to the Foundation in 2000 after a distinguished career as president and CEO of St.Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. During his 22-year tenure at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children (1977-1999), he oversaw major initiatives that attracted top-flight academic and clinical staff to provide services to the children of the Greater Philadelphia community and beyond.
Bland currently serves on the board of directors of the African-American Museum of Philadelphia. He is a past member of the boards of Health Partners of Philadelphia, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences and several other boards of nonprofit agencies and institutions. A diplomat of the American College of Health Care Executives, he has chaired the boards of trustees of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (its public policy affiliate), and the advisory board of the Foundation’s New Jersey Health Initiatives Program. He has served on numerous medical and health-related committees in New Jersey and Philadelphia.
Calvin Bland received an M.S. in administrative medicine (hospital administration) at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University and a B.S. in economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
On a Global Mission to Protect and Save Lives
The people who guide MedicAlert Foundation on its global mission to protect and save lives are diverse in background, yet unified in purpose - to ensure that all MedicAlert members worldwide receive a consistently high level of service and protection. All board members of the MedicAlert Foundation are volunteers. Whether from the emergency medical field, the business world, or the nonprofit arena, each embodies a total commitment to excellence, which is reflected in their actions on behalf of the Foundation.
