Meet our volunteers

Local Volunteers :

Andrew Tinklepaugh, Treasurer
Atsuko Itakura - Ito, Volunteer Coordination
Clarissa Rodriguez, Office mgmt
Lawrence Wolf, Tech. advisor
Pallavi Shete, Web developer
Samantha Scolamiero, Director

Our Albert Schweitzer Fellow:

Kevin Fairley, Graduate Student in Nursing

MIT Braintrust Student Group

Mariana Recalde
Ann Punnoose

Interns

Katrina Lust, MIT Cog-science
Martine Lamy, MIT Cog-science

Online Volunteers :

Alan Bawden, Postmaster
Allie Gillies, Volunteer
Chris Owen, Web administrator
Dona Ross, Co-ordinator
Henri Neethling, BRAINTMR List
Jeannine Walston, NABTC liaison
John Barry Leonard, BRAINTMR List
Kathleen B. McCarthy,Promotion
Mary Lowe, Community leader
Matthew K. Fullerton, Marketing
Sandy Barnes, BRAINTMR List

Online Support Facilitators :

Barbara Jacobs, CranioKids
David McCorkle,
Craniopharyngioma
Florian Kerbl, Oligodendroglioma
Jill Dombrowski, DNET
Kelli Lefebre, Bthealthykids
Ilene Lewis, Adult Ependymoma
Mary Lynn Bower, JPA
Nancy Conn-Levin, Meningioma
Sandra Norton, Btcaregivers
Toni Levinson, Dnet

Past Volunteers

Andrew Tinklepaugh, CPA has a Master of Science degree in Accounting from Bentley College and a BA in Economics from Clark University. He operates his own accounting practice in Lexington, MA specializing in income tax preparation. He became Treasurer of The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST after volunteering for several months. He donates a significant amount of time to the organization. Andrew will be the first to point out that unlike the cartoon accountant at the right he doesn't wear a tie! He says, "I like applying my accounting experience to help a good cause and I enjoy volunteering with pleasant people during my slow business period. I have learned from Samantha’s example how people with disabilities approach life and how they can overcome obstacles. I appreciate that she keeps a positive attitude after what she has been through." Email address : Andrew@braintrust.org
Pallavi Shete has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bombay University, India. She has been working as a computer software professional for the past four years. She is working as ‘Web developer’ with The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST. She says "As a volunteer, I am enjoying working with T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST because it gives me satisfaction and fulfillment than a regular job might provide. My computer skills are getting utilized to help people across the world having life-threatening medical problem like brain tumor. We have many ideas about how we could make this web-site more user friendly and we have been working towards it."
Samantha Scolamiero founded the BRAINTMR mailing list at MIT because there were not many online resources for brain tumor patients in the early 1990s when she was diagnosed with a cyst in her brain. Also, she found most face-to-face support groups were too disease oriented.  One group would not admit her because she didn’t have cancer. Others were run more like lectures than support groups; others were difficult to get to. Since she shares many common experiences with acquired brain injury survivors, she founded The Healing Exchange BRAIN TRUST to serve people with a variety of brain abnormalities. “Going thru brain surgery and the aftermath is a terrifying and bewildering experience, but there are unexpected blessings. I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world as a result of this ordeal. Some of their faces are on these pages.”
Lawrence Wolf, BS, MBA has worked professionally in the computer field since 1992 when he graduated with a degree in computer science. Originally programming insurance software, his technical skills evolved to include database and system administration, as well as hardware configuration. Most recently he has moved into a system analyst role, utilizing his technical knowledge and business skills, which he acquired both on the job through MBA coursework. Lawrence became involved with T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST in 1999, enhancing the database and providing technical support on an as-needed basis. Why? "I feel that giving to the community is important,and volunteering is a great way to do that. And everyone at BRAIN TRUST is fantastic to work with !"
Allie Gillies recently married, so with her busy schedule working as assistant to the principal at an elementary school and "the joy of home ownership" she volunteers online. "I encourage my friends to make purchases via BRAIN TRUST's Amazon.com lin and it seems to be working.I began volunteering for BRAINTMR events even before THE BRAIN TRUST was founded. I give credit for the organization's success to my sister Samantha. She is tenacious and never gives up. Running a non-profit organization with all volunteers seems impossible. She does it with grace personified. If anyone deserves to have good volunteers and funding it's THE BRAIN TRUST -- an organization that I know first hand can truely help brain tumor survivors and their families.
Kathleen B. McCarthy RN is an eight-year survivor of a rare brain tumor -- dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNET) -- which was misdiagnosed for over fifteen years. Kathleen uses her background in nursing to assist patients withself-advocacy. Since her surgery in 1994 she has been unable to practice in the hospital setting, so she uses her nursing expertise as a national patient advocate by communicating online, publishing articles on her story and speaking publicly. Kathleen has been an active participant on the BRAINTMR list and has effectively volunteered for T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST longer than it has officially existed! Before nursing she studied film, theater, and public relations. She recently finished an autobiographical screenplay, which she plans to stage to raise awareness about brain tumors and encourage patient advocacy. She organized a comedy night fundraiser for the BRAIN TRUST in 2001 and says “I’d love to bring my play "The Rainbow's End" to Boston as fundraiser for Braintrust.org !”
Mariana Recalde is a freshman at MIT, most recently from Miami, FL but she has also lived in Cordoba, Argentina, and Budapest, Hungary. "What brings me to T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST is my desire to become a neurosurgeon. I feel that by being exposed to an organization like this, I can learn what it is I need to do to be helpful, kind, and give my future patients hope and strength." She attended the Together in Hope conference in   Tampa, FL in January 2002 after which she wrote a fantastic article about her experience!
Matthew K. Fullerton, Marketing  is a fourteen-year survivor of a glioblastoma multiforme, diagnosed in 1987, at age 17. After successful treatment at UCSF, Matthew completed his B.B.A. in 1993.Matthew has used his diagnosis to help other patients; facilitate a support group; write a resource guide; & advocate for other survivors. A member of the BRAINTMR list since 1995, Matthew has most recently focused his efforts on using his marketing expertise to help raise funds for THE BRAIN TRUST. “It is sometimes more difficult to be a survivor than a patient—as a patient you know what is expected of you; people know how to behave/interact with you; society has a system established for treating illness. Survivors, on the other hand, have challenges for which society is just beginning to build protocol… I am convinced that the BRAIN TRUST, is the grass roots organization working towards addressing the unique issues brain tumor survivors face.”
Ann Punnoose is an MIT student majoring in Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She has been involved with Neuroscience research since high school and now wants to see how the research benefits people directly. As a new volunteer at The Brain Trust, Ann has already learned a great deal about the lives that people who deal with brain injuries lead. She looks forward to learning more and volunteering with people.     In her free time, Ann reads novels, and tries to learn new languages. She loves to smile. ;)
Nancy Conn-Levin M. A. is Health Educator specializing in stress management. She has been providing education, support and coping techniques for brain tumor survivors since her own craniotomy for a brain tumor in 1996. Volunteering for T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST is particularly important to me because it is a unique charitable organization. As far as I know, no other has a staff comprised entirely of volunteers who promote information, support, education and other helpful resources for survivors of brain tumors, brain injury or other brain disorders and their family members. I've enjoyed meeting other BRAIN TRUST volunteers at brain tumor conferences and other events in different parts of the United States. I am constantly amazed at the ways we can reach out and help thousands of people around the world through online support.
Mary Lynn Bower has two master's degrees in medicinal chemistry and business administration/finance. She has a son in college and  a husband of 31 years!  She also has quite a brain tumor experience. “I had a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (jpa, grade I) in the vermis of  the cerebellum resected in April 1993. I had a stroke about 6 weeks later, but after acupuncture, OT, PT, and lots of time, I got better. I still have deficits, but they do not keep me from enjoying life. I volunteer in my community, most recently as an elected school board member, as well as for T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST and other groups. Thanks to the BRAINTMR list, I have learned so much and been able to pass the knowledge on and help others. It is a good reason for living!"
John Barry Leonard, Jr. was born and raised in Ashland VA and continues to have many avocations! He's been a Part-time Radio Announcer, WYRN,Louisburg, NC, in the US Air Force (F-111A Simulator) a Truck Driver and Cable TV Engineer, even a licensed private pilot from 1981-1990! He says "My brain tumor was found accidentally in '90 during my pilot's medical exam." He had surgery for a Subependymoma in 1990, St. Anthony Hosp, Rockford, IL with five weeks of rehab. Presently working part-time in DeKalb Co., IL Emergency Management, he got his Technician Class Amateur Radio License in 1993, (callsign W9JBL), and is now an Amateur Extra Class. He Joined BRAINTMR in its earliest days and became a "List co-owner" to assist with administrative tasks. He's one of our most loyal volunteers! He's been married to his wife Nancy since 1985 and has three stepkids and two granddaughters.
Ilene Lewis: After only 4 weeks of symptoms Ilene's husband, David was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Since then he has had two surgeries, chemo, radiation, cognitive rehabilitation and many complications. She writes, "Having no specific knowledge about brain tumors, much less an Ependymoma, I began my search to always stay "two steps ahead of this beast". After joining the BRAINTMR group, she was unable to find others with same tumor. "T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST was kind enough to support me in starting up a special group for Adults with Ependymomas. As a caregiver, I feel our group has become a wonderful sounding board and "safety net" for all our own emotions, questions and fears. I am very excited about our new website"
Carol Welsh BA, MBA and brain tumor survivor is the energetic historian and the webmaster of our Adult Ependymoma Support Group. Her goal with this position is to spread information to survivors, caregivers and healthcare providers. She says, " Recovery is a life-long adventure - I'd like to capitalize on my experience and share it with others like me." She is also working on a comprehensive case study which highlights the often-overlooked side of life-saving brain surgery - the rehabilitation and ultimate adaptation to post-operative deficits. Read more about her on her group's members page
Mary Lowe, Community leader
Sandy Barnes, BRAINTMR List
Atsuko Itakura Atsuko came to volunteer at T.H.E. BRAIN TRUST because she wanted to contribute her experience and skills from her job in Japan as senior staff in Human Resources at the Japanese headquarters of a major American investment bank. She also wanted to improve her English, learn new skills, and find out about work environments in Boston. She found that this is no typical office job! "Every day I come here I have a special experience. There are many interesting coincidences. And it's fun!" Her first name "Atsuko" means "warm-hearted" and it's so true! We are definitely blessed with her presence. We're excited about her new role as Volunteer Coordinator. I'm sure all our volunteers will enjoy working with her, in person and online!
Martine Lamy is a junior at MIT studying Brain and Cognitive Sciences. She has participated in a variety of brain research including the effects of frontal lobe injuries, and how memory works. "After MIT, I hope to enter a M.D./Ph.D. program and study neuroscience and neurology." She one day hopes to engage in clinical research to help people with brain disorders, and to figure out the mysteries of the brain. Her work at the brain trust is giving her a new understanding of how our brains work, and is giving her more motivation to continue in this field of study. In her spare time, Martine enjoys playing with her quaker parrot, Jasmine, reading, and dancing.