Pamela J. Ferro, RN
President

Pam is a parent of a child with Autism and also the co-founder of Hopewell Associates, Inc., a nurse-owned and operated psychopharmacologic and biomedical practice specializing in the treatment of adults and children with developmental disabilities.  She is the Director of the Children's Autism Program at Hopewell, as well as a DAN! Practitioner, providing intensive and highly specialized biomedical treatment for children.

Pam founded Hopewell Autism Initiative in 2000, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit agency, to provide educational, recreational and social opportunities for children with Autism.  Major activities to date have included eight-week summer camp/educational programs for children ages 8 -12, incorporating each child's Individual Educational Plan into the camp activities, utilizing Special Education Teachers, OT, PT, and Speech Therapists as Camp Staff. 

In addition Hopewell Autism Initiative has provided year round weekend Music and Movement Programs for Children with ASD, their siblings and typical peers. 

Pam lives in Massachusetts with her husband Joe and her children Marcus and Isaiah. 

Cheryl Gaudino
Treasurer

Cheryl is from North Attleboro, Mass., and is the proud mom of six year old DJ and ten year old Ryan, who has autism.

Cheryl is an autism advocate who has served on the Board of Directors for several organizations including Advocates For Autism of Massachusetts (AFAM); Research, Education and Action for Autism spectrum CHildren (REAACH); and Massachusetts Families Organizing For Change (MFOFC).

She is also a member of the Mercury Free Vaccine Coalition of Massachusetts, a support parent for Mass. Family TIES and a contact parent for the National Autism Association.

At the local level, Cheryl is the co-founder of a parent support group, Helping HANDS, which focuses on biomedical treatment options for children with autism and other neurobiological disorders. Cheryl and her husband Peter have also served on the Walk Committee for Community Autism Resources in Swansea since 2003 and were voted "2006 Volunteers of the Year."

Prior to becoming a full-time advocate, Cheryl worked for 22 years as the Office Manager at a manufacturing company in RI. She holds a degree in Accounting from Bryant University in Smithfield.

Joani is a registered nurse with a clinical focus in neurosurgical intensive care and has worked at both Massachusetts General Hospital and the New England Medical Center in neurosurgery units.

In 1995, Joani joined on the Board of Directors for the Schwartz Center for Children and since 1999 has served as its President. She has contributed her expertise to numerous projects including the design and implementation of the Center's Quality Assurance program. Joani also served on the Capital Campaign Committee as well as Chairperson of Strategic Planning. During the construction of the Schwartz Center's new facility, Joani Chaired the Building Committee.

Prior to her involvement with the Schwartz Center, Joani was on the Board of Directors for the Waldorf School of Cape Cod, serving as President for three years.

Joani lives on Cape Cod with her three children: Andrew, 20, a sophomore at Tufts University studying mechanical engineering and applied physics; Adrienne, 17, who has autism and is in a vocational training program at a local high school with other children who have a variety of developmental disorders; and Alex, 15, a freshmen at a local private day high school interested in soccer, basketball and lacrosse with a keen interest in studying medicine in the future.

In addition to her volunteer work and spending time with her children, Joani also enjoys sailing, traveling, knitting and sewing.

Vanda Blinn M.D., M.P.H.

Children Isaac and Isabelle
Husband Alan

Dr. Vanda Blinn graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine, and Brown University.  She completed her residency in pediatrics at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Boston Massachusetts.    Dr. Blinn is a pediatrician in Massachusetts with interest in functional medicine, disease prevention and health promotion.   

Ilene Buchholz, RN

Ilene received her nursing degree from Providence College in 1971 and pursued a nursing career that spanned 24 years in the hospital and working with a pediatric neurologist implementing biomedical assessment and treatment modalities for children with autism.  She was the coordinator of the first two digestive enzyme clinical pilot studies in collaboration with Dr. Bernard Rimland and the Autism Research Institute.

She resides in California with her husband Ron and works with Klaire Labs in addressing technical needs relating to nutritional supplementation in support of health.

Bob has been employed by Stop & Shop since 1987 and has held a number of positions within the company, including General Merchandise Manager, Assistant Store Manager, and for the last 11 years, Store Manager. Bob is responsible for total store operation, from budgeting to job applicant interviewing, and oversees approximately 250 employees. In addition, Bob has also been assigned to oversee new store openings and remodels for the past 4 years.

Prior to beginning his career with Stop & Shop, Bob managed his family’s grocery store, Liberty Market, for five years.

Bob lives in Fairhaven, Mass., with Lorrie, his wife of 20 years, and their daughters Courtney, 18, and Brooke, 15.
 

Jaquelyn McCandless, M.D.

Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless is a psychiatrist certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.  After practicing psychiatry for many years, in the early 1980’s she began pursuing alternative medical remedies for brain health as well as for hormone issues in peri-menopause. 

In 1996 her beloved 12^th grandchild Chelsey was diagnosed with autism at 2-3/4 years of age, and since then Dr. McCandless has pursued and taught bio-medical understanding and treatments for autism on a full-time basis. 

In 2002 she wrote “Children with Starving Brains:  A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder” which has been updated/revised 5 times with a 3^rd Edition released in early 2007 containing contributions by various colleagues and associates.  

In 2003, Dr. McCandless started the Mini-DAN! training course for physicians in the DAN! Bio-Medical Approach, training physicians throughout the US, Israel, Scotland, and China.  In 2005 she became a member of the DAN! Executive Board and has been a regular presenter at the bi-coastal DAN! conferences. 

Dr. McCandless introduced LDN to the autism community in 2005 and continues to research and pursue this immune/mood modulator for autism and other auto-immune disorders including HIV+ in Africa and elsewhere.

Maureen received her BS, RN from Seton Hall University in 1977. Her nursing career included work in med-surg, pediatrics, newborn nursery, labor and delivery and childbirth education. Ms. McDonnell has been the national coordinator for the DAN!™ Conferences since 1998. She initiated (with Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless) the DAN!™ Physician Training program, the Mini DAN!™ Forum, and the DAN!™ Nurse’s Training program.
 

Susan has completed graduate courses in the field of Speech and Language Pathology at Emerson College in Boston, MA. She has worked with children in the Newton, MA school system as well as with children on the autism spectrum through Emerson College’s program with Children’s Hospital. Susan, her husband and their 18 month old son Alexander live in Boston, MA.