Our Leadership
DR. JASON BAKER - Co-FOUNDER, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, Program Committee Chair
Jason C. Baker, MD, is Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Attending Endocrinologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York. He earned his medical degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center in New York. Dr. Baker completed a fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York.
THOMAS FILLMAN
Thomas Fillman, PharmD, is the Clinical Marketing Leader for Becton Dickinson (BD)—Diabetes Care, a global medical technology company. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Minnesota, and subsequently completed a post-doctorate fellowship in cardio-metabolic disease with Bristol-Myers Squibb in Princeton, NJ. Tom’s passion for diabetes is focused on improving healthcare provider education to empower patients to effectively self-manage their disease.
SARAH FRANCIS-BLAND – DEVELOPMENT Committee CHAIR
Sarah Francis-Bland serves as the Executive and Board Network Leader for EY's Financial Services Organization (FSO) in the Americas. In her role, Sarah is responsible for the development of strategic programs that enhance EY's global brand and strengthen relationships with alumni, clients, market influencers and directors across the financial services marketplace. Sarah's 10+ years of experience spans go-to-market people strategy, talent acquisition, strategic program development, and executive career transition coaching specific to the banking, capital markets, wealth and asset management, insurance and private equity sectors.
MICHAEL GORDON - BOARD SECRETARY, GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Michael S. Gordon is a litigation partner at the law firm, Baker & Hostetler LLP. He has a broad range of commercial litigation experience and regularly represents clients in virtually all types of business disputes, including breach of contract, business torts, entertainment, fiduciary litigation, partnership and corporate shareholder disputes, intellectual property, insurance coverage, securities and common law fraud. In addition, he regularly provides strategic counseling to his clients, assisting them in devising creative solutions either to avoid litigation or to facilitate the settlement of protracted lawsuits.
HOWARD GOLDMAN - BOARD CHAIR
Howard is Chief Executive Officer and Director of Operations at DLS, Inc., a comprehensive legal services corporation with multiple offices serving its network of clients across the globe.
He has volunteered his time and resources for many charitable events throughout the years. Howard’s philanthropy with Marjorie’s Fund extends to the organization’s inception; his triumphant bid at auction on a Bruce Springsteen compilation was a personal highlight at the charity’s inaugural benefit gala.
Howard was graduated from Queens College, City University of New York with a degree in political science and a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law. He has a love of baseball, early 20th century classic sailing yachts, and New York history. Howard resides on Manhattan’s Upper East Side with his wife, Alese. Together, they share a love for the New York Mets, and fair weather cruising Long Island Sound aboard their boat, Our Terrace.
PENNY KIP
Penny currently works as a manager for a leading Continuous Glucose Monitoring company coaching and supporting her Northeast team. Penny studied nutrition and is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She was inspired to make diabetes her sole focus of professional education after working in hospitals many years ago when she noticed the incidence of diabetes increasing dramatically.
She felt the need to help others weave diabetes into their current lifestyle and make a difference. She attended her first Marjorie’s Fund event five years ago inspired by Dr Jason Bakers passion and drive to help others thrive with diabetes and immediately fell in love with Marjorie's Fund! Penny loves animals and nature.
JACQUELINE MURRAY
Jacqueline Murray is a Senior HR Professional with over 20+ years of generalist and global corporate experience. Jacqueline has proven ability to operate effectively within complex matrixed organizations, building strong relationships to effectively execute initiatives, which support the translation of HR People strategies into desired organizational goals. Jacqueline’s expertise includes Talent Acquisition, Diversity and Inclusion, Employment Engagement, Employee Relations, Compensation, Executive Coaching and Performance Management.
SANDY NARAYANAN - CO-FOUNDER/Board Treasurer
Sandy Narayanan is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Educator. She is the Founder/CEO of CoreCise, a nutrition, exercise and health coaching business, catering to a varied clientele. Her approach is holistic, emphasizing the integration of sound food choices, physical activity and emotional awareness and regulation, in creating sustained wellness. Sandy has had a successful career in Human Resources, spanning over 20 years, during which she spearheaded strategic initiatives in various organizations.
CLARA PIZZARELLO
Clara Pizzarello is a an attorney who specializes in Civil Litigation. She has worked at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel for the past 22 years in the position of Managing Attorney. In this position Clara acts as strategic advisor to the firm’s 300 plus attorneys on a vast array of matters ranging from domestic and international litigations to bankruptcy, intellectual property, real estate, land use and trusts and estates. Clara’s charitable pursuits include briefing and winning a high profile political asylum case, Mentor Volunteer at Imerman Angels, Mentor Volunteer at Covenant House New York City for homeless youth, and being the 16th highest fundraiser for NAMI Walks NYC 2017 (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
SUSAN WASSERMAN
Dr. Susan Wasserman graduated in 1983 from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She did her residency in internal medicine and fellowship in Endocrinology at Montefiore Medical Center.
She is board certified in internal medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism. She started her practice as a sole practitioner in Endocrinology in 1991 and has now grown to a 5 physician single specialty practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism along with 2 Certified diabetes educators and an approved American Diabetes Association Diabetes Self-Management EducationProgram. The practice has grown to incorporate all aspects of endocrinology.
LIZ WOLFF
Liz Wolff is the Founder and President of Cure Thrift Shop, a non-profit thrift store in Manhattan’s East Village that benefits type 1 diabetes research, advocacy, and awareness. Cure Thrift Shop is consistently ranked as one of Manhattan’s top second-hand businesses.
Liz has worked closely with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and Marjorie's Fund for the past ten years to raise funds for cure-focused type 1 diabetes research and advocacy. In 2009, Liz was named “New Yorker of the Week” by NY1 news for her philanthropy and dedication to finding a cure for diabetes. A type 1 diabetic since age 11, Liz continues to work tirelessly to fundraise and increase awareness to further several diabetes initiatives.
Margie GoldSmith
Margie Goldsmith is a NYC-based writer who has hiked, biked, climbed, run marathons and triathlons, explored 140 countries on seven continents and written about them all. She has won 85 writing awards including the prestigious Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award, multiple ASJA (American Society of Journalists and Authors) and NATJA (North American Travel Journalists and Authors) Awards, the Solas Award and four Folio Awards. She is a lifestyle/culture contributor to Forbes.com, has a column and writes features for Business Jet Traveler and has written over 1,000 articles for Robb Report, Travel + Leisure, American Way, Hemispheres, Wall Street Journal, Globe and Mail, National Geographic Traveler, O the Oprah Magazine and many others. In her spare time, she practices kickboxing and plays blues harmonica.