Board of Directors
Brooke O'Shea
President
Brooke was drawn to DSN when her daughters were diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), and her oldest daughter was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a form of dysautonomia. DSN provided the information and support her family needed during that difficult time. Brooke joined the Board of Directors in 2017 as Vice President. In that capacity, she worked primarily on fundraising efforts supporting DSN’s member programs. In January of 2020, Brooke was elected President of DSN. As President, she oversees DSN’s strategic initiatives and ensures DSN lives out its mission and values on behalf of our community. Brooke has 20 plus years of experience in executive coaching, organization development, and related human resource leadership roles. She is a CPA with a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Accounting from the University of Texas and a Masters Certificate in Organization Development from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management.
joanna behm
vice president
A patient with hyperadrenergic POTS, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and hypermobile EDS herself, Joanna Behm, EdD, MS, OTR/L, COMT, CDP is passionate about helping others integrate lifestyle adaptations into their routines so they can live their best lives. Joanna has been on the Board of Directors since 2017 and involved with DSN in multiple capacities since 2014. As Vice President and leader of the education and awareness team, Joanna and her team create educational content for social media, handbooks, the website, and more. Joanna is an occupational therapist and Assistant Professor at Messiah University’s Master of Occupational Therapy Program. Joanna is passionate about researching and advancing occupational therapy’s role in treating dysautonomia. Joanna has a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy from Elizabethtown College and is working toward earning her Doctorate of Education at Northeastern University.
Leslie W.
Secretary
Leslie always knew that helping others was her calling. Growing up with parents in the medical field and experiencing medical challenges from a young age, Leslie was drawn to nursing. However, when her then undiagnosed conditions left her with multiple concussions and traumatic brain injuries, her medical education and upbringing failed her. It took over 17 years for her to obtain a diagnosis of dysautonomia, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and hypermobile spectrum disorder (HSD), validating and explaining her childhood medical challenges. Now, Leslie has found a new purpose and passion in helping educate patients, providers, and the public alike on how to recognize, manage, and learn how to thrive with dysautonomia, so their diagnostic delay is not as long. Leslie obtained her bachelor of science in nursing from Salisbury University, where she graduated Magnum Cum Lade. In 2020, Leslie received her post-baccalaureate legal nurse consulting certificate from Wilmington University, allowing her to help individuals navigate Social Security Disability. Soon she will graduate with her Masters of Science in Nursing Leadership with a concentration in education from Wilmington University. Leslie has served in multiple leadership roles at DSN and is currently the Education and Awareness Coordinator.
ashley collins
treasurer
Living with EDS, MCAS, POTS, and various comorbidities, Ashley has adjusted her life and career to take on various passion projects, helping people and organizations like DSN reach their visions and financial goals. Ashely joined the board of DSN in 2019. As the Treasurer of DSN, she has improved the financial reporting processes and assisted in fundraising and rebranding efforts. Asley is a seasoned finance professional who began her career running a branch of Vector Marketing. Eventually, Ashley joined a group of real estate firms, working in property sales, investment analysis, acquisition, capital management and lending, financial reporting, investor relations, and property management. Ashley rose to be part-owner and President of Boston Property Management in 2009 and graduated magna cum laude from Babson College.
cathy m.
director
Cathy joined DSN as a member seeking support and connection. Due to DSN’s positive impact on her family, Cathy soon developed a desire to use her knowledge and experience to give back to the DSN community. Cathy began volunteering for DSN in 2016, serving in multiple areas. She joined the Board of Directors in 2017, where she has functioned as Treasurer, Secretary and currently serves as Director overseeing the Facebook Community Groups and Volunteers. Cathy is enthusiastic about empowering patients and their families as they navigate their lives with dysautonomia and related conditions. Cathy has 25+ years of experience in finance management, accounting, and payroll. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Florida International University and a Master of Accounting degree with a concentration in tax from Strayer University.
kevin a. mcgrail
director
Kevin, or KAM as he is better known, lives with a rare disease that causes dysautonomia. As someone who understands the challenges of living with dysautonomia, he brings empathy and insight to his role as Director at DSN. KAM began volunteering and joined the Board of DSN in January 2019. As a Director, KAM leverages his expertise in computers, the cloud, and cyber security to support the organization’s operations, building on his experience helping the US Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary and the Apache Software Foundation for non-profit governance. KAM is the principal evangelist for Dito, where he helps organizations securely migrate, modernize & maximize their use of the cloud. He is a Google Workspace Top Contributor, Developer Expert, and Ambassador and member expert in the U.S. Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary. KAM's latest honor is to be named a Distinguished Senior Fellow as a thought leader in the field of Cyber Security at Thomas University’s Armed Services Institute in the Center for Military Life.
trish meegan
director
Giving back and helping those around her is a vital component of Trish's daily life and work. She works with patients who have dysautonomia and various comorbid conditions. It has always been important that patients have the available resources and support to lead their best lives. Trish has been an active member of DSN’s Board since 2016. As a Director, Trish utilizes her expertise in the healthcare field to help with the scientific and analytic logistics of the group. She helped create DSN’s medical advisory board and works directly with the members to ensure the highest quality of information is provided to the DSN community. Trish is a manual physical therapist who teaches and specializes in treating patients with connective tissue disorders, Chiari malformation, tethered cord, and dysautonomia. She attended Quinnipiac University as a double major in Athletic Training/Sports Medicine and Physical Therapy, where she also completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy. She has worked with athletes at all levels, including multiple professional athletes and world champions, and has gained extensive certification in osteopathic manual therapy. She speaks nationally and internationally on manual therapy and treating complex patient conditions.