Kathy Wiedemer comes to the Meso Foundation with over twenty years of non-profit management experience. It is important to her to work in an organization where she has a passion for the mission and so has concentrated her efforts in academic and healthcare institutions. In addition to being president of the University Community Hospital Foundation in Tampa, Florida, she also headed the Bethesda Hospital Foundation in Boynton Beach, Florida. She was Executive Director of Development for the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University and also headed the development operation at the ASCO Cancer Foundation. Under her leadership, organizations have raised more than $75 million to advance their missions. She has broad experience working with not-for-profit boards and in staff development. Kathy feels it is a privilege to be associated with the Meso Foundation, help the organization relocate, become established and thrive in our nation’s capital. Kathy holds a Masters in Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. She has also earned the designation of Certified Fund Raising Executive. 

Mary Hesdorffer received her undergraduate degree at the College of New Rochelle in NY and went on to receive her Masters of Science at the same institution. She is fully credentialed as a Nurse Practitioner and has spent 15 years actively treating patients with mesothelioma. Mary has an expertise in the development and implementation of clinical trials. She has published in peer reviewed journals and has lectured nationally on the topics pertaining to mesothelioma with particular emphasis on clinical trials as well as symptom and disease management. She is well known to the Foundation's community having attended and spoken at many of our symposiums. Mary is passionate in her commitment to the treatment and management of this disease and hopes to increase awareness of the need to advance the science that will lead to a cure. She is available via phone or email to assist patients and caregivers as they move from chaos to control of this new situation they find themselves thrust into.

JESSICA BARKER
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COORDINATOR
jbarker@curemeso.org

Jessica Barker is the Government Affairs Coordinator of the Meso Foundation, working with meso advocates to raise awareness and advance the cause of mesothelioma with our lawmakers.  In this capacity, her primary objectives are to raise awareness of mesothelioma and increase federal funding for mesothelioma research.  Prior to joining the Meso Foundation staff, Jessica worked with the American Network of Community Options and Resources and the National Association of State Units on Aging and Disability on long term care issues, including Medicaid and Medicare. She also led the legislative and communications efforts at the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. Jessica holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Maja's work at the Meso Foundation encompasses developing and managing the organization's communications, including the website, press releases, newsletters, and other print and electronic materials. Maja is the go-to person for anything database related and is also the volunteer coordinator. Prior to joining the Meso Foundation in 2006, Maja worked with several non-profit organizations, including the Young Storytellers Foundation and AIDS Project Los Angeles. Maja holds a Bachelor degree in Mass Communications from Colorado State University and is working toward her Master in Business Administration from Purdue University.

Melinda’s role at the Foundation is to manage the grants process and Mary and Bob Cosentino Travel Grant program.  She also handles human resources and assists the executive director. Melinda came to the Meso Foundation with a wide range of experience in the Foundation world.  She worked for the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation, a small family foundation in the Washington, DC area which works on issues of social justice and helping those in need. 

Erin is in charge of receiving and processing donations and e-store orders along with the everyday running and organizing of the office.  She’s the go to person if you need help and are unsure of who to speak with or what to do next.  She’s usually the first person you encounter when you walk into our new offices or call our main phone lines.  She’s also unofficially in charge of all the plants within the office, the choice of coffee brewed and the type of candy served. Erin originally comes from Jacksonville, Florida. Having come up the coast for college at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, she decided to stay in Virginia after graduating.  She has worked with arts organizations and other non-profits in the area and is delighted to join the staff at the Meso Foundation.

JONATHAN PARK
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
jpark@curemeso.org

Jonathan Park joins the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation team as the Director of Development. Jonathan will lead all fundraising and development activities.  Prior to joining the Meso Foundation, Jonathan worked as a fundraiser for various non-profit organizations and charities including the International Student House in Washington, The Korea Society and The Smile Train in New York. Before his transition into the non-profit world, Jonathan was a theater actor and director in New York City and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from the Ohio State University. Jonathan is thrilled to be part of an organization that provides such invaluable support to the patients, their families, and the entire Meso community.