Debbie Silverstein, SPAN Ohio State Director
Debbie taught Middle School Earth Science and High School Math for 30 years in the Stow, Munroe Falls City School District. In addition to her teaching duties, Debbie served in various capacities in her local teachers’ association and was active in bargaining and grievance processing. She became active in SPAN in 2008, first as a local leader, then as Regional Coordinator for Region 6 and now as the State Director.
Matt Noordsij-Jones, M.D., SPAN Ohio Associate State Director
Dr. "NJ" received his M.D. from Medical College of Wisconsin. He recently completed his Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Wright State University. NJ has a B.S. in biochemistry and genetics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. While there, he served as a research assistant for UW Hospitals in the area of pediatric infectious disease, studying osis. Following his undergraduate career, he worked in Boston as a biochemical analyst. Med-peds intrigues NJ because he enjoys the complexity of medicine as well as the personal aspect of pediatrics. In his spare time, NJ enjoys running, rowing, and gardening/landscaping. He also won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze in the Rowing National Championship.
Johnathon Ross, M.D., SPAN Ohio Secretary
Dr. Johnathon Ross is a past president of Physicians for a National Health Program, a national health reform group with over 18,000 members (PNHP). He is a graduate of Cornell University and received his medical degree in 1975 from the Medical College of Ohio at Toledo. In addition to his medical degree, he has a master’s degree in health policy and administration from the School of Public Health of the University of Michigan. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Toledo College of Medicine and currently practices and teaches general internal medicine at St Vincent Mercy Medical Center, a 500 bed center city teaching hospital in Toledo, Ohio. His experience inside the health insurance industry convinced him of the logic and need for a national health insurance program.
Barbara Walden, SPAN Ohio Treasurer
Barbara Walden worked for BCTGM Local 19 and IBT Local 507 for 35 years, ending with her retirement in 2000. Providing health care for members, what to cover and how to pay for it, was a constant concern. In 1996 she attended the Founding Convention of the Labor Party, and a major plank in their platform was achieving single-payer health care. The Party’s intense dedication to this cause inspired her, and in 2001 she joined with other health care activists in the Cleveland area to help establish what is now known as SPAN Ohio.
Dee Chavez, Executive Committee
Bonny Graham, Executive Committee
Bob Krasen, Executive Committee
Bob Krasen was a Catholic priest for 17 years in 4 parishes in the Diocese of Cleveland, an occupation which helped him develop a social conscience. He worked in social services in Columbus until retirement in 2006, when he became an activist for "health care for all" in SPAN Ohio.
Tim Kettler, Executive Committee
Tim Kettler is a resident of Coshocton County where he lives with his wife Roberta and son Malcolm. Together they have operated Action Septic Service Inc. for the pa
st 32 years. Tim is a member of the Board of Directors of Coshocton Environmental and Community Awareness Inc., a local environmental advocacy and educational non-profit. Politically, personally and professionally the issue of healthcare has been at the forefront of the challenges small businesses face and Tim has supported The Healthcare for All Ohioans Act since first joining the State Council in 2005. Tim is an Ohio EPA Certified Wastewater Operator and the scope and responsibility of his work is focused on outcomes that protect the public health. Through his personal, professional and community activities Tim has found himself along with the rest of us at the intersection of Health Care and Environmental Justice.
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Ted Seuss, Executive Committee
Dennis Slotnick, Executive Committee