Our Team

Erick Amick manages a diverse portfolio of global health programs including Helping Babies Survive (HBS) and UNICEF-funded newborn provider telementoring efforts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Pakistan. He also staffs the Section on Global Health (SOGH).

Thaddeus Anderson leads the Academy’s simulation activities, manages the Section on Simulation and Innovative Learning Methods, and oversees the continuing education accreditation for Life Support programming.

Felicie Anderson-Wilson works primarily with the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP): providing customer support/service; managing the Life Support email inbox and Learning Management System, and promoting the yearly NRP Research Grant program, as well as tracking/processing applications and awards.

Emily Clark provides administrative and customer support for all Global Newborn and Child Health and Life Support team initiatives and programs. She also provides administrative, scheduling, and project support to the Vice President of Global Newborn and Child Health, Dr Beena Kamath-Rayne, including budgeting and financial activities.

Kristy Crilly manages the NRP Learning Management System and works as a liaison with the Learning Management System vendor. She also leads the NRP customer support team and oversees planning of the NRP Roadshows.

Hannah Foehringer Merchant manages the Academy's global immunization and integrated child health portfolios. This includes a multi-year collaboration with the CDC engaging pediatric leaders in priority countries to support national immunization improvement. She also oversees the Academy’s partnership with Management for Health Sciences AAP-MSH partnership which addresses integrated child health in Madagascar.

Michael Greenier supports the simulation efforts and educational course initiatives of Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP), Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) programs. Simulation efforts include the AAP’s high-fidelity simulators, software updates, development of scenarios, and incorporating low- and high-fidelity simulation into the Academy’s educational offerings. Michael, a former paramedic and veteran of the US Marine Corps, also acts as the equipment manager for life support simulation equipment.

Karen Kostakis provides customer service and administrative support to the Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP), Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS), and PedFACTs Programs. She also assists with the creation of PEPP social media posts and other informative graphic resources.

Nancy Kostka provides support to all aspects of the Helping Babies Survive (HBS) suite, including liaising with the greater HBS network and connecting with partnering organizations. She also supports general administrative and program needs of all Life Support initiatives, including Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).

Casey Lowman manages the Helping Babies Survive (HBS) initiative, the Academy’s suite of newborn health programs designed for resource-limited environments and oversees the implementation of a diverse portfolio of global newborn health research projects. Additionally, she is responsible for leading strategic communication and partnership activities.

Melissa Marx oversees and manages the Academy’s emergency medical services (EMS) continuing education programs, including the Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP) and Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS) programs. She provides primary staff support for the PEPP and APLS Steering Committees, as well as, other relevant EMS initiatives.

Gina Pantone supports the simulation efforts and educational course initiatives of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and other Life Support programs. She also assists in the management of the NRP continuing education credit and the coordination of the NRP Current Issues Seminar at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition.

Kiran Patel manages the Academy’s global early childhood development (ECD) and non-communicable disease portfolios. She oversees a program funded by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to improve the capacity of pediatric societies in Kenya and Tanzania to promote ECD and nurturing care. She manages the AAP-CDC collaboration focused on strengthening the capacity of pediatric societies to address tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Kiran also leads the team’s global communication and social media efforts.

Janel Pilate collaborates across the Global Child & Adolescent Health team to devise and implement strategic administrative improvements. She also performs clerical, administrative, and executive support tasks critical to programmatic efforts and organizational sustainability.

Humia Samad provides administrative and project support to Senior Vice President of Global Child Health and Life Support, Dr Janna Patterson. She also assists with operating budget and grant funded accounts and creation of management reports.

Drew Smith supports graphic design and communications for Global Child Health & Life Support programs, trainings, and initiatives, including leading the design of the section newsletters. He also develops social media for the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) and contributes to those of other life support programs.

Sherri Smith contributes to the management and implementation of the Academy’s global child and adolescent health programmatic efforts including immunization advocacy, non-communicable diseases, early childhood development, and adolescent mental health. Additionally, she is the primary staff for the Academy’s International Community Access to Child Health (ICATCH) grant program.

Robyn Wheatley manages the lay audience programs of Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers and Teachers (PedFACTs), babysitting training, and Infant CPR Anytime® (co-branded with American Heart Association). She staffs the Section on International Medical Graduates (SOIMG), is the Managing Editor of the NRP® Instructor Update and provides project management for a UNICEF telementoring grant with sites in Pakistan, Kenya and Tanzania.

Kaitlin Wolfe provides senior management and oversight to all aspects of the Academy’s Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), including the business enterprise, Learning Management System (LMS), technology and innovations, development, customer support activities, and NRP staff. She also oversees the implementation of studies to validate the scientific effectiveness and educational design of new NRP educational offerings.