Staff

Jamie Bay Nishi, MS, CEO
Jamie Bay Nishi oversees all aspects of the Society's efforts, including the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; the CTropMed®- Certificate of Knowledge in Clinical Tropical Medicine and Travelers' Health; the Annual Meeting, which attracts a global audience and is widely considered the premier meeting in tropical medicine; and a portfolio of activities that includes awards and research opportunities, policy development, advocacy, communications, and membership. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC). Read her complete bio here.

Shaima Abdul-Aziz, Project Manager, Scientific Program
Shaima Abdul-Aziz serves on the Annual Meeting program planning team and leads the planning process for symposium sessions and the Innovations Pitch Competition. She graduated from Towson University in Maryland with a degree in international studies and a minor in geography. Ms. Abdul-Aziz has worked with deans and professors from nursing colleges around the U.S., assisting in professional and educational development, conferences and database management. Before that she worked in healthcare. In her free time, she likes to travel and enjoy nature.

Annie Calacci, Editorial Production Manager
Annie Calacci manages the editorial production aspects of the Journal, working to provide custom support to authors, reviewers, and section editors during the manuscript review processes to prepare manuscripts for publishing. She has 25+ years of editorial, marketing and STM journal publishing experience. Annie is a native Vermonter and graduate of the University of Vermont, where she holds a BS in Communication Sciences, a BS in Developmental Child Psychology, and a BA of Fine Arts.

Stephen M. Croll, COO
Steve Croll's role as the COO is to oversee the IT, finance/accounting, HR and operational functions of ASTMH, ensuring smooth and efficient operations to support the goals of the members of the association. Prior to ASTMH, Steve spent over 24 years with international development and relief organizations. He has worked with Relief International, Tetra Tech ARD, PATH, Pathfinder and The Futures Group. He has an MA from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a BA from Occidental College.

Judy DeAcetis, Administrative Manager, Scientific Program
In her role as Administrative Manager, Scientific Program, Judy DeAcetis oversees the Annual Meeting program planning team and coordination of scientific program planning between the Scientific Program Committee and staff members. Ms. DeAcetis began her career in nonprofit association management after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Ms. DeAcetis has served on the staff of professional societies such as the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, the International Society for Stem Cell Research and the Academy for Eating Disorders.

Doug Dusik, Senior Manager, Communications
Doug Dusik is Senior Manager, Communications. His responsibilities include the day-to-day management and integration of the Society's communications operations across multiple platforms reaching North American and global audiences. Mr. Dusik has worked in newspaper journalism and in public relations for corporate, non-profit and agency employers. His previous clients include the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Buffy Finn, Membership, Subgroups and Courses Manager
Buffy Finn is Membership, Subgroups and Courses Manager, where her responsibilities include but are not limited to managing members' dues and invoicing, journal subscriptions, the Certificate of Knowledge Examination (CTropMed®), Update Course, Fellow of ASTMH, ASTMH Distinguished International Fellow, society subgroups, the Young Investigator Awards, the Clinical Research Awards, Pre-Meeting Courses, annual meeting logistics and general customer service. Ms. Finn graduated from Illinois State University, and prior to joining ASTMH, she held positions in the sales and customer services arenas.

Natalia Gutierrez Ribera, Scientific Program Coordinator
Natalia Gutierrez Ribera serves as Scientific Program Coordinator for ASTMH. In her role, she supports the management of the scientific abstracts and planning for the Annual Meeting program. She is fluent in Spanish and graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. Prior to joining ASTMH, Ms. Gutierrez Ribera worked in several multi-faceted roles collecting data using different approaches with the goal of tackling different community health problems.

Brenda Howe, Manager of Data Systems and Conference Services
As Manager of Data Systems and Conference Services, Brenda Howe’s responsibilities include managing pre-registration, maintaining the registration website and leading registration activities onsite for the ASTMH Annual Meeting. She also is the contact for exhibiting at the meeting. Ms. Howe has been in the meeting/trade show industry for more than 20 years, and has helped organize shows for medical, food service, business and consumer electronics associations. She has an Associate’s Degree in Science from Morton College in Chicago.

Alison Jaeb, Managing Editor and Publisher, American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Alison Jaeb manages the day-to-day operations of the Journal. She’s a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications. Prior to joining AJTMH, she was a freelance marketing communications writer and a public relations account executive at several companies.

Lyn Maddox, VP Meetings
Lyn Maddox, VP Meetings, has been with ASTMH for 22 years. Her responsibilities include planning and executing all of the logistics related to the Annual Meeting, from identifying the location of the meeting to onsite management of the event. She has been in the meetings industry for 25 years, and previously worked for The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and assisted in the launch of a special events company. Ms. Maddox is an active member of the Professional Convention Management Association.

Rhonda Schultz, Manager, Board and Fellowships
Rhonda Schultz is Manager, Board and Fellowships. Her responsibilities include the ASTMH/BMGF Travel Award, Kean, Centennial, Shope, Burroughs Wellcome committees, and additional Annual Meeting planning and support. She has 10 years of combined experience in healthcare and non-profit organizations, including relationship development, volunteer coordination and fundraising, and spent five years with the Academy of General Dentistry as Administrator, Educational Awards. Ms. Schultz has a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Governor’s State University.

Chelsea Taylor, Operations Coordinator
As Operations Coordinator, Chelsea Taylor, provides administrative aid to all ASTMH staff and the Chef Executive Officer. Engaging in everyday office operations, Ms. Taylor also provides support to Board meeting operations and development. Prior to joining ASTMH, she spent nearly a decade coordinating operations in the wholesale and distribution industries. She enjoys Harry Potter and spending time with loved ones while pursuing a degree in Business Administration.

Lori Young, Peer Review Coordinator
Lori Young coordinates the peer review process for the Journal. She works with authors, section editors and reviewers to keep manuscripts on track. Lori holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication from Ohio University and a Master's in Education from John Carroll University in Ohio. Prior to joining AJTMH, she spent many years working as an early childhood teacher. Ms. Young lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio, with her husband, two children and two dogs.