Board of Directors & Staff : Asthma Athletics Non-Profit Dedicated to Education and Athletic Training for Asthmatics

Asthma Athletics Board of Directors & Staff

		Joseph S. Yusin MD FAAAAI President of the Board and Founder Dr. Joseph Yusin is the head of the Section of Allergy and Immunology at the Carl T. Hayden V.A. Medical Center in Phoenix Arizona and a well-respected authority on asthma and allergic disorders. A Cum Laude graduate of UC Irvine, Dr.Yusin earned his medical degree from the University of Southern California School of Medicine. Completing his residency at Tulane University, Louisiana, Dr. Yusin went on to complete fellowships in both Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology at the UCLA Medical Center and the UCLA VA Medical Center. He is currently involved in research projects related to Allergic Disorders, including Asthma. He lectures regularly throughout Arizona. Dr. Yusin currently serves as an assistant clinical professor at the University of Arizona Medical Center. An avid athlete, Dr. Yusin is a regular participant in triathlons and open water swimming. A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Yusin has lived in Phoenix Arizona for over 7 years and loves life in the Valley.

		Traci D. Arney RN, MN, NP-C, AE-C CEO of Asthma Athletics Traci is the Pediatric Asthma Program Manager for Banner Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center. Traci graduated with her Master’s in Nursing from Washington State University in 1996. She had dedicated her career to improving the care of children with asthma through direct patient care, implementing programs throughout Banner Health to improve care delivery to children with asthma in the hospital and the emergency department, chairs the Arizona State Asthma Conference, is a board member of the Arizona State Asthma Coalition and the National Asthma Education Certification Board, and is a mom of two children, one that lived with asthma. Traci is a native of Bethlehem CT and spent her youth on horseback, skiing, water-skiing, cheerleading, playing field hockey, riding dirt bikes, ice-skating, and snowmobiling. She has lived in AZ for 4 years, enjoying the sun.

		Suzan Miller-Hoover RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN Secretary/Treasurer of the Board Suzan is a clinical nurse specialist for Banner Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center. She has worked in Pediatric Critical Care for the past 31 years. She has dedicated her career to caring for critically ill children and educating families about healthcare. She teaches for many universities though AZ state in the nursing programs. She is a leader of nursing in the state of AZ and volunteers for many community events. She graduated with her Master’s in Nursing in 2003 from ASU. Suzan a native to Phoenix, AZ and is one of 6 siblings. She spent many years camping and hiking with her family and carries that tradition forward today.

		John Louis Eliopoulos Chairman of the Board John Louis Eliopoulos brings his expertise in business and money management as the overseer of the Asthma Athletics family. Mr. Eliopoulos is an accomplished businessman, writer and member of academia. The holder of degrees in both history and political science from the University of Southern California, a professional investor and a highly-praised burgeoning novelist, Mr. Eliopoulos is the CEO of Greekstar, Inc., a financial corporation based in Las Vegas Nevada, and the CFO of Quantum Properties, Inc, a commercial real estate corporation based in Santa Monica, California. An expert in such various pursuits as The Civil War, auto racing and movies, Mr. Eliopoulos enjoys broadening his horizons through reading, music and travel. A native of Los Angeles and a resident of Las Vegas, Mr. Eliopoulos now spends much of his time enjoying New York City and the heart of Manahttan.

		Paula Sedivy RN Board of Director Paula is a clinical nurse at Rex Pediatrics of Cary in Cary North Carolina. She graduated form Rochester MN in 2003. She has been instrumental in the development of Banner Children’s chronic asthma program for hospitalized children. She extends her expertise to the community in many different aspects. She is a member of the Arizona State Asthma Coalition and volunteers for The American Lung Association as medical staff for Camp Not-A-Wheeze. Paula is a native of Minnesota

		Tom Kirsch Board of Director Thomas Kirsch Rojas, MC, LPC, has been a psychotherapist/counselor, trainer and consultant in Phoenix since 1996, and began his career in behavioral health in 1992. He specializes in community education and health promotion, cross-cultural issues, mind-body medicine, brief/family therapy, and hypnosis. Tom is full-time Counseling Faculty in the Division of Counseling, Health and Wellness at South Mountain Community College, where he is developing innovative programs to benefit the health and quality of life of those living in the South Phoenix and surrounding communities. Having grown up in Santiago, Chile, he is bicultural and bilingual. Tom enjoys mountain biking and scuba diving when his asthma is in good control, and he deeply values the positive impact martial arts and athletics had on him as a youth.

		Kelvin Panesar MD Board of Director Dr. Kelvin Panesar is the Medical Director of Pediatric Pulmonology for Banner Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center. Dr. Panesar graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in 1992. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric Pulmonology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Panesar has been involved with many community events and focuses on enhancing asthma education through lecturing, mentoring and didactics. Dr. Panesar a native of Houston TX spent his high school years as a competitive Tennis and soccer player, and is an artist and musician. He has lived in AZ for the past 3 years.