WELCOA's Medical Advisory Board
As part of its mission, WELCOA publishes a monthly wellness newsletter with an annual readership of over 4 million people, produces a comprehensive line of wellness brochures distributed to approximately 2 million people annually, and distributes hundreds of thousands of self-care books every year. These resources, along with many others, are all carefully reviewed by a prestigious Board of Medical Advisors. Led by Richard Collins M.D., "The Cooking Cardiologist," these dedicated people are responsible for ensuring the accuracy, timeliness, and thoroughness of all health information produced by WELCOA. We are thankful for their service and dedication to the health and well being of the nation's employees.
Richard Collins, MDWELCOA Medical Director, South Denver Heart Center
Dr. Collins, also known as "The Cooking Cardiologist", is nationally recognized as an expert on obesity and weight management and is known for his devotion to creating culinary dishes using only ingredients known to promote good health. He is a Nebraska native, graduating from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in 1968 and is a fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians and the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Collins maintains membership in several professional organizations and was instrumental in the formation of the Alegent Health Heart Institute. He served as their Medical Director from 1993 to 1997. Currently, he practices at the South Denver Heart Center in Littleton, CO. Dr. Collins has appeared nationally on Live with Regis and Kelly, and also on the Food Network. He is a firm believer in "looking on the light side" of life, and has conducted many programs on humor and how it can positively affect the heart.
Donald Gemson, MD
Medical Director, Merrill Lynch
Donald H. Gemson, MD, MPH, is Medical Director at Merrill Lynch and Associate Clinical Professor of Public Health at the Columbia University School of Public Health. Dr. Gemson received a BA from Colgate University, MD from New York Medical College, and MPH from Columbia University School of Public Health. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and in Public Health and General Preventive Medicine. Dr. Gemson is the author or co-author of over 25 publications in peer-review medical journals, and teaches courses in Preventive Medicine and Preventive Health Behavior at the Mailman School of Public Health of Columbia University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and is currently serving his second term on the ACPM Board of Regents, representing the Northeast Region. Dr. Gemson is a reviewer for the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Tobacco Control and the American Journal of Public Health. He is a member of the New York State Tobacco Control Advisory Board and is immediate past President of the New York Occupational Medical Association.
Anne Kulze, MD
Just Wellness, LLC
Growing up in a family with a rich heritage in science and medicine, Dr. Ann developed an interest in wellness and specifically nutrition, at an early age. Following her passion, she attended Clemson University and graduated cum laude with a degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. She then received her M.D. from the Medical University of South Carolina where she received numerous academic honors and graduated as the Valedictorian of her class.
Following her medical training, she worked for 14 years in a busy clinical practice as a family physician in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. As her clinical practice evolved, it became painfully apparent to her that most of the illness and chronic disease she encountered day-in and day-out could have been avoided if her patients simply had made better nutrition and lifestyle choices. With this simple, but startling revelation top of mind, she left her clinical practice to devote her work as a physician to teaching her fellow Americans how to utilize the right nutrition and lifestyle choices as a powerful means to avoid chronic disease and maximize vitality. She founded the consulting firm, Just Wellness, LLC in 2002 to fulfill her new professional endeavor.
Specializing in wellness and nutrition, Dr. Kulze is nationally recognized as an expert in her field. In addition to her private wellness practice, she provides corporate wellness consulting and is a highly sought public speaker. She is currently the national spokesperson for Ruby Tuesday’s highly acclaimed Smart Eating Initiative and author of the book, Dr. Ann’s 10-Step Diet, A Simple Plan for Permanent Weight Loss and Lifelong Vitality, available in bookstores.
Dr. Kulze lives with her husband and four children in her native Charleston, SC where she is a member of the Tri-County Health and Wellness Initiative, the Board of Directors for the Center for Women and the Wellness Council of Ashley Hall School.
William Bateman, MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine
William Baragar (Barry) Bateman is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. He has served as Chief of Medicine and, until January 1999, was Medical Director of the Gouverneur Diagnostic and Treatment Center. Before moving to NYU in 1990, he was Assistant Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Director of the Social Internal Medicine Residency Program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. This program received a national award from the Pew Family Foundation for its outstanding contributions to the advancement of primary care. A graduate of the University of Michigan College of Medicine, Dr. Bateman is currently the Director of Business Development for the South Manhattan Healthcare Network, which includes Bellevue Hospital Center, Coler-Goldwater Memorial Hospital, and the Gouverneur Diagnostic and Treatment Center and Nursing Facility. His current focus includes improving health and access to care for the uninsured working poor, studying and expanding the use of a remote, simultaneous medical interpreting system, and the reengineering of ambulatory service delivery through workforce retraining. He recently published a book on patient education entitled, Patient and Family Education in Managed Care and Beyond: Seizing the Teachable Moment.
Thomas Baechle, EdD, CSCS
Chair, Exercise Science Department, Creighton University
Dr. Baechle is a professor and Chair of the Exercise Science Department at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. A highly respected voice in health and human performance, Dr. Baechle regularly consults with leading health groups and lends his expertise to numerous national and international conferences. Dr. Baechle received his BS in Physical Education from Eastern Kentucky University, his MEd in Physical Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and EdD in Adult and Higher Education from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion.
Dr. Baechle is co-author of a number of publications including Weight Training Instruction: Steps to Success, Strength Training for Seniors: Instructors Guide, and Essentials of Strength and Conditioning. Dr. Baechle has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as the Merit Award for Excellence in Education and Development of Professional Standards from the International Fitness Institute.
David Chenoweth, PhD
President, Health Management Associates
For the past 21 years, David Chenoweth has served as president of HMA. He is the author of numerous articles and books on worksite health promotion planning and evaluation. He is a frequent conference speaker and conducts in-house workshops for health promotion professionals in business, industrial, and health care settings. Since 1988, he has served as Chair of the Business & Industry Committee within the North Carolina Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Health and has served on the faculty at East Carolina University since 1979. David earned his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University.
Michael Perko, PhD
Chair, Department of Health Education
University of Alabama
Dr. Mike Perko currently is the Chair of the Health Education program at the University of Alabama. From 1992 to1997 he served as the Associate Director of the Good Health Makes $ense program, a comprehensive worksite health promotion and disease prevention initiative for employees, spouses, and retirees of Alabama and Gulf Power Companies. With over 160 sites in two states, the program utilized a multitude of stage-driven design, planning, and evaluation strategies to provide for the needs of over 10,000 participants. During that time he hosted, wrote, and produced the Good Health Makes $ense Show, a monthly live satellite broadcast to over 100 sites in Alabama and Florida.
David Gobble, PhD
Director, Fisher Institute for Wellness, Ball State University
Dr. Gobble received his PhD in Community Health and has worked in health promotion and wellness for over twenty-five years as an educator, administrator, direct service provider, and consultant. His career has focused on the delivery and evaluation of disease prevention, health promotion, and wellness programs in various work and community settings. Dr. Gobble has been published in leading journals in health education, nursing, psychology, and wellness.
Kris Berg, EdD
Professor, Health, Physical Education & Recreation,
University of Nebraska, Omaha
Dr. Berg received both his B.S. and M.S. from the University of Kansas. He received his EdD from the University of Missouri-Columbia and currently serves as a faculty member in the College of Education at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. Dr. Berg's areas of specialization and interest include diabetes and exercise, training of the endurance athlete and exercise metabolism.
Carol Landau, PhD
Clinical and Consulting Psychologist, Brown University
Carol Landau, PhD is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. landau also maintains an independent practice as a consulting clinical psychologist. Dr. Landau co-founded Women's Health associates, a multidisciplinary practice and is a consultant for a variety of health care practices. Dr. Landau has published more than 40 articles and chapters on the mental health problems of women and women's health issues. Dr. Landau also has served on the faculty of Harvard University Medical School's Department of Continuing Education annual course, "The Primary Care of Women."
Alberto Colombi, MD
Corporate Medical Director, PPG Industries
Alberto Colombi is Corporate Medical Director of PPG Industries. He is a member of the International Commission on Occupational Health, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Association of Industrial Medicine Physicians, and numerous other organizations. He joined PPG in Pittsburgh in 1987 as medical director of coatings businesses, moved to Milan, Italy, as coatings Medical Director for Europe and then to Paris as corporate European Director of Environment, health and safety, and returned to Pittsburgh in his current post in 1995. A Milan native, Colombi earned doctor of medicine and occupational health degrees from the University of Milan and a master's degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh.
