Board of Directors
Paul J. Farrell
Chairman and Founding Member
Paul lives in Commack, New York with his wife Cathy and three children, each of whom have graduated from or are presently attending the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. He has suffered from syringomyelia since 1989, and is committed to finding a cure for syringomyelia and Chiari malformations.
Paul received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from Manhattan College in 1982, and his Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1986. He is in private practice on Long Island, and specializes in U.S. patent law. Paul is a former officer on the Board of Directors of the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project, and has volunteered and served on the Board of Directors of the Christ the King (Commack, NY) Catholic Youth Organization, as well as vice-chair of the Christ the King Parish Capital Campaign fundraising committee to build new a church and parish community center.
Contact .
Joe Fitzpatrick
Vice Chairman and Founding Member
Joe lives in Naperville, Illinois with his wife Brenda and three boys, Conor, Bryan & Liam. Liam has Chiari malformation, syringomyelia and high intra-cranial pressure.
Joe served for three years on the Board of the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project as Marketing Chairman as well as part of the Executive Committee. He currently is employed by American International Group (AIG) as a Resident Vice President of the Midwest Region.
Joe’s goal in working with CSF is to help create an organization that focuses on research funding and education to spread the understanding of these disorders among the medical and patient communities. His entire family is impacted by these disorders in a variety of ways, both physically and emotionally. He envisions a day when the best treatments possible are available to all individuals impacted by these disorders.
Contact .
Steve Kragrud
Treasurer
Steve and his wife, Shari live in Beaverton, Oregon. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Diagnosed with SM/CM1 in 1989, Steve became involved with the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project soon after attending its annual conference in 1990. He was asked to serve on the Board of Directors as Treasurer, and did so for just over four years.
Steve has an accounting degree from Portland State University and presently manages tool and cleanroom installations in Portland’s high-tech market for a large
multi-national mechanical contractor.
Steve believes it’s the right time for us to move this mission forward and wants to do his part so that others might not have to suffer.
Contact .
Cathy Poznik
Secretary
Cathy lives in Twinsburg, Ohio with her husband Jim and three boys, Calvin, Brent & Travis. Calvin has Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, and high intra-cranial pressure and Brent has Chiari malformation.
Cathy formerly served on the Board of the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project as Chair of the Community Foundations program and will now continue her work in development for CSF. She is focused on spreading awareness and one month after CSF was founded, hosted the First Annual Cleveland CSF Community Foundation event.
Cathy’s goal in working with CSF is to continue her work in Community Awareness programs, raise much needed funds for research, and work with a medical research board that has committed itself to the CM/SM cause. Her passion is to work with CSF’s dedicated Board of Directors, staff, and medical doctors to help find a cure.
Contact .
Lory Watson
Director and Founding Member
Lory lives in Naperville, Illinois with her husband, Rob, and three children, Matt, Mitch and Macy. Matt was diagnosed with Chiari malformation at the age of 22 months after a grueling two years of exploring many false leads. Upon receiving the diagnosis of CMI,
Rob and Lory spent three months educating themselves about Chiari and the different surgical techniques used by different doctors. Finally, in July of 2000, they selected the fifth neurosurgeon they interviewed and Matt had a posterior fossa decompression to alleviate his uncontrollable pain. In spite of a long recovery, Matt is now a symptom-free nine year old boy, who is doing well in school and leading a very normal life. His surgery is very much considered a success story, but the harrowing journey to uncover a proper diagnosis motivated Lory to become involved in raising Chiari awareness both within the medical community and amongst the general public as well.
Lory attended North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Before having children, she worked as a media supervisor for Leo Burnett in Chicago. She used this experience to help her when she served on the Board of Directors of the American Syringomyelia Alliance Project (ASAP) from 2002 to 2005. In addition, she was the Chair of the Arlington Race for a Cure fundraiser for many years and worked closely with the Development team in this position. In the fall of 2007, when Lory felt that a new, unique organization was called for in the CM/SM world, she was instrumental in founding CSF with her fellow Board members.
Lory is passionate about everything she does and remains actively involved in the search for a cure for Chiari and syringomyelia at CSF.
Contact .