About Our Board Members
Anthony Anzell, Ph.D.
Anthony was 15 years-old when he was diagnosed with HHT and from that point on, he dedicated his life to finding a cure for HHT in every way possible. Over the years, Anthony has attempted several ultra-endurance events to raise money and awareness for HHT. He is currently doing his post-doctorate research at the University of Pittsburgh conducting research under Dr. Beth Roman, trying to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms that give rise to arteriovenous malformations in HHT with hopes of developing clinically viable therapies for HHT patients. Anthony cannot think of a better way to continue his efforts in fighting for a cure than by serving the HHT community as a Board member.
Scott Boatwright
Scott Boatwright has been a Financial Planner with Starks Financial Group in Asheville, North Carolina, since January 2014. He is an attorney and Certified Financial Planner practitioner. Scott holds the Series 7 and 66 securities licenses and North Carolina life, accident and health, and long-term care insurance licenses.
Scott’s previous experience includes work as a civil litigation attorney at firms in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Greenville, South Carolina; a stint as stay-at-home dad with his two children, Stuart and Harper; and consulting in financial planning through his own practice. He was born and raised in Waynesville, North Carolina, and now lives in south Asheville with his wife, Lisa Nurre, and kids.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor degree from the Duke University School of Law. He is an avid runner and considers the trails around Asheville a second home. He recently completed a backpacking skills course and looks forward to spending more time in remote, beautiful places.
Gabriella Choi
Gabriella Choi (Gabby) recently joined the Board with the motivation to bring more engagement from a new generation of HHT patients. Her mother, Julie, discovered HHT was running in their family and ensured that Gabby and her brother were diagnosed, treated, and educated from a young age. Gabby strives to bring the awareness her mother gave her at such a young age, to more families affected by HHT.
Professionally, Gabby is an operator and advisor for early stage businesses, primarily in software and consumer verticals. She joined two enterprise software companies in the healthcare and supply chain industry as part of the founding teams, and led operations. Gabby has also co-founded a beverage brand called HOP WTR, worked in management consulting and at Spotify, and got her MBA from Harvard Business School.
John Dunn
In 2001 John’s wife was diagnosed with HHT. Shortly after her diagnosis, they attended their first Cure HHT patient conference together in St. Louis, Missouri. That experience changed their lives. John joined the Cure HHT Board of Directors in 2017 and has served as the organization’s Secretary, Vice President, and President. His mission is to see that Cure HHT is effectively helping everyone everywhere with HHT and that while we welcome modern therapeutics, ultimately it is an HHT cure for which we strive.
John lives in Scotts Valley California with his wife and their two teenage daughters along with three dogs, one cat, one chicken, one green cheeked conure, and a horse. John taught Economics, U.S. History, and American Government for 30 years at his high school alma mater, Harbor High School, in Santa Cruz, California. After retiring from teaching for two years, John returned to education and is now the principal of Holy Cross School in Santa Cruz. Together he and his wife enjoy attending their two daughters’ plays, musicals, volleyball and soccer games. John and his family spend time together at Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho where you will find them during the summer boating, fishing, and swimming. Given the opportunity, John will get away to the solitude of a mountain stream for some fly fishing during the evening hatch.
Howard Lichtig
Howard Lichtig has worked for CBRE (publicly traded global real estate company) for 34+ years in industrial and investment sales and leasing. He has had the privilege to serve as a volunteer and board member of many community organizations, including Cleveland Sight Center, Akron Cleveland Association of Realtors, American Diabetes Association, Rotary Club of Cleveland, Wire Net and Hattie Larlham a non-profit that provides service and card to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Howard and his wife, Kitty have been married for 36 years. In his free time, he enjoys golf, bowling, cooking, travel (cruising in particular) and watch collecting. Howard is an HHT patient himself along with various family members. He is eagar to join the board to contribute time, talent and treasure to finding The Cure.
Marijo McCune
"I’ve been a part of the HHT community since my definitive diagnosis in 1990 and what a difference 30 years makes. That difference comes in the form of people who care so deeply and work tirelessly day in and day out to find treatments, spread awareness, and advance our steps toward a cure. I have 2 children and 2 grandchildren, all affected by HHT. It’s my commitment to them that I’ll do my part to help make their future HHT free. That’s why I am so grateful to sit on this board."
Scott Olitsky, MD, MBA
Brandon Probst, PhD
Brandon Probst completed his PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Professionally, he has over 15 years of preclinical small molecule drug discovery experience in multiple therapeutic areas including the last 7 years working on rare disease indications. Dr. Probst is currently a Director of Disease Biology at Recursion Pharmaceuticals Inc. and has spent several years working on a project aimed at identifying novel therapeutics for HHT. He has a strong desire to find and develop game changing medicines for patients. Brandon lives in Lehi, UT wife his wife, Stephanie and their five children.
Karen Silber Weissel, PhD
Karen Silber Weissel has been an active volunteer for the HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia) Foundation International (now Cure HHT) for over 12 years and joined the Board of Directors in 2019. Karen currently serves as Board Secretary, co-chair of the Patient Registry Advisory Board, and co-chair of the Development Committee. Karen has been instrumental in the launch of the HHT Patient Registry and in raising funds for Cure HHT’s annual fundraising appeal. As an HHT patient and caregiver, Karen is passionate about improving the lives of HHT patients and their families.
Karen is the President and Co-Founder of the Brian D. Silber Memorial Fund, a nonprofit organization established in 1996 in memory of her brother to advance research on spinal cord tumors, support clinical centers, and educate healthcare providers. With a hands-on approach to management, she has spearheaded successful fundraising efforts, including leading 21 golf tournaments and numerous online campaigns that have collectively raised over $2.5 million with an all-volunteer team. These efforts have enabled the organization to make grants to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to support the creation and operation of the Brian D. Silber Spine Tumor Clinic, the first multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to treating spinal cord cancer and spinal tumor patients. Through close collaboration with neurosurgery and neuro-oncology physicians and the Development Office at MGH, Karen helps the Fund continue to drive impactful initiatives that improve care and outcomes for spinal tumor patients.
Karen holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an ScB in Chemistry from Brown University. Karen lives in Massachusetts with her husband and is a devoted mother to three children.
Ann Trussell
Ann Trussell has served as a genetic researcher and as a regulatory auditor in the pharmaceutical industry. Ann has a vested passion and knowledge regarding HHT. Her experience stems from her and her two daughters all being HHT patients at the Center of Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania.
In prior employment, Ann gained familiarity with the FDA, quality assurance and drug availability. She also helped to create an HHT support group and brought attention to HHT being a cause of pediatric strokes, to families and practitioners at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She has advocated for post birth genetic testing when stroke is indicated. Ann is deeply motivated to find a cure to HHT due to both of her daughters having HHT. She would like to believe that she is doing everything she can for them to have better lives. Ann resides in Lewes, DE with her husband, Bill, her youngest daughter, Lauren and her very spirited Weimaraner, Gus.