Board Members
George K. Anderson, MD, MPH
Major General, USAF, MC (retired)
Dr. George Anderson is the Executive Director of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, which is the non-profit society of the federal health agencies. Following his medical and public health education, he began his professional career as an Air Force Flight Surgeon. His military service included overseas duty in Korea and Germany as well as aerospace medicine leadership positions in the United States. Late in his military career, as Commander of the Human Systems Center, he directed Air Force organizations responsible for life science research, development, acquisition, and education. Later he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Service Operations and Readiness.
Following thirty years of military service, he retired from active duty as a Major General and transitioned to physician executive positions in the private sector. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Koop Foundation, Inc. and later of Oceania, Inc., a medical software company. He is a Past President and Fellow, American College of Preventive Medicine; Past President and Fellow, Aerospace Medical Association; Past Chairman, American Board of Preventive Medicine; Distinguished Fellow, American College of Physician Executives; and Member, International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine. Dr. Anderson now resides in Annapolis with his wife, Kim.
John Astle
Maryland State Senator
John Astle has served the citizens of Maryland for more than two decades. He was a Member of the Maryland House of Delegates for twelve years and is currently fulfilling his third term as State Senator for the 30th Legislative District that includes Annapolis.
Love of country prompted John to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1966-1975. His service included a tour of duty in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot and a tour as a Presidential Helicopter pilot. In the course of his military service, John received a number of personal decorations including the Legion of Merit, two Purple Hearts, the Meritorious Service Medial, 31 air medals, and the Presidential Service Badge. After resigning his regular commission in 1975, John began a 21 year commitment with the Marine Corps Reserves. During that time, he volunteered and served five months: active duty in the Persian Gulf War. John retired as a Colonel from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1996.
A recognized leader, John chaired the Anne Arundel County delegation to the Maryland House of Delegates for five years. He was Vice Chairman of both the Capital Budget Subcommittee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Law Enforcement and Transportation for the seven years he served on those committees.
Senator John is Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee and sits on the Maryland Military Installation Strategic Planning Council, the Governor’s Commission on the Structure and Efficiency of State Government, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Joint Audit Committee, and the Senate Finance Health Subcommittee. He also chaired the Task Force to Reform Maryland Credit Union Law.
An avid sportsman and advocate for environmental issues, John has been a long-time supporter of the National Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. To bolster the Foundation’s efforts, John helped spearhead the creation of the Maryland Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus in 2001. He now serves as its Senate Chairman. A frontrunner in this arena, Maryland became the national model for Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucuses throughout the country.
In December 2004, John’s years of persistence paid off when representatives from 21 state caucuses throughout the country banded together to create the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses. In his role as President of the Executive Council for the newly- formed umbrella organization, John continues to be a strong voice for sportsmen’s rights throughout the country. His passion for the environment is evident through his work on the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Board of Trustees and his role as Co-Chairman of the Department of Natural Resources Special Fund Work Group in 2003.
John is a member of the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, disabled American Veterans, National Rifle Association, Dallas Safari Club and Safari Club International.
John and his wife Jayne live in Annapolis. They have two sons, Jay, and David, who is deceased.
Louise Hanson, CRNP
Co-Director, Dare to C.A.R.E.
Louise Hanson is a remarkably talented nurse practitioner with over 30 years experience in health care. Her expertise and clinical skills earned positions of leadership in many areas of the hospital, including critical care. Subsequently, she became a vascular care coordinator at Anne Arundel Medical Center. She then completed nurse practitioner training and became an integral provider of vascular care at Cardiology Associates. Ms. Hanson was critical in the design and implementation of DTC, right from the inception. In conjunction with John Martin, MD, she founded the Dare to C.A.R.E. (DTC) program in 2000.
"The information that is received is a vital part in preventing cardiovascular disease and changing behavior," states Ms. Hanson. "We feel it is equally as important as the screening itself."
A. Reza Jafari, MBA, PhD/ABD
Chairman & CEO, e-Development International
Mr. A. Reza Jafari is the Chairman and CEO of e-Development International. Based in Washington, DC, USA, e-Development International is an executive advisory group that promotes, facilitates, advises and participates in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) initiatives for Social Entrepreneurships and Public Private Partnerships for economic development and ICT as an infrastructure for promoting access and availability of Healthcare, Education, Cyber Security, Agriculture and alternative sources of Energy in developed and emerging markets worldwide.
On the industry association and non-profit front, currently Mr. Jafari is a Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ITU TELECOM (International Telecommunication Union, a UN Agency); a board member of GSMA Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of GSM Association; the Chairman of the Board of the India, China and America Institute (ICAI) and a member of the Governor’s Council for International Business, Maryland. He also served as the Chairman of the Finance Committee for the election of Mayor Josh Cohen in Annapolis, MD.
Mr. Jafari served as the Chairman and Managing Director of NeuStar International (2005 - 2008). Prior to joining NeuStar, Mr. Jafari was the Chairman and CEO of The Omega Partners, an executive advisory group based in Atlanta, USA (2002-2005). From 1990 to 2002, Mr. Jafari held various senior executive positions at Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS an HP Company)) including Group President of EDS’ Global Communications, Media and Entertainment Industry Group and Managing Director of the Communications and Media Industry Group for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Mr. Jafari’s career also includes seven years as the Founder, President and CEO of Satellite Conference Network and Bankers-TV Network in New York City.
Mr. Jafari received his MBA in 1976, his post-gradate (Ed. S) in 1980, and his ABD (PhD) in Instructional Systems Technology in 1981 from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. Mr. Jafari can be reached at arjafari@aol.com +1-202-465-0805 and +1-571-236-6874
John Martin, MD, FACS
Co-Director, Dare to C.A.R.E.
Medical Director of Heart and Vascular Institute, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD
John D. Martin, MD, FACS, is the Medical Director of Heart and Vascular Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center. Under Dr. Martin’s leadership, the Center has become a nationally recognized facility for the treatment of vascular disease. He has made a formidable contribution to our nation’s preventive healthcare movement. In 2000, he along with Louise Hanson, CRNP founded the Dare to C.A.R.E. program that reaches out to the citizens of the community and literally saves lives by offering free cardiovascular disease screenings.
Dare to C.A.R.E. screenings are responsible for detecting the early stages of the disease in many unaware citizens. Dr. Martin’s goal is to extend his program across the country and to continue to educate and save lives. To date the program has screened over 28,000 participants.
John Romans
President & CEO, BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc.
In 1999, John Romans joined BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc., a small, start-up company based in St. Paul, Minnesota that focuses on the early detection of Peripheral Arterial Disease. John’s long-standing pursuit of excellence dates back to his education at Williams College (1990) and Wharton Business School (1995). His strong ambition led him to be involved as a founding principal in several technology-based ventures, helping him to become an experienced entrepreneur, while building a track record of developing and implementing innovative business models in emerging telecom, energy and healthcare markets.
Today, BioMedix offers the only integrated suite of hardware, software and online services to cost-effectively diagnose and manage patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease by enabling true collaboration between primary care physicians, podiatrists and vascular specialists. This provides the best guidance for diagnosing, treating and managing patients with this deadly disease, which affects 10 million Americans, before it can lead to serious consequences.
John Romans has furthered his goal of improving healthcare by partnering with various philanthropic organizations. In 2004, John led BioMedix to become a founding sponsor of the national P.A.D. Coalition and a sponsoring partner of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). John serves as a board member of the Dare to C.A.R.E. Foundation and was recently awarded the APMA Executive Directors Award in recognition of the high level of support he has dedicated to the advancement of Podiatric medicine. Early in 2010, John Romans was invited by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to participate in the California P.A.D. Task Force. John was named the 2010 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Upper Midwest Region Technology Sector for demonstrating extraordinary success in the areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to his business and community.
"There are millions of people with undiagnosed PAD," Romans says. "That’s frustrating for the health care community because if properly diagnosed and treated, this disease can be managed with ease. But if left untreated, it can cause major quality-of-life compromises and be life-threatening. It doesn’t get any better than hearing that someone’s life was saved or that a grandparent was able to go shopping with their grandchild for the first time."
George Samaras, MD
Medical Executive Committee & President of the Medical Staff, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD
Dr. Samaras, a native Annapolitan, established Annapolis Internal Medicine in 1974. He completed his training in Internal Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Maryland General Hospital where he also was Chief Medical Resident. During that time, he continued his studies in Nephrology. Dr. Samaras has served as Chief of Medicine at Anne Arundel Medical Center and is currently a member of the Medical Executive Committee and President of the Medical staff. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and recognized by the Maryland State Board of Physician Quality Assurance as a Specialist in Nephrology. He is married and the proud father of six children. His passion is enjoying the academic and sports achievements of his children, and golf.
Mitchell Schwartz, MD
Chief Medical Officer & President of Physician Enterprise, LLC
Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD
Mitch Schwartz, MD joined the Anne Arundel Health System in 1992 as a member of the medical staff. He practiced cardiology from 1992 – 2010. During that time, he held the position of Clinical Leader of the Medical Initiative as well as Executive Director of Clinical Programs & Business Development. He was named Chief Medical Officer & President of Physician Enterprise, LLC in July 2010. In this position Dr. Schwartz will be responsible for quality initiatives, development of the physician enterprise, clinical integration as well as program development and growth.
Dr. Schwartz graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA in 1981 and earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine in 1985 with honors. He completed his Internship and Residency programs at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently he served a Chief Resident of Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. From 1989-1992 he completed fellowship in Cardiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Stuart Seides, MD
Associate Director of Cardiology at the Washington Hospital Center, Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine
Dr. Seides has been in the practice of Cardiology in Washington, D.C. since 1978 following his tenure as a senior investigator at the NIH. He is the founder of Cardiology Associates, P.C., the area’s largest full service cardiovascular group, and he serves as Associate Director of Cardiology at Washington Hospital Center and Clinical Professor of Medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine. Since entering clinical practice, his major clinical activities have included consultative and interventional cardiology, including the initiation of the coronary angioplasty program at WHC in February 1981.
He is the past president and current Board chairman of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, and he has been active with the American Heart Association, Nation’s Capital Affiliate, serving two terms as President. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Hospital Center, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors of MedStar Health. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, where he has served on the Training Program Standards Committee. He has lectured widely and he is the author of a standard textbook in the field of cardiac electrophysiology as well as numerous journal articles encompassing the broad spectrum of cardiovascular medicine.
Marshall Steele III, MD
Orthopedics, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD
Marshall Steele's many credits include Orthopedic Surgeon; Founder Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center, Anne Arundel Health Systems: Founder Center for Joint and Spine Replacement, Former Medical Director of the Surgical Clinical Initiative for Business Development/Strategic Planning for Destination Centers of Excellence.
He is also author of Orthopedics and Spine: Strategies for Superior Service Line Performance, Sideline Help, An Immediate Guide to the Care of Sports Injuries, Guidebook for Knees, Guidebook for Hips
Founder and President of Marshall Steele and Associates, a healthcare consulting and implementation company focused on service line development, analytics, and patient reported outcomes.