Board of Directors
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Board of Directors
Lesia Cartelli, Founder & CEO
Lesia Cartelli is a motivational speaker, author and founder of Angel Faces. She launched and directed the first camp for burn-injured children in southern California in the early 1990’s. Cartelli moved onto become the Community Relations Representative with University of California San Diego, Regional Burn Center and then named Executive Director of the Orange County Burn Association. During this 27 year span she developed and directed after-care programs for burn-injured children and adults who have endured serious trauma and burn injuries. Cartelli founded the first national retreat for adults who suffered from severe burn injuries.
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Cartelli was on the founding task force implementing Critical Incident Stress Management for the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department, serving the Urban Search and Rescue, TF -8. Cartelli became Family Support Coordinator Critical Incident Stress Management Task Force after the 911 attacks. She also spent two years as a volunteer for the Trauma Intervention Program in North San Diego County. She is the author of a newly released, award winning book, Heart of Fire, a Memoir.
Mary Murray
Mary Murray is a Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for Union Bank, The Private Bank. Mary works with a team of specialists in wealth planning, investments, risk management, trust and estate services, and banking. The team builds consultative client relationships by providing wealth management advice centered on the client’s unique goals and dreams. She has been a dedicated volunteer and board member of Angel Faces for many years, and was recognized by the North County Philanthropy Council as a “Volunteer of the Year” in 2009. Mary is also a member of the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club in San Diego County.
Melanie Palm, MD
Dr. Palm, who also serves as an assistant clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego, and staff physician at Scripps Encinitas Memorial Hospital, graduated with high distinction earning a joint degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and the Booth Graduate School of Business. She was awarded Intern of the Year and completed her dermatology residency at Rush Presbyterian-St. Lukes in Chicago, IL, serving as Chief Resident in her final year of training. Dr. Palm completed an American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery fellowship in La Jolla, CA and is currently faculty for the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery review course.
An accomplished author, Dr. Palm has published over 25 articles in the dermatological literature and co-authored four book chapters on various topics including liposuction, photoproteciton/sunscreen use, cosmetic injectables, vein therapy, and laser technology. She has received numerous investigative and leadership accolades including the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Young Investigators Writing Competition, the American Academy of Dermatology Leadership Forum, and the ASDS Future Leaders Network.
Dr. Palm serves multiple leadership roles locally and nationally for organizations such as the San Diego Dermatologic Surgery Society, ASDS, and Women’s Dermatologic Society. She lectures nationally and internationally on developments in cosmetic dermatology and has been involved in numerous clinical studies. She was inducted into the Amonette Circle of the Skin Cancer Foundation for providing community skin cancer screenings and fundraising efforts with like-minded businesses in the community. A repeat recipient of both the Patients’ Choice and Compassionate Doctor Awards, identifying her as one of America’s most compassionate doctors. In 2012, she was nominated for San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award and was named by San Diego Metropolitan as one of San Diego’s “Metro Movers” in 2015. artofskinmd.com
Leigh Ann Price, MD
Leigh Ann Price is the Director of the National Reconstructive Burn Center at John Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. She completed her general surgery residency at Baystate Medical Center, a Tufts affiliate in Springfield, Mass., followed by a burn fellowship at Hopkins. She also recently completed a combined plastic and reconstructive surgery program based both at Hopkins and at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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Her wide-ranging research interests include immunology, disaster management and prevention, tissue transplant research and systemic responses to burn injury. Price completed her general surgery residency at Baystate Medical Center, a Tufts affiliate in Springfield, Mass., followed by a burn fellowship at Hopkins. She also recently completed a combined plastic and reconstructive surgery program based both at Hopkins and at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Her wide-ranging research interests include immunology, disaster management and prevention, tissue transplant research and systemic responses to burn injury.
Audrey Szutu, Secretary
Audrey Szutu, formerly the CFO at Waterfront Container Leasing Company in San Francisco is now retired and lives in northern California. She graduated from University of Southern California, with BS in Business Administration and is a licensed CPA in California. Audrey has over 20 year experience in management role, both in industry and public accounting. Her experience includes strategic planning and building accounting infrastructure.
Jennifer Tokatyan
Jennifer Tokatyan has 20 years of Human Resources experience and over 10 years in organizational development and executive leadership positions across multiple industries. Jennifer is currently the Director of Human Resources for prAna Living, LLC, a Carlsbad-based apparel company. prAna is an ancient Sanskrit word for breath, life and vitality of the spirit.
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Jennifer has a M.S. in Human Resources Management from Chapman University and a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of San Diego. She is certified in the Predictive Index, a behavioral-based assessment tool and is well-versed in coaching others in Situational Leadership and Situational Self Leadership. She is passionate about personal development and helping others unleash their potential.
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In addition, Jennifer has been actively involved with Angel Faces since 2010 as a volunteer, then Executive Director and now a member of the Board of Directors. Jennifer is grateful to be part of Angel Faces’ ongoing growth and evolution.
Jill S. Waibel, MD
Dr. Waibel is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology. She specializes in cutaneous laser surgery, general and cosmetic dermatology. She is currently the medical director and owner of the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute in South Miami.She is also the Subsection Chief of Dermatology at Baptist Hospital and serves as a Clinical Voluntary Assistant Professor at the University of Miami.
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Dr. Waibel’s undergraduate degree is from Indiana University. She completed medical school and dermatology residency at the Wright State School of Medicine in Ohio where she was at the top of her class, graduating Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Waibel served as chief resident and went on to do three laser preceptorships.
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She has received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, including an award given by Surgeon General Koop. Dr. Waibel is also a recipient of The American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Cutting Research Award.
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In her practice she has over 35 laser devices and treats a wide variety of cutaneous disease.
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The treatment of scars by applying today’s latest cutaneous laser technologies is one of Dr. Waibel’s primary passions. She has successfully developed industry leading procedures and techniques with lasers. She works with a team that has developed patents related to laser and stem cells. Dr. Waibel is active in basic science clinical trials at the University of Miami and oversees a clinical trials division of Miami Dermatology and Research.
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Dr. Waibel lectures nationally and internationally and she has published over thirty peer-reviewed journal articles and several textbook chapters. miamidermlaser.com