A Forum for LIFE, Inc.
A Forum for LIFE, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) based in Brooklyn, New York.
Our Mission Statement - “A Forum
for LIFE, Inc. presents a diverse professional
development curriculum that places emphasis on the health, safety &
well-being of all people.” Board of Directors & Lead Instructors Leandro Ramirez, MD accepted his M.D. from the Iberoamerican University in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic. Along with
dedicated roles in volunteer services like Shriner’s, Operation Walk, and World
Pediatric Project, Leandro completed his United States Medical Licensing Exams
to acquire Board certification while graduating cum laude. He served as one of the founding members who
developed the university’s orthopedics interest groups and served as the
student ambassador to welcome the Medical Board of California, whom would
eventually provide accreditation to the university as the last of the remaining
states to accept international medical graduated from the institution. As a board certified doctor of medicine, Leandro
Ramirez will begin his medical residency in 2018 and is currently completing
his masters in health care administration with Walden University. In order to improve his profile for his
upcoming residency, Leandro seeks to work as a health advocate and contribute
to organizations that can serve to bring ideals of health services into fruition. Having been born and raised in New York City,
he plans his future around joining the uncertain yet hopeful health providers,
to develop positive outcomes for the populations served.Adam Johnson, MD - from Southern California, and oldest of 4
siblings. Graduated University California Santa Barbara after doing premed.
Always knew I wanted to be a doctor and help others. It brings me the greatest
sense of fulfillment teaching others and knowing you might have helped saved a
life. Shama
Lalani MD, MPH - American University of Integrative Sciences, St. Maarten School of Medicine, Sint Maarten Completed Clinical Science Program. Completed two years of clinical rotations in the United states at various medical institutions. Finished various core and elective rotations in psychiatry in the field of child and adolescents, geriatrics and general psychiatry.
Pictured, to the right, are Edemar Arbuzow, President and Roman Matthews, Chief Executive Officer. Michell Reyes, FAPIC - has nearly two decades of experience in the
field of Infection Prevention, Microbiology and quality improvement. He is
currently an Infection Control Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center in New York City. He has lectured in the community and nationally on a
variety of patient safety and Infection Control topics. He has published several
peer-reviewed journals in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) and
the Clinical Microbiology Newsletter. He is a Professional Affiliated to
Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) and American Society
for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Michell Reyes works as a national and international senior
consultant with Schlesinger Associat#keting Research Corporation. He is a
two-time recipient of the “Star Award” for providing patient efficiency
and safety at The Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. He participated
in the development of Policies and Protocols to provide care for patients with
presumptive Ebola disease. He also worked with Dr. Mark Methner from the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The New York State Department of Health
Officers and Mount Sinai leadership to develop work flows when taking care of
patients with presumptive Ebola disease. He was a vital member in the creation
of a state-of-the-art Bio containment Unit to take of care patients with
presumptive Ebola disease or any highly communicable disease.
Michell Reyes has a degree in Nursing
from Queensborough Community College, a Bachelor of Science in the field of
Microbiology from York College of the City University of New York and a Master
of Public Health from Walden University.
He
has been certified in Infection Prevention and Control (CIC) from the
Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. since 2008. Rebecca Pfaffenbach, MA - received two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from American
University in Washington, DC concurrently in Psychology and in Law and
Society. She was also a student athlete
excelling in Field Hockey and Softball.
During her undergraduate years, Rebecca started her full-time career in
the health field working in pharmaceutical development. Although she began in Sleep Medicine, she
moved to Chemotherapy Development for End of Life patients where she stayed for
7 years. During this time though, her
entrepreneurial and travel spirit grew and after receiving her Master of Arts
in Psychology in Education from Columbia University in New York City, she moved
to Europe. In Spain, she founded a tour
company which expanded into Portugal where she opened a beachfront
restaurant. Upon her return to the
United States, her lifelong passion for fitness and nutrition combined with a
desire to improve people's quality of life gave birth to MyBodyBuddy.org. This coaching
company allows Rebecca to help motivate and teach people the best way to
succeed in their health goals by creating solutions to overcome obstacles,
designing nutrition plans and fitness plans on an individual level and being a
health educator in a corporate setting.
She also shares her knowledge with personal trainers, gyms, and studios
so they are able to provide their clientele with a more well-rounded
approach. Cathy Ward, MD - is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with
19 years of clinical experience who has been practicing on the Upper West Side
of Manhattan for the past twelve years. She graduated from college in 1989 with
a B.S. in Biological Sciences and received her medical degree from the Medical
College of Ohio in 1993. She completed her internship and residency program at
the University of Maryland Medical System in Baltimore in 1996. Upon
graduation, Dr. Ward toured the country for a year as a traveling pediatrician
for a locum tenens company, working with the Amish, the military, teen clinics,
and on Indian reservations. She then settled back into a well-respected private
practice in Baltimore where she treated patients and served as a mentor for
interns and residents at Johns Hopkins Medical School. She moved to New York
City in 2001 to continue her career and has now set up her own private
practice. Dr. Ward has been interviewed several times as a pediatric
expert by major news media, including NBC, News Channel 4 and Fox5News in New
York City. She's has been quoted in Parents magazine, Ser Padres, and HOY
newspaper and has given many presentations for local school children and parent
organizations. She was honored for seven consecutive years with the
"Patient's Choice Award" for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
2014, and 2015, and also received the "Compassionate Doctor Award"
for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. Her research experience
includes the "Hot Baby Study- Febrile Infants Less Than Eight Weeks of
Age," in 1996.
Dr. Ward was a captain in the United States Air Force. Her
passions include sports, animal fostering and rescue, comedy clubs, and playing
the drums.
Olga Zbarskaya, PhD is a scholar, administrator, consultant,
and internationally published author. Dr. Zbarskaya is an expert in the areas
of mental fitness, creative thinking, problem solving, and decision-making.
Olga Zbarskaya is the founder and president of the OZCREDO Corporation, which
provides consulting, training, workshops, and coaching to help individuals and
institutions maximize their leadership skills, problem-solving abilities,
everyday performance, mental health, and overall potential. She frequently
presents at conferences to contribute to the latest developments in social
services. Her presentations cover topics including human services
administration, creative thinking, decision-making, effective problem solving,
and much more.
Dr. Zbarskaya has been teaching educators, administrators,
and licensed professionals since 2000. In addition to publishing dozens of
peer-reviewed articles and books, Dr. Zbarskaya has developed curricula for
multiple organizations and professionals from diverse backgrounds to enhance
their level of success through cortical stimulation and metaphorical thinking,
and by making their environment more conducive to creativity.
Olga Zbarskaya’s book Brainstorm! Practice for Unrestricted
Imagination and Original Thought (Praeger Books, 2016) offers a scientific
framework for the thought that creativity is a dynamic fuel that can power
every sphere of life. Dr. Zbarskaya is a member of multiple national and
international societies. She is a senior reviewer with the National
Organization for Human Services NOHS as well as a highlighted member of the
Textbook & Academic Authors Association. Along with being named a Top
Tanked U.S. Executive and a Woman Who Sets the Standards from Who’s Who in
Professional Business Women, Olga has received the New York Foundling Mission
Award, multiple literary awards, and many other professional honors in human
services, literature, administration, and other areas. Melodee Armstrong, RN & Lead MAT Instructor Charles Smith, ACSL Instructor Aspasia Tull is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in New York
City. Every day she confronts emergency situations that add to her knowledge
and ability to teach others. This is a list of nationally recognized group that
she is credentialed by and the components that she teaches. EMT-B
American Heart Instructor
Red Cross Instructor
ECSI Instructor
ACLS Instructor
Pals Instructor
BLS Instructor
Blood -borne pathogens Instructor
First Aid/Heart Saver Instructor Sonia Aspah, Registered Nurse & MAT InstructorSonia Asaph is a Registered Nurse who is a Community
Health Nurse and a lead Medication Administration Trainer. She holds a B.S. in
Nursing and a Minor in pharmacy. Mrs. Asaph graduated from the Adelphi
University of New York and the Antioquia University of Medellin-Colombia. She
has been worked for the Child Care Council of Suffolk and the Center Light
Healthcare System of New York.
Sonia provides instruction in English & Spanish
and is passionate about the education of society. Her vision is to help others
and to work for the well-being of all people. Our lectures, training programs and
workshops:
·
AED (Automated External
Defibrillator)
·
Advanced First Aid / First Responder
Certification
·
Anxiety, ADHA & Depression
·
Art & Music Therapy
·
Athletic Training & Sports
Psychology - Golf & Tennis Lessons
·
Become an Instructor
·
Blood-borne Pathogens (Preventing
Disease Transmission)
·
CPR for the Professional / Health
Care Professional CPR
·
Child Abuse Prevention &
Maltreatment Identification and Reporting
·
Communicate with Tact
·
Conflict Resolution Skills
·
Culinary Arts Training
·
Drug & Alcohol Abuse / Poisoning
·
Early Childhood Nutrition
·
Emergency Medical Responder
·
Emergency Oxygen Administration
·
Empowering Youth
·
Essential Habits
·
Financial Literacy
·
First Aid Training
·
Glycemic Index Table
·
Golf & Tennis Lessons &
Clinics
·
Health & Safety Training (15
& 30 hours)
·
How to be Happy / Motivational
Speaking
·
How to Communicate with Diplomacy
& Tact
·
How to Prepare for an Emergency
·
Infectious Disease Control
·
Just Breathe / Learn to Relax
·
Low Self-esteem in Children
·
Lower Your Cancer Risk ·
Medication Administration Training
·
Mental Hygiene
·
Parenting Skills Training / Positive
Reinforcement
·
Pediatric First Aid for Caregivers
& Teachers
·
Physical Education / Personal
Training / How to Coach Children
·
Professionalism / Leadership
·
Shaken Baby Syndrome & Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome
·
Seizures & Epilepsy
·
Stress Management / Seven Things
That Keep You Calm
·
Substance Abuse Intervention &
Prevention
·
Time Management
Our curriculum is approved by; the New
York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, the NYC
Board of Education, the World Health Organization, the Aspire Registry, the
Agency for Child Development, UPK for All and the Archdiocese of New York.
As a 501 (c) (3), A Forum for LIFE.
Inc. (www.aforumforlife.org) is
keenly aware of the economic conditions impacting training, nationwide. In our
effort to support, we underwrite a large percent of the cost associated these
Professional Development and training programs.
A Forum for LIFE is an Authorized
Provider for; the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (www.ecsi.org) a division of Jones & Bartlett
Publishers, the American Academy of Pediatrics, (www.aap.org)
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, (www.aaos.org)
the National Safety Council, (www.nsc.org) the Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (www.osha.com) and the American College of Emergency
Physicians (www.acpe.org).
As a Public Charity we bring a new
level of affordability. All costs or fees are considered donations and are
tax-deductible to the extent the law allows.
We are currently recruiting
individuals to join our Board of Directors as well as Advisory Council members.
Let us know how A Forum for LIFE, Inc. may be of service.
Cordially,
H.
Roman Matthews, CEO Edemar M. Arbuzow, President
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