Originally from Newton, Massachusetts, Dr. Sagall is a graduate of Antioch College and the Medical College of Ohio. He graduated from the Family Practice Residency Program at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, ME, where he practiced family medicine and occupational medicine for 20 years. He relocated to Philadelphia in 1997 where he concentrated on Occupational Medicine and developing NeedyMeds.com.
Rich has written articles for a number of publications on assistance programs and occupational medicine topics. He has given presentations on Patient Assistance Programs and occupational medicine throughout the country. In addition to directing NeedyMeds, he publishes Pediatrics for Parents, a monthly newsletter on children's health. This newsletter can be found on the web at
www.pedsforparents.com. He now lives in Gloucester, MA. His email address is
richsagall@needymeds.com.
Roberta Downey, Director of Program Outreach
Before joining NeedyMeds.com, Roberta was Executive Director of the Eastern Agency on Aging, Bangor, ME, retiring in May 2005, after 25 years of service.
Roberta serves on the Executive Council of AARP Maine, the Board of Directors of the Penobscot Valley Health Center, the University of Maine Center on Aging Advisory Council, the University of Maine School of Public Administration Advisory Council, the United Way of Eastern Maine's Senior Impact Council and is treasurer of the Maine Gerontological Society. Roberta graduated with a B.A. in History from the Brooklyn College, City University of New York, and earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine. Her NeedyMeds email address is:
roberta@needymeds.com
Sophi Hopkins, Director of Research
Sophi is a graduate of Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. where her concentration was playwriting. She also received a MA in theater education from Emerson College, Boston, MA. She taught and directed at Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA, for four years. She lives in Gloucester, MA, where, besides her work for NeedyMeds, writes plays for young actors and is involved in children's theater. Her work with children and theater can be seen at www.sophihopkins.com. Her NeedyMeds email address is:
sophi@needymeds.
Rosella Park-Sagall, Coordinator of Content
Rosella has a background in graphic design and fine arts. She has a BFA and three years of postgraduate work in Industrial Design from Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She earned a master's degree in Museum Education from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA. She is an exhibiting artist and a free-lance writer and design consultant. She has written and designed materials for a wide range of organizations. Her NeedyMeds email address is:
rosella@needymeds.com.
Vikki Sloviter, Editor of Patient Advocate News & Research Associate
Vikki graduated from Yale University with a degree in History of Science and Medicine where she was an HIV/AIDS educator/coordinator. She has worked at a women's health clinic, was a primary care supervisor at Boston Medical Center, taught high school English, and lived and worked at a Quaker boarding school. She grew up in Philadelphia and now lives in Bucks County, PA, with her husband and three young children. She also proofreads and writes for Pediatrics for Parents. Her NeedyMeds email address is
vikki@needymeds.com.
Dean McKeown, Office Coordinator
Originally from Needham Massachusetts, Dean is a graduate of Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley where he received an Associates Degree in Communication Arts and Bridgewater State College where he received a BA in Communications with a minor in Sociology. He then moved into the social services field as a mental health counselor for Advocates, Inc. While working as a counselor, Dean began a part-time position as a human resource consultant with Mercer, Inc. That opportunity led to a full-time position with the company.
In early 2007 Dean relocated to Gloucester Massachusetts and shortly thereafter became the newest member of the NeedyMeds team as Office Coordinator and Research Associate. His NeedyMeds email address is
dean@needymeds.com.
