MRCC Advisory Council

Paul D. Brylske, M.S.W., L.C.S, W, -C, B.C.
Mr. Brylske is Director of the “The Therapeutic Family Care (TFC) Program” at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. 
As Director, Mr. Brylske has developed the program’s capacity to provide respite through the implementation of local, state, and federal grants. He has presented widely throughout the United States and Canada on issues related to Treatment Foster Care, adoptions, and respite and written extensively on related topics.  His area of expertise is program implementation, parent training, and program outcomes.  Mr. Brylske received his B.A. and BSW from the University of Maryland at Baltimore County in 1977.  He gained his Masters Degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1982.  He completed an externship at the Child Guidance Clinic in Maryland and is a Board Certified Diplomat in Social Work.  Currently, Mr. Brylske is Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Clinical in Maryland.
(Brylske@kennedykrieger.org)


Karen Hoffman, CPA
Kahler and Associates, PC
Certified Public Accountants
Timonium, MD
Ms. Hoffman is a CPA with Kahler & Associates, PC, a full service accounting firm that provides accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services to the for profit and nonprofit sectors.  In 1987, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance from Mt. St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD. Currently Ms. Hoffman serves on the board of the Presbyterian Home of Maryland and is the chair of the United Way of Central Maryland’s Agency Audit Review Committee. As a member of the MRCC Advisory Council, she offers valuable consulting assistance.
(Karenhoffman@mindspring.com)


John Kardys
Freelance Photographer
John Kardys is a long-time freelance photographer living in the Ednor Gardens neighborhood of Baltimore City.  He has exhibited at the Fells Point Festival and for several years at Artscape.  John was a featured photographer at the School 33 Art Center, Lotta Art 2009 Exhibition, and the Towson Arts Collective 2nd Anniversary Exhibition.  His work has been published by the Schmap Online Guides for Washington DC.  He is the staff photographer for the Maryland Respite Care Coalition (A Caregiver Advocacy Organization) and has photographed special events for the Maryland Pro Bono Counseling Project and AIDS Action Baltimore.  John’s travels have taken him across America and around the globe. He recently spent five weeks in India.  He has also traveled throughout Indochina, Australia, and South America.  He is inspired by the beauty of the places he visits and by the hope and industry of the people he’s met.
(JKardysphotos@verizon.net)


Ara S. Khachaturian, PhD
Dr. Khachaturian is the Executive Vice-President of Prevent Alzheimer’s 2020, Inc., the Managing Associate of Khachaturian and Associates, Inc., the Executive Editor of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association, and the former chief program officer of the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has nearly twenty years of experience in the area of epidemiological and clinical research, including specialized experience in population research, and managing state-of-the-art research related to the fields of pharmacogenetics and pharmacoepidemiology.  Dr. Khachaturian is a psychiatric epidemiologist trained at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University (JHU).  During his training, Dr. Khachaturian was an investigator on the Cache County (Utah, USA) Study on Memory in Aging, a population survey investigating the rates and risk factors of dementia and Alzheimer's disease among older adults living in a rural community.  In addition to conducting research on the differential diagnosis of dementia and the genetic correlates of population susceptibility of Alzheimer's disease, his responsibilities included study-wide needs related to bioinformatics and biostatistics.  He has presented numerous seminars on topics including statistical methodologies for population survey research and prevention research in dementing illnesses.   Finally, Dr. Khachaturian provides consultancy on the design, conduct, and analysis of pharmacoepidemiological and pharmacogenetic observational studies, as well as randomized clinical trials for large multi-national pharmaceutical companies.
(Ara_khachaturian@kra.net)


Eric B. Levey, MD
Director, Center for Spina Bifida and Related Conditions
Dr. Levey is a Research Scientist at Kennedy Krieger Institute and as a researcher and pediatrician, he specializes in medical care of children with severe developmental disabilities.  He provides clinical services at the Kennedy Krieger Children’s Hospital in the Phelps Center for Cerebral Palsy and Neurodevelopment Medicine and the Center for Spina Bifida and Related Conditions.  Dr. Levey is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  His primary care practice is limited to children with special health care needs.  Dr. Levey did his undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Economics and Natural Science.  He graduated in 1989 and then stayed at Penn for medical school. Upon graduation in 1993, he began his Residency in Pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Completing his residency in 1996, he did a Fellowship in General Academic Pediatrics through the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.  Dr. Levey is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Ambulatory Pediatric Association, Society for Research in Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, and the American Medical Association.
(Levey@kennedykrieger.org)


Amy Meyerl, LCSW-C           
Respite Coordinator
Therapeutic Foster Care at Kennedy Krieger Institute
Ms. Meyerl graduated from Juniata College in 1989 with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, and earned a Masters in Social Work from the University of Maryland, School of Social Work in 1991. She has worked in the field of child welfare since 1990.  For the past sixteen years, she has been at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Therapeutic Foster Care.  As its manager, Ms. Meyerl coordinates the respite program, as well as, the implementation of the program’s outcome evaluation system. She has been a fervent supporter of MRCC since their second conference.  She recognizes the need for respite based on both her professional work, and as a mother supporting the many activities of her three lively daughters involved in soccer, gymnastics, girl scouts, dance, and softball.  She makes time to volunteer at school, church, and community service.
(Meyerl@kennedykrieger.org)


Lisa A. Shenkle
Ms. Shenkle is President of VERB! Communications,
Baltimore, MD
Ms. Shenkle is an ever-ready creative person who started  VERB! Communications, a Public Relations Company, creating and implementing publicity, press and grassroots campaigns for clients including PBS-based programs, art and sports museums, non-profits, private industry, and government agencies.  She is a writer and producer of on-air radio news broadcasts.  She has earned several national awards in broadcasting, including the Emmy’s Best Overall Campaign by PRSA and a PBS National Promotion award for Overall Campaign.. As a passionate and charismatic communicator in her field, Ms. Shenkle has served as President of the American News Women’s Club in Washington, DC. She volunteers on the boards of Sail Baltimore and the Maryland Respite Care Coalition, Inc.
(LShenkle@att.net)


Connie Urquhart
Deputy Director, Pretrial Evaluation & Community Services
Developmental Disabilities Administration
Ms. Urquhart is responsible for providing statewide leadership and oversight for this section of the system.  She has 43 years of experience at progressive levels of responsibility within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, serving individuals with developmental disabilities including Supervisor of Intensive Care Unit, Director of Residential Services, Unit Chief, and her current position as Deputy Director for Pre-Trial Evaluation and Community Services.    In 1985, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Coppin State College, Baltimore, Maryland graduating Magna Cum Laude.  Ms. Urquhart is a member of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society.  Her organizational affiliations include the Maryland Respite Care Coalition, Inc. (MRCC) and Board Member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.    
(UrquhartC@dhmh.state.md.us)