Lisa A. Tushla, PHD, H(ASCP) (Formerly Faltyn)

President

In a career spanning over 25 years, Lisa has demonstrated a true vocation for medical education. A physiologist by training with over 6 years of experience in clinical hematology, Lisa began her career teaching biology as an Assistant Professor at Marymount Manhattan College in New York. Based on her agency experience in publication planning, continuing education, sales training, and promotional education, Lisa and her partners launched PharmAdura, LLC (currently Paradigm Medical Communications), in 2003—growing the award-winning CME unit and taking the company through accreditation. With a move to the West Coast in 2007, Lisa subsequently joined Quest MedEd, LLC, an innovative company focusing on high-quality eLearning activities, primarily in the field of hematology/oncology. Capitalizing on that experience, Lisa launched Terranova in the fall of 2009, and the company has enjoyed delivering a variety of educational initiatives in live, print, and web-based formats. A recipient of 2 Alliance for Continuing Medical Education Awards, Lisa brings passion, creativity, attention to detail, and meticulous science to each continuing education activity she is engaged in.

Tom Davis, BS

Chief Operations Officer

Tom is a leading expert in the field of business transformation for companies engaged in the growth or creative stage of their life cycle. He has worked with countless companies, from those on the Fortune 500 to relative unknowns and start-ups as well.

Prior to joining the Terranova Medica team in late 2009, Tom had been a serial entrepreneur. With an educational background in information and computer science, economics, and philosophy, Tom founded Information Works, an Information Design and Development company, in 1996. Based on his experience delivering solutions that offered captivating designs coupled with tangible sales and marketing results, Tom founded the highly successful Elite Products Group in early 1999. It was at Elite Products Group that Tom helped pioneer the comprehensive online traffic and sales analysis system that allowed Elite to become one of the most coveted online distribution channels of the early 2000s.
Most recently, he had redefined business transformation by establishing Fluidity Partners, which works with growing businesses to leverage ideas and solutions across the areas of business development, design services, sales consulting, and marketing and strategic analysis.

Tom’s understanding of business far surpasses that of a typical director. He truly understands what it takes to start, grow, and maintain successful companies and brings those strengths to Terranova as a whole, as well as each initiative he is involved in.

Elissa Pohorily, BA

Program Manager/Graphic Designer

Elissa Pohorily has worked with Terranova Medica as a program manager and graphic designer since 2021. A graduate of Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Elissa brings an artistic sensibility to her graphic designs. As a licensed aesthetician, she has great insight into appealing to the cosmetic concerns of the public to emphasize the benefits of sun protection. This sagacity has carried over to her work as a program manager, especially in the areas of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer programs, making her an integral component of Terranova Medica’s success.

In her efforts for community engagement, Elissa was active in the Eyes for Sight campaign as well as organizing the Teens With Promise Campaign in her neighborhood. Her community involvement includes participation in the Top of Sky Way Homeowners Association and as PTO president of her children’s school. Elissa resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Teri Stegmiller, BA

Editorial Director

With more than a decade of editorial experience, Teri has turned her passion for the English language into an exciting relationship with Terranova Medica as the company’s editorial director. Diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer at only 35 years old, she has a unique perspective and understanding of the challenges cancer patients and their caregivers face, particularly those of young survivors. Teri is a former volunteer YSC Face 2 Face coordinator for Young Survival Coalition, an organization for young adults with breast cancer and their co-survivors. From her experiences within the breast cancer community, she is fervent in her desire to assist in cancer education and advocacy which Terranova Medica fosters in her role. Teri has also participated as an advocate in the food allergy community, specifically bringing attention to food allergies at her son’s school.

Professionally, Teri began her career as a journalist for a business magazine in New Haven, Connecticut, where she worked her way up within the internal ranks to become the magazine’s coordinating editor. In her roles, Teri has written and edited materials in all sectors of business including technology, small business, and health care. In 2007, Teri was offered a position as director of broadcast scheduling and traffic for a cable advertising company in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games and camping in the Colorado mountains with her husband, son, and Siberian husky, Nymeria.

Sandra Duffy, MLS, MEd

Program Manager

Sandra Duffy, MLS, MEd, has worked as a program manager in medical education and pharmaceutical advertising as both a full-time employee and on a freelance basis since 1995 for various companies, including Sudler and Hennessey, Thomas Ferguson Associates, and most recently at Terranova Medica. Sandra has also worked as an English teacher, a librarian, and a college instructor. She holds a BA in English from Penn State University, an MLS in library science from Kutztown University, and an MEd in educational leadership from William Paterson University. Sandra has experience as a caretaker to family members who have fought cancer diagnoses, including her father and her late husband. She has run the NYC half marathon for several years in honor of her late husband, representing the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research. She has also completed several Sprint Triathlons.

Janice Gelfond, MA

Account Director

Janice Gelfond has worked in the field of medical education for over 30 years. She serves as account supervisor for Terranova Medica across various accounts and projects.

Prior to her work with Terranova, Janice held the position of vice president at BioScience Communications, the medical communications division of Daniel J Edelman, Inc. At BioScience, Janice successfully led teams for 11 years spanning multiple therapeutic areas (gastroenterology, HIV/AIDS, thyroid eye disease) in client strategy and implementation of global campaigns (symposia, webinars, slide decks, Congress posters, and journal articles).

Preceding her role at BioScience, Janice served as an account director at Adelphi Communications, guiding clients and leading her team in the launch of Aricept.

In her position as managing director of Cerebrio, Janice successfully integrated two CME companies (Pragmaton and Cerebrio) into one dynamic CME provider. Janice spearheaded the reaccreditation application process resulting in Cerebrio receiving a 4-year approval from the ACCME.

Prior to her position at Cerebrio, Janice held leadership positions in several medical education companies, including Accel Healthcare Communications, World Health Communications, and Phase Five Communications (Grey Healthcare Group). Her responsibilities included providing clients with strategic recommendations while leading account teams in implementing educationally sound CME and promotional medical education programs. Janice has worked in a variety of therapeutic areas, including CNS, oncology, dermatology, gastroenterology, cardiology, and HIV/AIDS.

Janice began her career at The Rusk Institute, New York University Medical Center, producing educational seminars and films in the area of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Janice earned a master of arts degree in media studies from the New School for Social Research in New York and a bachelor of arts degree in health education from CUNY at Queens College.

Kris Griffin

Marketing Consultant

Kris began collaborating with Terranova Medica in 2015 as the company’s social media consultant. With over 25 years of experience in the education, entertainment, and charity sectors, Kris brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.

Throughout his career, Kris has delivered results across various areas, including education, third-sector organizations, the military, Premier League football, and many TV licenses including Doctor Who and The Prisoner. He is equally efficient working internationally, with government departments, or with a local audience. He is a published writer, video blogger, presenter, school governor, charity trustee, experienced patient advocate, and a dedicated marketing and social media practitioner. Kris has worked with US newsrooms including CNN and Fox News, as well as Canada’s Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC). He received a commendation from US security agencies for his research work following 9/11.

Kris supported two of the Trojan Horse schools in Birmingham, UK for 2 years and was part of the team who brought both schools out of special measures and into an Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) good category. He also worked at the director level on the senior leadership team at a secondary school, where he supported the business, leadership, and marketing needs of other schools. Kris enjoys coaching and developing leaders, solving recruitment problems, and supporting crisis communications. He draws on his diverse expertise to shape emerging issues within education and has travelled extensively speaking at conferences and events about the power of social media and communicating effectively.

Kris’s biggest challenge arrived in 2008 when he was diagnosed at age 32, with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). Since then, he’s become a patient advocate, fundraiser, and parliamentary lobbyist and founded the CML Worldwide group with over 7500 members.

Outside of work, Kris enjoys spending time with his family, reading biographies, and watching Norwich City FC. He is a proud husband and dad who values family life and loves gardening.