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About Us
Dave Neal is the current president of the SSWLHC-MI board. He has been a member of the organization for more than 25 years and has held numerous board positions on both the local and national boards. Retired from clinical practice, Dave is a professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, School of Social Work and continues to serve as a consultant to the Washtenaw Community Health Organization. Dave was previously the director of the department of social work within the division of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Health System. In addition to his work with the SSWLHC, Dave has been an active member of NASW for almost 50 years, also serving in many leadership potions at both state and national levels. Regarding his commitment to the SSWLHC Dave says, "The Society provides opportunities to learn from your colleagues. It is important to know how social work services are being provided and what the best practices are. This can be accomplished through conferences, networking, and mentoring the Society provides. We need an organization which addresses health care issues from a social work perspective. Without an organization that can represent us, we are let other professions define our role in health care." Sarah Allan currently serves as the SSWLHC-MI Board secretary. She received her MA in psychology from Wayne State University and her MSW from the University of Michigan. Sarah is currently employed by the Michigan Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as the Manager of Clinical Programs. Her clinical interests include spirituality, trauma, and issues at the intersection of aging and chronic illness. She feels that understanding our aging population is critical for social workers involved in health care delivery. In addition to her involvement with SSWLHC-MI, Sarah is also involved with the NASW. Ellen Kachalsky is the current Treasurer for the SSWLHC-MI and has served in that position for several years. She received her BA in psychology from SUNY-Binghamton and her MSW from Adelphi University. Ellen is a social worker/case manager in the Hematology and Bleeding Disorders Clinic in the Henry Ford Health System. She has previously worked with ICU and general inpatient hospital populations, oncology clinics, and in housing/eldercare. She is interested in advocacy and insurance issues affecting health care social work, and she identifies health care access for immigrants/migrant workers as a particular passion. She identifies the need to identify and solidify the social work role within health care delivery as a primary goal for social workers. Ellen is the past-chairperson for the Medical Social Work Council, a special interest group through the NASW. John Carey currently serves as the membership recognition chair for the SSWLHC, a position that is new for him this year. He received his BA in sociology from Gettysburg College and his MSW from Indiana University. John is presently a Social Worker III in the Advocacy for the Uninsured program and the Academic Internal medicine Clinic at St Joseph Mercy Healthcare System in Ann Arbor, MI. Previous social work positions include work in guardianship, home care, and inpatient hospital social work. Clinical interests include health promotion behavior, recovery maintenance, and chronic care self management models. John is also involved with the University of Michigan, School of Social Work as a member of the Community Advisory Board, a member of NAMI, and a Habitat for Humanity Volunteer. Carrie Ross is the current liaison to NASW-MI from the SSWLHC-MI board. This is her first term in the position. Carrie received her BA in English, religion, and women's studies from Drake University, her MDiv from Union Theological Seminary, and her MSSW from Columbia University. She is a clinical social worker at the University of Michigan Hospital and an adjunct lecturer at the U of M School of Social Work. Carrie has previous experience working in women's health/reproductive health and homeless youth settings. Her clinical and research interests include health care access and health promotion for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and communities as well as legal and ethical issues at end of life. In addition to her involvement with SSWLHC-MI and NASW, Carrie is also a member of The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT), currently pursuing AASECT certification. Sandra Iaderosa currently serves as the Education Chair for the SSWLHC-MI. This is her first position on the board and her first term in the role. Sandra received her BA in sociology and anthropology from Oberlin College and her MSW from the University of Michigan where she also obtained a certificate in gerontology. She is a clinical social work manager for pediatrics and oncology at the University of Michigan Health System. Her past clinical roles include work in oncology and neurology. In addition to her involvement with SSWLHC, Sandra is also an active member of the NASW. Sandra's clinical and research interests include ethical issues in light of technological advancement in medical care and universal health care access. Through her role with the board she hopes to see greater exposure of the organization and be able to bring social workers together with educational programs that are relevant to their practice and passions. Sarah Eisenberg is the current Membership Chair for the SSWLHC-MI; this is her first position on the board. She received both her BA in sociology and her MSW from the University of Michigan. Sarah is a clinical social worker with In-House Hospice Solutions and Activ-Care Home Health. Previous employment includes additional hospice, home care, and inpatient medical social work experience. Sarah's clinical interests include alternative therapies, techniques focusing on mind-body connections, caregiver support, and end of life care. Through her work with the SSWLHC-MI board, Sarah hopes to see the organization become more responsive to the changing needs of its membership and to seek out ways to improve member services. In addition to her work on the board, Sarah is also an active member of the U of M Alumni Association. |