Ask the VBF Experts

Dr. Gregory Levitin, Hemangioma and Malformations Surgeon
Dr. Levitin will answer your questions regarding the surgical treatment of all vascular birthmarks and tumors.



Dr. Stuart Nelson, VBF Co-Medical Director and International Port Wine Stain Laser Specialist
Dr. Nelson will answer your questions concerning the diagnosis and treatment of Port Wine Stains.



Dr. Martin Mihm, VBF Co-Medical Director and Research Director
Dr. Mihm is coordinating and directing research regarding vascular birthmarks and tumors.



Dr. Aaron Fay, Hemangioma and Malformations Eye Surgeon
Dr. Aaron Fay will answer questions concerning eye problems and birthmarks.



Dr. Roy Geronemus, NYC and International Laser Specialist
If you have a question or concern about laser treatments in general, contact Dr. Geronemus.



Dr. Barry Zide, NYC Hemangioma and Malformations Surgeon
If you have a question or concern about hemangioma and vascular malformation treatment in general, contact Dr. Zide.



Dr. Darren Orbach, Pediatric Neurointerventionalist for AVMs and PHACE
VBF is proud to welcome Dr. Orbach!



Corinne Barinaga, VBF Family Services Director
Corinne Barinaga, our Administrative Director, will answer emails concerning family advocacy, treatment questions, or physician referral.



Dr. Robert Rosen, Vascular Lesions of Arms and Legs Interventional Radiologist
Our expert for all non-brain AVMs and vascular lesions of the arms and legs, Dr. Rosen welcomes your questions.



Brian Bolinger, Esq. Director VBF Advocacy Alliance
This alliance is being formed to coordinate legislative, legal, and insurance related issues regarding the diagnosis and treatment of vascular birthmarks and tumors.



Dr. Anne Comi, Sturge Weber Syndrome Specialist
One of the leading experts on Sturge Weber Syndrome, Dr. Comi will be responding to your questions concerning this syndrome.



Dr. Alex Berenstein, Malformations and AVM Interventional Radiologist




Dr. Kami Delfanian, KTS Treatment Specialist
Send your questions concerning KT Syndrome to Dr. Delfanian



Dr. Gary Giangola, KTS Treatment Specialist
If you have questions concerning the surgical treatment of KTS or other vascular lesions of the arms, legs, or trunk, contact Dr Giangola.



Basia Joyce, VBF Insurance Appeals Specialist
Please send your questions regarding your appeal or request for out-of-network treatment to Basia.



Dr. Joseph Edmonds, Lymphatic Malformations Surgeon
Ask Dr. Edmonds your questions related to Lymphatic Malformations.



Dr. Thomas Serena, Wound Care Specialist
Please send Dr. Serena your questions regarding wound care for an ulcerated hemangioma or other vascular birthmark, tumor, or syndrome that requires wound care.



Dr. Orhan Konez, Interventional Radiologist
Questions regarding reading and interpreting films and treating malformations with sclerotherapy or embollization can be sent to Dr. Orhan Konez.



Dr. Jason Mouzakes, Airway Surgeon
Email Dr. Mouzakes with questions regarding airway hemangiomas and other vascular lesions in the airway (throat area).



Dr. Steven Fishman, Internal Lesions Surgeon

Ask Dr. Fishman your questions about liver and other internal vascular lesions.



Dr. Susie Astner, European Laser Specialist
VBF's Ask the Laser Doctor offers expert advice on laser treatments for all vascular birthmarks by Dr. Susie Astner.



Dr. Denise Metry, PHACE Syndrome Specialist
If you have any questions regarding this syndrome, please ask Dr. Metry.



Dr. Stavros Tombris, European Surgeon
Fr. Tombris treats all forms of hemangomas, port wine stains and malformations.



Dr. Stevan Thompson, Military (Tricare) Surgeon
Dr. Stevan Thompson has joined us to answer questions concerning the treatment of vascular birthmarks in the military.



Dr. Helen Figge, Pharmacist
If you or your child has a vascular birthmark and you have a question regarding a prescription drug, please ask Doc Helen Figge.



Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, VBF President and Founder
Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon is the leading lay expert in the world on the subject of vascular birthmarks.



Lex Van der Heijden, CMTC Foundation

If you or your child has CMTC, please contact Lex with your questions.



Leslie Graff, East Coast Developmental Specialist
Leslie is a trained developmental specialist. Send questions concerning port wine stains and this topic to Leslie.



Elissa-Uretsky Rifkin, Midwest Developmental Specialist
Elissa Uretsky- Rifkin, M.Ed. CMHC
is a trained developmental specialist and is on the board of VBF. Send questions concerning hemangiomas and this topic to Elissa.



Kymberly Stephens, Licensed Associate Counselor
Ask our expert Kymberly Stephens about issues stemming from prominent birthmarks, disfigurements, or image related issues associated with genetics, trauma, burn or accident situations.



Nancy Roberts - Make-up Specialist
Ask our expert Nancy Roberts, Co-Creator of Smart Cover Cosmetics (www.smartcover.com), your questions about make-up.



Linda Seidel - Make-up Expert
Ask Linda Seidel your questions about make-up.



Zeina Tannous, M.D., Laser Dermatology Expert
Ask our expert Dr. Tannous, your questions about laser dermatology.



Anna Duarte, M.D., Florida Expert
Ask our expert Dr. Duarte, your questions about receiving treatment in Florida.



Alicita, Spanish Expert
Ask our expert Alicita, your questions in Spanish.



What Our Families Are Saying About Us

"We relied on the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation to provide us with the information, the contacts, the resources, and the support that we needed to get through this difficult time. Their theme, "We are making a difference" couldn't be more accurate. For us, it was all the difference in the world."
Jill Brown


Hi Linda
Just a note to say how wonderful I found the interview of you and Capital 9 news. Thanks so much for your devotion.
Gina




VASCULAR BIRTHMARKS FOUNDATION AND BECKMAN LASER INSTITUTE PRESENT LANDMARK CONFERENCE

The 2009 Port Wine Stain and Vascular Birthmarks Conference was VBF’s largest conference ever, with more than 300 attendees from around the world and 25 medical experts. The conference was co-sponsored by Dr. J. Stuart Nelson of the Beckman Laser Institute and VBF, a global foundation dedicated to helping families afflicted with vascular birthmarks, tumors or syndromes.

 

Dr. Comi and Mike Steffano Dr. Nelson
Anne Comi (VBF SWS Expert) and Mike Steffano, Founder of Birthmarks.com Dr. Nelson is pictured with conference attendees

 

VBF’s Co-Medical Directors, Dr. Stuart Nelson and Dr. Martin Mihm, both presented ground breaking results from research. Dr. Mihm presented the results of a study concerning the histopathology of hemangiomas that gives promise to developing a drug that will prevent them from growing. Dr. Nelson presented preliminary results of great interest to individuals with port wine stains. The current study results provide hope for a new combination drug and laser therapy treatment that will remove port wine stains.

 

Day Care Center facepainting
The day care was full with children with birthmarks. Jennie Legary, VBF Adult Rep and Director of Musicians with Birthmarks read the Buddy Booby Book. VBF Adult Rep, Danielle Vlahos, pictured in the front, coordinates the annual day care center Children attending the conference were treated to face-painting by a clown

 

During the conference, other experts presented the latest findings on research, diagnoses, and treatments for vascular birthmarks and related syndromes. In addition to the conference, an informal clinic was held where over 100 appointments were scheduled and conducted by four different birthmark teams.

 

Dr Mihm, Linda, Dr. Nelson, and Pegy Nelson Chris and Jenny
VBF Co-Medical Director Dr. Martin Mihm, VBF President & Founder Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, VBF Co-Medical Director and Conference Co-Sponsor Dr. Stuart Nelson, and VBF's newest board member (West Coast Liaison), Peggy Nelson Christine Shannon (daughter of founder/president) and Jenny Legary (VBF Board Member and Director of Musicians with Birthmarks) sang for everyone at the Friday welcome reception

 

The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary at the conference. We continue to raise money all year to actually pay for the hotels and meals for families to attend the conference. VBF is the only birthmark organization that provides free lodging and meals and will also waive all clinic and conference fees to families who request a waiver based on hardship. Your donations to “Sponsor a Family” will continue to help us to be able to pay for families to attend our conference and get a free treatment plan.

 

VBF also honored Dr. Robert J. Rosen, Co-Director, Division of Peripheral and Endovascular Intervention at the Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute in New York, as its Physician of the Year.

 

Next year’s conference and our bi-annual gala will be held in NYC on October 8-9, 2010. Dr. Roy Geronemus, of the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York will be the 2010 Mark of Beauty Gala and Vascular Birthmarks Conference Chair.

 
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