THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christopher Moreland, MD, MPH
Immediate Past President
Dr. Moreland is an internal medicine hospitalist and associate professor at Dell Medical School at UT Austin. He graduated from UT Houston Medical School and completed his residency and general medicine fellowship at UC Davis, where he worked closely with deaf community members as a primary care physician and in community service. Along with seeing patients at Dell Seton Medical Center and Seton Medical Center Austin, he serves the internal medicine residency program as associate program director. He has received teaching and mentorship awards at institutional and national levels. Interests in diversity among patients and health professionals have led to local and community service, research, and education on health disparities affecting the deaf and limited English proficient populations, accommodations for deaf and hard of hearing medical students and physicians, medical schools’ technical standards, and the education of interpreters as medical specialists.
For over 2 decades, Dr. Moreland has been honored to support healthcare professional colleagues and mentor deaf and hard of hearing healthcare students and trainees in their professional goals, while advising educators in providing accommodations.
Amanda David, CI/CT, BEI III&Medical, CoreCHI
Amanda is a native of southwest Louisiana and a RID certified interpreter. After graduating from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA, she completed coursework in the Interpreter Training Programs at Collin County Community College and Houston Community College, both in Texas. She holds a Master of Arts in Interpreting Studies and Communication Equity from St. Catherine University.
Amanda specializes in conference interpreting, scientific/technical interpreting, and interpreting for d/Deaf professionals in healthcare settings. She is a staff interpreter at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas, and lives between Austin, TX, and Louisiana.
Humzah Arun Khan, MBBS
My name is Humzah but I go by my middle name Arun. I am a recent graduate of medicine and am currently practicing in London (UK). At present, I am in cardiology but will be progressing through several specialties including general surgery, general psychiatry and ED. My interest however is in plastics and reconstructive surgery, a field which I connected with very strongly during my clinical years at university.
I am hard of hearing and communicate verbally, sadly I am only able to sign my name but hopefully, I can learn some more. I personally found my journey through medical school was a turbulent one and I had to figure many things out for myself with little support. I am honoured to be a part of this amazing organisation and aim to help others navigate through any troubles they may face, especially in the expression of their needs and difficulties relating to their hearing. I am thoroughly excited to be the first international member of the board and hope to spread the positive messages worldwide.
Outside of medicine, I am a massive F1 fan and aim to watch the grand prixs’ in their many locations worldwide, and perhaps even see if I can get on track myself (somehow). I am also a keen traveller and enjoy exploring new food spots and cuisines, or in contrast hiking up different mountains.
Ultimately, I want to show that regardless of your circumstances, you can break barriers, achieve your dreams and live your best life.
Tiffany Panko, MD, MBA
Dr. Panko is a research professor at RIT/NTID and Director of the Deaf Health Lab within the RIT/NTID Research Center on Culture and Language. As a person passionate about reproductive justice and access to reproductive health care, her research centers on projects investigating healthcare system access, health education, pregnancy experiences, and family planning in the deaf community. She is also passionate about mentoring, advocacy, and outreach. She is the Director of Research Networking for the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate program, which supports deaf students who are studying for their Master’s degree and working towards becoming a successful candidate for a doctoral program.
Dr. Panko is overseeing the implementation of the Deaf Health Care and Biomedical Science Hub (Deaf Hub). The Deaf Hub aims to improve the healthcare training experience through mentoring students and professionals, to increase universal access in the health system by working with the community of health professionals, and to strive for better health of deaf and hard-of-hearing people informed by research. The Deaf Hub works towards the long-term goal of increasing the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing people entering health care and biomedical science careers. More information can be found on the Deaf Hub website.
Dr. Panko holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences degree and an MBA from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She received her MD from the University of Rochester Medical School. When she isn’t working, she is doing yoga, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, or experimenting in the kitchen.
To learn more about Dr. Panko, visit her professional website.
Daniel Hanley, MD
Dr. Hanley is a general practitioner on Pine Island in southwest Florida, and is board-certified in Family Medicine. He was diagnosed with profound bilateral hearing loss when he was three years old, and went to a special education program for the Deaf until being mainstreamed in fifth grade. He went to The College of New Jersey, majoring in Business Administration and Biology. He then completed his Master of Science degree at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on Biotechnology, and worked in basic science/clinical cancer research at The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center during this time. He earned his medical degree at Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine, and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Presence Saints Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center in Chicago (his first son, Aleks, was born during the first weekend of residency). Concurrently, he obtained his Master of Business Administration degree online through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School.
He then moved to New Jersey to start working in urgent care in Philadelphia and New Jersey, and they also adopted their dog, Plato, from the local animal shelter. However, the idea of living where he enjoys his vacations was appealing for him and his wife, Nadia, so they moved to Cape Coral, Florida, and they opened their own clinic - Ancuram Family Medicine - right before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Soon after, their second son, George, was also born. Their family and clinic are both thriving, and his patients greatly appreciate the old-style family practice merged with new technologies, as Dr. Hanley also sees patients at their homes, as well as seeing them online via telemedicine portals.
Dr. Hanley is also on the board of the Beacon of Hope, an island charity affiliated with United Way, and on the medical executive committee of his local hospital, Cape Coral Hospital. He is proud to be a part of AMPHL and is looking forward to being part of the team.
Diane Bass, BSN
I am originally from Chicago IL. I’m currently staying in South Holland, IL and I am a resident of Ypsilanti MI. My education includes three Bachelors’ degrees: Health Science, Psychology and Nursing. Along with other certifications/minors: Leadership, Child Welfare and Nurse Assistant. I have been working in various healthcare settings such as home health, nursing facility, rehabilitation center, and hospital. I have been setting up a Deaf/HOH nursing group on Facebook since 2015. I have been a caregiver for a long time, developing from respite care to Graduate Registered Nurse. I just resumed working for Right at Home, a company that I previously worked for from 2015 to 2017.
On a personal note: I love to travel and only have 13 more states left to visit in the USA. I have a small golden doodle, Carmel, who is 6 years old. Favorite Quote: Failure will always create the next opportunity
James Huang, MD
Dr. Huang is a board-certified family medicine physician, currently practicing in Washington DC. As a child of deaf parents, he witnessed firsthand the communication challenges and opportunities within healthcare of working with deaf patients. He works at Unity Health Care, where he started the CODA Clinic – Comprehensive Medical Care for Deaf Adults and Children with the goal of providing high quality medical services to the deaf community and their family members.
He obtained dual degrees in biology and history at Villanova University. Before completing his medical degree from the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, he volunteered with AmeriCorps in Los Angeles. After medical school, he trained at Montefiore Medical Center in the Family and Social Medicine Residency program, as well as served as chief resident.
His professional passions include immigrant health, LGBTQIA+ healthcare, healthcare for the homeless, teaching medical students and residents, and nutrition and health. He lives with his husband, son, and dog, Heathrow. During his spare time, he enjoys outdoor activities, including running, cycling, and hiking. He has bilateral hearing loss and uses hearing aids.
Samantha Ratakonda, MS
Samantha Ratakonda is a second year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. I am originally from New Jersey. She received a B.A. at the University of Pennsylvania in 2019 and an M.S. at New York Medical College in 2021. Prior to medical school, she spent her growth year at the University of Michigan working with Dr. Michael McKee and Dr. Philip Zazove with MDisability/Family Medicine related to health care accessibility/outcomes research for those with hearing loss and musculoskeletal disorders.
She is the only one in her family with hearing loss. At Penn, she pursued a certificate in American Sign Language and Deaf studies, led the Penn in Hand ASL interest group, and did an independent research study with the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
She is excited to be able to advocate and help those with hearing loss and/or other disabilities. She has volunteered with the Deaf Health Talks, a monthly virtual health education platform with Deaf health experts presenting on different topics i.e. summer health, mental health awareness, maternal and child health during COVID-19, etc. She has moderated one session and is thankful to have been involved with this initiative and continues to find ways to educate others in her current medical community about accessibility.
She enjoys playing tennis and guitar. I do not have any pets, but enjoy seeing my friends’ furry babies. Sometimes, she enjoys writing poetry. Currently, she is exploring the food scene in NOLA with her friends.
Nancy Rennert, MD
Dr. Nancy J Rennert is System Chief of Diabetes Care at Nuvance Health, Chief of Endocrinology at Norwalk Hospital and Associate Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine and The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. Her special interests in clinical endocrinology include advanced diabetes technologies and thyroid disorders. Dr Rennert serves on Medical School Admissions Committees and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility) advocacy groups for hospitals and medical schools. She teaches extensively and has a longstanding, deep commitment to care for underserved and marginalized people, demonstrated by her work at a Federally Qualified Community Health Center in Connecticut.
Dr Rennert experienced sudden and profound bilateral deafness and uses two cochlear implants. She has been an AMPHL member since its founding (attended the first conference in Cherry Hill, NJ!) and through AMPHL, she enjoys mentoring aspiring and early career hearing impaired medical professionals. Dr Rennert has published on stethoscope use and strategies to improve physician – patient communication, especially during the pandemic. She is passionate about health care access, quality and equity and strongly believes in being inclusive of all persons with hearing loss and their diverse communication preferences and communities. She is looking forward to learning from others and sharing insights from her professional and personal experiences.