Dr. Scott Commins is the William J. Yount, MD Distinguished Professor at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he is a member of the UNC Food Allergy Initiative, the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, and the Southeastern Center of Excellence for Vector Borne Diseases. Dr. Commins maintains an active clinical practice and research program related to the alpha-gal mammalian meat allergy syndrome, eosinophilic esophagitis, venom allergy, and the human immune response to tick bites.

Dr. Commins received his M.D. & Ph.D. (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) from the Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC). Following a residency in Internal Medicine, Scott completed a fellowship in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at The University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA). He is an author for UpToDate (Food allergy in adults; Allergy to meats), and serves as the Chief Editor for the Drug, Venom & Anaphylaxis section of Frontiers. Dr. Commins is the immediate past-president of the Southeastern Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology Society and was a member of the Congressionally-appointed Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (2018-2020) where he was co-chair of the alpha-gal syndrome and public comment subcommittees.

Jeffrey Wilson is a clinician-investigator in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the University of Virginia. Dr. Wilson is recognized for clinical expertise in the diagnosis and management of alpha-gal syndrome and has been involved in DoD and NIH-sponsored studies to investigate AGS epidemiology, natural history and risk factors. He has published over 25 papers on AGS, including seminal studies linking IgE to alpha-gal and other food allergens with cardiovascular disease.

Marianne van Hage is Senior Professor of Clinical Immunology at Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, where she also obtained her M.D. and Ph.D.

Dr. van Hage has pioneered research in molecular allergology for more than 3 decades. She has made significant contributions to the understanding of alpha-Gal syndrome (AGS). Dr. van Hage has elucidated the various clinical manifestations and molecular allergen profiles of the disease in Sweden, demonstrated the presence of alpha-Gal-carrying proteins in tick saliva and characterized immunological and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease. Dr. van Hage has further advanced clinical management by characterizing allergenic risks associated with mammalian food products in patients with AGS. She has close collaboration with the Alpha-Gal board within the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.

Dr. van Hage has delivered prestigious lectures and received multiple awards, including the 2025 Paul Ehrlich Award for Experimental Research from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which recognizes, among other achievements, her significant contributions to advancing the understanding of Alpha-Gal syndrome. She serves on the boards of several scientific foundations and international journals, and has authored more than 430 scientific publications, including original articles, reviews, editorials, and book chapters.

Sarah McGill, MD, MSc is a gastroenterologist and researcher at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She specializes in the diagnosis and management of alpha-gal syndrome, particularly in patients with predominant gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Dr. McGill was the first gastroenterologist to document alpha-gal syndrome in the GI literature, and she is internationally recognized for her expertise in this area. She frequently speaks to GI audiences about alpha-gal syndrome and works closely with allergists and patients to advance research and deepen understanding of the condition’s gastrointestinal manifestations.

Dr. Turek is one of the foremost innovators in congenital heart surgery. Most notably, he performed the world’s first co-transplant of heart and thymus, in an operation that could usher in an era in which transplant recipients can develop tolerance to their newly transplanted organ. In another highly innovative operation, he performed the world’s first partial heart transplant for a newborn without functioning heart valves, maintaining growth capacity of the newly implanted valves. Additionally, he led the nation’s first pediatric donation after circulatory death heart transplant with ex vivo reanimation, and then did the same with in situ reanimation, as a means to expand the already limited donor pool of available organs. Most recently, he introduced the novel technique of on-table reanimation to address ethical concerns with circulatory death heart procurements which was designated as one of the five greatest health innovations of 2025 by Popular Science.

For his innovative work, he was named to TIME100 Health, representing the world’s 100 most influential leaders in health. His clinical passion and expertise lies in high complexity neonatal heart surgery. His laboratory studies heart transplantation tolerance, living root transplantation, xenotransplantation, Marfan syndrome, and the role of alpha-gal sensitization in biologic valve degradation.

Dr. Benjamin Casterline is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and a general dermatologist at MU Health Care and the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia, Missouri. He received MD and PhD degrees from the University of Chicago, where his doctoral research examined why the same exposure — such as a tick bite — can trigger very different immune responses in different people, a question that now drives his work on alpha-gal syndrome. In his clinical practice, Dr. Casterline cares for patients with alpha-gal syndrome, with particular expertise in skin symptoms such as hives and chronic itch. He is currently supported by a career development award from Washington University in St. Louis to study the range of clinical presentations in alpha-gal syndrome.

Lea Hamner, MPH, is a public health epidemiologist based on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, specializing in tickborne diseases with a particular focus on Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS). As an epidemiologist serving the Cape Cod & Islands region, she works at the intersection of applied epidemiology, local public health, and community-based research to better understand and respond to emerging tick-associated conditions in highly affected communities.

Lea has been a leader in advancing AGS awareness and surveillance in Massachusetts, working with healthcare providers, academic partners, and national experts to characterize disease trends and inform public health strategy. She has helped establish early frameworks for AGS surveillance in non-reportable settings and built partnerships to support provider education while translating complex science into actionable information for clinicians and the public.

Julia Murphy received her DVM from the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM) in 1992. After three years in large animal private practice, she returned to VMCVM to pursue a residency in production medicine, earning an MS in 1998. She became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventative Medicine in 1999 and began working for the Virginia Department of Health in 2002 and has served as the state public health veterinarian since 2006.

Dr. Emily Owens Pickle is an infectious disease epidemiologist and incoming Assistant Professor in the Joint School of Public Health at Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University. Her research focuses on the ecology, epidemiology, and immunologic drivers of tick-borne diseases, with particular emphasis on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) and emerging tick-borne pathogens in the southeastern United States.

Dr. Owens Pickle has led and collaborated on multiple studies examining alpha-gal sensitization, tick exposure risk factors, and immune profiling among affected populations. She also works in statewide tick surveillance and emerging arbovirus detection, including research on Heartland and Bourbon viruses in South Carolina. Her work integrates epidemiology, field ecology, laboratory science, and public health communication to better understand and respond to vector-borne disease threats.

She is an active member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and currently serves in leadership roles supporting trainees and is part of the scientific committee. Dr. Owens Pickle is passionate about improving awareness, diagnostics, prevention, and policy surrounding AGS and other tick-associated conditions.

Sachin A. Shah, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, is a pharmacist-scientist and health advocate focused on improving patient safety through greater transparency in medical products. He is the CEO and co-founder of Pill Clarity Foundation and Pill Clarity, Inc – organizations dedicated to advancing ingredient transparency and reducing preventable harm for the 0.5 million Americans with alpha-gal syndrome and 17 million with other food allergies.

Dr. Shah is also a Professor of Pharmacy at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy, University of the Pacific. His research includes alpha-gal syndrome and ingredients transparency, cardiovascular disease prevention and emerging public health topics (e.g. energy drinks safety, long COVID). His work has been featured by national and international media outlets including NPR, BBC News, and USA Today.

Dr. Holly Gaff is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University, and she is currently serving as Department Chair. Dr. Gaff earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Gaff’s research interests have focused mainly on studying the ecology of ticks and tick-borne diseases through an active surveillance project and mathematical modeling. She has published more than 95 peer-reviewed articles and has had funding from NIH, CDC, DOD, USDA, and others. She currently leads the ODU Tick Research Team, which is a team of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students that have been working to better understand the ecology of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Virginia for nearly 20 years. The ODU Tick Research Team has been running a long-term active tick surveillance program in Virginia since 2009, which has led to the discovery and mapping of tick populations moving into and across Virginia as well as spanning many other related projects. Dr. Gaff also holds an honorary appointment at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and works with scientists throughout southern Africa on the challenges of ticks and tick-borne pathogens there.

Dr. Bruce Noden is currently a Professor of Medical and Veterinary Entomology in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology in the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture. Born and raised in Kenya, Bruce completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Houghton College, near Buffalo, NY. He, then, completed his PhD at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. The focus of his studies was on arthropod-borne transmission of pathogens. After working for 13 years in Southern Africa (Mozambique and Namibia), he started his current position at Oklahoma State University in 2013 where he is actively involved in studies on the ecology of blood-sucking arthropods in Oklahoma where AGS is a considerable problem. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and has had funding from NIH, CDC, USDA, and others. In addition to working on fleas in the southern Great Plain region, his recent research has focused on how Eastern Red Cedar trees are providing refuge for mosquito and tick vectors of disease.

Dr. Telford is an epidemiologist focusing on vector-borne infections, mainly those transmitted by ticks. His 40 year career has contributed research serving as the basis for deer management as a means of controlling deer tick-transmitted infections; the development and approval of the first human Lyme disease vaccine; incrimination of new American agents of tick borne disease (Anaplasma phagocytophilum; deer tick virus; Borrelia miyamotoi); and described the ecology and epidemiology of these infections. Dr. Telford’s laboratory is currently funded by NIH grants on the epidemiology of Lyme disease and the biology of human babesiosis. He advises local, state, and national organizations on public health interventions against tick and mosquito-borne infection.

In January 2026, Charles Green was appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger as the 19th Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). A dedicated public servant with the agency since 2005, Green brings over two decades of expertise to the role, including twelve years as Deputy Commissioner.

Previously serving as Director of Marketing and Development, Green was instrumental in expanding domestic and international market access for Virginia agribusinesses. His leadership balances economic development with the agency’s essential regulatory functions, achieved through close collaboration with industry stakeholders and commodity associations.
A graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Forestry and Wildlife and an MBA from Campbell University, Green’s background is deeply tied to the Commonwealth’s rural industries of agriculture and forestry. Raised in Rockbridge County and having spent part of his youth in Costa Rica, he offers a global perspective on agricultural issues. His personal connection to the industry is anchored in his family farm, located in King William County, Virginia. It was there he contracted Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) in 2022, a tick-borne condition that uniquely informs his perspective on food safety, public health, and the resilience of Virginia’s agricultural workforce.

Dr. Shaun Cross is an Assistant Professor in the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where he studies tick-borne diseases and their impact on public health. His work combines surveillance, community surveys, and public education to help people better understand tick-related health risks and inform meaningful public health action. Among his research interests, he is particularly interested in Alpha-gal Syndrome and how it shapes the livelihood of individuals from occupational, personal, and economic perspectives. Through his role with the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (CS-CASH), he focuses specifically on how AGS affects farmers and ranchers. Dr. Cross is also deeply committed to public education, regularly leading seminars and community outreach on tick identification, bite prevention, and tick-borne diseases across the region. He also serves as Director of the Nebraska Tick Testing (NeTT) program, a free service open to anyone in the United States looking to have ticks identified and screened.

Alexander C. Peabody, PLS, affectionately known to colleagues and friends as “Sandy,” serves as the Treasurer of the Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund, where he brings both professional expertise and personal conviction to the fight for greater awareness and advocacy around Alpha-gal syndrome. Diagnosed in 2024, Sandy quickly recognized the urgent need for education and support—especially within the land surveying profession.

A licensed professional land surveyor with over three decades of experience in the Charleston, South Carolina region, Sandy is widely respected for his precision, integrity, and tireless advocacy. His career has been defined not only by technical excellence but by his commitment to elevating the profession. He is a Past President of the South Carolina Society of Professional Land Surveyors (SCSPLS) and currently serves as the South Carolina Director to the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS). In these roles, Sandy has championed ethical standards, mentored emerging professionals, and helped shape policies that strengthen the surveying community nationwide.

Beyond his professional achievements, Sandy is a devoted husband and proud father of two, whose love for the outdoors has always been a natural extension of his work. Whether camping, hunting, fishing, or simply exploring the land, his connection to nature has deepened his understanding of the terrain he surveys—and now, it also informs his personal journey with Alpha-gal syndrome. He approaches life with Alpha-gal with the same resilience and optimism that has defined his career.

Whether he’s in the field with a land surveying transit or in the boardroom shaping policy, Sandy remains a steadfast steward of both the Land Surveying Profession and the Alpha-gal community, committed to building a healthier, more informed future for all.

Michelle HW Hill (CP-FS, CFPM, IHA-HACCP-Certified) is a Culinary Allergen Specialist, ServSafe Allergen SME, and the Consumer Representative on the Executive Board of the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) for 2023–2029. She currently chairs the CFP Allergen Committee (2025–2027), leading national work to update the Major Food Allergen Framework reflected in FDA’s 2024 Supplement to the 2022 Food Code. Michelle has also served on the NEHA Food Safety Committee, advancing conversations on allergen control and risk-based food safety.

A writer and educator, she publishes AllergenFreeCook.com, 9Allergens.com, and MajorFoodAllergens.com, providing practical, evidence-based guidance for operators and consumers. She has authored two allergen-free cookbooks, delivered trainings such as “Allergen Management for School Nutrition”, and leads food safety programs across Minnesota, surrounding states, and online.

With more than 20 years of advocacy and education, Michelle is dedicated to improving the lives of food-allergic individuals through clearer policies, better training, and informed food choices.

Debbie Nichols co-founded Two Alpha Gals and the Alpha-Gal Foundation, where she focuses on education, advocacy, and support for those living with alpha-gal syndrome. She is also co-creator of In the Tall Grass, a podcast sharing stories of reinvention, resilience, and rediscovering joy through life’s defining moments.

After nearly a decade of unexplained symptoms, Debbie was diagnosed with AGS in 2019. She combines lived experience with a background in chemistry and creative writing to make AGS information accessible and relatable, and she is passionate about helping others navigate AGS while maintaining connection and quality of life.

She lives with her family on a hobby farm in Blacksburg, Virginia, where they raise sheep and chickens.

I’m Candice Matthis, Co-Founder of Two Alpha Gals and The Alpha-gal Foundation, and I’m on a mission to change how people experience food and find their footing after an alpha-gal syndrome diagnosis. What started as my own journey became a community, and that community became my purpose.

With a BA in Communications from Campbell University and a deep passion for nutrition, I’ve always found ways to bring people together around the table. I taught cooking classes and shared gluten-free recipes with The Blooming Kitchen. Before that, I spent years supporting families through some of life’s most powerful moments as a certified birth doula with DONA, Int. 

When I’m not advocating for the alpha-gal community, you’ll find me lifting weights, hitting the trails, or hosting kitchen dance parties with my husband and our three (mostly grown) kids here in Charlottesville, VA. I’m a music lover, a devoted concert-goer, and a firm believer that a good glass of wine makes just about everything better.

I bring warmth, grit, and real lived experience to everything I do because I know firsthand that the hardest chapters can become your greatest purpose.