Board of Directors

Board of Directors

President: Gilbert Irwin, MD - Gil, a practicing Internist in Manassas, Virginia, is the founder of Medical Missionaries.

Vice-President: Kenneth Kornetsky, MD -Ken has practiced nephrology and internal medicine in Warrenton, Culpepper, and Manassas (Virginia) for 29 years. He has worked with Medical Missionaries since 1999.

Secretary: Carolyn Jeans, RN -Carolyn has staffed the night shift in the critical care unit at Prince William Hospital for the past 30 years. She is one of the founding members of Medical Missionaries and has made one or more trips per year to serve the poor in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Treasurer: Ed Wyrsch - Ed brings to Medical Missionaries a long history of accounting and tax work. He worked for the IRS for 31 years and before that for a corporate accounting firm in New York City.

Brian Brenner - Brian is owner and technician at Brenner's Advanced Automotive, Inc. located in Manassas Park, Virginia, for 20+ years. Among his many contributions to Medical Missionaries, Brian provides mechanical advice, service, and supplies for the organization's vehicles.

Ron Burrell - Ron joined Medical Missionaries in 1998, becoming one of the founding Members of the Board. He is Chief Engineer for Medical Missionaries, with primary responsibility for the physical facilities of St. Joseph Clinic in Thomassique, Haiti. Ron worked for IBM for 30 years, retiring in 1991 as Senior Engineer and Chief Scientist for the IBM facility in Manassas.

Peter Dirr, PhD - Peter was an educator, researcher, telecommunications specialist, and executive director of non-profit organizations for 40 years. He is putting his experience to work for Medical Missionaries by overseeing health projects, working with our Fellows, and seeking new sources of financing.

Stephen A. Horan, Ph.D. Steve is the founding president of Community Health Solutions, a Virginia firm dedicated to equipping people for excellence in community health improvement. He has directed dozens of research and consulting projects for state and local government, hospitals, health systems, health plans, physician organizations, and consumer groups. He has also trained more than 500 community leaders in strategy, program development, policy development, and leadership. Steve and his team have pioneered the use of Internet technology to support community-based health improvement projects. He is a member of the Children's Health Insurance Policy Advisory Council of Virginia, and holds a PhD in Education from the University of Virginia.

Mark Mason, MD - Mark practiced General, Vascular, and Thoracic surgery in Northern Virginia (Prince William Hospital) for 25 years. He continues to be an active member of the Clinical Committee of the Prince William Area Free Clinic.

Debra Parrish, RN - Debra spent four years in the U.S. Air Force prior to working in the Operating Room at Prince William Hospital for the past 30 years. She has headed seven trips of surgical teams to Banica (Dominican Republic) and Thomassique (Haiti) for Medical Missionaries.

Anna Penna, MD -Anna graduated from Dartmouth Medical School. She specializes in Anesthesiology at Prince William Hospital.

David Snyder, MD - David is an orthopedic surgeon at Fauquier Hospital, with a private practice in Warrenton, VA. He is Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Verdun Adventurebound Youth Retreat Center in Rixeyville, VA. He is also District Chairman of the Piedmont Boyscouts, serving Culpepper and Fauquier counties. David is a motivational public speaker whose greatest recent joy is being a grandfather of four.

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