BOSTON INTERNATIONAL TURNER SYNDROME SUMMIT
MEET THE BOARD
Lori Harris
BITSS President
Lori is a graduate of Brandeis University, where she also received her BA in Psychology. She earned her JD at Boston University Law School.
Involved with TS since her son's diagnosis in 1999, she served two terms on the Board of the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States, and started the first well known online discussion group for parents of girls with Turner syndrome (before Yahoo Groups and Facebook came on the scene!).
Lori practiced as a health care and corporate lawyer from 1992 to 2013. Since then, she has been involved in numerous volunteer projects, including the Boston International Turner Syndrome Summit.
Michelle Contos
Vice President, Co-Director of Programming
Michelle is the Director of Fundraising and Development at BITSS. She grew up in New Hampshire and has a passion for advocacy and human rights work. Michelle was diagnosed with TS at 15 and joined BITSS as a mentor in 2017 and 2018.
Michelle is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Liberal Arts and Suffolk University where she earned a Master’s Degree of Science in Political Science and International Relations. She currently works as an Administrative Assistant at MIT in Cambridge, MA.
In her free time Michelle enjoys vegan baking, visiting Boston area museums, and playing guitar.
Stacey Handel
Co-Director of Programming / On-Site Inclusion Specialist
Stacey is a graduate of Brandeis University, where she received her BA in Psychology. She later earned her Masters at Simmons University School of Social Work. Stacey has volunteered at BITSS since its inception and now loves being on the board. Stacey is the auntie to a wonderful person with Turner Syndrome and loves watching them thrive and grow. She has been a psychotherapist for children for many years. Stacey now works with individuals surviving traumatic and acquired brain injuries. Stacey lives in Boston and loves being a city girl. In her spare time Stacey enjoys creating one- and two-dimensional artwork.
Elizabeth C. Wheeler
Treasurer
Beth has Turner syndrome. She has a B.A. in Asian Studies from Hobart and William Smith colleges. After a year in Tokyo Japan she returned to Massachusetts, earning an MS in Accountancy from Bentley College. She has worked as a Fund Accountant, a Corporate Internal Auditor, Accountant, and Bookkeeper, and served as a Treasurer on the board of other local charities. She is a past President of the New England chapter of the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States (TSSUS).
Kristen Kowalski
Secretary / On-Site Program Nurse
Kristen is a certified family nurse practitioner from Avon, Massachusetts. She received her BS from Salve Regina University (Newport, RI) in 2006, and her MSN from the University of Massachusetts/Lowell in 2015. She was diagnosed with TS when she was a sophomore in high school. She has been involved with BITSS since 2018, as a relief nurse. BITSS 2019 found Kristen as the full-time on-site nurse … and the rest is history! She was excited to join the board as secretary in November of 2019. Kristen is thrilled to be able to give back to such an amazing organization - and wishes it had been around when she was a kid! When not working, Kristen can be found spending time with her family/friends, working out, cooking/baking, and traveling anytime she gets a chance!
Sydney DaCosta
Project Manager
Sydney is a graduate of Emmanuel College and received her MSW from Boston University. She is currently an outpatient therapist in the Boston area.She was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at 16. She has been involved with BITSS since 2017, and she is excited to now be a part of the Board of Directors. Sydney is passionate about working with kids of all ages.
Lynne L. Levitsky, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Levitsky is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and Yale Medical School. She received her pediatric training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Subsequently, she trained in Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, going on to become a pediatric endocrinologist and Professor of Pediatrics at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. In 1990 she came to Massachusetts General Hospital as Chief of the Pediatric Endocrinology Division and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She is past President of the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and has just concluded a 6 year term as the head of the education council for that organization. Now Emeritus Chief of the Pediatric Endocrinology Division, she is continuing with her research funded by the National Institutes of Health, as well as teaching and caring for patients. She is a co-director of the Turner Syndrome Wellness Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and an author of a well respected paper on the updated care of girls with Turner syndrome. Dr. Levitsky cares deeply about girls with TS, and wants to make sure that they have every opportunity to enjoy rich lives, including participating in the Boston International Turner Syndrome Summit!
Maria Tirpak
Director of Marketing and Communications
Maria is a native of Rocky River, OH. She received her BSBA in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from John Carroll University in 2019 and is currently working in the supply chain industry as an account administrator. Maria was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at birth and first became involved with BITSS as a participant during it’s inaugural year in 2016 before joining the board in the summer of 2020. She is excited to continue her involvement with BITSS in a new way, as a member of the board, and to help further the mission of BITSS and work to provide the same wonderful way experience for future participants that was given to her
Abby Metcalf
BITSS Volunteer Coordinator
Abby graduated with a Bachelor’s in Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies from Assumption College in 2020. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of New Hampshire and will be graduating in May of 2022. With this degree, she hopes to help children with swallowing, speech, and language challenges. Abby was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at 10 years old. She had the opportunity to attend BITSS as a participant in 2016. Attending BITSS inspired her to want to be a part of creating the same opportunities for other girls with Turner Syndrome. In 2019 she had the opportunity to be a BITSS Mentor. Now she is excited to continue working with BITSS by being part of the Board of Directors.
Dionne Clarke
Talent Acquisition
Dionne is a native of the island of Jamaica. While supporting her daughter who was diagnosed with Turner Syndrome at birth, Dionne became involved with BITSS when her daughter became a participant in 2018 at the age of 12. She joined the Board in 2022 in her desire to give back to an organization that has provided so many gains for her daughter. Dionne is excited to do her part in helping BITSS to continue to play an integral role in the development of children with TS.
Dionne is an Elementary school teacher and works in a school system that supports the inclusive classroom.
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Caroline Walsh
Board Member At Large
Caroline is a 23 year old lady living with Turner syndrome from Boston. She graduated from Curry College, in Milton Massachusetts with a degree in Public Health and Social Work. She is excited to continue to be involved with the community and empower other young women with Turner syndrome to share their story and help build their confidence. Her passions include female empowerment and health care advocacy both of which stem from her experiences living with TS. She works as a researcher for a hospital in Boston in the division of Gynecologic Oncology.
Nick Foss
Director of IT