About Us

Tina Campagna, MPH, SUNY Upstate
Tina Campagna is the Director of the Center for Education and Training for the Upstate Global Health Institute, Instructor in the Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and directs the MPH in Global Health and Translational Science concentration at SUNY Upstate Medical University. In these roles, Ms. Campagna facilitates global health-related educational experiences for all types of learners. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Syracuse University, MPH from SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University, and is currently earning a PhD in Education at the University at Buffalo.

Danielle Cummings, CNY Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance
Danielle Cummings is the Chair of the CNY Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Alliance. A mother of a son with chronic illness stemming from Lyme disease, she is a strong advocate for better awareness, research and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.  In her professional life, Danielle is the Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse.

Brian Leydet, PhD, MPH, SUNY – College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Brian is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology and Disease Ecology at SUNY-ESF.  Prior to attending college Brian was an EMT-Paramedic and worked as an Oceanfront lifeguard as well as with various ambulance services and hospitals in Virginia Beach, Va. He holds a bachelor’s in community health science from Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) and a master’s in public health from the University of North Florida (Jacksonville, FL). Brian completed his doctoral studies at Louisiana State Universities’ School of Veterinary Medicine (Baton Rouge, LA) followed by postdoctoral work at the Trudeau Institute (Saranac Lake, NY) and Southern Research (Birmingham, AL). Brian has spent 17 years studying ticks and the pathogens they transmit. His lab combines extensive fieldwork and laboratory methods to understand ecological drivers of ticks and their pathogens. His favorite small mammal is the flying squirrel. Recently the lab has expanded its work into the effect the environment has on host health in the aquatic environment. Brian’s wife, Karine, holds a PhD in evolutionary biology. They have a 7-year-old son, Lukas, and 3-year-old daughter, Léna. In the little spare time Brian has he enjoys surfing, snowboarding, fishing as well as trying new wines, beers, and whiskeys.

Anne Messenger, CNY Lyme Alliance
Anne Messenger is a recognized career strategist, executive coach and facilitator of leadership groups. Owner of Messenger Associates, a career management and human resource consulting firm, for nearly 20 years, Anne is an active community leader, board member and winner of numerous business awards. She is a Wellesley College graduate and a Lyme survivor.

Kristopher Paolino, MD, SUNY Upstate Medical University
Dr. Paolino is currently the Director of Clinical Research, Institute for Global Health and Translational Sciences, an assistant professor at Upstate Medical University, a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America, and an American College of Physicians fellow. He leads or participates in all clinical research for the Institute and leads a team of clinical coordinators who assist in the execution of 10-20 clinical studies at any one time. Dr. Paolino’s focus and passion are the prevention and treatment of infectious disease and clinical research affords him the opportunity to move the field forward.  He has been a leader in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and Tick-Borne diseases in Central New York since 2016. He has been the local principal investigator for Lyme related diagnostic and vaccine clinical trials,and has recently joined the Columbia University Clinical Trials Network for Lyme and Other Tick-Borne Diseases in an effort to further advance treatments for patients with Lyme and Tick-Borne disease related illnesses.

Georgina Pinckney, CNY Lyme Alliance 
Georgina is a native of the Annapolis, Maryland area and has experience in government affairs working for the US Senate, as well as holding roles in the public energy and publishing fields. She brings the perspective of a parent with a child who went undiagnosed with chronic Lyme disease for years. She has been an active supporter of the Central New York area-including serving on the board of Matthew House as Treasurer as well as the fundraising committee – a not-for-profit home in Auburn NY that provides end of life care. She also served on the Skaneateles Education Foundation board.
Georgina earned a BA degree from the University of Maryland College Park in Political Science and a Master of Arts from American University in International Political Economics.

Royale Scuderi, CNY Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Alliance
Royale Scuderi is a passionate advocate for tick-borne disease awareness and education. A Lyme disease survivor herself, Royale brings a unique perspective to her role as Executive Director of the Central New York Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Alliance. She combines her vast experience in strategic leadership with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by patients. Royale works tirelessly alongside the Alliance’s board of directors to empower local communities with the knowledge and resources they need to prevent tick-borne diseases. She is also a dedicated voice for those currently living with these illnesses.

Madison Searles, MPH, SUNY Upstate
Madison works as a Project Assistant in the Center for Education and Training. In this role she provides overall assistance and program coordination to the Center for Education and Training within the Upstate Institute for Global Health and Translational Science. She earned a bachelor’s from SUNY Environmental College of Science and Forestry and a Master’s in Public Health from SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Saravanan Thangamani, PhD, SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases 
Dr. Saravanan Thangamani is Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the SUNY Upstate Medical University. He is also the Director of SUNY Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, and Vector Biocontainment Laboratories. He is an expert in vector-borne diseases, specifically tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, Powassan virus, and Heartland virus. His research attempts to: (1) understand the environmental factors contributing to the emergence and reemergence of tick-borne diseases in New York; (2) develop anti-tick vaccines; (3) develop novel transmission control methods, including the development of transmission blocking vaccines for tick-borne diseases; (5) vector determinants of Powassan virus transmission; (4) effect of co-infections on the clinical outcome of Lyme disease.n board.