Board of Directors

Ernest L. Alvino, Jr., J.D.

Ernest L. Alvino, Jr. (“Ernie”) is an attorney at Hoffman DiMuzio, with offices in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, and is the head of the firm’s civil litigation department. Ernie is an honors graduate from college and law school and is designated by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a certified civil trial attorney, a distinction enjoyed by fewer than 3% of New Jersey attorneys. Ernie frequently lectures in his field and has appeared on television and in print on a wide range of topics.

Ernie resides in southern New Jersey with his family, which was touched decades ago by MS. His long-standing interest in the condition led Ernie to join the MSRI Board in 2011, where he is committed to Find, Stop and Cure MS.   

Irene Berman-Levine, PhD, RD

Irene Berman-Levine, PhD, RD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in nutrition at the University of Pennsylvania and President of Nutrition Program Planning in Harrisburg, PA.  She has also taught nutrition at Boston University, Simmons College, Messiah College University of Maryland and the University Center campus of Penn State.  She has many interests outside the world of nutrition, including being a licensed auctioneer, an avid collector of antique toys and being an active participant in the family furniture business, the Red Door Consignment Gallery in Harrisburg, where she resides.

Her family includes three members fighting the personal MS battle.  Her motivation is to prevent this disease from impacting the lives of her two young-adult children.  She has known Dr. Greenstein for several years and joined the board because she feels his knowledge and research can make significant strides towards both better treatments and a cure.  

 

Mark Moster, M.D.

Mark L. Moster MD is Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology at Wills Eye Institute and Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine.  He is a neuro-ophthalmologist with extensive experience in dealing with the visual manifestation of MS. He has shared in caring for patients with Dr. Greenstein for many years and is very excited about the research projects of the MSRI.  He joined the MSRI Board in 2011.

 

Adam Dakin, MBA

Adam Dakin has over 20 years of experience with early stage and venture-backed medical device companies. Adam is the President, CEO, and co-founder of Bioconnect Systems, a venture capital backed medical technology company focused on improving hemodialysis. From 1998-2004, Adam served as the President & CEO of X-SITE Medical, a venture-backed cardiovascular device company which was successfully acquired by Datascope in 2004. Adam previously served in senior management roles for several venture-backed device companies including Cardiovascular Imaging Systems (Boston Scientific), Birtcher Medical (Conmed), and Moberg Medical. He started his device career as an orthopedic implant sales representative for Kirschner Medical. Adam holds a BS degree in economics from the Wharton School along with an MBA in finance and marketing from The Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA.

Robert Basickes, CPA

Robert Basickes resides in the Philadelphia area with his family.  He practices accounting as a certified public accountant specializing in the taxation of real estate investment and pass-through entities.  He is committed to the fight against all auto-immune diseases and became involved in the MSRI through his belief that Dr. Greenstein’s work has great potential in finding treatments that apply to many auto-immune diseases.

 

Minda Carp

Minda Gold Carp is an interior designer by profession but has also worked in medical offices and has a background pharmacy and journalism.  After 46 years of practicing in the design field, she has continued her passion is for doing pro-bono work, including sharing her extensive experience in locating and coordinating volunteers.  

Her primary interest is to help raise funds for developing and supporting the laboratory and advancing Dr. Greenstein’s research.  His research holds hope for her daughter and other family members who have M.S.

Michelle Carchedi

Having founded the The Hill Group in 1993, Michelle’s company specialized in sales, marketing and business development. Her seasoned professional relationships with large, international financial and pharmaceutical institutions have allowed her to provide innovative business development solutions. Diverse clients have included Pfizer, Merck, American Red Cross, Concept Capital Markets and GlaxoSmithKline. Her relationships are extensive among the various categories of investors, allocators and fund managers and provide valuable insight into and understanding of the business development and capital raising process. Michelle has not only raised capital for institutional investors but her track record of leadership and strategic development has made her a successful fundraiser in private equity, political campaigns and philanthropy. She has held board seats on a number of non-profit organizations and private enterprises. Additionally, as a serial entrepreneur, Michelle founded several companies in United States, Dominican Republic and Italy, mainly within the sectors of retail and consumer products. Under Ms. Carchedi’s control these companies have grown to become market leaders within their respective fields of business. Michelle received B.A. in biology from LaSalle College and a masters certificate in custom design.