Robert Knutzen, M.B.A., is the CEO, Chairman of the Board and Co-founder of the Pituitary Network Association (PNA). This non-profit organization was created in 1990 shortly after Mr. Knutzen was diagnosed with the pituitary disorder, acromegaly. The PNA has been instrumental in raising awareness of the dangers associated with pituitary diseases and disorders worldwide. To that end, the PNA organizes conferences, publishes health information, raises money to support research, and hosts a chat room/web forum for the pituitary community. On a daily basis, the PNA helps individual pituitary patients on the difficult path from diagnosis to treatment and rest-of-life care.

Working as an advocate on the behalf of pituitary patients, Mr. Knutzen has garnered the support and respect of top medical professionals who recognize the importance of raising pituitary awareness. This coalition between the medical and patient communities has achieved a remarkable level of success in educational endeavors.

Mr. Knutzen's unrelenting pursuit of public awareness has led him to get involved in a number of ways. By publishing, editing, and contributing articles to the PNA's Network magazine and Highlights e-newsletter, Mr. Knutzen has managed to keep pituitary issues in the spotlight. He also co-edited an issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics; Emotional Aspects of Pituitary Disease and has contributed entries to "Comprehensive Clinical Endocrinology" and others. His many speaking engagements at the world's top universities and institutions in pituitary education and patient care include: The National Institutes of Health, The University of California at Los Angeles, The University of Pennsylvania, The University of San Francisco, The University of Erlangen (Germany), Westmeade Hospital (Australia) and The Meeting of Pediatric Endocrinologists (Switzerland). In addition, Mr. Knutzen arranged for the American Medical Association to co-sponsor a one-day press briefing with the PNA in 2003 to raise awareness of hormonal issues. He is best known for creating and publishing the Pituitary Patient Resource Guide and the PNA's highly respected web site, http://www.pituitary.org.

In 2004, Knutzen organized the Family Hormonal Health Symposium, with the National Institutes of Health and Department of Defense. The Symposium was web cast world-wide. Knutzen received his Masters of Business Administration at Pepperdine University in 1984 and did his undergraduate work at UCLA and Santa Monica College. Mr. Knutzen has been married for 27 years and has four children.

PAULA GALLEGOS has been a California licensed Insurance agent/broker since 1988. She was first licensed with Farmers Insurance Group of Companies to provide personal , commercial, and life insurance coverage to her clients. Her agency is a full-service agency.

EDUCATION

State of California Insurance Licensed, 1988-Present
American Institute of Business, Des Moines, IA, 1969; GPA 4.0
Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 1968

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

* TO Network, a local business Networking group - 1995 to Present;
Served two terms as Asst. Director; one term as Director; two terms as Recorder
* United Farmers Agents Assn. Chapter 4 -1994 to Present
Current Treasurer
* Thousand Oaks Chamber of Commerce – member since 2001
* National Notary Assn., Notary Public – since 2003

Dr. Blevins' main clinical interests are in the evaluation and management of patients with various disorders of the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. He has particular expertise with regards to Cushing's syndrome and has edited a book on the subject. He also has extensive experience in treating patients with acromegaly, prolactinoma's, other pituitary tumors, diabetes insipidus, and hypopituitarism. He has extensive experience in the management of patients with growth hormone deficiency. Dr. Blevins is medical director of the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF.

His current research interests involve diagnostic testing in patients with hypercortisolism. He is currently evaluating new ways to test for the presence of Cushing's syndrome. He is also interested in clinical predictors of surgical and medical success with regards to the management of patients with different types of pituitary tumors. Some of this work involves collaboration with neuropathologists at UCSF. Dr. Blevins is also involved with industry sponsored trials to evaluate new pharmacologic therapies for patients with pituitary tumors.

Dr. Blevins is also a skilled and accomplished painter. Dr. Blevins’ art work can be viewed/purchased via his website: www.CApaintings.com.

Burkes Business Services
Our goal is to deliver timely, professional service in a relaxed atmosphere. We keep abreast of developments by closely monitoring changes in the tax laws and regulations. We combine the latest technologies with our long-standing commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.
Educated in Honduras, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. In 1981, Nancy joined a Thousand Oaks Real Estate Investment firm for over 16 years. During that time, she served as the Comptroller, Secretary Treasurer for Janss IV Recreation, Inc. She also served as Director for the School of the Pacific Islands a grant making organization.

In 1998 she joined Burkes Business Services a Tax and Accounting firm based in Thousand Oaks, California. Currently, she is a senior partner, responsible for the Business Management, Accounting, and Tax Department. The firm maintains an extensive tax practice, accounting and bookkeeping services...

Nancy M Burke has been in tax practice since 1998. She holds a California Tax Preparer's license, is a Member of the California Tax Education Council, and the National Society of Accountants.

Professional Service:

• Secretary and Treasurer, Janss IV Recreation, Inc. 1981 to Present
  
• Secretary and Member of Board of Trustees, School of the Pacific Islands, 1997 to Present
  
• Business Manager, Gold Coast Performing Arts Association
  
• Treasurer, New West Symphony 2001
  
• Member of Board of Director, Pituitary Network Association 2005 to Present
  

Languages:
Fluent in English and Spanish

Contact Information:
Email: nancy@pituitary.org
Telephone: 805-495-6422

Dr. Ezzat obtained his medical degree from the University of Manitoba, completed his residency training at the Univiversity of Toronto, Mount Sinai Hospital, and his post-doctoral research training in molecular oncology at Cedars-Sinai-UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles.

Dr. Ezzat has authored or co-authored more than 180 original research articles and 30 invited review articles, and he has delivered more than 100 invited lectures. He supervises undergraduate, medical, and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows. He teaches a number of courses, including physiology, biochemistry, developmental biology, and endocrinology.

Dr. Ezzat serves as an Editorial Board member for a number of journals including Endocrinology, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Journal of Endocrinology, Endocrine Practice, and BMJ-Endocrine. He is a regular reviewer for the New England Journal of Medicine and the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Ezzat has been honored with numerous awards. Most recently, he received the 2008 Senior Scientist award from the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada, the 2006 International Endocrine Society Research Mentor Award, the 2005 Gentle Giant Award, the Pharmacia & Upjohn International Award for Excellence in Published Endocrine Research. He is also the recipient of the Premier's Research Excellence Award, the Novartis Canada Senior Investigator Award, and the Allan Bruce Robertson Young Investigator Award. His work, focusing mainly on the molecular genetics of endocrine cancer, has been funded by the CIHR, the Cancer Research Society, and the Sackler Foundation. He belongs to a number of professional societies, including the Endocrine Society, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), the Pituitary Society, the American College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada.

Dr. Ezzat is equally committed to patient care and education. In 1990, he co-founded the Pituitary Network Association and has been the Editor-in-Chief of the Pituitary Tumor Patient Resource Guide, a reference book designed for patients that has received world-wide recognition and is now in its fourth edition. He has filled a similar role with the Thyroid Cancer Survivor (Thyrvor) and the North American Carcinoid Group.

Dr. Prevedello’s specialty is minimally invasive endoscopic surgery for vascular, skull base, and pituitary disorders. He received his medical degree and completed his residency in neurological surgery in Brazil. Dr. Prevedello completed a clinical fellowship in neuroendocrine and pituitary surgery at the University of Virginia and also completed a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive skull base surgery at UPMC. Dr. Prevedello is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery, the Latin American Federation of Societies of Neurological Surgery, and the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. He has published numerous academic articles on endoscopic skull base surgeries.