Lauren Stiles, JD - Chief Executive Officer
Lauren holds a B.A. in Earth & Space Science, with a Minor in Marine Science, from the Stony Brook Brook University. She completed a two-year Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship, during which she provided fundraising and public relations services to numerous non-profits. After graduating with honors from Pace University School of Law, she joined a private practice in New York where she focused on environmental law and policy. Lauren served in leadership positions on several government councils, non-profit boards and professional associations. She developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) symptoms overnight at the age 31. After a relentless two-year quest to find an underlying cause for her symptoms, she was finally diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy caused by an autoimmune disease, Sjogren's syndrome. Since co-founding Dysautonomia International in 2012, Lauren has been an outspoken advocate for individuals living with autonomic disorders. She has lectured on autonomic disorders during U.S. Congressional Briefings and at the National Institutes of Health, Harvard Medical School, Duke University, and numerous other medical schools and hospitals. In 2018, Lauren joined the faculty at Stony Brook University School of Medicine as a Research Assistant Professor of Neurology, where she focuses on autonomic disorders research. She lives with her husband, dog, and several chickens on eastern Long Island.
Lori Jean Corrao - Office Manager
Lori-Jean has 20+ years of experience working within the Accounting, Human Resources and Office Management fields. She uses her time management and multi-tasking skills to perform all necessary tasks to maintain Dysautonomia International's bookkeeping, financial reporting, human resources, and payroll, as well as the overall processing of business requirements for the organization. Lori-Jean is a highly active weekend warrior who enjoys working on projects in her yard, having friends and family over for outdoor brick-oven cooking events, and enjoying s'mores around the firepit.
Charlotte Florez - Director of Events
Charlotte holds a BFA in Theatre Education from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. During her seven years teaching elementary drama and special education, Charlotte developed neurocardiogenic syncope and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. She quickly became passionate about advocating for awareness and connecting with other dysautonomia patients. She volunteered with Dysautonomia International for many years planning in person meetups, awareness events, lightings, proclamations and moderating the North Carolina support group and was awarded the 2021 Volunteer of the Year. In 2021 joined the staff at Dysautonomia international as our Community Engagement Coordinator and in 2023 she became our Director of Events.
Laura Horodyski - Administrative Assistant
Laura is passionate about her work at nonprofits because she strives to help people and make the world a better place. Laura is a master organizer and keeps the wheels turning at Dysautonomia International as our awesome Administrative Assistant. In her free time, Laura loves reading, hiking and spending time with her two wonderful children.
Sierra Sunset Leffers - Community Engagement Coordinator
Sierra was inspired to dedicate her life to helping others in her community as a legal advocate at 16 when she was honored with the ACLU's First Amendment Hero Award. After graduating Magna Cum Laude in economics from the University of California, Irvine, Sierra's plans were derailed the summer she was preparing for the LSATs when she became bedridden overnight due to the onset of POTS symptoms. Following a year of uncertainty and a diagnosis of dysautonomia/POTS, she embarked on the challenging journey of trial-and-error symptom management. Despite living with dysautonomia, Sierra was not deterred from her true purpose to be an advocate for her community. She was a long-time volunteer of Dysautonomia International before taking on the role of Community Engagement Coordinator. Sierra now helps manage Dysautonomia International's 60+ support groups, recruit, train and supervise our volunteers, and respond to patient and caregiver inquiries. Sierra is passionate about helping our community and ensuring every individual living with dysautonomia receives the resources, information, and support that proved to be her guiding light during her darkest nights.
Tom Scott - Director of Marketing & Communications
Tom has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit communications, marketing, public relations, and brand management. He is responsible for increasing Dysautonomia International's brand awareness among key constituents and developing its marketing and communications plan and priorities. Tom leads the project management and execution of several communications efforts including annual reports, community announcements, email blasts, social media engagement, event promotion, press releases, media monitoring, and website development. He supports the organization to maintain the highest standards in communication. In his previous position, Tom served as Chief Marketing Officer at United Spinal Association, a national nonprofit that assists individuals living with spinal cord injuries and disorders. Tom holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island. He dedicates his free time volunteering as a certified firefighter and emergency medical technician in Long Island, New York, where he currently resides with his wife and three children.
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