Our Services Team

Chris Curtin
​Services Director
Chris Curtin started his ALS advocacy back in 2004, when Claire was diagnosed with ALS. He was also one of Claire's caregivers throughout her journey with ALS.

Chris was a founding Board Member of MAC Angels and served as Board President for four years. Chris then went on to become MAC Angels Services Director in 2014. Chris heads up the Services Team and is extremely involved in the day to day advocacy of all of our MAC Angels families.  He annually represents MAC Angels in Washington DC with the ALS Association to fight for rights for PALS (Person with ALS) and their families. 

Chris graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Fine Arts and a minor in Communications. Chris sits on the Board of the Westchester End of Life Coalition and The Beverment Center of Westchester. He is the father of Liam and Seamus.
Ellen DiCicco
Program Director
As MAC Angels program director, Ellen is fully devoted to the singular mission of supporting families with ALS and easing their journey.  "I am consistently inspired by our families who remain positive in the face of such adversity."  

Ellen supports the daily operations by servicing family's needs, navigating available resources and maintaining statistical records.  In addition to the operational responsibilities, she promotes and coordinates public awareness through various venues and promotional events.
 
Ellen graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in Business and a minor in Economics.  Initially focusing on marketing and management, she eventually designed, owned and operated her own cafe. Ellen and her husband have three children and live in the New York area.
Carol Somerville
LCSW, MS
Carol graduated from The Columbia University School of Social Work in 1981, and in 1994 she received a Master of Science degree in Health Care Management, Policy and Administration from The New School for Social Research, Milano School of Management. She has been practicing in the field as a clinician, administrator, and leader.

​Her work has focused on the continuum of care from wellness, to illness, to end of life issues for individuals and families. Carol helps our community, and their personal needs, through her expertise on health care systems, health care advocacy, supportive counseling, and end of life decision planning; centering on dying with dignity. She lives in Northern New Jersey, is married to Mark and is the proud mother of Jenna and Scott.  
Julie W. Buyon
​Patient Advocate
Julie has broad experience working with and advocating on behalf of patients with serious and complex illnesses, and has worked with ALS families since 2011.  As a palliative care patient advocate, she assists PALS navigate the increasingly circumscribed world that an ALS diagnosis creates, and in understanding that they always have choices and control over important aspects of their lives.  She helps PALS and CALS identify what is most important to them and works to ensure that all care supports the PALS’ values and goals. Julie’s favorite question for the PALS she meets with is “What can we do to make this better?” and her favorite – and most frequent – answer is “I think we can help you out with that!”
 
Julie currently serves on the Ethics Committee for Visiting Nurse Service Hospice and Palliative Care in New York City, as well as the Quality Improvement Committee for Cancer Support Team.  Her articles have appeared in several journals and anthologies.  She holds a Masters in Health Advocacy from Sarah Lawrence College, a Certificate in Bioethics from the Montefiore-Einstein Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, and a BS in Communication Studies from Northwestern University.  Julie and her husband live in the New York area and are the proud parents of three amazing young men.
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MAC ANGELS FOUNDATION
​2005 Palmer Avenue - Suite 291  Larchmont,  NY  10538
info@macangels.org                 914.637.7010
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