ALEXANDRA'S PLAYGROUND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Andrea Vitale, along with her husband, are the Co-founders of Alexandra's Playground. After receiving her Masters in Physical Therapy from Hahnemann University and her Doctorate from Columbia University, Andrea worked in the Physical Therapy Department at New York Presbyterian Hospital for 10 years. Andrea then worked as the Vice President of Marketing for Theradynamics, a Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation company with offices throughout Manhattan and the Bronx. She is currently focusing her time on raising her four young boys Lucas, Nicholas, Marcus and Michael.
After many years in Brooklyn Heights, Andrea moved to Irvington, NY with her husband Michael and their boys.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dr.Beth Shubin Stein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Shubin Stein completed her undergraduate and medical training at Columbia University. She then performed her residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia as well, and went on to complete her training with a subspecialty fellowship in Sports Medicine and Shoulder Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY.
She stayed on as an Assistant Attending in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery where she now practices. Her research interests include patellar instability and arthritis as well as tendon to bone healing. Dr. Shubin Stein has served as the team physician for the WUSA NY Power women's professional soccer league and continues to be team physician for the Federation Cup women's US tennis team.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Daniela Vitale-Howell graduated from Villanova University in 1992. She received a Masters of Early Childhood and Elementary Education from New York University and subsequently received certification to teach Intermediate and Upper School with a concentration in English. Daniela taught 6th and 7th grade English for nine years. She is currently on Child Care Leave and raising three children with her husband, Jason, in Brooklyn.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Partner at New York
- Partner JUEL Consulting
Liz is a Partner at New York-based JUEL, a management consultancy and executive recruiting firm focused on the marketing community. Prior founding JUEL, Liz spent 15 years on the agency side. She began her career in New York at Ammirati & Puris then moved to Young & Rubicam. Over the course of her nine years at Y&R, Liz was Director of New Business for Y&R North America, oversaw a largeportion of the integrated AT&T account and was appointed Chief of Staff to the Worldwide CEO.
In 2000, Liz was hired by McCann London to oversee integration of all McCann's communication companies in the UK (advertising, direct, PR, design, media, interactive), as well as run the Cable & Wireless business globally. In 2001, she was promoted to McCann Europe's Chief Marketing Officer responsible for the largest agency new business operation in Europe. Liz is a graduate of Trinity College.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Teacher
Lainie Lederman is a third grade teacher in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey. She has been on the teaching staff at Wildwood Elementary School since she graduated from Rutgers College in 1995. Lainie and her husband, Glenn, live in East Brunswick, New Jersey with their two children and two dogs. Lainie is Alexandra's aunt.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Surgeon
Dr. Mark Vitale is an orthopaedic surgeon and hand surgery specialist at Orthopaedic and Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) in Greenwich, CT. Dr. Vitale completed his undergraduate education at Tufts University and his medical training at Columbia University and the Mayo Clinic. He is Alexandra's uncle.
Dr. Vitale loves being an uncle to all of his little ones and is passionate about the need for healthy play for young children locally where he grew up in New York, as well as across the country and internationally.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dr. Vitale is the Ana Lucia Associate Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Chief of the Pediatric Spine Service at Children's Hospital of New York. Dr. Vitale completed his medical schooling in 1995 at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons where he also earned a Masters in Public Health. He then completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery , and a Subspecialty Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics at the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
A significant part of Dr. Vitale's practice involves the treatment of children with spinal problems such as scoliosis, reconstruction of congenital deformities, and the care of children injured by trauma. As the Director of Clinical Research for the Division of Pediatric Orthopedics, Dr. Vitale directs a large research effort which focuses on the assessment of patient outcomes in children with various orthopedic problems, and ways to optimize the quality of life of these children. Dr. Vitale has participated in various medical missions abroad including trips to Haiti, Peru and Honduras. A seven-time NYC Marathon finisher, he looks forward to his four sons beating him one day.