BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Give a task to the busiest person, and they will surpass expectations. The SIB Board of Directors are the busiest, most talented, thoughtful, and creative brain trust we could hope for. Olubode Shawn Brown, Patricia Gandy, Esq, Dr. Evan Goldfischer, Rob Santangelo, Dr. Aaron Spitz, and Patrick Gandy.

Patrick Gandy

Patrick Gandy is an acclaimed conductor and composer known for his dynamic artistry, earning notable awards like the 2017 ASCAP Foundation/Symphony Jazz Commissioning Competition and the 2018 NAACP Theatre Award for Best Musical Director for "The Color Purple - The Musical." He has collaborated with legends including Stevie Wonder, Billy Porter, Jennifer Holliday, Patrice Rushen, Ricky Minor, and John Legend.

Educated at prestigious institutions such as the Eastman School of Music, CCM in Cincinnati and CalArts, Patrick's work graces Grammy-winning recordings like Dianne Reeves' "The Calling" and Billy Childs’ "Lyric." His talents extend to scoring for film and television, and as a pianist and/or musical director for Broadway national tours such as "The Lion King" and "Dreamgirls."

As the Executive Director of The Silence Is Broken, a 501(c)(3) organization, Patrick uses innovative docu-concert films to inspire investment in community action to address issues labeled intractable. His performances, whether with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra or at the White House, resonate globally, fusing passion and purpose in every note.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickgandy/

Aaron Spitz, MD

Dr. Aaron Spitz earned his medical degree from Cornell Medical College and he completed his Urology residency at the University of Southern California, and then obtained fellowship training in infertility at the Baylor College of Medicine. Dr Spitz is an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of male infertility and male sexual dysfunction as well as nutritional support for male health. He has engaged in research and clinical trials for several major therapeutics helping patients today. He has served on the faculty at University of California, Irvine department of Urology and he is a partner at Orange County Urology Associates, providing care for patients for over 25 years.

Dr. Spitz is the immediate past Chair of the AUA Urology Telehealth Taskforce where he directed the implementation of telehealth for urologists across the United States. He is the recipient of Distinguished Service Award of the American Urologic Association for his service as the lead representative from the American Urological Association to the American Medical Association

Dr. Spitz is a member of the AUA, AMA, Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR), Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) where he serves as Member at Large, and ASRM.

Dr. Spitz serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Endourology, the Journal of Urology and the Journal of Andrology and Urology Practice Journal.

Dr. Spitz is the author of The Penis Book: A Doctor’s Complete Guide to the Penis, from size to function and everything in between published by Crown/Penguin and has been published in 6 languages. He is featured in the Netflix’s most viewed documentary of all time, The Game Changers as well as the widely popular documentary You Are What You Eat. He has been a guest on Dr Phil, Real Housewives of Orange County and The Doctors, where he guest hosted and appeared regularly to demystify urology conditions, often with a healthy dose of humor. His comic sensibilities were cultivated performing stand-up comedy in New York City, while attending medical school.

Dr Spitz brings together his expertise as a leader in his field, his ability to make medical information widely accessible to a large audience, and his love for comedy and the arts as co-author and co-producer of “Conversations with My Penis.”

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronspitz/

Olubode Shawn Brown

President & CEO at Banyan Tree Worldwide Media, Inc. New York NYC

Olubode is hired by organizational leaders, transitioning professionals and creative entrepreneurs to help them as they think through the complexities of their lives, businesses and enterprises. He is the author of two books on Well-Being, Life-Purpose and Balance:

BLOOM The Essential Journey- A New Guide to Balance Growth & Well-Being and FINDING YOUR B.I.G. - Finding New Purpose In Changing Times. In them he introduces a new way of thinking and asking fundamental questions based on the five elements that grow and balance life. This body of thought is called “The Philosophy of BLOOMING.”

He is currently the thought leader in residence at the AWO HUB, a Global Collective of Creatives based in Accra, Ghana.

His work is focused on working with diverse leaders who are thinking collectively, working cooperatively, and acting globally in the fields of Well-Being & Mental Health, Social Justice, Economic Empowerment, Equity and Community Development.

Olubode spends his time between Accra Ghana, New York City, Los Angeles, California and the island of Jamaica.

More here

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olubode-shawn-brown-88bb3712/

Evan R. Goldfischer, M.D., MBA

Evan Goldfischer graduated with a BA from Tufts University and received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College. He completed his internship in General Surgery and his residency in Urology at the University of Chicago and then completed a fellowship in Endourology under the direction of Arthur Smith at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. He, also, has a MBA and MPH from the University of Massachusetts. He joined Hudson Valley Urology in 1998 and transformed the group in 2010 into Premier Medical Group of the Hudson Valley where he served as co-founding CEO. He has practiced in the Hudson Valley for 28 years. Dr. Goldfischer started the research program and has served as principal investigator in over 450 clinical trials. In 2015 he joined the board of directors of the large urology group practice association and became president in 2022 and served in that position until 2024.

Dr. Goldfischer is a member of the American Urological Association and the Society of Endourology. He is a reviewer for the Journal of Endourology.

Dr. Goldfischer has authored 100 peer reviewed abstracts and papers and has written several books, including Even Urologist Get Kidney Stones.

Dr. Goldfischer has a lifelong love of theatre and began investing in Broadway shows in 2015. His productions have included Angels in America, Be More Chill, Smokey Joe’s Café, and Back to the Future. He is the co-author of Conversations with Your Penis and has also co-written the lyrics for the show.

Evan R. Goldfischer, M.D., MBA
Director of Research
Urology Division
Premier Medical Group
Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology
New York Medical College
President, LUGPA 2022-2024
845-437-5000

https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanrgoldfischer/

Rob Santangelo

A true native New Yorker, Rob was born and raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn. But not the Park Slope people know today as an expensive place to live in New York City but the working-class Slope that had its share of economic downturn and racial unrest in the 60s and 70s.

When it came time for high school, his mom guided Rob to the noted HS of Art & Design on 57th and 2nd in NYC, a specialized High School in the public school system of NYC. Four years later, competing with 900 applicants, Rob was one of 12 to win a full scholarship to The School of Visual Arts, a leading communications/marketing college in the Gramercy section of NYC.

Since then, he has remained active in the advertising business, working as an Art Director for Madison Avenue ad agencies like Foote Cone & Belding to J. Walter Thompson.
Winning many industry awards, he has worked with big consumer brands like DeBeers, Nabisco, and airlines like British Airways and JetBlue to spearhead marketing initiatives for non-profits like The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Rob is now freelance writing for pharmaceuticals in the oncology space and for a national auto service brand.

An award-winning, experienced marketing professional, Rob, is now sharing his expertise with a more entertaining venue.

linkedin.com/in/rob-santangelo-baa569251

Patricia Gandy

Patricia Gandy is an attorney at the Newport Beach office of Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara, LLP. Her practice focuses primarily on general liability defense particularly with respect to public entities. Prior to joining the firm, Mrs. Gandy practiced with small firms in Orange County where she gained extensive experience in general civil litigation, primarily in the Labor and Employment areas of law, as well as business and corporate litigation. Prior to her law career, Mrs. Gandy worked in the financial sector at investment institutions in New York.

Ms. Gandy earned her Juris Doctorate from Chapman University Fowler School of Law where she received a certificate in Environmental, Land Use and Real Estate law. While attending Chapman, Mrs. Gandy externed for the Honorable Justice Kathleen O’Leary (currently the Presiding Justice) of the California Courts of Appeal, 4th District, Division 3. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications/Journalism from the University of San Francisco (USF). While studying at USF, Mrs. Gandy lived and studied at the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies associated with Keble College, Oxford University, Oxford England. She is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California and the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Mrs. Gandy's hobbies include travel/dining, reading, movies, and spending time with her daughter.