ABOUT US
Prof. Frank Chindamo, CHP
Founder/CEO
Frank began his media career in comedy writing and production at SNL, and as an assistant on Ghostbusters. He's won 30+ awards for writing/producing comedy videos for HBO, Showtime, CBS, PBS, Comedy Central and more. He launched the world’s first mobile comedy channel, featured on the front pages of Forbes, the LA Times, and in the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times. Former Adjunct Professor in Web Video at USC, UCLA and Chapman University. Certified Humor Professional through the Association of Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Rythm Girdhar
CTO
Rhythm Girdhar is armed with a Master of Science in Computer Science from USC and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering from PES University. With a knack for software engineering, AI/ML, and cloud computing, she's no stranger to innovation. Having cut her teeth at Chime Financial Inc, Target Corporation, and GoTo, Rhythm is on a mission to keep laughMD ahead of the curve in healthcare tech. Get ready to geek out with Rhythm as she leads the charge into a future filled with bytes of laughter and pixels of progress.
Victor Tetrault
CFO
Victor established a startup company that produced over $150 million in gross revenues within its first five years. He also has an extensive career in corporate management with developed skills that include finance, marketing, and international trade.
Michael Citrin
CSO
Michael is our Chief Strategy Officer., with a B.S. in Psychobiology. Salesperson for 37 years bringing experience in customer care to the forefront. As someone living with Leukemia and regularly going through the infusion process, Citrin understands the patient's perspective. Seeking entertainment to help pass the time of the infusion process, he discovered LaughMD and joined the team to spread the word that Laughter truly is the best medicine.
Mary Sutton
Social Media Manager
Hello! 👋 My name is Mary Sutton and I am a writer, editor, and graphic designer. I am a fourth-year English major at UCLA with a minor in professional writing. I've been in Nommo NewsMagazine since 2020, starting as a writing intern before becoming the media productions manager. In 2022, I joined Shenanigans Comedy Club as a member of an improv team and the digital sketch department. Soon after, I helped create Bruinettes at UCLA, where I do graphic design, social media marketing, and help with public relations. Outside of my extracurricular work, my hobbies include creative writing, watching video essays, and performing with my improv comedy team!
Dr. Joshua Cohen, Ph. D.
Dr. Cohen is a Media Psychologist with clinical training from Pacifica Graduate Institute and Walden University. He's worked with various populations in hospitals and community mental health settings. He is also an experienced film/video editor, having worked on "A" list projects in Hollywood with notable figures in the film industry. Dr. Cohen authored and co-edited the first-of-its-kind book, Video and Filmmaking as Psychotherapy: Research and Practice, which is in the National Library of Medicine and draws from sources in Psychology, Counseling, Anthropology, Social Work, and Art Therapy. In addition, Dr. Cohen was the editor of Film/Video-Based Therapy and Trauma.
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Chief Psychology Officer
ADVISORS
Patch Adams, MD
Dr. Patch Adams is an American physician, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. He was portrayed by Robin Williams in the 1998 film "Patch Adams." He founded the Gesundheit! Institute for local medical care.Patch Adams is best known for his work as a medical doctor and a clown, but he is also a social activist who has devoted over 40 years of his life to changing America’s healthcare system. He believes that laughter, joy and creativity are an integral part of the healing process. Each year he organizes volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns to bring humor to orphans, patients, ...and other people.
Cynthia Shelby Lane, MD
Cynthia Shelby-Lane, MD, also known as "the agelessdoctor", is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School and Second City Comedy School in Chicago. She trained as a surgeon at the University of Texas in Houston. She is board-certified in anti-aging, alternative and complementary medicine
Jeffrey Gurian, DDS
Consultant in the recovery world for 25 years and one of the only doctors with a long-standing comedy career having worked with and interviewed names like Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Chelsea Handler, Tracy Morgan, Billy Crystal, Ray Romano, Chris Rock, Nick Kroll, John Mulaney and more. Also the author of two self-help bestsellers “Healing Your Heart By Changing Your Mind: A Spiritual And Humorous Approach To Achieving Happiness”, and “Fight The Fear-Overcoming Obstacles That Stand In Your Way.”
Craig Shoemaker
Craig is an internationally-known stand up comedian, with guest appearances in all the major TV networks, and his own specials on HBO and Netflix. Craig founded Laughter Heals, and LH and LMD have partnered up to benefit the most beleaguered people in healthcare: Nurses. Laughter Heals was formed for the same reason as LaughMD: To answer the question, "If laughter is the best medicine, why don't we use it as medicine?"
Paul Jacobson, MD
Dr. J is an expert in the fields of Applied Psycho-Neuro-Immunology (PNI) & Behavioral Medicine. PNI is the scientific evidence-based cornerstone of the Laughter is the Best Medicine paradigm. Dr. J Is an early pioneer in the future of Tele-Health and the interface of innovative applications for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. J is the original Endorpho-Maniac utilizing custom-crafted Tele-Health Humor as medicine for difficult-to-treat populations.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sandra Coufal, MD
Board of Directors Chair
Dr. Coufal's interest consists of applying her fund of knowledge and skill set acquired over the past 30 years as a physician and serial entrepreneur to the development of productsand companies in the areas of medicine, chemistry, biotechnology, digital technology, and material sciences.
Prof. Frank Chindamo, CHP
Founder/CEO
Frank began his media career in writing and production at SNL. He's won 30+ awards for writing/producing comedy videos for HBO, Showtime, CBS, PBS, Comedy Central and more. He launched the world’s first mobile comedy channel, featured on the front pages of Forbes, the LA Times, and in the Wall Street Journal and the NY Times. Former Adjunct Professor in Web Video at USC, UCLA and Chapman University. Certified Humor Professional through the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor.
Rick Barnett
Board of Directors
Former CEO, Satellite Healthcare, Vizient (formerly VHA), and Mercy Medical Center. Chairman of the Board for the National Kidney Foundation – CA, NV & Pacific NW Region. MBA from California State University, Fullerton. He is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and a certified director by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD). Strategic Growth Expert, Corporate Board Member & Healthcare Entrepreneur
with 35+ Years of Leadership Growing & Turning Around Organizations while Consistently Elevating Employee, Physician & Patient Engagement
TEAM
Neha Reddy
Content Director
Neha Reddy comes to LaughMD after working at ViacomCBS in content distribution and most recently, at Hulu in partner marketing. She’s a first-year MBA student at UCLA Anderson, specializing in Entertainment and Technology, and a southern California native. She joined the LaughMD team to help build out a winning product and content
strategy. Neha is excited to be part of a passionate group of individuals looking to
harness the power of laughter and make the world a healthier, happier place.
Aristotle Zeng
Data, Research & Development
Aristotle Zeng is currently a volunteer at Kaiser Permanente and a Biology pre-med senior at Pepperdine University. Over the past five years, Aristotle has helped co-found the student-led 503c nonprofit organization the International Youth Tobacco Control (IYTC). Through the organization's efforts, he has helped internationally spread smoking awareness to 120,000 youth and legislatively
impacted 14 million adolescents via legislative reform and educational activities. With a passion for always helping those in need, Aristotle is excited at the prospect of working at LaughMD to bring smiles to those who need it the most.
Rocco Polanco
Content Curator
Rocco Polanco is a page at Paramount Pictures and a graduate in Comedic Arts at Emerson College, a major that focuses on comedic writing, performance, and production. Rocco spent three years on the Boston campus as a showrunner, director, and editor for The Emerson Channel’s late-night style sketch show, Closing Time. Polanco has won three EVVY Awards for sketch comedy and television production, and was a finalist for the 2022 Jess Clavelli Comedy Award. Having only recently moved to LA, he is excited to get involved with the improv, sketch, and stand-up scene around town. Not only are Rocco and Zoe interns at LaughMD, but they are also best friends/roommates! The two actively performed with Emerson’s long-form improv troupe, This is Pathetic, have written/produced together on Closing Time, and were writer/cast members in ComEx! 2022, a student comedy showcase.
David Groves
Strategy Consultant
David Groves, MBA, USC, has joined LaughMD as part of the Business Development team. David has more than 20 years of Management, Marketing and Business Development experience in the medical and technology fields. He was recently CEO of a company in the robotics space and worked for many years in Cardiac Rhythm Management. He has raised $Millions through Reg A and Reg D financing rounds. Currently, he is a partner in an Urgent Care Center and Surgery Center.
Marie Ryan
Sales
VP of Sales for Vinturi, Inc. and Founder of Tea-Vino. Seasoned Sales and Customer Service professional in a variety of fields; she brings her talents from those experiences with her to ensure the greatest customer satisfaction for her clients. Firsthand experience with the use of laughter for her own healing, and that of her children.
Mason Standish
Content Curator/Creator
Mason Standish is a graduating senior at the Emerson College Los Angeles currently studying media production. He is from the Baltimore area and has extensive experience in stand-up, sketch comedy, and improv! He applies these skills on social media platforms, producing short-form comedy content that has amassed over 13 million likes! He is excited about LaughMD's mission and is excited to contribute.
David Eli Israelian
App Builder, Business Advisor
David "Ezra" Israelian is an esteemed entrepreneur and philanthropist with a rich background in technology and innovation. As a visionary leader, he has steered numerous startups to success, focusing on disruptive technologies that bridge gaps in healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability. Israelian's commitment to ethical business practices and social responsibility is evident in his philanthropic endeavors, aiming to empower underprivileged communities through education and access to technology, mental health care, and job opportunities. His leadership is marked by a dedication to fostering nationwide communities of individuals living with severe mental illness, innovation, and long-term societal impact.
Arouti Agoupi
App builder, Business advisor
Arouti Agoupi has a distinguished career marked by founding and scaling various enterprises, notably achieving significant growth in a logistics company. Transitioning into the mental health sector, Agoupi passionately advocates for leveraging advanced technology to enhance patient care, prioritizing patient satisfaction and accessibility to treatment. His dedication to integrating innovative solutions in healthcare underscores a commitment to improving patient experiences and outcomes.