Board of Directors

Jacob Oren Levitt, M.D. is Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY.  Currently, he is in private practice with The Dermatology Specialists in New York City.  Until August 2021, he was Vice Chair of the department and heavily involved in teaching residents and medical students.  He was Course Director of the second year medical student dermatology pathophysiology course at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY for ten years from his Chief Residency year at Mount Sinai in 2004 until 2014.  From 2010 - 2020, he was Residency Director of Dermatology.  Clinical interests include autoimmune bullous disease, hidradenitis suppurativa, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema multiforme, head lice, scabies, and medical education.  Dr. Levitt did his dermatology residency at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY, his internship at Sound Shore Medical Center, New Rochelle, NY, and medical school training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.  He received a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Yale University.  Dr. Levitt has competency in conversational Hebrew and Spanish, and some French and Japanese.  He speaks English ok.

 Non-work activities include thirty-seven years of Shotokan Karate (5th degree black belt and instructor), wing chun, jiujitsu, kali, and boxing.  He is past-President and past-Medical Director of the Periodic Paralysis Association (he also has this disease) and was former Director of the Bronx Yale Alumni Schools Committee.  He served on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology from 2008-2013.  In medical school (circa 1999-2000), Dr. Levitt was a co-founder of the ECHO Free Clinic in the Bronx, NY, designed to render medical care to uninsured patients.  The first of its kind in the nation, this clinic model has been emulated by medical schools across the country.  He is also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in New York State and has an interest in gardening, focusing on native flowers, shrubs, and trees to encourage pollinator pathways and a balanced suburban ecosystem.

Dr. Levitt has over 60 publications, including 7 book chapters, one book (Safety in Office-Based Dermatologic Surgery), and one educational App (Dermswipe, free on the App store, available internationally, developed with Dr. Usama Syed and Dr. Aakaash Varma).  He has two significant publications regarding periodic paralysis: “Practical Aspects in the Management of Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis”, and “Characterization of Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis: a survey of genetically diagnosed individuals”, both of which can be found in the Physicians Library on this website.

He has been a speaker at the American Academy of Dermatology on head lice and scabies, procedural safety in dermatology, and U.S. generic drug pricing.  He was meeting Chair of the July 2017 AAD Summer Meeting and the 2020 Winter Meeting (cancelled due to the COVID pandemic).  From 2004-2010, Dr. Levitt was a vice president of Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., a company founded by his grandfather.  Dr. Levitt holds one patent on a novel treatment for acne and another for the use of cantharidin in perforating collagenosis.  He was first to publish the use of teprotumumab for the treatment of pretibial myxedema.  He is past-President of the Manhattan Metropolitan Dermatological Society (2011-2012) and past-President of the New York Academy of Medicine Dermatology Section (2012-2013) and past-President of the New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery (2017-2019). He is formerly a member to the American Academy of Dermatology Scientific Assembly Committee (March 2015 – March 2020) and American Academy of Dermatology Council for Education.

Cheryl Harr grew up in Ohio and lives on a small farm with her husband and son. She enjoys the country life and competing with her registered quarter horses in Western events.

Cheryl’s background is in technical writing and has done volunteer work ranging from opening her home to foreign exchange students, handicapped horseback riding programs, as well as providing horses and lessons to 4H members unable to have a horse project of their own.

Like many with PP, her journey took several twists and turns before getting diagnosed with Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis. Considering it an honor to be a part of the PPI team, Cheryl wishes to continue expanding documentation resources as well as promote more awareness internationally.

Vivian was born in sunny southern California and appreciates all the teaching universities she has access to give her son the best chance at medical independence. She currently works in the environmental industry with 25 years experience as a database specialist for sites with groundwater/soil contamination.

Vivian has volunteered at multiple non-profits including food banks giving food, baby items and other critical help to service men/women and their families. She spent 15 years mentoring at risk youth, encouraging them on a path to self-awareness, faith and stability. Her current passion is finding health and wellness for her son who has been diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Hypokalemic Period Paralysis, these two genetic conditions have caused endless complications in his life and it is her goal to help him and others like him to live full and enjoyable lives given their medical complications. She mentors other seriously ill young adults on how to present their conditions to get the most out of doctor appointments where typically they may be dismissed.

She and her son were featured in the two part docuseries: Overcoming two rare diseases: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) & Periodic Paralysis (PP), The Doctors TV show and the book Doctor Dogsby Maria Goodavage.

Shelley was born and raised in Michigan, and attended Indiana University, where she met her husband, Tim. They happily live in Michigan, close to their amazing adult children (Daughter and son-in-law, and son and daughter-in-law) and the best gift ever - a new grandson.

Shelley’s symptoms started at age 31, and she was fortunate to be diagnosed at 32 by a family doctor who had recalled a lecture on periodic paralysis while in medical school. She has hypokalemic PP, but her potassium levels remain in the normal range during intermittent paralysis and myoclonus. “My first contact with someone who also had periodic paralysis was when I received an email response from Deb Greant. I cried as I was so happy to no longer feel alone and lost after my diagnosis.

Shelley has been involved in the PP community since joining the PPI and the PPA in 1999 - having attended the very first PPA conference and nearly every conference since. She was a board member of, and served as treasurer of the PPA for 12 years.

Ralph Berthiaume was born and raised in Western Massachusetts where he enjoys spending time with his family. He enjoys live music, sporting events, and cooking for friends and family. His background is in entertainment and hospitality management, and he also spent more than 10 years volunteering as a youth soccer coach.

Ralph was diagnosed with hypokalemic periodic paralysis in 2001. That diagnosis led him to want to learn everything he could about periodic paralysis and connect with others living with the condition. As social media began to grow, he created his first HypoPP group in Yahoo Groups in late 2004 and moved it to Facebook in early 2007, where it remains today as the Periodic Paralysis Support Network(PPSN). The group has grown into the largest and most active social support group for people living with periodic paralysis, with more than 3,700 members from over 84 countries.

Ralph’s commitment to advocacy and awareness has guided his work ever since. “Stronger Together” has long been his motto, and he brings that same dedication to his work with Periodic Paralysis International.