PMSF OPERATIONS STAFF
Robbie Baker
Chief Executive Officer
Robbie Baker has devoted his career to improving outcomes for individuals and families as they navigate complex, chronic, and life-threatening health journeys.
For more than 30 years, he has led nonprofit healthcare organizations with a simple belief at the center of his work: when organizations grow with purpose, people are better served.
In early 2026, Robbie joined the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation as Chief Executive Officer. He is deeply honored to serve the PMSF community and is committed to listening, learning, and working together to strengthen support for families, advance meaningful research, and move the community closer to effective treatments, and ultimately, a cure.
Before coming to PMSF, Robbie served as Chief Growth Officer at the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, where he helped guide the organization through a pivotal moment of growth: doubling revenue, expanding national advocacy, and building new opportunities for long-term impact. Over the years, he has also held leadership roles at organizations including the Rheumatology Research Foundation, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Make -A-Wish, and the Brain Injury Association, leading through both moments of possibility and times of uncertainty.
At heart, Robbie is a relationship builder who believes progress happens when people feel heard, supported, and connected. He is passionate about building strong, mission-driven teams and communities where hope, trust, and collaboration can thrive.
Robbie lives in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife, Dr. Cindy Baker, and their daughter, Emma.
Diane Linnehan
Chief Operating Officer
Diane brings over 28 years experience in operations, quality systems, program development, and disability advocacy to the Foundation, where her work supports a community that is close to her heart. Diane’s daughter, Courtney, was diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome at age 21. Diane earned a BS in engineering from the University of Massachusetts, is a certified educational advocate, and sits on the MA Statewide DDS Quality Council. She is the co-creator of an award winning community-based recreation program and she designed and manages her daughter’s self-directed adult program.
Diane lives in the Boston area with her husband, Mike, Courtney and their dog, Ted. Diane’s greatest joy is being mom to her three adult children and watching her family grow. Diane’s work is motivated by the extraordinary families who live with Phelan-McDermid syndrome and she strongly believes that if we listen carefully, our family stories hold clues to a greater understanding of the syndrome we battle daily. Diane believes that together we can improve care and find treatments and cures that will improve lives.
Priscilla Hackstadt
Chief Finance Officer
Priscilla lives in Suwanee Georgia (Metro Atlanta) and has been married to her husband Scott for 32 years. Together they are parents to Emma (25) and Christopher (18). Christopher was diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid Syndrome in 2007.
Priscilla started her career in public accounting in 1993, working in both audit and tax areas. While becoming a mother changed her career path to private, she maintains her CPA license in both Georgia and Alabama.
Lauren Schmitt
Chief Science Officer
Lauren Schmitt, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher who has spent her career studying and supporting people with neurodevelopmental disorders. She first connected with the Phelan-McDermid syndrome community at the 2016 PMSF International Conference, sparking her passion for rare disorder work. Over the next several years, Dr. Lauren built expertise in linking brain and blood biomarkers to clinical features, designing behavioral interventions, and developing outcome measures that could be used in both laboratory research and clinical trials.
At the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation, Dr. Lauren combines her scientific and clinical background with her commitment to families—helping make research understandable, accessible, and focused on what matters most to the community. She lives in Cincinnati, OH, with her husband, their new baby, and two scruffy dogs.
Amanda Bergen,
Director of Communications
Most of Amanda’s career was in people leadership and operations until she took some time to become a full-time caregiver for her daughter, Hudson, who was diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome at the age of 2, and her son, Sullivan. Amanda and her husband, Bill together navigate the challenges of raising a family. At PMSF, she serve on the Development Committee and hold the role of Director of Communications. Amanda’s family currently resides in Santa Clarita, CA, and she’s dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
Amanda’s ‘why’ at PMSF is rooted in her personal journey. As a caregiver for her daughter, Hudson, who battles Phelan-McDermid syndrome, she understands the immense challenges faced by those with this condition. She is driven by the relentless pursuit of better treatments and ultimately a cure, not just for her daughter, but for all families affected by Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Amanda’s ‘why’ is the hope of a brighter future, where Phelan-McDermid syndrome no longer imposes such overwhelming challenges, where we can provide comfort, understanding, and the possibility of a healthier life for those we serve.
Carla D’Imperio
Director of Family Support
As Director of Family Support, Carla D’Imperio brings a background in education as well as her own experience caring for her child with Phelan-McDermid syndrome, her son, Matthew (age eight). Carla is a graduate of Boston University and Pace University, and she completed her bilingual studies in Spanish at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. She worked as a middle school teacher in New York City followed by a number of years as a program director then a managing director for Teach For America. Carla’s professional background and personal experience as an advocate, volunteer, and provider of peer-to-peer support is a true asset to our community. Her sensitivity and first-hand knowledge of the challenges and joys of living with Phelan-McDermid syndrome guide her as she helps to provide support programs and resources to our families worldwide.
My eight-year-old son Matthew is my “why”. Everything we are accomplishing at PMSF from research initiatives to caregiver support groups is to help individuals like my Matthew and families like my own family. I love supporting our beautiful families as we walk through the challenges of caring for someone with Phelan-McDermid syndrome side-by-side. I can’t think of any more valuable work I could take on with individuals like my sweet Matthew at the heart of the mission.
Kelsie Adams,
Operations Coordinator
Kelsie graduated from Emerson College in December 2016 with a B.A. in Directing Narrative Fiction for Film and Television. She has worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles for the last eight years, mostly as an Assistant Director (AD). As an AD, she helps organize the schedule, flow of communications between departments, and helps run the show. All of which led to working closely with PMSF to help run the 2024 Family Conference!
Kelsie grew up all across the United States, alongside her two younger sisters, one of whom has Down syndrome. It has been Kelsie’s passion to support and normalize the inclusion of individuals with special needs in society, and she’s so happy to be able to continue pursuing that through her work with PMSF. Kelsie currently lives in Pasadena with her fiancé and two cats.
Kathy Fiscus
Data Manager
Kathy lives in Iowa with her two children, Naomi and Cyrus. Her son was diagnosed with Phelan-McDermid syndrome in 2013 when he was two years old. Kathy has been a home educator since 2012– working with my daughter to give her a unique and individualized education. Cyrus’s PMS diagnosis spurred her on to affect change for him and other special needs families in our area through a local nonprofit. Kathy is a backyard gardener, and the proud parent of not enough houseplants.
Kathy had an amazing experience working with the PMSF team as a volunteer from 2017 to 2019 on the conference planning committee and as the Iowa REP, so when there was a chance to join the staff in 2019, she jumped on the opportunity to further support the PMSF community. Through my role at PMSF, Kathy can use her advocacy and nonprofit administration experience to help families like hers navigate life with Phelan-McDermid syndrome.
Meagan Hutchinson
Science & Research Coordinator
Meagan Hutchinson earned her undergraduate degree from Lynchburg College (now the University of Lynchburg). She completed a master’s degree in Neuroscience at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Meagan is currently training to become a physician-scientist in Buffalo, New York. She brings several years of experience working with rare disease patient advocacy groups, and she is passionate about translational research. Meagan is dedicated to coordinating and helping drive research efforts forward that contribute to progress toward therapeutic options for the Phelan-McDermid syndrome community.
Meagan’s “why” is rooted in her commitment to bridge science and patient advocacy. Being a part of an organization that listens to families and translates their lived experiences into research priorities aligns perfectly with Meagan’s values. Meagan is driven by the opportunity to help accelerate research that could one day lead to meaningful therapies.
Elinor Platt
Accounting Manager
Elinor has been assisting the Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Foundation with bookkeeping needs for about 14 years now. She is originally from the small town of Ridgefield, Connecticut and graduated from Katharine Gibbs Business School. Elinor and her husband Doug, moved their family to Florida in the summer of 1990 and enjoy boating, fishing and golf. They are the proud parents of two adult sons, Doug and Randy, and four fur babies (miniature poodles) and also have two beautiful grandchildren who we love to spoil! She is the Accounting Manager at the PMSF office in Osprey, Florida and works closely with our Finance Director, Priscilla, handling all the accounting functions for the Foundation.
When Elinor first started working for PMSF, she was a contractor with several bookkeeping clients. She worked to get them up and running with the QuickBooks accounting program and she also assisted with some administrative duties. Elinor’s “why” is that as time went on, she got to know families and has seen how this amazing community helps and cares for one another. The families’ strength and support of each other only further encourages our wonderful PMSF team, which she is honored to be a part of working toward treatments or a cure for all that are affected by this syndrome.