Meet Our Staff

Dawn Ireland, President

Dawn is the current President and Founder of CDH International. As the past President (1995-2017) of CHERUBS, the world’s largest charity for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, she founded the organization in 1995 and led it to be the most successful NPO of its kind and transformed it into CDH International in 2017. Through her leadership, the charity has helped over 7000 families in 84 countries, found a voice on Capitol Hill, raised awareness on national media, created relationships with hospitals and celebrities, pushed for more funding through NIH, created and funded support services and information for families, brought together the global CDH community, published medical data and raised over $12.5 million dollars.

She has also laid the foundation for and/or assisted with the creation of 11 other CDH charities. Dawn is honored to mentor many other cause charities, and she was the first charity leader to set up a 3-prong cause agenda of research, awareness, and support over 25 years ago.

Ms Ireland also sits on the Boards of the 6 overseas CDH International NGOs (in Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong), as well as on 14 government and research association committees including two that she co-founded; the Global Research Alliance of Congenital Anomalies (GRACA) and the Alliance of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Organizations (ACDHO).

Ms Ireland is also the head of the Research Department and the temporary head of the Support Department, Volunteer Manager, and Office Manager.

Jason Miller, CDH Research Registry Manager

Jason first began working with CDH International in 2013 and held several positions on staff before becoming the manager of the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Natural History Registry. Jason updates and secures the patient registry, assists families with completing the survey, and prepares data for research studies. Jason also assists with abstract preparation, conference planning, grant applications, creating presentations, managing collaborations, and representing CDH International at research conferences.

Meet Our Leadership

Mellissa Reaves, CDH Awareness Department

Mrs. Reaves began volunteering at CDH International in 2021 after her daughter, Ally, was born with CDH.

She heads the entire Awareness Department, global Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Day and all the various teams that help to raise CDH awareness all year long.

Nicolle Colvin, Fundraising

Mrs. Colvin

David Holt, Corporate Fundraising

Jason first began working with CDH International in 2013 and held several positions on staff before becoming the manager

Darlene Silverman, Research Library

Mrs. Reaves

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