Our team is growing!

The FSH Society team is expanding, with two new staff members, Diane Burke and Kristin Duquette, taking key positions to enable the organization to meet critical challenges in the coming years.

In December 2014, Diane Burke joined as Director of Finance and Administration, stepping into the sizable void left by the retirements of the FSH Society’s founding Treasurer Bill Michael and his successor Chris Stenmon.

A graduate of Bentley University, Diane is an experienced finance professional with a diverse background in nonprofits, manufacturing, R&D, and public accounting. Diane has expertise in all aspects of financial accounting, reporting and analysis, and strategic planning.

Diane’s accounting career has focused primarily on nonprofit organizations. Most recently she was the Director of Finance for the Asperger/Autism Network (AANE), where she continues to be involved on a volunteer basis. In addition, Diane has provided financial consulting services to the Corporation for Advancement of Medical Technologies (AdMeTech Foundation). AdMeTech seeks to promote advances in prostate cancer care and early detection.

Diane is eager to work with the FSH Society and provide strategy and systems that will enable the Society to continue to grow and support patients and families with FSHD. “The FSH Society’s ability to fund research grants, advocate on behalf of patients, and provide resources to individuals and families offers a unique opportunity to better people’s lives, Diane enthuses.

Diane lives in Reading, Massachusetts, with her husband Sean and two teenage sons. She is interested in photography.

In February 2015, Kristin Duquette came on board as Administrative Assistant. Kristin is well known to the FSHD community for her athletic feats and disability advocacy. She graduated in 2013 from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, with a bachelor of arts degree in human rights.

Diagnosed with FSHD during the week of her ninth birthday, Kristin has become passionate about swimming, empowerment, and advocacy work.

With much perseverance and determination, Kristin became a world-class swimmer, breaking five American records and three Junior National records in her quest to make the London 2012 Paralympics.

Throughout her training years, Kristin competed in a Half Ironman open ocean, a 1.2-mile swim; represented the United States at the Youth Parapan Games in Bogotá, Colombia; and was the captain of the U.S. Swim Team for the 2010 Greek Open. In addition, Kristin competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Trials, finishing first in the country and 15th in the world for the 50-meter freestyle (S3 classification).

Now in retirement, Kristin continues to swim recreationally, as she has found it extraordinarily helpful in combating her FSHD.

Kristin’s main passion is empowering others with disabilities within a human rights framework. During her college years, Kristin founded a disability positive program called “A Day in a Wheelchair” that has been recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative University. In 2014, Kristin was named the global mentor for disability initiatives by the same institution.

In addition, Kristin’s summaries of United Nations disability policy have been archived in the Academic Council on the United Nations System.

Kristin blogs in The Huffington Post about disability issues ranging from body acceptance to sports.

She says she is “incredibly honored and excited about joining the FSH Society.” With experiences ranging from interning in the U.S. Senate to working on grassroots campaigns, she hopes her talents and skills will strengthen the FSHD patient community and available resources, and create an open dialogue for those newly diagnosed. Kristin hopes to expand patient advocacy programs and promote physical activity and healthy living for FSHD patients, friends, and family members.