Joy Dumire
Founder
4-10-1961 - 1-31-2020
Joy received her Registered Nurse degree from the University of Toledo in 1983. She is married to a wonderful Husband Steve since 1979, and has 3 grown children. Most of her nursing career was spent in the Operating Room and Recovery Room. Most of her career was spent at Bixby Medical Center in Adrian Michigan, then Steve and Joy decided to take it up a notch and do Travel Nursing for about 5 years. Traveling to Arizona, California, Connecticut, Oregon, and North Carolina then Back to Michigan to take care of an aging Mother with Alzheimer’s. Joy developed Plastic Bronchitis in 2008, and was no longer able to work. She did research on how to treat her illness, and through the help of her Doctor in Ann Arbor, MI. Who accepted guidance from Dr. Bruce Rubin, finally found help for Plastic Bronchitis. After much deliberation and encouragement from Dr. Bruce Rubin, Joy founded the Plastic Bronchitis Foundation. In 2015, the Foundation became a 501(c) 3 non-profit Foundation.
You can donate below to the Joy Dumire Memorial Fund
Funds used directly in support of patients and families.
Steven M. Dumire
President/Administrator
Steve was groomed by Joy to takeover the Plastic Bronchitis Foundation the year before she passed away. The Foundation was very important to Joy and her entire family because of all the important work it has done, and is still doing. Her Legacy lives on.
Steve has worn many hats over the years, but most notably he was a 91 Alpha (Medic) in the Michigan Army National Guard, and was honorably discharged after serving four years. Steve has been a Registered Nurse since 1992. Steve currently practices at The University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Specializing in Adult Critical Care Medicine, and covers Six different specialties of Intensive Care Medicine. The skills Steve brings to the Foundation are essential in the understanding of Plastic Bronchitis, and in assisting patients in finding appropriate care for their disease.
Steve spends his spare time enjoying his grandchildren, and planning to share new adventures with them. Joy and Steve always enjoyed Scuba Diving, Sailing, Hiking, and discovering new places. Joy had hoped that the love of these activities would be shared with her grandchildren, and that her husband make it a point to introduce them to new things that they had enjoyed together.
Dr. Michael D Davis, RRT. PhD, FAARC
Dr. Mike Davis, RRT. PhD, FAARC received his A.A.S. in Respiratory Therapy at Central Virginia Community College. His B.S. in Biomedical Science at Lynchburg College and his Ph.D in Physiology and Biophysics at Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Va. Mike is currently Assistant Professor of Pediatrics; Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research; Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy, and Sleep Medicine. Indiana School of Medicine.
Mike has done a lot of volunteering for Trusted Angels Foundation and Charlottesville Free Clinic. He is President and Charter Member of Partner Liberia in Monrobia, Liberia. There he has founded this Charitable Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) after two years of field work in Liberia. He employs approximately two dozen Liberians, directly supports two orphanages, and operates the Liberia Respiratory Healthcare Institute. He has also serves as Vice President and Treasurer, Deputy of Operations and charter member for Partner Liberia in Charlottesville, Virginia.Here he founded this charitable non-profit organization (NPO) which partners with the Partner Liberia. He has established a nationwide public awareness, prevention and outreach campaign in response to the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in Liberia. He also facilitated the graduation of the first class of the Liberia Respiratory Healthcare Institute in November 2015.
Dr. Mike has been an instructor for nursing staff on respiratory therapy techniques and equipment. He has lectured to nursing students on airway management and pulmonary toileting. Presently he is a Clinical Research Instructor/Mentor, Guest Lecturer, and Professor at Liberia Respiratory Healthcare Institute in Liberia.
Dr. Bruce K. Rubin
Bruce K. Rubin is the Jessie Ball duPont Distinguished Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and Physician in Chief of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. He is also Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Adjunct Professor of Microbiology, Physiology, and Biophysics at VCU. Prof Rubin is a pediatric pulmonary physician and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC). As a Rhodes Scholar, he trained in Biomedical Engineering at Oxford University and in Paediatric Respirology at Sick Kids in Toronto. He holds the MD and Masters in Engineering degrees from Tulane and an MBA degree from Wake Forest University School of Business.
Dr. Rubin received the 2008 Forrest M. Bird Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award, the top research honor given by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), in 2011 he presented the Phil Kittredge Memorial Keynote lecture at the AARC and received that Robert Bagaent award for service to the Virginia Society of Respiratory Care. In 2012, Rubin was awarded Jimmy Young Memorial medal from the AARC. He is medical advisor to the Virginia Society of Respiratory Care, a member of the Advisory Board for Respiratory Care for the Commonwealth of Virginia, a Trustee of the American Respiratory Care Foundation, and Associate Editor of Respiratory Care. He has also been awarded the President’s Award and the Prix Extraordinaire by the International Society of Pediatric Pulmonology and holds honorary appointments in 4 medical schools. He is on the editorial board of 12 medical journals, has published more than 300 original research papers and chapters and holds eight patents. Dr. Rubin and his research team study aerosol therapy for lung diseases, airway inflammation and excessive mucus that contributes to lung disease.
He is also an accomplished magician, a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and over the past 20 years had taught medical magic in 31 countries on 5 continents.
Tonya Ross
Administrator of Media and Organization
“Tonya is the youngest daughter of Joy Dumire, late founder of the Plastic Bronchitis Foundation. Tonya is committed to helping preserve her mother’s legacy and continue the important work of the foundation. Her goals are to help the foundation grow and continue to be responsive to individuals with Plastic Bronchitis.
Tonya works as a phlebotomist in southeastern Michigan. She is married with a step daughter and two sons. They enjoy family camping trips and riding ATVs in West Virginia.
Prior to Joy’s death in 2020, it was always important to Joy to raise awareness and help patients get the proper diagnosis and the treatment they need to treat the disease. Tonya wants to ensure that remains priority with the foundation.”
Dr. Maxim Itkin
Dr. Maxim Itkin Dr. Maxim Itkin received his M.D. from Moscow Medical Stomatology Institute, Faculty of General Medicine. His Postgraduate and Fellowship appointments were Rotating Internship, Sapir Medical Center Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel. Resident in Diagnostic Radiology, Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel. His Fellowship in Interventional Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Clinical/Research Fellowship in Interventional Radiology, Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging fellowship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Physician Leadership Academy, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Itkin is the Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (Secondary) and Associate Professor of Radiology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Itkin is Board Certified in Israeli Board of Radiology, American Board of Radiology and American Board of Radiology, CAQ in Vascular and Interventional Radiology.
Dr. Itkin has received multiple awards and honors such as; Distinguished Reviewer-Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Fellow of Society of Interventional Radiology, Best Research Paper. Society of Pediatric Interventional Radiology, Jr. Clinical Innovator Award, University of Pennsylvania. And many others. He has membership in International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies, and Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe. He is also Member of The Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology and Society of Interventional Radiology. He holds several Editorial Positions and serves on several committees. Presently he is The Director, HUP/CHOP center for Lymphatic Imaging and Interventions.
Melissa A. Yopp
Melissa A. Yopp is an Administrative Director of Pediatric Research at Virginia Commonwealth University.In this role, she focuses on grant applications, financial management and performance of the Department Research portfolio.
Melissa systematically creates and improves research practices and team morale. Before becoming an Administrative Director, she worked as research manager for a pulmonary lab focusing on airway diseases. She saw first-hand the impact Plastic Bronchitis had on individuals and their families. Looking for a way to contribute towards helping families and finding a cure, Melissa joined the Foundation Board in September of 2015. Melissa holds an associate in Science and Arts at Surry Community College and a Bachelor’s in Science of Biology from the University of North Carolina, Wiliamton. She also holds a Masters Health Care Administration (MHCA) from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Personally, Melissa lives in Aylett, Virginia. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and farm critters (Mules, Horse, and cats). She is a busy mom to a young little boy. And loves spending her off time exploring the great outdoors.
Dr. Yoav Dori
Dr. Yoav Dori received his education from The University of Minnesota in Chemical Engineering where he received a B.Ch.E and a Ph.D. He then went to Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and received his M.D. did his Postgraduate Training and Fellowship in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. From there, He got his Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac MRI at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Dr. Dori is the Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at CHOP and at The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology.
Dr. Dori has received honors at Dow USA Outstanding Junior in Chemical Engineering, Cum Laude Honors Degree, National Science Foundation Honorable Mention List and Research Training Grant Award, and AHA CVDY young investigator Finalist. He is a member of The American Heart Association and The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. He does Major Academic and Clinical Teaching and Lectures by Invitation.
