Grady Memorial Hospital

Dr del Rio is Chief of Medical Service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta and Associate Director for Clinical Science and International Research at the Emory Center for AIDS Research. He is also Co-Director of the Emory Internal Medicine Residency Program.

As assistant director of media relations, Merchant manages communications for Emory School of Medicine at Grady Memorial Hospital. In this position, she is responsible for promoting Emory health research, the Emory School of Medicine involving Emory health sciences, and programs at Grady. Merchant comes to Emory from CNN, where she was most recently a freelance producer in the Medical Unit. As a health producer, Merchant was responsible for the weekly CNN Cold & Flu Report, Feeling Fit and BodSquad fitness series. In addition, she prepared feature segments for House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, American Morning and AC 360. Before joining the Medical Unit, Merchant was a full-time writer/producer for CNN Newsource and a freelance reporter for Accent Health on the Turner Private Network. A native of Toronto, Ontario, Merchant earned a BA in psychology from Carleton University and a post-graduate diploma in journalism from Humber College. She began her broadcast career as a graduate intern at Canadian Television (CTV) and Global News where she wrote and produced health segments.

Barbara McLean has been in critical care practice for almost 30 years. She is a Clinical Specialist Consultant at Grady Memorial Hospital and the Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Her practice is enriched with her Guest Lecture activity at the Emory University School of Medicine and as a Clinical Faculty member of the Emory University School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms McLean earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing and finished the post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Program at Emory University. Ms McLean is a member of many professional organizations including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the American Association of Surgery and Trauma. She has been awarded the excellence in education award by the AACN. In February 2001, she was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Critical Care Medicine and in 2004 she was elected to an at-large seat in the SCCM. While serving as a contributor to the Yearbook in Critical Care and an invited reviewer for Critical Care Medicine, she has also authored or co-authored numerous journal articles, abstracts and book chapters and has made more than 2000 presentations nationally and internationally. Barbara is committed to patient care, nursing practice and evidence based issues at the bedside.

Dr. Blanton has practiced Hyperbaric Medicine since 1999, as well as Emergency Medicine. She is also a part time clinical instructor for the Emory Emergency Medicine Department at Grady Memorial Hospital. As a personal interest, she is an avid recreational diver with advanced certification.

Mrs. Hamilton joined the Board of Covenant House Georgia in 2004. She is a current Elder and member of Peachtree Presbyterian Church since 1949. Mrs. Hamilton graduated with a BA from University of Georgia in Atlanta, Georgia and received a Teacher's Certificate from Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. Mrs. Hamilton serves on many professional committees including: the Chairman of the Board for the Child Development Center; Giving Back at Christmas (Team Leader) for Peachtree Presbyterian Church; Sacraments Committee; and Life of the Congregation Committee. Mrs. Hamilton is also currently the Children's Bible Teacher and a member of the Atlanta Junior League. She volunteers at Grady Memorial Hospital and at the Shepherd Spinal Center.

Dr. Ganick received an undergraduate and medical degree from Boston University where he graduated cum laude. He completed an internship, medical residency, and Hematology fellowship at University Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Ganick also served as commander, senior medical officer, and area advisor during Navy service in Vietnam. He was medical officer and senior resident at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Ganick served as a teaching assistant and research and teaching associate in medicine at University Hospital in Boston. For the past 20 years, Dr. Ganick has been a clinical instructor in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Oklahoma Medical School and maintained a private practice in Hematology and Oncology for a major medical group. He is also a consulting physician on the tumor board for Mercy Memorial Hospital in Ardmore, Southern Plains Medical Center, and Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha. Dr. Ganick is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG), and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast/Bowel Project (NSABP). Dr. Ganick also serves as principal investigator for NSABP at Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City.

Teri has managed public and media relations, community education and communications at Grady Memorial Hospital since 1994. She has been in healthcare communications since 1978 including serving as the National Media Representative for American Heart Association in Dallas, Texas, where she organized National Science Writers Forums, National News Conferences on CPR Standards, and Press Room operations for AHA Scientific Sessions. She holds a BS in Mass Communications from Miami University (Ohio) where she also worked ON AIR at WMUB radio station.