American Humane Association Announces Three New Senior Fellows For Humane Research Institutes

Thought leaders to work with nation's leading humanitarian organization protecting both children and animals to develop innovative programs to strengthen humane communities

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --­ American Humane Association is honored to announce the appointments of three Senior Fellows for its Humane Research and Policy™ division. The American Humane Association Senior Fellows bring prestigious experience, innovative ideas, and unparalleled expertise in the areas of animal welfare and child well-being for the two American Humane Association research institutes, the Children's Innovation Institute and the Animal Welfare Research Institute, which bring participatory, preventive science to our communities.  These Senior Fellows will be pursuing a program agenda to include a new approach to translational scientific research that could provide answers to some of the biggest medical issues affecting the world's children and animals by utilizing the clues from many of the 60,000 species who share our world, a national school-based mental health model for children dealing with violence, and a Be Kind to Animals™ school-based club to promote pet adoptions and humane education.

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As the nation's sole humanitarian organization dedicated to the unique dual focus of protecting both children and animals, American Humane Association has, since 1877, relied upon sound research and science to drive its policy goals.

The 2013 American Humane Association Senior Fellows include:

• Dr. Stephen O'Brien: Senior Fellow, Humane Research, Animal Welfare Research Institute
  Dr. O'Brien served as Chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) from 1986-2011. In December 2011, he joined the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, Russia as Chief Scientific Officer.  Dr. O'Brien earned a B.S. in Biology from St. Francis College followed by a Ph.D. in genetics at Cornell University where he expanded the nascent discipline of biochemical genetics. Dr. O'Brien is known for his research contributions in comparative genomics, virology, genetic epidemiology, mammalian systematic, and species conservation and will work closely with American Humane Association's Chief Veterinary Advisor, Dr. Patricia Olson, on this new medical research model.
• Dr. Caren Caty:  Senior Fellow, Humane Research, Children's Innovation Institute
  As President and CEO of Advanced Psychological Solutions, Inc., Dr. Caren Caty, Ph.D., developed and successfully implemented school-based mental health programs that include child and adolescent interventions, family and teacher participation, and training and supervision of counseling and psychology interns.  Dr. Caty developed the PASSAGES: Positive Attitude, Solutions, Self-Esteem, And Greater Educational Success school-based group counseling program for trauma-exposed youth. Since 2004, Dr. Caty worked as Adjunct Faculty at Phillips Graduate Institute in Encino, California instructing Group Dynamics, Supervision, Professional Writing, Writing for Publication and School-Based Mental Health Issues & Interventions with Children. Dr. Caty received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology following a Master's in the same field from Antioch University and a B.A. in English at the University of Southern California. She will work closely with the Children's Innovation Institute to design a model for the benefit of children dealing with grief, violence, and trauma. 
• Dr. Michael Good: Senior Fellow, Humane Research, Children's Innovation Institute
  Dr. Good graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, and is the founder of the Underhound Railroad and the Homeless Pets Club.  Named as the Atlanta area's veterinarian of the year on multiple occasions, Dr. Good currently runs seven veterinary practices in Georgia, and finds the time for rescuing and transporting animals for second chance homes.  A thought leader in humane education, Dr. Good founded the Homeless Pets Club in 2009, and the Homeless Pets Foundation a decade prior which has resulted in saving more 12,000 pets.  Dr. Good brings the school club model to American Humane Association, which will launch a new national initiative to bring humane education to children across the country with school clubs and organizations.

The Humane Research and Policy™ division's Animal Welfare Research Institute and Children's Innovation Institute published a number of important studies in 2012 focused on the human-animal bond, including "People, Pets and the World We Share," examining the emotional, lasting effects the loss of a pet can have on a child; the first phase of the "Keeping Pets (Dogs and Cats) in Homes: A Three-Phase Retention Study," funded by PetSmart Charities, tackling pet homelessness head-on; and, with the support of Pfizer Animal Health, the literature review for the "Canines and Childhood Cancer" study examining the impact of animal-assisted therapy on young oncology patients and their caregivers, which is now in the full clinical trial.

"We are honored to have these three Senior Fellows join us to help influence and strengthen American Humane Association's 136-year mission of working for the welfare, wellness, and well-being of children and animals," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, American Humane Association President and CEO. "Together, we can build a vision for humane communities and work towards measurable social impact for the next generation of humanity."

About American Humane Association
American Humane Association is the country's first national humane organization and the only one dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Since 1877, American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting our most vulnerable from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today we're also leading the way in understanding the human-animal bond and its role in therapy, medicine and society. American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org today.

SOURCE American Humane Association