PRINCIPAL ADVISORS
Vernon Ansdell, MD, one of Hawaii's foremost experts in tropical medicine, worked at London's Hospital for Tropical Diseases for 7 years before moving to Honolulu. Ansdell currently chairs the clinical subcommittee of the Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease. In 2020, he was the lead author of new guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of angiostrongyliasis.
Lawrence Ash, PhD, a world-renowned parasitologist, first studied rat lungworm in Hawaii and French Polynesia in the 1960s. In 1967, his research suggesting that unwashed produce could transmit Angiostrongylus cantonensis to humans made the pages of The New York Times. To this day, the long-time UCLA professor remains fascinated by the globalizing foodborne parasite.
Stephen Ostroff, MD, a noted expert in public health, has served as the FDA’s Chief Scientist and Deputy Commissioner for food and veterinary medicine. Other posts include senior roles at CDC, where he focused on emerging infectious diseases, food safety, and complex outbreak response. Ostroff has also lived and worked in Hawaii as the HHS representative to the Pacific Islands.
Robert Cowie, PhD is widely known for his work on invasive species, biodiversity, conservation, and slugs and snails that carry Angiostrongylus cantonensis. He holds graduate degrees in Zoology from the Universities of Cambridge and Liverpool. After working as a wildlife biologist in Africa, Cowie moved to Hawaii and is currently based at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
KUDOS AND THANKS
The producers of “Accidental Host—The Story of Rat Lungworm” are grateful for the knowledge and assistance they also received from the following experts:
John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii
Kenton Kramer, PhD, Dept of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology; Chair, Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease
William Gosnell, PhD, Dept of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology; Member, Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease
Jon Martell, MD, (former) Chief Medical Officer, Hilo Medical Center, Hilo, HI
Marian Melish, MD, Pediatric infectious diseases specialist, Kapiolani Medical Center; Member, Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease
Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii, Manoa
Randi Rollins, PhD candidate in the lab of Prof. Robert Cowie
Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii, Hilo
Sue Jarvi, PhD, Member of Hawaii Governor’s Task Force on Rat Lungworm Disease; Head, Hawaii Island Rat Lungworm Working Group
Kay Howe, MS, Member and Education Outreach Coordinator, Hawaii Island Rat Lungworm Working Group
State of Hawaii Dept of Agriculture
Luisa Castro, PhD (former) Agricultural Food Safety Program Manager
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
Heather Walden, PhD, Dept of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine
James Wellehan, Jr., DVM, PhD, Dept of Comparative, Diagnostic & Population Medicine