Summary of Experience
Ms. Eleanor Thornton has more than 30 years of healthcare experience in clinical, administrative, and programmatic areas. Through her exceptional leadership and strategic skills, she provides oversight and fiscal management for the operations and management of a health care consultancy firm, specializing in the delivery and development of programmatic solutions for disease management and health information technology. She has been responsible for the creation of, strategic planning for, and management of community-based healthcare clinics and programs that focused on acute and chronic disease management, as well as addressing health disparities. Ms. Thornton is experienced in building partnerships, including those among physicians, community and healthcare organizations, veteran service organizations, as well as developing and overseeing advocacy and community outreach programs.
Education
1993 – 1995, Master of Science in Health Promotion Management, Marymount University
1983 – 1986; Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy, Georgia State University
Professional Certifications
Certified Asthma Educator (AE-C)
Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) ID # 6140
Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT)
Registered Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
Work Experience
President and CEO2006 – Present
Visionary Consulting Partners LLC
Provides oversight, fiscal management, and leadership for the daily operations and management of a growing professional healthcare consultancy firm.
Leads team of multidisciplinary staff and senior consultants in the development and delivery of innovative and pragmatic solutions for disease management/health promotion/behavior interventions, project management, and health information technology.
Consultant2006 – Present
Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc.
Provides consultation to Network on comprehensive and innovative community outreach strategies, partnership building, implementation, and dissemination of the asthma counselor/case management intervention model.
Co-Investigator/Asthma Counselor Project Director2007 –2010
Provided overall direction, training, and leadership associated with the Asthma Counselor Case Management component of the Head off Environmental Asthma Louisiana (HEAL) research project, including project management oversight and implementation monitoring.
Established and implemented training, objectives, and processes that prepared asthma counselors to meet the eligibility requirements and successfully pass the National Asthma Educator Certification Board exam.
Director of Outreach and Community Services2005 –2006
Allergy and Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics
Managed all aspects of Outreach Service Coordinator Program (volunteers), responded to inquiries from national help-line, developed community partnerships, and assisted with grant proposal writing; responsible for new program development.
Director, Community Outreach for Asthma Care, Asthma Counselor, Research and Health Services Administrator 1998 –2005
Howard University College of Medicine
Established the Office of Community Outreach for Asthma Care inclusive of the free adult asthma clinic; acquired funding, developed, implemented, and managed the free clinic. Directed patient/family counseling and community outreach programs, and developed an asthma counseling training program. Developed new programs, led research investigation and administration; assisted with grant writing and proposal development.
Project Coordinator/Asthma Counselor1996 –1998
Howard University College of Medicine, Alliance for Medical Care
Planned, implemented, evaluated, and managed asthma medical care program targeting uninsured asthmatic children in Washington D.C.
Community Asthma Educator1998 –2006
Fairfax County Public Schools, Adult and Community Education
Conducted asthma education classes, including asthma overview, medications, proper equipment use/techniques, and environmental control measures for families.
Respiratory Therapist/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Coordinator1993 –1994
Sutter Davis Hospital
Managed all aspects of respiratory care, including general care, critical care, emergency services, asthma education, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Assisted in the development and implementation of a model pulmonary rehabilitation program at 120-bed skilled nursing facility; model program led to the contracting of four additional skilled nursing facilities for the Sutter Hospital System.
Readathon Disability Awareness Presenter1992 –1993
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Northern California Chapter
Conducted Disability Awareness Assemblies for elementary grades K-8 in Solano County School Districts.
Community Health Promotion Consultant1991 –1992
Solano County Health Department
Developed, presented, and evaluated tobacco use prevention education materials for elementary grades 4 - 6 in Solano County School Districts. Conducted classroom educator and administrator training activities. Worked in diverse socioeconomic environments.
Respiratory Therapist/Pulmonary Functions Technologist1986 –1990
Fairfax Hospital
Performed all aspects of respiratory care at 656-bed medical center, including bronchoscopy assistance, pulmonary function studies, arterial line insertion, general, and emergency care.
Staff Respiratory Therapist1985 –1986
St. Joseph Hospital
Performed general, emergency, and critical care therapy.
Medical Services Specialist1978 –1982
USAF Medical Center, Wilford Hall
Provided general, thoracic, and vascular surgery inpatient care, in addition to primary and cardiopulmonary outpatient care; performed supervisory and management activities for primary care and cardiopulmonary daily clinical operations.
Volunteer Experience
Community Representative (Appointed Position)1995 –1997
Fairfax-Falls Church Community Policy Management Team
Served as member of a board, comprised of the heads of human service agencies, representatives from the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and community and private sector, whose responsibilities included establishing policy and procedures and fiscal management of $29 million budget. Providedservices to children, youth, and families who are at risk of, or are experiencing emotional/behavioral problems and are at risk or in need of out of home placement.
Research Projects
- Strategies in the Management of Inner-City Asthma, 1999 – 2003
Role: Asthma Counselor/Asthma Counselor Director/Trainer - Howard University / Johns Hopkins University Center to Reduce Asthma Disparities (Patient/Provider Communications Project), 2002 – 2007
Role: Project Director and Asthma Counselor - Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL), 2006 – Present
Role: Co-Investigator and Project Director Asthma Counselor intervention
- CHAMPS - Community Healthcare for Asthma Management and Prevention of Symptoms –The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services: 2012 – Present
Peer Reviewed Publications
Chulada PC, Kennedy S, Mvula M, Jaffee K, Wildfire J, Thornton E, Cohn R, Grimsley LF, Mitchell H, El-Dahr JM, Sterling Y, Martin W, White L, Stephens K, Lichtveld M, “The Head-off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana (HEAL) Study - Design, Methods, and Population.” Submitted: Env Health Perspect 2011.
Grimsley LF, Chulada PC, Kennedy S, White L, Wildfire J, Cohn R, Mitchell H, Thornton E, El-Dahr JM, Mvula M, Sterling Y, Martin W, Stephens K, Lichtveld M, “Indoor Environmental Exposures for Children with Asthma in Post-Katrina New Orleans.” Submitted: Env Health Perspect 2011.
Mitchell H, Cohn R, Wildfire J, Thornton E, Kennedy S, El-Dahr JM, Chulada PC, Mvula M, Grimsley LF, Lichtveld M, White L, Sterling Y, Stephens K, Martin W, “Implementation of Evidence–based Asthma Interventions in Post-Katrina New Orleans: The HEAL Study (Head- off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana).” Submitted: Env Health Perspect 2011.
L. F. Grimsley, J. Wildfire, M. Lichtveld, et al., “Few Associations Found between Mold and Other Allergen Concentrations in the Home versus Skin Sensitivity from Children with Asthma after Hurricane Katrina in the Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana Study,”International Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 2012, Article ID 427358, 9 pages, 2012. doi:10.1155/2012/427358
Professional Affiliations
- American Public Health Association
- Association of Asthma Educators
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) & HIMSS Diversity Business Roundtable for Health IT
- National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved: Education and Outreach, Policy, and Privacy and Consent workgroups
- Society For Public Health Education
1