Our Staff

Executive Director

Susan Dickinson, MS, CGC  joined AFTD as Executive Director in February 2008. She is a certified genetic counselor with more than 20 years’ experience facilitating communications among lay, scientific, and medical communities for the benefit of patients, their families, and the professionals who work on their behalf. Most recently Ms. Dickinson worked as a freelance writer and consultant to a number of rare disease patient advocacy organizations. She has worked with AFTD since shortly after its inception, writing and editing the organization’s newsletter and other publications.

Program Director

Sharon S. Denny, MA joined AFTD as Program Director in September 2008. She has more than twenty-five years experience with nonprofit organizations that serve people with disabilities and their families. Her concentration has been on the development and delivery of innovative, responsive services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community, including those with serious psychiatric illness and traumatic brain injury. Sharon brings this commitment to AFTD where she directs our caregiver support and educational initiatives.

Program Coordinator

Matthew Sharp, MSS joined the staff in December 2010 as Program Coordinator, a new position.  Having earned his Master of Social Service degree from Bryn Mawr College’s Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, he made a career transition to social services from the field of natural sciences.  Matt also has a personal connection to FTD, as his father-in-law was recently diagnosed with the disease.  Matt is integral to AFTD’s patient and caregiver support and education efforts, and is responsible for development of AFTD’s Grassroots Network.

Office Manager

Michelle Leahy started as AFTD’s full-time office manager in August 2009, just in time to anchor the office’s move to Radnor, Penn.   Michelle handles all office operations and processes donations.