Our Founder & Board of Directors
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Haidi Demain, MD
Founder & Medical Director Dr. Haidi Demain, founded Allergy Safe Kids (ASK) in 2013. She became aware of the need for the education of adults who are responsible for the emergent management of children with acute life threatening allergic reactions. Haidi grew up in Denver, Colorado. She received a Bachelors degree in Biology and Psychology from Washington University in 2000. Following this, she attended the University of Colorado Medical School, where she graduated as a physician in 2004. She continued at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for her residency in Internal Medicine, which was completed in 2007. As a Board Certified Internist, she worked as a hospitalist and then as an outpatient Primary Care Physician in Denver, Colorado, for several years. Due to her children’s food allergies, she decided to make a shift in her practice of medicine and established ASK, an organization to educate and train staff in the schools of Colorado about children's food allergies. Personnel who go through the training will understand how to prevent exposure to allergens, recognize allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, treat such reactions in a timely and effective fashion, and ensure appropriate follow-up. ASK gives Dr. Demain the forum to use her medical knowledge, personal experience, passion and intense dedication to make Colorado schools safer for allergic children. |
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Jamie Resnik
President A native of Michigan, Jamie has been navigating food allergies all of her life. When she left home for college at Michigan State University, she learned how to manage them on her own and has been interested in allergy causes and education ever since. After graduating with a B.A. in Journalism in 1996, she began her career at WXYZ-TV in Detroit as a newscast writer and producer. In 2000, Jamie moved to Chicago to work for ABC Network as a traveling producer, where she covered dozens of breaking news stories including a wildfire in Colorado where she met her husband. She moved to Denver in 2003 and quickly fell in love with the weather and the outdoor lifestyle. She now works as a freelance journalist and appreciates the triumphs and challenges that come with raising a son with peanut and tree nut allergies and a daughter who is equal parts sweet and spunky. Jamie says helping to launch Allergy Safe Kids and serving on its board have provided a unique opportunity to educate both her family and the community about how to live a happy, meaningful and safe life with severe food allergies. She can’t imagine anything more rewarding. |
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Kathy Patrick
Vice-President Kathleen was the Assistant Director of Student Health Services in the Health and Wellness Unit at the Colorado Department of Education from 2006 to 2018. Kathleen started her career in school nursing in 1994 and received her Master’s in Educational Counseling in 1999. Her prior job experience was in public health nursing. She worked with school districts and school nurses around the state of Colorado by providing professional development and technical assistance. She is active in both the National Association of School Nurses and the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants. Kathleen retired in 2018 but continues to provide consultation to school nurses. |
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Ellen Goldberg-Butler
Secretary Ellen Goldberg - Butler is thrilled to serve on the Board of Directors for Allergy Safe Kids. Ellen earned her Bachelors degree in Social Work from Indiana University and her Masters degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. She moved to Colorado with her husband and three children Soren (11), Hannah (9), and Tamar (9) from Chicago in March 2011. She has been in the field of major gift fundraising for the past 15 + years and hopes to use her skill set and experience to benefit ASK. Currently Ellen is the Director of Development, Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Ellen's son was diagnosed as having an allergy at the age of 8 years old. Since the diagnosis Ellen has been trying to gain as much knowledge and allergy awareness as possible. Serving on the Board of ASK is one impactful way to help and be involved in further educating others. |
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Julia Stone
Treasurer Julia was introduced to the world of food allergies when her daughter was diagnosed at two years old with a severe peanut and tree nut allergy. Getting involved with and serving on the board of Allergy Safe Kids was a natural next step to help advocate for and educate others dealing with food allergies. Julia has a BS in Accounting from the University of Kentucky and is a licensed CPA. She spent 14+ years auditing non-profits and local governmental entities and now is the Chief Operating Officer of The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. In her free time, Julia and her husband, Colin, can be found at hockey rinks, swimming pools and other sporting venues cheering on their son and daughter. |
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Kelly Cooper
Kelly Dickson Cooper is excited to join the Board of Allergy Safe Kids to help advocate for and educate others dealing with food allergies. Kelly began dealing with food allergies in her daily life six years ago when her daughters were diagnosed with nut allergies. She attended Kansas State University and graduated with a B.S. in Mass Communications. She moved to Colorado twenty years ago to earn a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law, and currently serves as in-house counsel. In her spare time you will find her cheering on her daughters in their various activities, planning Girl Scout meetings, reading, or planning her family’s next travel adventure. |
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