Assembly Health Committee Member: Vote YES on cytomegalovirus (CMV) bills, A3956 and A3074

Dear Assembly Health Committee Members: 

The day after I completed my walk across New York State between Buffalo and Albany leaving Stop CMV rocks along the Erie Canalway Trail (see attached image), I visited your office to drop off information about congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) and two bills still in committee: A3956 and A3074. (I wrote about my visit to Albany and your offices here: "Walked 360 Miles to Complete Erie Canalway Challenge and Stop CMV").

THIS IS WHAT I'D LIKE YOU TO DO:

Vote YES on cytomegalovirus (CMV) bills, A3956 and A3074 

I am in support of you voting "Yes" on congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) bills, A3956 and A3074. What is congenital CMV? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), “CMV can be passed from a pregnant person to their fetus. About one in 200 infants are born with a congenital CMV infection; of those, about one in five will have birth defects or other long-term health problems” (ACOG, 2024).  

Congenital CMV is a leading cause of birth defects and the leading non-heredity cause of hearing loss. Congenital CMV can cause autism, hearing and vision loss, and cerebral palsy. 

I was the mother of Elizabeth, born with severe brain damage from congenital CMV. When pregnant with her, I was unaware of CMV and how to prevent it – namely by carefully handling the saliva and urine of toddlers who, though otherwise healthy, may be excreting it.

In 2025, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal filed CMV bills A3956 and A3074, which are currently in the Health Committee:

1. Assembly Bill A3956 (same as S05454-A): "Requires cytomegalovirus screening for every newborn..."

2. Assembly Bill A3074 (same as S7662): "Requires reporting of positive cytomegalovirus results." Newborns "SHALL BE REFERRED TO A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST...BEFORE...FOUR WEEKS…EXAMINATION SHALL INCLUDE…EYE EXAM BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST; AND HEARING...”

I went to Albany in April 2025 and met with Assemblymember Rosenthal and some of the Health Committee members. I told them that diagnosing congenital CMV early was important, especially if the newborn passed their hearing screen as the hearing loss can be progressive. According to the CDC, "Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier that children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential." Without universal CMV screening, "diagnosis [of cCMV] may be overlooked for years, leading to developmental disorders without adequate treatment" (Andriesse et al., 2006).

Some of the committee members mentioned they wanted more information on 1) how testing all newborns will save money in the long run, 2) about the antiviral that can be offered to newborns, and 3) about racial disparities.  My answers below: 

1) Savings: It was noted that "savings of up to $37.97 per newborn screened were estimated" when all newborns are tested for congenital CMV according to the study, Cost-effectiveness of Universal and Targeted Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection (Soren Gantt, MD, et al., 2016). "Universal screening offers larger net savings and the greatest opportunity to provide directed care."

2) Antiviral:  “antiviral therapy with a 6-month course of valganciclovir, if implemented by 30 days of age, improved audiologic and neurodevelopmental outcomes for moderately-to-severely symptomatic infants with confirmed cCMV" (Evolving Concepts in Care for Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Infection: Better Outcomes for More Babies!. Schleiss, Mark R., 2024,The Journal of Pediatrics).

3) Racial Disparities: Congenital CMV “is 3 times more prevalent in black infants” (Moderna, Inc, Facebook). See video, “Racial Disparities in Babies with cCMV” by the Massachusetts CCMV Coalition (Facebook ). 

Examples of New York families who would have benefited from universal congenital CMV testing: 

• Kristin Schuster of Canandaigua, mom to Autumn born in 2015 (Autumn failed her hearing screen, but this was before the 2018 targeted CMV testing law Assemblymember Rosenthal got passed), said, "Unfortunately, my daughter wasn't diagnosed with congenital CMV until 18 months old – well after the opportunity had passed to receive treatment most effective when given between ages zero to six months."  
• Kara Russell of Penfield: "We didn’t discover that Lyla has congenital CMV until she was five. Her newborn dried bloodspot was pulled and tested due to the discovery of a hearing loss. Lyla was born full term and otherwise healthy, passing her newborn hearing screen so was not tested for CMV. Therefore, she never received the recommended regular hearing checks to catch the possibility of a progressive hearing loss. It wasn't until Lyla's five-year well check in summer 2023 that we learned she was completely deaf in her left ear. We have no idea how long she was unable to hear accurately, even though she had been receiving speech services since age four as well as occupational therapy for coordination and balance delays.” Kara Russell is the New York National CMV Alliance Co-Chair.  Contact: nationalcmvnys@gmail.com

I collaborate with the Massachusetts cCMV Coalition which is seeking to pass CMV bill S.1573. They alerted me to the detailed 2023 Massachusetts report, AN ACT RELATIVE TO NEWBORN SCREENING FOR CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS, which provides an analysis of the costs of the Massachusetts CMV bill. Prepared for the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis, "This study by BerryDunn focuses on the provisions of the bill pertaining to insurance coverage of the screening test, the efficacy of universal screening in achieving the intended purpose of the sponsors, and the impact on commercial insurance premiums...does not address potential long-term savings or costs to the Commonwealth in education, social services, or other public-sector expenses associated with changes in disability status and functional ability over the lifespan of an individual with cCMV.  " (see: https://www.chiamass.gov/assets/docs/r/pubs/mandates/congenital-cytomegalovirus-march-2023.pdf). 

Minnesota and Connecticut have already passed laws to test every newborn for congenital CMV in order to improve health outcomes and to save money in the long run.

In 2018, New York passed S2816, which requires testing newborns who fail their hearing screen for CMV.

In 2022, the governor passed “Elizabeth’s Law” (A7560), named in memory of my daughter. It “Requires the provision of informational materials to child care providers and certain physicians and midwives regarding...congenital cytomegalovirus infection." The New York State Dept. of Health created the following CMV informational materials (health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/cytomegalovirus/fact_sheet.htm):

• Protect Your Baby from Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (Publication #20172) (PDF)
• Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Testing and Your Baby (Publication #20185) (PDF)
• For Child Care Providers (from ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/letters.php)
• Dear Provider Letter and Child Care Staff and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) #5061

In 2023-2024: There was a New York State pilot study testing all newborns for  "Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) Infection." The study yielded these initial results: Of the 210,100 babies born in NYS between 10/2023 – 9/2024, about 275 or so had "convincing evidence of congenital CMV," according to Andrew Handel, MD, Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Co-Primary Investigator of PROACTIVE NYS, a long-term follow-up study of young children with congenital CMV. “We've seen cases of missed clinically apparent cCMV during the NYS universal screening program. There have been some infants with features of cCMV that went unrecognized until the universal screen returned positive.

In 2025, the New York State Assembly passed a resolution declaring June 2025 CMV Awareness Month: https://nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_fld=&leg_video=&bn=K00668&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y 

For more information about the CMV bills, contact Nick Guile, Legislative Director, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, 518.455.5802, guilen@nyassembly.gov. Thank you in advance for your help!

Sincerely,

Lisa Saunders, LisaSaunders42@gmail.com

Lisa Saunders is the author of Had I Known about CMV: From Shock to Law. She is on  the Advisory Board (as Parent Advocate) for PROACTIVE NYS,  a long-term follow-up study of young children with congenital CMV,  and on the NY DeafBlind Collaborative Expert Advisory Council.  She produces CMV awareness content such as  the flier, "CMV in New York (and OSHA)" and the Pac-B TV interview,“CytoMegaloVirus (CMV) - What Moms Wished They Knew.”  She is the recipient of the National CMV Foundation Spirit of Advocacy Award (2023).

*Studies on Racial and Ethnic Differences: 

1) Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Prevalence of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection (Fowler et. al, 2018);  “Significant racial and ethnic differences exist in the prevalence of cCMV, even after adjusting for socioeconomic status and maternal age. Although once infected, the newborn disease and rates of hearing loss in infants are similar with respect to race and ethnicity.”

2) Geographic Disparities in Cytomegalovirus Infection During Pregnancy (Lantos et. al, 2017). “We found a high prevalence of CMV seropositivity in urban low-income neighborhoods among pregnant women, particularly among racial and ethnic minorities.”

3) Updated National and State-Specific Prevalence of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection, United States, 2018-2022 (Lutz et al., 2024). It looks at congenital CMV (cCMV) rates by racial/ethnic group and geography and includes some colorful US maps that drive home the disparities. It concludes:  “States with larger proportions of racial and ethnic minorities had higher estimated prevalence of cCMV infection compared to states with larger proportions of White persons.”

Regarding child care providers

I have concerns about child care policy makers and directors not realizing that their workers who are required to provide first aid are supposed to be trained in CMV -- not just receive educational materials on it. From OSHA: “Child care workers who are designated as responsible for rendering first aid” (published "Letter of Interpretation," 1992) are covered by OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, which “imposes requirements on employers of workers who may be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials such as certain tissues and body fluids.” Two published Letters of Interpretation make it clear that childcare providers, if required to render first aid, are covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard: 

• https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1992-07-21

• https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1999-10-21

Ask your NY Legislators to cosponsor 2025 CMV bills A3956 and A3074 and ensure A7560 ("Elizabeth's Law), a CMV education bill signed by the governor, is being implemented

For more information about the two bills I mention below, and the one already signed by the governor that I don't think is being implemented, please contact Nick Guile, Legislative Director, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, 518.455.5802, guilen@nyassembly.gov

We Need Your Help!

We want to ensure that many New York State Senators and Assembly Members sign on to these bills as co-sponsors to demonstrate widespread support.

Please call or email (best to do both to ensure they read your email) your State Senator and State Assemblymember TODAY!

1. You can find out who your New York State Senate and State Assembly Member are by clicking on: 

   • Find Your State Senator
   • Find Your State Assembly Member

2. Draft two separate emails, one to your NY Senator and the other to your NY Assemblymember

3. Please feel free to draft your own email or use parts of my email below. 

EMAIL SUBJECT: 

TO [SENATOR OR Assembly Member] - REQUESTING CO-SPONSORSHIP of Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Bills A3956 and A3074 

[see my email below for a sample]

Calling your State Senator and State Representative:.

1. Call both your State Senator and State Assemblymember.  If your call goes to voicemail, just state what you want. They do seem to listen to messages. 

2. What to say: 

Introduce yourself and why you’re calling: “Hi, my name is ___. As your constituent living at [your address], I am asking you to cosponsor CMV bills A3956 and A3074  filed by Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal.

Key talking points you may want to include:

• This legislation would require mandating universal congenital CMV screening for all newborns to allow for timely diagnosis and interventions. 
• Congenital CMV is one of the most common congenital diseases in infants in the United States and the leading viral cause of birth defects and developmental disabilities. 
• 91% of women do not know about the disease or prevention during pregnancy.
• Then, if possible, share why this issue is important to you personally and the impact cCMV has had on your life or the life of a loved one. These stories are often the best way to connect with legislators!

Thank them for their time. If they have any questions, and you are unsure of the answer, simply say you do not know but will call them back. Or, have them contact Nick Guile, Legislative Director, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, 518.455.5802, guilen@nyassembly.gov

Below is the information I gave my NY Senator on Feb 22, 2025, and below that, some additional information:

Please sponsor 2025 cytomegalovirus (CMV) bills A3956 and A3074; and ensure implementation of A7560 (passed in 2022, but no evidence of compliance).

Congenital CMV can cause autism and is the leading non-heredity cause of hearing loss

Dear Senator Rachel May: 

My name is Lisa Saunders, I live in your district, and I would like you to sponsor two bills that relate to congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), a leading cause of birth defects.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), “CMV can be passed from a pregnant person to their fetus. About one in 200 infants are born with a congenital CMV infection; of those, about one in five will have birth defects or other long-term health problems” (ACOG, 2024). 

Congenital CMV causes more disabilities than “Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Pediatric HIV/AIDS, Spina Bifida, Toxoplasmosis, and Zika” – National CMV Foundation.

"Children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection are about 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than their peers..." (AAP News, 2024). Congenital CMV can also cause deafblindness, cerebral palsy, development delays, and seizures. 

CMV is often spread by young children in group care to their caregivers and to mothers who may become pregnant. Few women know how to reduce their chances of contracting CMV. Many rely on the ineffective use of diaper wipes to clean away saliva and urine and kiss their toddlers around the mouth and/or share food and drinks with them.  “Almost all the babies that I see who have congenital CMV, there is an older toddler at home who is in daycare” (Dr. Jason Brophy in Ottawa Citizen, 2018). 

In 1989, my daughter Elizabeth was born with severe brain damage from congenital CMV. When pregnant with her, I was unaware of CMV, and although I was a licensed, “in-home” child care provider and the mother of a toddler – things that put me at high risk for CMV – I was not informed about CMV prevention. (At 16, Elizabeth died during a seizure.)

In 1990, the Infectious Diseases Society of America and Centers for Disease Control held a workshop and “agreed that certain child-rearing practices, such as the common use of day-care centers...have changed the epidemiology of CMV in the United States and that the next decade may bring an increase in congenital CMV disease in certain groups" (National Library of Medicine, Demmler, 1991). 

In 2022, Senator John W. Mannion and Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal of New York State passed “Elizabeth’s Law” (S6287C/A7560), named in memory of my daughter. It “Requires the provision of informational materials to child care providers and certain physicians and midwives regarding the impacts and dangers of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.” But, I have learned through other CMV advocates that the bill is not being implemented. Please help ensure S6287C is enforced, and sponsor:

1. Assembly Bill A3956: "Requires cytomegalovirus screening for every newborn..." (see below my signature for reasons why diagnosing congenital CMV at birth is important). 

2. Assembly Bill A3074: "Requires reporting of positive cytomegalovirus results." Newborns  "SHALL BE REFERRED TO A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST TO PERFORM A FULL EXAMINATION BEFORE SUCH NEWBORN REACHES FOUR WEEKS…SUCH EXAMINATION SHALL INCLUDE…

1. MEASUREMENT OF HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE;

2. HEAD SONOGRAM;

3. BLOOD TESTS INCLUDING A COMPLETE BLOOD COUNT AND LIVER FUNCTION TESTS;

4. EYE EXAM BY AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST; AND

5. HEARING EVALUATION BY AUDITORY BRAINSTEM RESPONSE.

The importance of diagnosing congenital CMV at birth: “We've seen cases of missed clinically apparent cCMV during the NYS universal screening program. There have been some infants with features of cCMV that went unrecognized until the universal screen returned positive,” said Andrew Handel, MD, Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Co-Primary Investigator of PROACTIVE NYS.

Resources: 

• CDC and congenital CMV
• National CMV Foundation flyer, "Are you pregnant." 

Sincerely,

Lisa Saunders, author of "Had I Known about CMV: From Shock to Law.

Lisa is on  the Advisory Board (as Parent Advocate) for PROACTIVE NYS,  a long-term follow-up study of young children with congenital CMV,  and on the NY DeafBlind Collaborative Expert Advisory Council.  She produces CMV awareness content such as  the flier, "CMV in New York (and OSHA)" and the Pac-B TV interview,“CytoMegaloVirus (CMV) - What Moms Wished They Knew.”  She is the recipient of the National CMV Foundation Spirit of Advocacy Award (2023).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The importance of diagnosing congenital CMV at birth includes:

• "Babies with CMV who are caught early can access early treatment – which includes anything from anti-viral medication, to early intervention services, to long term hearing and vision monitoring. Since 90% of symptomatic babies are missed at birth, universal screening would help identify both symptomatic babies who may benefit from medication, and also asymptomatic babies who are at higher risk of hearing loss in childhood" (Dr. Megan Pesch, Recommended Uniform (Newborn) Screening Panel (RUSP) Update, National CMV Foundation, 2021).

• "...there is good evidence of potential benefit from nonpharmaceutical interventions for children with delayed hearing loss that occurs by 9 months of age. Similarly…there is fair evidence of potential benefit from antiviral therapy for children with hearing loss at birth and from nonpharmaceutical interventions for children with delayed hearing loss occurring between 9 and 24 months of age and for children with CMV-related cognitive deficits...in the United States, several thousand children with congenital CMV could benefit each year from newborn CMV screening, early detection, and interventions" ("Universal newborn screening for congenital CMV infection: what is the evidence of potential benefit?", Cannon et al., 2014).

• “The risk of late-onset hearing loss and progressive hearing loss in cCMV-infected infants requires increased surveillance…should include serial evaluations with a pediatric audiologist through 6 years of age and continued audiologic follow-up through the teenage years” (“American Cochlear Implant Alliance Position Statement on Newborn Congenital Cytomegalovirus Screening,”2024). 

• “One-third of patients with congenital CMV had ocular findings in conjunction with systemic manifestations….While initial screening for retinitis is important, patients with systemic sequelae of congenital CMV are at risk for other eye manifestations and require continued follow-up.” (Incidence of ophthalmic manifestations in congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV), Rossen, et al., BMC, 2025).

Previous New York CMV bills and Pilot Study

2018: New York passed S2816, which requires testing newborns who fail their hearing screen for CMV.

2022: New York State passed “Elizabeth’s Law” (S6287C/A7560), named in memory of my daughter. It “Requires the provision of informational materials to child care providers and certain physicians and midwives regarding the impacts and dangers of congenital cytomegalovirus infection.”

2023: Pilot Study - New York State Department of Health announced that effective October 2023, all babies will be offered screening for congenital CMV, making New York the second state in the nation, after
Minnesota, to screen all babies for the virus. (Long-Term Follow-Up study: proactivenys.org. Contact: Andrew Handel, MD, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, andrew.handel@stonybrookmedicine.edu.) 

2024: Results of NY’s CMV-Testing Pilot Study: Of the 210,100 babies born in New York between 10/2023 – 9/2024, about 275 or so had "convincing evidence of congenital CMV," according to Andrew Handel, MD, Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Co-Primary Investigator of PROACTIVE NYS.

2025: Assembly Bills A3956 and A3074 were filed and I would like to see my representatives sponsor them. 

Reporter Robert Harding of the Auburn Citizen (and others) covered legislative work on CMV (and/or my efforts to raise awareness), and is interested in continuing to do so. News items about my work on CMV in New York include:

1. Eagle Newsroom: “This CMV Awareness Month, mother continues to share her story” (Edwards, A., June 19, 2024). 

2. CNY Central: Baldwinsville mother applauds federal push to protect babies from CMV - CNY Central (Coleman, M.,March 8,2024).

3. The Citizen: “Bill in Congress aims to boost CMV newborn screening, research” (Robert Harding, Mar 8, 2024). 

4. NBC3: Baldwinsville couple's advocacy inspires legislation for CMV awareness (Coleman, M., Nov. 30, 2023). 

5. Eagle Newsroom: “Baldwinsville couple walking Erie Canal, raising awareness,”(Baldwinsville Messenger, print, Davis, J., Oct. 25, 2023).

6. Democrat and Chronicle and Lohud,: “New York begins screening newborns for CMV virus that causes birth defects. What to know” (Robinson, D., Oct. 4, 2023)

7. USA TODAY: This virus is a leading cause birth defects. Why isn't it screened more? (Eduardo Cuevas, 2023, print). 

8. The Citizen: “NY to begin pilot CMV newborn screening program” (Harding, R. Sept. 28, 2023).

9. NYSenate.gov:“Senator Mannion and Assemblymember Rosenthal Announce Addition of Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) to State's Routine,” Sept. 29, 2023.

10. The Post-Standard: "How a Baldwinsville mother fought for 30 years to pass a law that might have saved her daughter", Emma Vallelunga, Jan.1, 2023, Syracuse.com, Dec. 27, 2022 (Facebook).

11. CNYCentral.com:”Baldwinsville mom celebrates new law in daughter's name to protect pregnant women, babies,” Coleman, M., Dec.15, 2022 (Facebook). 

12. New York Family: “Elizabeth’s Law for CMV Education Passed in New York”, Kaitlyn Riggio, Dec. 8, 2022.

13. U.S. News & World Report: "Editorial Roundup: New York", Associated Press, Dec. 7, 2022 (scroll down to: Auburn Citizen, December 1, 2022.Editorial: Elizabeth’s Law poised to help families avoid heartbreak).

14. The Citizen: “Our View: Elizabeth’s Law poised to help families avoid heartache,”The Citizen Editorial Board,  Dec. 1, 2022

15. The Citizen: "Hochul signs 'Elizabeth's Law,' named for Auburn native's daughter, to raise CMV awareness", Robert Harding, Nov. 29, 2022.

16. NYAssembly.gov: “Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal Bill to Educate Childcare Providers, Pregnant Patients on Cytomegalovirus Dangers Signed into Law,” November 28, 2022.

17. NYSenate.gov: “Senator John W. Mannion’s legislation to protect pregnant women from dangerous viral infection that’s a leading cause of birth defects is signed into law,” November 28, 2022.

18. The Citizen: "NY lawmakers OK CMV awareness bill named in honor of CNY couple's daughter", Robert Harding, June 1, 2022.

19. Eagle Newsroom, "Baldwinsville couple advocates for 'Elizabeth's Law' to stop cytomegalovirus: Bill named in memory of their daughter," Dec. 14, 2021. 

20. Spectrum News: "Couple pushes for law in memory of their daughter" (Houghtaling, J., Jul. 01, 2021). Includes an interview with Dr. Sunil Sood.

21. Finger Lakes Times, "Trail of Hope celebration in Lyons marks CMV Month in New York" (Buchiere, S., Jun 11, 2021).

22. Finger Lakes Times: "MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Couple brings awareness to threat to infant health: CMV", (Buchiere, S.,June 4, 2021).

23. The Citizen: "NY Senate passes bill, named for CNY couple's daughter, to boost CMV awareness", (Harding, R., June 2, 2021).

24. Syracuse Woman magazine, "Fighting CMV One Step at a Time (p.28)", (Vallelunga, E., May 2021)

25. The Citizen, "Challenge for Change: Walking across NY to raise awareness of CMV", (Wilcox, D., Mar 31, 2021)

26. Times Herald Record: “What every pregnant woman needs to know” (Botti, D., 2009)

Other countries and CMV:

Australia educates childcare workers about CMV (see  "Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in early childhood education and care services"). The following is a published account of what happened when a child care provider was not educated about her risk for CMV: In New South Wales, “a childcare worker and her severely disabled son were awarded $4.65 million. A Court of Appeal ruled that the child's disabilities resulted from the woman being infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV) at work (Hughes v SDN Children's services 2002)” (Queensland Government, Australia, retrieved from: https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/hazardous-exposures/biological-hazards/cytomegalovirus-cmv-in-early-childhood-education-and-care-services). Meridian Lawyers of Australia stated: "The allegations of negligence were that Sydney Day Nursery breached its duty of care to Linda ...by failing to warn her of the risks of CMV in circumstances where the centre knew or ought to have known of the risks of CMV to pregnant women..." Retrieved from: https://www.meridianlawyers.com.au/insights/infectious-diseases-child-care-what-about-staff-members/