Lisa Harris, M.D.,
Primary Care Physician, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
Diagnosed with Metabolic Syndrome

Dr. Harris is in private practice and has been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.  She made changes in diet and exercise to treat the condition and currently has the syndrome and diabetes, under control.

Lisa Harris, M.D. was born in Oneida, New York, the eldest child and only daughter of the honorable Judge Roy and Mrs. Lucille King. Dr. Harris attended Monroe Jr. Sr. High School and then furthered her education at the University of Rochester, where she received a B.S. in neurosciences.  Later, she attended Morehouse School of Medicine where she received her medical degree. Her training was completed at the Detroit Medical Center in Detroit, MI. Dr. Harris is boarded in two specialties, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, allowing her to care for both the adult and pediatric populations. Currently, Dr. Harris is in private practice.

Dr. Laurie Polis, M.D.

Dr. Laurie Polis is a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatologic Surgeon; Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgeons, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Teaching Attending at Beth Israel Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Mount Sinai Hospital. In addition to her MD, she holds an RN degree, and a license in Acupuncture for research. Dr. Laurie Polis is the Director of Dermatologic Services at the Soho Skin and Laser Dermatology Group. She is also Director of the Soho Integrative Healthcare Group and serves as a Dermatology Advisor to the onsite Mezzanine Aesthetic Center.

Jennifer Cooper, M.D.

Jennifer Z. Cooper, MD completed her medical school training at Wake Forest University School of Medicine  in Winston-Salem, NC.  She completed her preliminary year in internal medicine and her dermatology residency at the University of Rochester.  She spent an additional year training in a Mohs surgery fellowship under the direction of Marc Brown, M.D. at the University of Rochester.  After her fellowship, she joined the University of Rochester faculty where she specializes in skin cancer.  Her special interests lie in Mohs surgery and skin cancer in organ transplant recipients.  


Randy Wickett, M.D.

Kim Fahnley

At the age of 29 Kim Fahnley was diagnosed with melanoma. She was fortunate to have required only surgical removal, although it was extensive and required a period of time off her feet. Once healed and advised by her doctor to resume her daily activities she found it was daunting for her and her family to live an active outdoor lifestyle without constant concern of sun exposure. Living in a beachside community an avid gardener and horsewoman, her mindset and routine was now at odds with the doctor's warnings about sun exposure.  Within 5 years of her Melanoma, she was diagnosed with Squamous lip cancer. Once again her daily routine was put on hold. She underwent 7 ½ hours of Mohs surgery and plastic reconstruction to remove much of her lower lip. Several years later the cancer returned and she had laser surgery to remove the entire lower lip. Throughout this timeframe she was busy raising 2 children, and had adapted her lifestyle often dressing in her husband's big shirts and various layers, which made her hot and miserable.

While, for the doctors these cancers were all treatable and curable, her lifestyle and image was changed forever. Determined to find a balance and resume the activities that she enjoyed, she looked for solutions for her sun protection. In 1998 she started designing and manufacturing Sun Solutions clothing- a stylish, lightweight line of sun protective clothing. Her goal – to make sure, while people entrust their health to their doctors, they develop a healthy plan for their sun protection and not live in fear. Considering herself a survivor, she often speaks to the importance of learning one's own body and regular skin checks. Furthermore in her own healing she found it most important to find balance and knowledge that one does have options. She has been featured in Newsweek, on TV spots around the nation, NPR radio and other forums discussing her own story, and educating people as to the importance of skin cancer and her Sun Solutions clothing line.

Elissa Orlando
Civilian Guest

Elissa L. Orlando is a 20-year veteran of public affairs programming and multimedia storytelling. Orlando is director of national programming and special projects at WXXI Public Broadcasting. She was producer of the nationally televised Crucible of Freedom companion program to Ken Burns Not for Ourselves Alone.  Orlando has won several New York State broadcasting awards for television news reporting in Somalia Africa, Homestead Florida and other local and national venues.  She is a recipient of the Gracie award for television programming from American Women in Radio and Television, and she is the recipient of a Telly award for her production of the TV documentary Reclaiming the Crescent.  Orlando also received the Woman of the Distinction award from the Jefferson County Women's Conference in 1995. She was formerly TV news and public affairs director at WXXI, where she also served as executive producer, Website editor and news anchor of Need to Know, WXXI's Emmy Award-winning newsmagazine.