Current Board Members

After contracting Lyme Disease and co-infections in 1997, Founder and Executive Director, Maria Malaguti, began a long journey marked by complex legal, medical and personal issues. Over time, she acquired a database of information on treatment options and benefits for Lyme patients to assist others in receiving support and assistance. Maria holds a certificate in nonprofit management and a BA in Theatre/sociology from the former Marlboro College in Vermont. She has 25 years of entrepreneurship, as well as personal experience navigating the healthcare and government benefits system, skills and experience she applies to helping others through the LDRC.

Alison is a director at a non-profit organization with over 10 years of experience in supporting children with disabilities and their families. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a pre-med concentration from the University of Rhode Island. Within her current leadership role, Alison is passionate about ensuring the clinical team has the resources they need to provide the highest level of client care, and she looks forward to bringing that experience to the LDRC. A lifelong Rhode Islander, she resides in Cranston with her husband Chris and their 3 rescue dogs. 

Dr. O’Grady was trained at Stanford University (BA, MA) and Yale University School of Medicine (MD). Now retired, he was previously Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine and Medical Director of the Family Life Center at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. O’Grady is the author of more than 25 published papers and five books. He resides in Santa Fe, NM with his wife, Molly Gray retired RN, and two cats.

A volunteer at the Lyme Disease Resource Center since 2018, Nellie joins the board with many years of working for non-profits and supporting people with chronic illness and disabilities. She has a master’s degree in Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching from the California Institute of Integral Studies. She works with clients in her private practice as a Cuddlist and Consent Educator. She lives in West Chesterfield, MA with her partner and in her spare time loves to garden, explore nature, and is a foster mom to rescue rabbits.