CENTRAL POINT, OR – On July 27th, during Dogs for Better Lives’ (DBL) quarterly meeting, the National Board of Directors unanimously approved a new member, Dr. Lisa Prock from Massachusetts.
Dr. Lisa Prock
Also, during this quarterly meeting, outgoing board chair Tim Cibula was acknowledged for his six years of service on the national board and for serving as board chair over the last year. Tim was recognized with a plaque thanking him for his service, as well as a naming opportunity on one of the dog kennels on the DBL’s west campus in southern Oregon.
Currently, officers for the board in FY26-27 include chair CarrieJo Hoelzel, vice chair Emily Nelson, treasurer Stephanie Deines, and secretary Garren Heye.
With this appointment of Lisa Prock and Tim Cibula’s term concluding, DBL’s national board moves to 23 voting members. Outside of three directors from across Oregon, the board includes members residing in eleven other states across the country, including California (3), District of Columbia, Georgia (2), Massachusetts (4), New Hampshire, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington (4).
“The board of directors is pleased to welcome Dr. Lisa Prock onto DBL’s National Board,” stated board chair CarrieJo Hoelzel. “With her expertise in developmental medicine and neurodevelopmental challenges, she will quickly help to augment DBL’s national board and its diversifying presence across the northeast region.”
With the opening of DBL’s Northeast campus in Falmouth, MA in 2022, the national board has continued to grow in the northeast, and with the addition of Lisa Prock, now four members reside in Massachusetts.
“As DBL further advances its national presence, Dr. Prock will quickly help DBL to further solidify its board presence in the New England region,” stated Interim CEO and Vice President of Program Gwen Dudek. “From regional advocacy, networking, and committee participation, she will play a crucial role in helping to further advance DBL as a national leader in the Assistance Dog world.”
Dr. Lisa Prock
Lisa Prock, MD, MPH, is currently the Director of the Developmental Medicine Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. She grew up in the woods in Wisconsin and later obtained her undergraduate degrees from the University of Chicago in biology and behavioral science and her medical degree from Columbia University. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Tufts University and her fellowship in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital. She also completed her Master’s in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and has worked in refugee camps in Southeast Asia and orphanages in the former Soviet Union.
Dr. Lisa Prock and her dog Rocky.
Since completing the fellowship, Dr. Prock has focused her clinical work with children with a range of neurodevelopmental challenges, including prenatal substance exposure, foster care/adoption, and trauma disorders. She has worked with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and collaborates with the Massachusetts Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Task Force to support programs and services in these areas. Dr. Prock is also the Clinical Director of the Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she leads clinical trials for patients impacted by rare genetic disorders associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dogs have been an important part of her family life since childhood – German Shepherds Koenig and Bruno; Shelby the bulldog; Lily and Lewie the rescue mixes; and Rocky the Australian shepherd mix. She currently lives with one dog, two cats, and other human family members.
In her spare time, Dr. Prock enjoys any opportunity to travel, hike, and boat, and loves the many hours watching her sons play football and lacrosse.
“Dogs for Better Lives appeals to me as an organization at the intersection of groups I care about – dogs and people who benefit from their support,” stated Dr. Prock. “I am honored to learn from the group and hopefully collaborate in enhancing and sharing their mission.”
To learn more about DBL’s National Board of Directors and/or to inquire about joining the board, visit… https://bit.ly/2BrQZfU. You can also visit DBL’s profile on cariclub and Boardlead to learn more.
