Medical Travel Brand Management

Frederick J. DeMicco, PhD, RDN, is the Executive Director and Professor in the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Northern Arizona University, USA. Formerly he was Professor and the Aramark Endowed Department Chair in the Lerner College of Business & Economics in Hospitality Business Management at the University of Delaware. He was Associate Director of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Recreation Management (HRRM) at Penn State University, where he was Professor-in-Charge of the Hotel & Restaurant Management undergraduate program and also was the Professor-in-Charge of the Master of Science and PhD graduate programs for five years. He presently is a Conti Distinguished Professor at the Pennsylvania State University, USA. Dr. DeMicco is the President of the International Academics and the Dean of Business Executive and Professional Programs at the Learning Village in Tuscany (SIAF) Campus in Volterra, Tuscany, the home of Innovation and Imagineering. Dr. DeMicco was also a Darden Eminent Scholar Chair Visiting Professor to the University of Central Florida-Rosen College, the USF Sarasota- Manatee, and Colorado State University; and currently is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Policy & Administration at the University of Delaware, USA. Dr. DeMicco has worked in healthcare at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and at Walt Disney World in hotel management where he obtained a Ductorate Degree from Disney University, Orlando, Florida. Dr. DeMicco was the President of International CHRIE-NENA (Northeast North American Federation). He was presented the International CHRIE/Cornell Howard B. Meek Award of Excellence for 2017.

Ali A. Poorani, PhD, is an Associate Professor with expertise in leadership and entrepreneurship. He is the Director of Hospitality Associates for Research & Training (HART), which offers a variety of research and training programs for the hospitality and healthcare industries. He developed the University of Delaware's Patient Experience Academy, in conjunction with Christiana Care Health System. He has published several scholarly articles, including Hospitality Bridging Healthcare. Dr. Poorani has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 14 years. He has conducted many workshops, focus groups, and training programs nationally and internationally, bringing hospitality to healthcare with a vision to make hospitals truly hospitable. His long-term engagement with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) includes: past board member of ICHRIE Finance Committee; chair, ICHRIE Finance SIG; board member for the Association of Hospitality Financial Management Educators (AHFME); member of ICHRIIE Strategic Planning Committee; ICHRIE Finance Committee; and Hospitality Industry Professionals-SIG. He also serves on the advisory board for Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Research Summit. Dr. Poorani is a recipient of various community service awards, such as the 2005 Champion of Club Education Award, 2009 Alfred Lerner College of Business Outstanding Service/Outreach Award, the 2012 University of Delaware Excellence in Advising and Mentoring Award, and the 2014 Leon and Margaret Slocomb Professional Excellence Award.