Dr. Linda Rozell Shannon, PhD is the President and Founder of the VBF. Dr. Linda is the world’s leading lay expert in the field of Vascular Birthmarks, with over 30 years of experience networking patients into treatment. Her remarkable dedication and outreach has made treatment possible for thousands of children all over the world.

Dr. Linda’s journey began with the birth of her daughter, Christine, who had a hemangioma, and the end of the road is nowhere in sight! In 1994, with the help of Dr. Martin Mihm, she started the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation. In 1996, she began her work on the book entitled, “Birthmarks, A Guide to Hemangiomas and Vascular Malformations.” Published in 1997, it is still the only publication available on the subject that is written for parents.

Seeing the lamentable lack of information regarding birthmarks and the fact that treatment options were often ignored by childrens’ primary care physicians, Dr. Linda made a goal to get that information out there so parents and physicians can make informed choices about the care of children with birthmarks.

30 years later, Dr. Linda and the VBF have networked over 150,000 children and adults around the world into treatment. Dr. Linda hosts the Annual VBF Conference in New York and California that includes FREE access to lectures on the latest in research and treatment, laser treatment, lodging, clinic appointments, psychotherapy, make-up consultations, and insurance support. Dr. Linda and the VBF iTEAM have also provided educational conferences, free clinics and laser treatment all over the world, including in Russia, India, Israel, Italy, and Greece.