Who We Are

CreakyJoints Australia Patient Council

About Seth Ginsberg, BSc.

Co-founder and President of Global Healthy Living Foundation, and Global President of CreakyJoints

When first diagnosed with Spondylarthritis in the US at just 13, Seth became inspired to reach out to other sufferers to hear their voices and learn from their experience. It was clear to him that with more accessible, community-based support, and a united voice, that patient-driven health was achievable. With that in mind, he helped to pioneer the world’s first online patient community for the millions of people worldwide suffering from arthritis, called CreakyJoints. Today the advocacy platform he created is a strong international network with an office in Australia (CreakyJoints Australia) that drives informed conversations and contributions for better health policies and healthier outcomes for patients and their caregivers.

CreakyJoints shed light on the size of the patient advocacy problem. Seth’s work had just begun. Twenty years on, he is now a global leader in patient and health care advocacy based in Australia where he lives with his Australian wife, Cara Zelas, and their two children.

Partnering with social entrepreneur, Louis Tharp, in 1999, the two co-founded the Global Healthy Living Foundation (GHLF), a powerhouse for advocacy at the state and national healthcare table with its 50-State Network in the US, which has more than 1,600 trained patient advocates. The network focuses on eliminating barriers to care for people living with chronic illness by working across industries, government and regulatory authorities to create the change patients seek.

GHLF is a source of consumer and peer reviewed research thanks to innovations like ArthritisPower®, a robust smartphone and web patient registry and symptom tracker that provides research for informed, patient-centred outcomes. More recently, GHLF designed a COVID-19 Patient Support Program to deliver the latest relevant information and research on issues that matter most to chronic disease and immunocompromised patients living through the pandemic. The program is currently generating valuable patient feedback and consumer insights that are helping to inform further research and change the way we understand the impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable patient communities.

Seth has worked beside the pharmaceutical industry throughout his career. He is an expert on the use of technology and communications for patient communities. It is through his leadership, that the GHLF team has prioritised accessibility to reach the most isolated, under-served or under-represented patients to give voice to them. Using technology and a leadership position in social media, GHLF has been able to listen to, and maintain, a conversation with patients and provide support, while keeping pace with latest concerns and trending sentiments.

Seth is a regular contributor in the media and a frequent keynote speaker at professional conferences and healthcare meetings. Seth received a Bachelor of Science in Social Entrepreneurship from Babson College in the US and continues to innovate in health for all our communities.

About Louis Tharp

Co-founder and Executive Director of Global Healthy Living Foundation.

After running a successful international public relations, advertising and marketing company for nearly 20 years, taking equity positions in tech companies during the ‘90s, and working for some of the largest international PR and marketing agencies, Louis Tharp became a social entrepreneur in 1999, co-founded and acted as the initial funder for CreakyJoints, an international service organization for people with arthritis. In 2007 CreakyJoints became part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, which he also co-founded. GHLF focuses on health policy, advocacy, research, education, and patient support issues.
In addition to his work with the foundation, he is also CEO and co-founder of TGI Healthworks, a healthcare research and marketing company.

He was previously a contract writer for The New York Times as well as other daily newspapers and automotive publications, and published his first hardcover book, The Complete Manager’s Guide to Promotional Merchandise (Dow-Jones Irwin) in 1989 – named one of the top business books of the year.

In 2005, he became the first out gay coach at the U.S. Military Academy, where he was the swimming coach of the West Point Triathlon team. He published Overachiever’s Diary in 2007, a softcover book recounting the West Point tri team’s rise to national prominence. Proceeds from book sales go to the West Point triathlon team. He is also a competitive open water and pool swimmer with 13 World Masters, Gay Games and OutGames gold, silver, and bronze medals.
From 2003 to 2008, he served on the board of visitors for the College of Business at Butler University, Indianapolis where he graduated with a B.S. and a B.A. in Journalism in 1972. Louis served in the 38th Infantry Division, Headquarters, Indiana National Guard from 1972-1978. He was Chairman of the Anti-Bias Commission, Rockland County, New York, from 1994-1996; Chairman of the Board of CANDLE, a Rockland County, New York, non-profit from 1994-1997; is a former member of the board of the Victory Fund, Washington, DC, the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation, and a current member of Knights Out, U.S. Military Academy. In 2019 he accepted a position as a board member of AIDS United. From 2012-2018 he accepted a position in the Obama administration serving on the Army Education Advisory Committee and was recognized for his service in the Congressional Record.

Louis and his husband, Jim Bumgardner, live in Upper Nyack, NY.

About Stephanie O’Connell

Strategy and Communications

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About Naomi Creek

National Coordinator of CreakyJoints Australia

Diagnosed at age 12, Naomi’s personal experience living with rheumatoid arthritis has made her a passionate advocate for others living with arthritis and chronic pain. She believes patients must have access to the right resources to understand their condition and feel empowered to manage their own health. She is a firm believer in a holistic approach to living well through healthy eating, regular exercise, medication and reducing stress.

Naomi spent many years volunteering with Arthritis Victoria (now MSK Australia) as a community guest speaker, telephone helpline operator, consumer advisory committee member and later a board member. She spent 10 years leading the Young Women’s Arthritis Support Group (YWASG) in Melbourne and for the last 5 years has been national coordinator for CreakyJoints Australia.

Despite her 9 joint replacements, chronic joint infections, pain and dissuading doctors, she moved to remote Flinders Island, Tasmania in 2018 to follow her dream. There she spends her time working part time and enjoying creative pursuits like singing, art and photography.

About Rosemary Ainley

CreakyJoints Australia Editor 

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Our Partners

The Global Healthy Living Foundation relies on support of past and current partners, including corporate sponsors, government, non-government organizations, and grants from other foundations. We are grateful for the continued support of our research, education, support, and advocacy efforts.

GHLF does not ask for individual donations, and our programs and services are free to members of the GHLF community.

Conflict of Interest Policy

GHLF Directors must sign a conflict-of-interest statement annually. The purpose of this policy is to protect the interests of Global Healthy Living Foundation Pty Ltd, Australia, when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the organization or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to not–for-profit and charitable organizations.

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