Meet Our Staff
Isabella Firth
For 12 years Isabella (Izzy) Firth has been president of Mid-Atlantic LifeSpan, an association comprised of more than 270 senior care organizations that deliver housing, healthcare, and related services to over 45,000 seniors in Maryland & D.C. Member organizations include continuing care retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living, senior housing and community-based programs.
LifeSpan is the largest and most diverse senior care association in the mid-atlantic region and is affiliated with several other important senior care associations in the area including AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) and ALFA (Assisted Living Federation of America). LifeSpan has also created several affiliate organizations, The Beacon Institute, which provides education and training to senior care professionals and seniors in the community, and Aegis Healthcare Business Solutions, which saves senior care organization’s money through group purchasing programs.
Izzy received her Bachelor’s degree in American Government from the University of Virginia and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Northeastern University. Prior to coming to LifeSpan, Izzy staffed the Maryland Senate Finance Committee in Annapolis, Maryland.
Danna Kauffman
Danna Kauffman is the Vice President of Public Policy for Mid-Atlantic LifeSpan where she has worked for three years. Ms. Kauffman’s primary responsibility is representing LifeSpan in Annapolis and advocating on behalf of senior care providers.
Ms. Kauffman began her career in public policy as a bill drafter for the Department of Legislative Services and then served as the counsel to the General Assembly on health and insurance issues between 1997-1999. Prior to joining LifeSpan, Ms. Kauffman served as the Senior Legislative Officer to Governor Parris N. Glendening between 1999-2002.
She graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1996 where she was an editor on the Law Review.
Paul has 23 years of experience in accounting, third-party reimbursement, and computer related issues pertinent to various health care providers. Prior to entering public accounting, he was the Budget Administrator for the State of Maryland medical care programs and an Audit Supervisor with the State of Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. From 1989 until 2004, Paul was a consultant and then the Director of Reimbursement for the Long Term Care Consulting Department of American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. Currently, Paul is the Executive Director of Aegis Healthcare Business Solutions, Inc., a Division of LifeSpan, which provides group purchasing, liability insurance and business consulting services to long-term-care providers. Paul serves as the Director of Reimbursement Services for Mid-Atlantic LifeSpan and MANPHA. Paul represents LifeSpan on the State Nursing Home Liaison Committee.
Paul graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1979. He is a member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA).
