FYI Listings: Ask the Expert 

The following are individuals or organizations willing to provide free information to writers. While every attempt is made to ensure that FYI listings are purely informational and accurate, the WGAW does not endorse any of the following listings or the information they provide.

For more free resources, visit our column about technical advice, Technically Speaking.

Government Departments
Medical Authorities
Religious Information
Psychological References
Miscellaneous
Points of Interest
 

Government Departments 

Department  Phone/Internet 
Air Force 310/235-7511
Board of Education 562/922-6111
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives John Torres
818/265-2500
www.atf.gov 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hollywood, Health & Society at the
USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center
800/283-0676
www.usc.edu/hhs 
Coast Guard 310/235-7817
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Alonzo Hill
Office of Public Affairs (L.A. Field Office)
310-477-6565

Betsy Glick
Office of Public Affairs (DC Headquarters)
202-324-2326
public.affairs@ic.fbi.gov 
Federal Emergency Mgmt. Agency 202/646-2996
Joshua Bossman 
Fire Department 323/881-2411
www.lacofd.org 

ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Dept. of Homeland Security

202/732-4222
www.ice.gov
brandon.alvarez-montgomery@dhs.gov 
Law Enforcement Online (LEO) James Sheehan
(FBI executive, retired)
Jsheeha3@leo.gov 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
 
Kil-Jae Hong
Consumer Information
202/493-0524
kil-jae.hong@dot.gov 
Navy 310/235-7481
directorbob1@gmail.com 
Veterans Admin. Media Office 310/268-3340 (Beverly)
fax: 310/268-4264

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Medical Authorities 

Department  Phone/Internet 
All-inclusive Health Topics including:

National Cancer Institute, HRSA Division of Transplantation,
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (medical errors)
Hollywood, Health & Society at the
USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center
323/782-3311
www.usc.edu/hhs 
Alzheimer's Disease
 
The Alzheimer's Screenwriter Project
Tate Meyer
312/604-2435
tatemeyer@alz.org 
Amer. Med. Assoc. (AMA) 312/464-5000
Anesthesiology 800/562-8666
Alcohol/Drug Use 800/488-DRUG (3784)
Brain Research, Brain Imaging (MRI
and other techniques), Human Learning
and Memory, Reading and Dyslexia
Russell A. Poldrack, Ph.D.
poldrack@ucla.edu 
Cosmetic Surgery Dr. Andrew Berman
310/278-3223
drandrewberman@beverlyhills-surgery.com 
CPR 310/281-2753
Deafness Maria Monte de Rey
California Association of the Deaf (CAD) LA
562/321-9362 or 562/392-6460
818/943-4295 (text)
Cadlaentrep@yahoo.com
bluebeach3@gmail.com  
Dentistry (General & Cosmetic) Nidhi Pai
650/323-4222
Diabetes (Type 2) and
Juvenile Diabetes (Type I)
 
Elizabeth Flynn
Toll Free: 888/533-9255 or 310/203-9486
flynnadv@att.net 
DNA and Genetics Debra Robertson, Ph.D.
858/792-8019
drobertson@forensicstudygroup.com 
www.forensicstudygroup.com 
Emergency Medicine & Pediatrics Michelle Shuffett, MD
310/995-6075
mshuffett@me.com 
Epilepsy and/or Seizures
 
Epilepsy Foundation
Alisa Dung
301/918-3747
Gay and Lesbian Med. Assn. 415/255-4547
fax: 415/255-4784
GLMAMedia@aol.com 
Health Care Research 301/656-3100
www.equals3.com 
Immunology 414/272-6071
info@aaaa1.org 
Infertility 818/781-6800
818/776-8700
Last Acts
(Care & Caring at the End of Life)
www.lastacts.org 
Lymphoma 310/204-7040
lrf@lymphoma.org 
Medical Storyline Development 718/389-9800
cinemaworldstudios@earthlink.net 
Medical Technical Advising
& Family Relationships
Michelle Shuffett, MD
310/312-6075
mshuffett@yahoo.com 
Nursing Lucy A. Doty
langsame@aol.com 
Oral Surgery 818/995-8601
Organ Tissue Donation and Transplantation Elizabeth Flynn
310/203-9486
flynnadv@att.net 
Pancreatic Cancer Elizabeth Flynn
Toll free: 877/272-6226
flynnadv@att.net
Pediatrics
American Academy of Pediatrics
800/433-9016 ext. 7873
fax: 847/228-5097
mrt@aap.orgwww.aap.org/mrt 
Surgery & Medicine Rob Shapiro, MD, FACS
818/642-0114
robshapiro1@gmail.com 

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Religious Information 

Department  Phone
Internet
 
Baha'is of L.A. 323/933-8291
Biblical & Theological Studies Rev. Brian D. Brown
b.brown2@binternet.com 
Catholicism 818/846-8141
Mormons Public Affairs
310/475-7018
800/533-2444
publicaffairsla@aol.com 
Muslims and Islam Imran Anwar
imran@imran.com 
Theological Accuracy Paul Viggiano
pastorpaul@integrity.com 

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Psychological References 

Department  Phone
Internet
 
Amer. Humane Assoc. Film & TV Unit
“No Animals Were Harmed”
818/501-0123
info@americanhumane.org
www.americanhumane.org 
Bipolar Disorder 415/281-3100
www.healthline.com 
Cancer Institute 301/496-6641
Literacy 916/324-7358
Medical Info (MPTF) 818/876-1888
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays
202/467-8180
fax: 202/467-8194
info@pflag.org 
Psychiatry/Forensic 415/453-8920
Social Issues (N.C.N.) 310/456-1082
Social Workers 310/456-1082
Southern Cal. Coalition on Battered Women 323/935-8666
www.nami.org 
Suicide, Suicide Prevention, Mental Health,
Public Policy and Survivors
202/449-3600
www.spanusa.org 

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Miscellaneous 

Department  Phone
Internet
 
Aerospace & Engineering 714/962-2587
Alcohol, Drug Prevention 323/463-6852
gmarcellell@health.org 
Archaeology 310/206-8934
Children's Action Network Jennifer Perry
310/470-9599
fax: 310/474-9665
Chinese Culture Samuel Chong
626/487-8909
chineselanguagetutor@yahoo.com 
Computers 505/992-8462
ssalemi@earthlink.net 
Criminal Defense James Blatt
310/385-8066
j.blatt@jamesblatt.com
www.jamesblatt.com 
Croquet 503/838-5697
eliassen@open.org 
Dinosaurs 818/848-2646
Disabilities & Wheelchairs John Carpenter
jcarpenter@earthlink.net 
Disabilities (Writers With Disabilities) Allen Rucker
Chair, WGAW Writers With Disabilities Committee
ARCA9@aol.com  
Environment (Environmental Media Association) 323/556-2790
ema-online.org 
Environment & Endangered Species (World Wildlife Fund) Entertainment Relations
entrel@wwfus.org
202/495-4728
www.wwfus.org 
Firearms 703/267-1300
www.nra.org 
GLAAD/LA 323/933-2240
glaad@glaad.org 
Insurance 818/763-8501
Law Enforcement
(Fraud Schemes, Undercover Investigations, etc.)
John Auvinen
707/453-0178
johnauvinen@comcast.net 
Life Insurance Tony Steuer
tony@tonysteuer.com 
Near Eastern Languages & Culture Sara Brumfield
424/603-7036
sarabrumfield@gmail.com 
Private Investigation 213/804-8484
Science 818/707-2270
ab141@lasn.org 
Search & Rescue Alice Stanley
540/582-5708
storyspinr@aol.com 
Sugar Assoc. 202/785-1122
sugar@sugar.org 
USO World Headquarters Terri Kaufman, Public Relations
703/836-9222, x 3035
tkaufman@wwafsp.com 
Wilderness Tracking and Survival 858/752-8606
marplewe@gmail.com
www.trackersfi.org 

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Points of Interest 

Department  Phone/Internet  Address 
Aviation Research Center 310/864-4116 12032 E. Firestone Blvd., Norwalk, CA
CA Institute of the Arts Library 805/253-7887
mhanft@calarts.edu 
24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA
California Institute of Technology 818/397-2704 Archive Office, Pasadena, CA 91125
California Historical Society 818/449-5450 San Marino, CA
Eddie Brandt Saturday Matinee 818/506-4242 North Hollywood, CA
Institute of the American Musical 323/934-1221 121 N. Detroit St., L.A., CA90036
National Museum of Natural History (202) 633-1000 10th St & Constitution Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20560-0135
Railway History 818/449-4423 700 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106
Southwest Museum/Library 323/221-2163 234 Museum Dr., Highland Park, CA 90042

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