About Dr. Allen Menkin

Dr. Menkin is the founder and President of Main Street Vaccines. He is a native of New Jersey and, with interruptions for medical training and two wars, has lived there most of his life.  He has a BA from Drew University and a MS from Rutgers.  He went to medical school at Bowman Gray, (now Wake Forest,) and did his residency at NYU/Bellevue Hospital. He is a decorated Veteran

Dr. Menkin has been an associate professor of pediatrics at NYU, initiated and run a developmental disabilities center, helped start the first IPA/HMO in New Jersey, set up and run three IPA’s, served as  regional medical director for Horizon Blue Cross, and lectured on managed care and coding principles.  He is a member of the Academy Sections on Administration and Practice Management, and Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Menkin co-founded Plaza Medical Associates, a Pediatric group in North Jersey, in 1973.  In 1997 the group added Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and became Plaza Family Care. 

“I have been in clinical Pediatrics for 40 years, and have struggled with increasing costs and decreasing reimbursement for most of that time.  I began Main Street Vaccines in 2000 as an independent vaccine purchasing cooperative and have added member services opportunistically.  Main Street doesn’t have a grand mission statement or a political agenda.  When possible we support medical/educational programs relevant to our products, but our only real purpose is to lower costs for our members.”

About Kate Beggerow

Kate joined Main Street Vaccines as Program Administrator in 2009 and is in charge of member services.   She has a BA in Marketing from the University of Mississippi and an MBA from the University of Richmond Robins School of Business.  Kate has over 10 years experience in the vaccine industry.   Before coming to Main Street she was an Executive Regional Account Manager for Merck Vaccines, where she was responsible for vaccine contracting with physician purchasing organizations, hospitals, and integrated health systems.    

“I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee where my father is a practicing Pediatrician, and my mother is a pediatric RN.  I now live in Richmond, Virginia with my husband and two children.  My professional training and personal background give me a solid perspective on the vaccine business and   the business problems that doctors face.  I have worked with Main Street since 2001 and am happy to be part of an organization that helps deal with some of those problems.”

About Lauren Lenza 

Lauren joined Main Street Vaccines in 2009.  She manages our business systems, is responsible for direct member enrollment/disenrollment, and supports Kate in member services.   Lauren is a graduate of Ramapo College.   She has a JD and an MBA from LaVerne University School of Law and has been admitted to the California and New Jersey Bar.

“ I’m a lawyer,  but like Kate I grew up in a “medical family” and I have worked for a pediatric practice.  I understand the challenges doctors face every day and am glad to help deal with them.”