CT HEALTH - Key Persons

Alejandro Melendez-Cooper was born in Lima, Peru and has resided in the United States of America since 1989. A long time community advocate he brings rich experience and insight to his endeavors. With a diverse background including the Arts, Business, Education and Healthcare, Melendez-Cooper founded the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut, has held leadership positions at Centro de La Communidad of New London CT; Connecticut College; the Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP); and the Opportunities Industrialization Center. He served on the Board of Directors of over 50 organizations and most recently served as Director of the Community Health Center(s) of New London and Groton Connecticut where he was instrumental in developing and implementing significant operational and organizational programs that benefit their respective constituencies through the delivery of accessible, high quality healthcare. Intensely interested in negotiation and conflict resolution, Alejandro Melendez-Cooper received training through the Harvard Law School and subsequently founded the American Project Partnership (TAPP) to promote collaboration and partnerships among regional community organizations and businesses. Currently, Melendez-Cooper serves as President of the Hispanic Alliance of Southeastern Connecticut and Chairperson of the Hispanic Health Council.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Program Committee

Alvin W. Thompson is a United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, an appointment he has held since 1994. Thompson previously worked as an attorney at Robinson & Cole, where he served as an associate, partner, and managing partner. He has chaired and is active in the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association. He has also served on the scholarship committee for the American Bar Association's Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund. Thompson serves on the Hartford Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and the Trustees of the Warburton Chapel, and has served on the Policy Advisory Committee for the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School. Thompson is chair of the program committee and serves on the finance and investment committee. Barbara L. Pearce is President & CEO of H. Pearce Real Estate Company in North Haven, a full-service real estate firm with eight offices and more than 100 associates. In addition, Pearce has served as president of Grameen America's health care subsidiary, worked as a consultant to Yale University, and practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She has been on many for-profit and not-for-profit boards, and has, among others, chaired The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Artspace, the Hospital of Saint Raphael, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, WOWPAC, Long Wharf Theatre, United Way of Greater New Haven, and the Regional Leadership Council. She is a graduate of Radcliffe College/Harvard University, the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and Harvard Law School. Pearce serves as chair of the policy and communications committee and is a member of the governance committee.

Job Titles:

• Executive Assistant
• Operations Manager
• Executive Assistant and Operations Manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation

Anette Mendoza-Hollis is the executive assistant and operations manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation. Anette provides administrative and logistical support to the president & CEO and the board of directors, and supervises administrative and operational functions of the organization. Prior to her position at CT Health, she served as secretary for the Central Registration Department at the East Hartford Board of Education. She also worked at Jumoke Academy, a Hartford charter school, for over 14 years. Anette received a bachelor's degree of science in Public Administration/Policy from Charter Oak State College.

Job Titles:

• Chief of Staff
• Communications Director
• Chief of Staff and Communications Director for the Connecticut Health Foundation

Arielle Levin Becker is the chief of staff and communications director for the Connecticut Health Foundation. She coordinates the foundation's operational planning and strategy development, as well as the foundation's publications, media relations, and strategic communications. Before joining the foundation, Arielle spent six years as the health care reporter at The Connecticut Mirror, a nonprofit news organization focused on politics and public policy. She previously worked at The Hartford Courant, where she covered health care, education, criminal justice and municipal issues, and the Home News Tribune in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Her first job in journalism was at Real Change, a homeless newspaper in Seattle. She has a B.A. in history from Yale University.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Chairman of the Policy and Communications Committee
• President & CEO of H. Pearce Real Estate Company in North Haven

Barbara L. Pearce is President & CEO of H. Pearce Real Estate Company in North Haven, a full-service real estate firm with eight offices and more than 100 associates. In addition, Pearce has served as president of Grameen America's health care subsidiary, worked as a consultant to Yale University, and practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She has been on many for-profit and not-for-profit boards, and has, among others, chaired The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, Artspace, the Hospital of Saint Raphael, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, WOWPAC, Long Wharf Theatre, United Way of Greater New Haven, and the Regional Leadership Council. She is a graduate of Radcliffe College/Harvard University, the Harvard Graduate School of Business, and Harvard Law School. Pearce serves as chair of the policy and communications committee and is a member of the governance committee. Dennis Torres is a longtime advocate for appropriate and accessible care. He serves as Chief Health Officer at Family Centers Inc. in lower Fairfield County, where he oversees outpatient medical, dental, mental health, and supportive health-related services from their federally qualified health center and six school-based health centers. He also oversees HIV service coordination and provision, nurse consulting for early childhood centers, and multiple health and wellness initiatives. He has taught bachelor's and master's level social work courses in cultural diversity and inclusion. Torres is a graduate of Fredonia College and received a law degree from Pace University and master's degree in social work from Columbia University in New York. Torres is vice chair of the policy and communications committee and a member of the finance committee.

Job Titles:

• Founder

Bernard Thomas is the founder and for the past 26 years, Executive Director of the Hartford knights: a non-for-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of Connecticut's at-risk youth. He also brought his talent to the City of Hartford as Senior Support on significant construction projects. Mr. Thomas also provides Minority Contractor Assistance and Oversight on school construction projects. BT Solutions another company founded by Mr. Thomas, provides information technology and data solutions on major construction projects.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chair
• Founder of Kinumi
• Vice Chair of the Foundation 's Board

Chekesha Kidd is the founder of Kinumi, a health and lifestyle platform for older adults that focuses on supporting them and their caregivers in living independently. She previously served in executive roles at Delta Dental of Minnesota, The Hartford, and Aetna, where she was president of the student health business. Her experience also includes more than a decade in investment banking. Kidd serves on the Alumni Board of Governors for the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business. She holds a Master of Business Administration in finance/corporate strategy and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University. Kidd is vice chair of the foundation's board and serves on the finance and investment committee and the program committee. Cynthia Tseng is managing director of investments, venture capital & DEI at Glenmede, an investment and wealth management firm. Tseng previously was a partner at Fairview Capital Partners and worked as an investment banking associate at J.P. Morgan and conducted equity research on aerospace companies for a top institutional investor analyst. She is a board member of The Association of Asian American Investment Managers and Hartford Performs, a CFA charter holder, and a member of the Hartford CFA Society. Tseng is a graduate of Brown University and received a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Tseng serves as treasurer of the board and chair of the foundation's finance and investment committee and is a member of the program committee.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Treasurer

Christine Shaw serves as assistant treasurer for policy and senior advisor with the Office of the Connecticut Treasurer. In her role, she directs the corporate governance and proxy voting activities on behalf of the $36 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds. Previously, she served as deputy treasurer, chief compliance officer and chief of staff to the Treasurer. Prior to joining the Connecticut Treasury, Christine was a litigation associate with the law firm of Day Pitney LLP, specializing in products liability defense and commercial litigation. She holds three degrees from the University of Connecticut (a BA in economics and political science, an MBA, and a Juris Doctor), and is admitted to practice law in Connecticut and the District of Columbia.

Job Titles:

• Treasurer
• Managing Director of Investments
• Treasurer, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee

Cynthia Tseng is managing director of investments, venture capital & DEI at Glenmede, an investment and wealth management firm. Tseng previously was a partner at Fairview Capital Partners and worked as an investment banking associate at J.P. Morgan and conducted equity research on aerospace companies for a top institutional investor analyst. She is a board member of The Association of Asian American Investment Managers and Hartford Performs, a CFA charter holder, and a member of the Hartford CFA Society. Tseng is a graduate of Brown University and received a Master of Business Administration degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Tseng serves as treasurer of the board and chair of the foundation's finance and investment committee and is a member of the program committee. Tanya Barrett is senior vice president of 2-1-1 Health and Human Services (HHS), a program of the United Way of Connecticut, which helps meet the needs of Connecticut residents by providing information, education and connection to services. She oversees the 2-1-1 HHS unit and specialty units including the Child Development Infoline. Previously, she worked in child protection and employment services for people with mental illness. She is a graduate of CT Health's leadership program and previously served on the foundation's Community Advisory Committee. Barrett serves as secretary of the foundation and is a member of the foundation's policy and communications committee.

Job Titles:

• Director
• Executive Director of Project Access of New Haven

Darcey Lynn Cobbs-Lomax is the Executive Director of Project Access of New Haven (PANH). She received her Bachelor's Degree from Florida State University in French with a concentration in finance, her Masters of Business Administration Degree from Georgia State University with a concentration in personnel and employment relations and her Masters of Public Health Degree from Walden University with a concentration in community health. Darcey's public health career began in 2002 while working for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation with a Women, Infants and Children program. It was while working in a small clinic in the South Bronx that Darcey realized her calling was to work with the underserved in her community. Over the next ten years Darcey's work brought her to Harlem Hospital Center where she served as an Administrator in their Infectious Disease Clinic and then to New Haven Connecticut where she worked with the City of New Haven Health Department and their asthma initiative. In this role Darcey lead an asthma management collaborative with representatives from neighboring towns actively looking for solutions to the increasing rates of Emergency Room visits for asthmatic children. Darcey honed her human service skills as the Director of Elderly Services for the City of New Haven, and then traveled to the position of Manager, Business Operations at the Yale-YNHH Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation before coming to PANH. Darcey is committed to improving community health and dedicated to working with the underserved. She is a graduate of the Connecticut Health Foundation 2014 Leadership Fellows Class and served as a Senior Fellow during the 2014-2015 program year. She has a commitment to her community and making an impact and is a past Board member of the Fair Haven Community Health Center Board of Directors and the Southern Regional Sickle Cell Association Board of Directors. She is currently a member of the Partnership for a Healthier Greater New Haven and serves as the co-chair of the access to care subcommittee. Darcey's collaborative work in healthcare access and health equity has been published in peer reviewed journals including the Academy of Emergency Medicine and she frequently presents at national conferences. Most recently Darcey gave the key note address at the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare conference with her talk entitled "Lost in translation. Can you hear me now? The voice of the patient in the healthcare setting." Also notably this year she presented collaboratively at the Society for General Internal Medicine conference on the role and benefit of Patient Navigators and Community health workers. Darcey is married and a mother of 4 children. In addition to her work in heath equity Darcey volunteers as a Girl Scout Troop Leader with the Girl Scouts of Connecticut, is a Merit Badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of America and she enjoys teaching Sunday school once a month at her church. She is a member of Jack and Jill of America, and Alpha Kappa, Alpha Sorority. In her free time she enjoys sewing and gardening. Darcey Lynn Cobbs-Lomax is the director of community connections and social impact for Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS). In this new health system role, Darcey is tasked with developing a system strategy for addressing health equity, working to establish new community connections and partnerships and measuring the impact of Health System programs in the local communities served by YNHHS. She received her bachelor's degree from Florida State University in French with a concentration in finance, her Master of Business Administration degree from Georgia State University with a concentration in personnel and employment relations and her Master of Public Health Degree from Walden University with a concentration in community health. A native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Darcey is committed to improving community health and dedicated to working with the underserved. She is a graduate of the Connecticut Health Foundation 2014 Leadership Fellows Class and served as a Senior Fellow during the 2014-2015 program year. She is also a graduate of the Connecticut Health Foundation Academy for Health Equity Advocacy and Leadership where she is championing a health equity advocacy policy project around community health worker reimbursement in CT. She has a commitment to her community and making an impact and is a past Board member of the Fair Haven Community Health Center Board of Directors and the Southern Regional Sickle Cell Association Board of Directors. She is currently a member of the Partnership for a Healthier Greater New Haven and serves as the co-chair of the access to care subcommittee.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chair
• Vice Chair of the Policy and Communications Committee

Dennis Torres is a longtime advocate for appropriate and accessible care. He serves as Chief Health Officer at Family Centers Inc. in lower Fairfield County, where he oversees outpatient medical, dental, mental health, and supportive health-related services from their federally qualified health center and six school-based health centers. He also oversees HIV service coordination and provision, nurse consulting for early childhood centers, and multiple health and wellness initiatives. He has taught bachelor's and master's level social work courses in cultural diversity and inclusion. Torres is a graduate of Fredonia College and received a law degree from Pace University and master's degree in social work from Columbia University in New York. Torres is vice chair of the policy and communications committee and a member of the finance committee. Patrick A. Charmel is president and chief executive officer of Griffin Hospital and its parent organization, Griffin Health Services Corporation. Charmel also serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Planetree International and is chairman of the Value Care Alliance. Charmel is involved in health policy at the state level, serving on the State Innovation Model Steering Committee and the state Health IT Advisory Council. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Connecticut Hospital Association, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Valley United Way. Charmel is a graduate of Quinnipiac University and has a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. Charmel is the vice chair of the governance committee and is a member of the finance and investment committee.

Job Titles:

• Vice President
• Vice President of Program

Ellen Carter is vice president of program at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She oversees the foundation's programmatic strategy, which includes grantmaking, policy, strategic communications, leadership, and evaluation. Ellen joined the foundation after nine years at the Connecticut Community Foundation in Waterbury, where she most recently served as vice president of program and strategy. In that role, she guided strategy and leadership direction for grantmaking, evaluation, advocacy, and community engagement work. Recently, she spearheaded the community foundation's COVID-19 response, working closely with community organizations and city agencies on equitable vaccine access, outreach and education. Ellen previously worked at the Connecticut Association for Human Services, serving as director of programs focused on building economic and food security for low-income families across Connecticut. She is involved in many local and statewide organizations, including the Bridge to Success Community Partnership, Greater Waterbury Health Partnership, the Connecticut Healthy Living Collective, Age Well Steering Committee, Health Equity Trust Planning Committee, Waterbury Juneteenth Committee, and the Waterbury School Readiness Council. Ellen is a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Connecticut.

Job Titles:

• Editor
• Partner

Emanuela Palmares is a Brazilian-American and serves as editor and partner of Tribuna Newspaper, a monthly publication in English, Portuguese, and Spanish founded her mother and sister in 1999. She is the co-founder and vice president of The New American Dream Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, created to serve as the philanthropic arm of Tribuna Newspaper, to promote our nation's rich immigrant history, highlighting the cultural, social and economic contributions of all immigrants, and the core American values of equal opportunity, progress and freedom in the areas of education, health and civic engagement. Emanuela has authored numerous articles on immigration and the Latino community. She has been an invited speaker at the esteemed Portuguese & Spanish Department of Yale University, the Philosophy & Humanities Department of Western Connecticut State University to speak on the topics including the South American immigrant experience and ethnic media, as well as a recurring panelist for the CT Department of Consumer Protection Cross Cultural Communication Forum. Emanuela has received numerous awards. She was recognized by Fairfield County Business Journal's "40 under 40" as one of the best and brightest business leaders under the age of 40, and was also recognized by Latinos United for Professional Advancement as one of the "50 Most Influential Latinos in Connecticut." In 2016, she was honored with the Commission on Children's Robert Haller Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service, in recognition of her leadership on behalf of Connecticut's children and families. In 2017, she was featured on Connecticut Magazine's 40 Under 40 list and was honored with United Way of Northern Fairfield County's Hometown Hero Award. In 2018 she received the State Education Resource Center Parental Involvement Recognition Award. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nilda Paris studied at the Interamerican University of Hato Rey in general science and biology, earning an associate degree and certification in surgical nursing. She later moved to Bridgeport and, when facing a language barrier, in 1985, she decided to resume her studies in the medical field. This led to her certification as a CNA, phlebotomist, EKG technician, and a bachelor's degree in chaplaincy and pastoral care and notary public. These allowed her entry to work in various medical institutions. In 2009, she became involved as a volunteer in humanitarian organizations including the United Way as a community messenger, American Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and Medical Response Corp. with the local Department of Public Health. Seeing that there was a need in the Latino and minority communities, she used her passion for charitable work to become a volunteer and serve as the voice of her community. Since 2016, Nilda has worked as a CCHW Outreach Coordinator for the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety (CTCPS). She also sits on the Board of Directors for CTCPS, Women in Recovery Education Corp, the Connecticut Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Community Health Worker Association of CT. She is also a member of the Connecticut Healthcare-Associated Infections Advisory Committee, the Community Health Worker Advisory Board, and the National Community Health Workers Association. She received recognition from her community contribution as a "Volunteer of the Year" 2017-2018 granted by the CERT emergency management and the "Unsung Hero" award in 2019 granted by W.I.R.E.

Job Titles:

• Project Manager at the State Innovation Model Program Management Office

Faina Dookh is currently a Project Manager at the State Innovation Model Program Management Office in Hartford, Connecticut. In her role, Ms. Dookh helps to plan and administer a $45 million State Innovation Model federal grant to reform Connecticut's health payment and delivery system so that it is higher quality, more equitable, and more affordable. Ms. Dookh previously served as a policy fellow in the Governor's Office in Connecticut. In that capacity, she worked on policy and legislative issues and worked on a team that prepared Connecticut's State Healthcare Innovation Plan. Much of Ms. Dookh's previous experience involves direct service work in underserved communities and identifying and working for systems-level change including her work in non-profits in Connecticut, Chicago, and South Africa and as a Teach for America teacher in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Ms. Dookh is a graduate of the Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences (MAPSS) at the University of Chicago, where she studied local and international community development, initiatives in education, the dynamics of urban poverty, and social and economic policy. She graduated with honors from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, with a focus on social stratification and education. Ms. Dookh was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia before living for many years in Stamford, Connecticut. Outside of work she enjoys creating art, teaching, and volunteering.

Job Titles:

• Community Health Worker With the Southwestern Area Health Education Center

Fatawu Mahama is a community health worker with the Southwestern Area Health Education Center. Fatawu developed modules to integrate community health workers into the health care system, as part of the State Innovation Model Community Health Worker Initiative. His experience includes an internship at the Yale School of Medicine within the Clinical and Community Research, AIDS Program, Internal Medicine area, where he helped in research projects and assisted clinical staff on the Community Health Care Van in the New Haven area. Fatawu previously worked at Marrakech, Inc., where he served as a residential support staff providing clients with health education, coaching, and access to community resources. Originally from Ghana, Fatawu experienced firsthand the critical role that community health workers play in improving health equity in his country. As a community nutrition student in Ghana, he was engaged in a student research project at the University for Development Studies, where he joined 10 other students to prioritize community member strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to development, and then used that data to involve community members to make decisions on proposed needs for that community. Fatawu earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University. He is also a certified nursing assistant and has experience working with older adults. Sean has extensive experience working in diverse educational settings, mostly at the secondary level. Currently, Sean is an assistant principal at Crosby High School and administrator of the Early College High School, an innovative program that affords the opportunity to Waterbury Public School students to earn an associate degree through Post University while matriculating through high school. Sean finds his passion in promoting public education and public policy initiatives that help to revitalize underserved communities. Sean has earned a BA from Howard University, an MA in teaching and a Certificate in advanced educational administration from Sacred Heart University, and a JD and Certificate in law and public policy from the University of Connecticut. Sean has served on multiple nonprofit boards and commissions, including Re-Center, Waterbury Promise, and the Waterbury Board of Police Commissioners.

With over forty years of experience in the construction business Bernard Thomas brings a particular quality to the team through the unique and innovative blend of experience. His virtues touch some of the most important aspects of any construction: the community and its youth, information/technology, and construction management experience. As such, he provides special insight to the intangible, yet critical part of construction projects, as well as the visual and practical aspects necessary.

Job Titles:

• Retired

Guy Fortt is a retired firefighter and community leader with experience in program management, community outreach, and fundraising on behalf of corporate and nonprofit organizations. He previously served as president of the NAACP Stamford branch, for which he led initiatives at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce COVID-19 exposures in the African American community. As NAACP Stamford branch president, Guy also created and launched the annual MLK Breakfast in celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Guy previously worked for Advanced Behavioral Health as a case manager to families in the Norwalk community. Guy also has an advanced degree in sports and entertainment management from Columbia University, which he has used to support sports-related events and housing opportunities as the vice president of the Khairi Fortt Foundation.

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer for the Village for Families and Children
• Member of the Foundation

Hector Glynn is the Chief Operating Officer for The Village for Families and Children, where he has served in several leadership positions since 2007. At The Village, Glynn developed wide-ranging expertise in developing and overseeing a variety of programs and administrative support systems. He has been engaged in several statewide advocacy initiatives and is recognized as an expert on issues related to children and families. Before joining The Village, Glynn served as director of youth services for Catholic Charities and executive director of the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance. He has a master's degree in social work from UConn. Glynn is a member of the foundation's governance and policy and communications committees.

Job Titles:

• Administrative Assistant
• Administrative Assistant at the Connecticut Health Foundation

Ines Aguilera is the administrative assistant at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She is responsible for supporting the entire organization. Before joining the foundation, Ines served as an assistant program manager and administrative assistant at Stone Academy in East Hartford, and as the office manager at Hotel Palacio Alcazar in Spain. She has a bachelor's degree in business tourism and finance from the University of Seville and a master's degree in Spanish linguistics from Universidad Europea del Atlántico.

Ingrid Alvarez-DiMarzo is the Hispanic Federation's Connecticut State Director (CSD) responsible for the implementation of the Hispanic Federation's state-wide strategic goals, including the institution's nonprofit capacity-building work, public policy advocacy and direct service programs. With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management and capacity building, she has lent dynamic cross-functional experience in high impact program development, implementation and evaluation to the nonprofit sector in New York and Connecticut. From 2008 to 2013, Ingrid served as the Executive Director of the Hispanic Center of Greater Danbury, Inc. establishing rapport with diverse and broad-ranging constituency, consistently bringing forth an inspiring level of commitment to the Center and community. She balances over two decades of operational experience with her commitment to effective communication and transformative solutions. She was the recipient of the 2012 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award by the National Community Development Association, Washington, D.C., appointed to the City of Danbury Main Street Revitalization Partnership Commission, a member of the Board of Directors for Family and Children's Aid, and serving her second year as bank Corporator for Union Savings Bank. Ingrid Alvarez-DiMarzo holds a Masters of Arts Degree in Public Policy from Teachers College Columbia University, along with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Spanish, Language, Culture and Literature from Syracuse University. Ingrid is bilingual in English and Spanish and a native of the Bronx, New York. Ingrid resides in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband and two children.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Foundation
• President of Strategem, LLC

John J. Crawford is president of Strategem, LLC. Crawford also serves on the boards of Webster Financial Corporation, St. Martin de Porres Academy, the Guilford Community Foundation, Albertus Magnus College, and Central Connecticut Coast YMCA. Previously, Crawford served as chairman & CEO of Aristotle Corporation. Prior to that, he held top positions with the South Central Connecticut Water Authority, Holt Wexler Crawford & Merchant, New Haven Water Company, and Southern New England Telephone Company. Crawford is a member of the foundation's program and policy and communications committees.

Job Titles:

• Accounting Associate
• Accounting Associate at the Connecticut Health Foundation

Kamau Stewart is the accounting associate at the Connecticut Health Foundation. He supports the finance and operations department with accounts payables, contracts, and other accounting functions. Before joining the foundation, Kamau spent 10 years in the Office of Finance at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, where he handled a wide range of finance and technology functions. Kamau has a degree in materials science with a minor in alternative energy from the University of the West Indies.

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Chairman of the Foundation 's Board
• Sports Medicine Orthopedic Surgeon

Kenneth Alleyne is a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon practicing in Connecticut and Manhattan. He is the co-founder of Zing Health, a Medicare Advantage plan, and HartHaven Partners, a health care investment firm. He is a member of the board of the UConn Health Center, Connecticut Public Television and Radio, and Louis Armstrong Education Foundation. He served on the Community Committee of the state's Reopen Connecticut Advisory Group. He previously served as a board member at Community Health Services, a federally qualified health center in Hartford. He is a graduate of Williams College and the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Alleyne serves as chair of the foundation's board. He also sits on the program and finance and investment committees. Chekesha Kidd is the founder of Kinumi, a health and lifestyle platform for older adults that focuses on supporting them and their caregivers in living independently. She previously served in executive roles at Delta Dental of Minnesota, The Hartford, and Aetna, where she was president of the student health business. Her experience also includes more than a decade in investment banking. Kidd serves on the Alumni Board of Governors for the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business. She holds a Master of Business Administration in finance/corporate strategy and a Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Michigan. She is a graduate of Florida A&M University. Kidd is vice chair of the foundation's board and serves on the finance and investment committee and the program committee.

Job Titles:

• Director
• Director of Grantmaking

Kevin Collins is director of grantmaking for the Connecticut Health Foundation. He leads the foundation's grantmaking work, directs leadership development activities, and manages evaluation of the strategic plan and program initiatives. Kevin came to the foundation from Health Equity Solutions, where he served as director of training and outreach, leading the organization's educational and training programs, and overseeing community engagement and outreach. He previously served as director of the ALANA Multicultural Center at Vassar College, assistant director of the Center for College Student Success at the University of Chicago, coordinator of scholarships, leadership, and service within the Office of Multicultural Student Success at DePaul University, and coordinator of multicultural services at Sam Houston State University. He has a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in educational administration from Texas A&M University.

Job Titles:

• Director

Lee-Ann Gomes is the director of human services for the city of Norwich. Prior to being named Director of Human Services, Lee-Ann had been Norwich's human services supervisor since 1986. Lee-Ann Gomes, who has a background in social work, plays a key role in many of the department's most critical initiatives and administers employment programs, Operation Fuel, emergency food and shelter programs and renter's rebates. She is also a Norwich Free Academy trustee, a member of the NFA Foundation and is president of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. Lee-Ann has been a Board member for the past three years of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut and she serves on their Governance Committee. Lee-Ann holds a BA in psychology from UCONN, an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Job Titles:

• Director of the Department of Health

Liany Elba Arroyo is the director of the Department of Health and Human Services for the city of Hartford. Liany oversees five divisions whose aim is to improve and protect the health of the City's over 124,000 residents. Prior to coming to the City of Hartford, Liany served as the senior director for health equity at Power To Decide (formerly The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy), associate director of the Education and Children's Project, and as the director of the Institute for Hispanic Health at UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza). In those capacities, she focused on improving the educational trajectory and health outcomes of our nation's Latino communities. Liany has spent over 17 years working in the government and nonprofit sectors developing programs and promoting public policies that aimed to improve the health status of communities of color across the nation. Liany holds a BA in psychology from Wellesley College, an MPH from Columbia University, and is Certified in Public Health. She has published several pieces on children and Latino health and has been cited by Spanish and English media, including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Univision.

Job Titles:

• Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Linda Barry is a board certified surgeon and an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She also serves as assistant director and COO of the Connecticut Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (CICATS) at the University of Connecticut and is director of the Young Innovative Investigator Program (YIIP). In addition to her clinical work, Linda is the Co-managing Editor of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Disparities, a publication that reports on the scholarly progress of work to understand, address, and ultimately eliminate health disparities based on race and ethnicity. She is a graduate of the foundation's Health Leadership Fellows program.

Job Titles:

• Manager

Liza Estevez is the manager of patient navigation and program manager for Yale New Haven Health, serving Bridgeport Hospital. Liza assists the health system in answering calls at its COVID-19 call center. The call center, located in Smilow Cancer Hospital, provides answers to patient questions about COVID-19. The call center takes calls locally, but has also taken calls from 20 states and Canada. Liza has also served as a member of the State Innovation Model's Community Health Worker Initiative. Liza earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from the University of Bridgeport.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Foundation

MaryAnn Perez-Brescia MSN, RN, is pursuing a PhD at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. Her research focus is on access to care in underserved populations. Perez-Brescia has practiced nursing for 25 years in a variety of settings including education, acute care, mental health, and community. Perez-Brescia is the immediate past president of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Hartford Chapter. She is on the advisory committee of the Connecticut Nurse Coalition-Action Coalition (CNC-AC) and is the co-chair of the CNC-AC Diversity subcommittee. Perez-Brescia was a 2015 fellow of the foundation's Health Leadership Fellows Program. She has also served on the CT Health Community Advisory Committee. Perez-Brescia is a member of the foundation's governance and program committees.

Job Titles:

• New Haven 's Community Services Administrator

Mehul Dalal serves as New Haven's community services administrator, overseeing the city's health and human services departments. His teams have focused on local pandemic response and reimagining public safety through a community resilience lens. He previously served as the chronic disease director at the Connecticut Department of Public Health, where he supervised health programs and helped implement components of the Affordable Care Act. Dalal has served on numerous stakeholder groups including serving as board president of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, co-chair of the State Innovation Model Quality Metrics Council, and a member of Connecticut's State Health Improvement Plan Advisory Council. He is the founder of Health Design Strategies, which helps health organizations design and implement strategies to broadly improve health. Dalal is a graduate of Brown University, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and the Yale Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. He previously served on the foundation's Community Advisory Committee.

Job Titles:

• Nurse
• Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing
• Vice Chair of the Program Committee

Mikki Meadows-Oliver is a pediatric nurse practitioner and associate professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing. She earned a PhD from the University of Connecticut and joint Master's degrees in Nursing and Public Health from Yale University. Meadows-Oliver has been a nurse for more than two decades, working in inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and school-based health care settings. Her current clinical practice is in the student health center at Choate Rosemary Hall. She has published more than 30 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed nursing and health care journals, and has presented at national and international conferences. Meadows-Oliver is vice chair of the program committee and a member of the policy and communications committee.

Nichelle is a native of Hartford, Connecticut. She grew up in the north end of Hartford, and matriculated from the Hartford Public School system. She is married and has three children, ages twenty, five and one years old.

Job Titles:

• Founding President and CEO, Says She Will Never Forget the Story One Woman Told During the Listening Tour

Her mother, who had diabetes and did not speak English, was discharged from the hospital with instructions to take her medication four times a day. She took four pills four times a day, and went into a diabetic coma and died. "There's two types of expertise, we've always believed," Baker said. "There is research, academic, data, and there is real-life experience and context. You have to marry those together to get a well-informed approach." Patricia Baker, CT Health's founding president and CEO, says she will never forget the story one woman told during the listening tour.

Job Titles:

• Vice Chair
• Vice Chair of the Governance Committee
• President and Chief Executive Officer of Griffin Hospital

Patrick A. Charmel is president and chief executive officer of Griffin Hospital and its parent organization, Griffin Health Services Corporation. Charmel also serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Planetree International and is chairman of the Value Care Alliance. Charmel is involved in health policy at the state level, serving on the State Innovation Model Steering Committee and the state Health IT Advisory Council. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Connecticut Hospital Association, Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Valley United Way. Charmel is a graduate of Quinnipiac University and has a Master of Public Health degree from Yale University. Charmel is the vice chair of the governance committee and is a member of the finance and investment committee. Mikki Meadows-Oliver is a pediatric nurse practitioner and associate professor at the Quinnipiac University School of Nursing. She earned a PhD from the University of Connecticut and joint Master's degrees in Nursing and Public Health from Yale University. Meadows-Oliver has been a nurse for more than two decades, working in inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and school-based health care settings. Her current clinical practice is in the student health center at Choate Rosemary Hall. She has published more than 30 book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed nursing and health care journals, and has presented at national and international conferences. Meadows-Oliver is vice chair of the program committee and a member of the policy and communications committee.

Job Titles:

• Founding Board Member

Robyn is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and serves as Pastor of the Blackwell AME Zion Church in Hartford, CT. Robyn served as an Associate Minister at Cross Street AME Zion Church for over 15 years. In the ministry at Cross Street Robyn had Pastoral Oversight of Administration, Christian Education, Women's Ministry, Family Life and Education and serves as President of the Board of Directors for the Cross Street Training and Academic Center. Currently Robyn serves as the Project Director which is a collaboration of the CT Health Foundation, CSTAT and the North Central Mental Health Board, ministerial health fellowship. The ministerial Health fellowship is a group of pastors from the New Britain, Hartford and Middletown local ministerial alliances who are working to enhance their health ministry's as well as become health care advocates that advocate for health equity policies. Robyn served as the Former Coordinator for the Hartford District of the New England Conference Balm of Gilead Ministry. She previously served as the New England Conference Christian Education Director and currently is the Assistant Director. Prior to relocating back to Connecticut Robyn served in the ministry at Covenant Baptist Church in Washington, DC for over sixteen years. Robyn Anderson has over thirty years of experience in the Human Services field. She is currently employed by Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc. as the Program Director for the Multidimensional Family Therapy, Training, Consultation and Quality Assurance Program for the State of Connecticut. She has over thirty years of experience working with adults and adolescents who have co-occurring disorders. She has managed and directed Inpatient and Outpatient Substance Abuse Programs for adults and adolescents. Robyn has and continues to provide Clinical Consultation to state programs, community based substance abuse treatment programs and the faith based community in the Hartford and Washington, DC area. She is a facilitator for the Saint Francis Pastoral Counseling Program and has served as an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer for universities and community colleges. Robyn has authored many articles and publications that have been published in Psychology Journals. As a change agent for the Human Services field Robyn is a strong advocate for HIV/STD Education/Treatment culturally competent, innovative, trauma sensitive, gender specific, family driven and quality services for families throughout the Diaspora. Robyn is a licensed and Certified Addictions Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Robyn Anderson has and still serves on many civic and community boards. She is an author and has received many leadership community service awards. Robyn Anderson is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. She currently serves as Pastor of the Blackwell AME Zion Church in Hartford and directs the Ministers Health Fellowship Advocacy Coalition. Robyn previously served as an associate minister at Cross Street AME Zion Church for over 15 years. In the ministry at Cross Street AME Zion Church, Robyn had pastoral oversight of administration, Christian education, women's ministry, family life and education, and served as president of the Board of Directors for the Cross Street Training and Academic Center. Robyn also served as coordinator for the Hartford District of the New England Conference Balm of Gilead Ministry. She served for four years as the New England Conference Christian Education Director. Robyn currently serves as the chairperson for the AME Zion Christian Education Director of The Commission on Family Life, and serves as the New England Conference Assistant Director of Christian Education. Prior to relocating back to Connecticut, Robyn served in the ministry at Covenant Baptist Church in Washington, DC for over 16 years. Robyn is pursuing her Master of Divinity with a concentration in Urban Ministry at the Boston Campus of Gordon Conwell Theological Institute. She is a member of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. She holds an associate's degree in information systems, bachelor's degrees in computer science and counseling, and a master's degree in counseling. She is graduate of Middlesex Theology and Technical Institute, FaithWorks Leadership Institute, the Connecticut Health Foundation Academy of Health Equity Advocacy and Leadership, Saint Francis Clinical Pastoral Counseling Program, and Hartford Seminary Women's Leadership Program. She has a completed a Graduate Certificate in Spirituality from Hartford Seminary. Robyn has over 35 years of experience in the human services field. She most recently served as the program director for the multidimensional family therapy, training, consultation and quality assurance Program for the State of Connecticut at Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc. She has over 30 years of experience working with adults and adolescents who have co-occurring disorders. She has managed and directed inpatient and outpatient substance abuse programs for adults and adolescents. Robyn provides clinical consultation to state programs, community-based substance abuse treatment programs, and the faith-based community in the Hartford and Washington, DC areas. She is a facilitator for the Saint Francis Pastoral Counseling Program and has served as an adjunct professor and lecturer for universities and community colleges. Robyn has authored many articles and publications that have been published in psychology journals. As a change agent for the human services field, Robyn is a strong advocate for HIV/STD education/treatment, culturally competent, innovative, trauma sensitive, gender specific, family driven and quality services for families throughout the Diaspora. Robyn is a national multidimensional family therapy trainer. She is a licensed and certified addictions counselor (LADC) and licensed professional counselor (LPC). She serves on many civic and community boards.

Job Titles:

• Director of Policy
• Policy Director at the Connecticut Health Foundation

Samantha Haun is the policy director at the Connecticut Health Foundation. She leads advocacy and policy work for the foundation, focused on eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities and the conditions that cause them. Before joining the foundation, Sam served as a consultant and project manager for Learning for Action, an equity-focused firm in San Francisco where she implemented evaluation plans and other projects focused on public health, equity, education, and policy. She previously served in the Louisiana Department of Health, where she worked closely with the Medicaid chief of staff on issues including behavioral health, Medicaid expansion, and legislative policy. She also served as a program coordinator for National Medical Fellowships, a field organizer and organizing fellow for Organizing for America, and a training and resource manager at Medical Students for Choice.

Job Titles:

• Director of Finance
• Director of Finance for the Connecticut Health Foundation

Stephanie Tatro, CPA, is the director of finance for the Connecticut Health Foundation. She is responsible for day-to-day management of the Foundation's financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, as well as the annual audit and tax return preparation. Prior to working for CT Health, Stephanie worked in public accounting. In between her tenures with PwC, she gained experience in not-for-profit and governmental accounting. She also spent time as a substitute teacher in her local school system. In her spare time Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, walking their two dogs, reading Stephen King novels and remodeling her house and yard. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Michigan State University and is a CPA.

Job Titles:

• Senior Grants Manager
• Senior Grants Manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation

Tamisha Phillip is the senior grants manager for the Connecticut Health Foundation. Tamisha coordinates the grantmaking process and provides administrative support for the department. Tamisha came to the foundation from Connecticut Children's Medical Center, where she served as an administrative assistant. She has also worked at Rockville General Hospital and Hartford Hospital. She has a bachelor's degree in health care management from the University of Connecticut and a master's degree in business analytics from Quinnipiac University.

Job Titles:

• Secretary
• Senior Vice President

Tanya Barrett is senior vice president of 2-1-1 Health and Human Services (HHS), a program of the United Way of Connecticut, which helps meet the needs of Connecticut residents by providing information, education and connection to services. She oversees the 2-1-1 HHS unit and specialty units including the Child Development Infoline. Previously, she worked in child protection and employment services for people with mental illness. She is a graduate of CT Health's leadership program and previously served on the foundation's Community Advisory Committee. Barrett serves as secretary of the foundation and is a member of the foundation's policy and communications committee. Yvette Meléndez has a wide range of experience in health care, higher education, and philanthropy. She served as vice president for government and community alliances at Hartford HealthCare, chief of staff and chief administrative officer for the Connecticut State University System, and interim president of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Meléndez also served as deputy commissioner and acting commissioner of the state Department of Public Health and as board chair for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. She currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Regents for Higher Education and is a member of the board of directors of Hartford Hospital, Connecticut Public Broadcasting Network, and the Wadsworth Atheneum. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College of the City University of New York and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and completed studies in industrial and labor relations at Cornell University. Meléndez is the chair of the governance committee, and serves on the finance and investment committee.

Job Titles:

• Associate Clinical Professor

Thomas Buckley is an associate clinical professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. His research interests include the intersection of pharmacy and public health. Building on extensive global work in southeast Asia, he has formed successful partnerships with community based organizations in Connecticut in order to provide culturally and linguistically competent trauma-informed care to southeast Asian refugees and immigrants.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President
• Member of Several Boards and Advisory Committees
• President and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation

Tiffany Donelson is president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation, overseeing the independent health philanthropy's work in grantmaking, policy advancement, strategic communications, and leadership development. She brings to the role a deep knowledge of health care systems and policy, extensive experience in grantmaking, and a commitment to equity. Tiffany previously served as the foundation's vice president of program. Before joining the foundation in 2014, Tiffany held several leadership roles at Aetna, including as the deputy chief of staff for Aetna's National Businesses Office and as a director in corporate strategy. Before joining Aetna, Tiffany was a consultant at Ingenix Consulting and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Tiffany is a member of several boards and advisory committees, including the boards of the United Way of Connecticut, the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy, and Grantmakers In Health. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and received her MPH in health policy and management at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Finance and Operations

Todd Thomas is the foundation's vice president of finance and operations. He serves as the foundation's primary liaison on asset management and finance and will lead the accounting, personnel, and technology functions, as well as office operations for the foundation. Todd has served in finance, planning, and analysis roles at companies including Prudential Financial, Cogstate, Time Warner, Subway Restaurants, and PreciBake. He has also worked as a consultant and investment banker. Todd is a graduate of Amherst College and has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Hartford.

Job Titles:

• Program Officer
• Program Officer at the Connecticut Health Foundation

Tonia Douglas is the program officer at the Connecticut Health Foundation, where she plays a central role in the grantmaking team. Tonia's responsibilities including working with applicants and grantees, fielding inquiries, reviewing grants, evaluating projects, and tracking grant activities. Tonia came to the foundation from Hartford HealthCare, where she served as quality performance improvement coordinator. She previously served as patient relations coordinator at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, and as a caseworker and constituent liaison for the office of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and taught a course on cultural diversity at Western Connecticut State University. She has a bachelor's degree in social work from University of Saint Joseph, a master's degree in social work from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, and a master's degree in healthcare administration from the University of New Haven.

Job Titles:

• Vice President of Community Health Center, Inc.'S Eastern

Yvette Highsmith-Francis is the vice president of Community Health Center, Inc.'s Eastern Region. Yvette has worked with CHCI for 24 years in a variety of capacities. In her current role, she oversees eight of the fourteen CHCI locations as well as the School Based Health services across the state. Committed to the elimination of racial/ethnic health care disparities, Yvette works diligently to ensure that the community's most vulnerable residents continue to have access to quality medical, dental, mental health and school-based services and that those services are delivered with dignity and respect. Yvette is actively engaged in the communities she serves and is committed to public and civic service in her personal time as well. Yvette currently oversees Community Advisory committees and is the co-chair of the PCMH+ Oversight Committee. She is a graduate of the UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive program as well as the Connecticut Health Foundation's 2009 Health Leadership Fellows Program. Yvette was a Martin Luther King Scholar at Long Island University and received her master's degree in management from Cambridge College.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Governance Committee

Alvin W. Thompson is a United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut, an appointment he has held since 1994. Thompson previously worked as an attorney at Robinson & Cole, where he served as an associate, partner, and managing partner. He has chaired and is active in the Section of Business Law of the American Bar Association. He has also served on the scholarship committee for the American Bar Association's Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund. Thompson serves on the Hartford Advisory Board of the Salvation Army and the Trustees of the Warburton Chapel, and has served on the Policy Advisory Committee for the Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School. Thompson is chair of the program committee and serves on the finance and investment committee.