MIRACLEFEET - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Program Manager
- Program Manager, West and Central Africa ( Senegal )
Agnès Mukamana Nduguye is MiracleFeet's Program Manager for West and Central Africa. Agnès is a humanitarian and public health professional with 18+ years of grant management as well as community and organizational development. She has a history of accomplishment in WASH, nutrition, and maternal and child health programming in Mali, Niger, and Rwanda-with international NGOs like World Vision, CARE International, Marie Stopes International, Red Cross, and AGIP-SDD, a local NGO in Mali. She holds an advanced degree in general nursing from Kigali Health Institute in Rwanda, a BSc in health and community development from DRC, and MA in development studies from Kabale University in Uganda.
Job Titles:
- Data Analyst
- Data Analyst ( USA )
is MiracleFeet's Data Analyst responsible for maintaining a portfolio of reports and dashboards, responding to requests for data analysis from MiracleFeet partners and providers, developing and delivering training in data solutions, and managing distribution of the MiracleFeet brace. Alex has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Masters in mathematics from North Carolina A&T State University. He has always enjoyed working with numbers and is passionate about using data to solve problems.
Job Titles:
- Analyst
- MEAL Analyst ( India )
Amartya Bagal Rana MEAL Analyst (India) Amartya Bagal Rana is MiracleFeet's MEAL Analyst and has been working in Monitoring and Evaluation in the non-profit sector for twelve years. She has a Master's in Social Work and an Executive MBA from the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta. She loves traveling, listening to music and is an avid reader. She is based in Hyderabad, India.
Job Titles:
- Application Support Manager ( Madagascar )
Andrianina is MiracleFeet's Application Support Manager supporting the headquarters team with projects related to CAST and SMS. Andrianina was involved in the development of CAST, supporting the pilot with Dimagi in Madagascar. Prior to joining MiracleFeet, Andrianina worked with our Madagascar partner as the technical coordinator. He's an experienced Ponseti practitioner, trained by Mercy Ships, and is based in Toamasina, Madagascar.
Job Titles:
- Technical Director ( Kenya )
As Technical Director, Anna provides guidance on the core clinical, medical, and service delivery elements of MiracleFeet's program activities and serve as the technical lead on the USAID ReLAB-HS project. Anna joins MiracleFeet with fifteen years of experience in the international development and NGO sector where she has developed communications, strategic planning, project management, training, partnership development and grant writing skills. Anna is an experienced healthcare professional (occupational therapist) with a history of working to increase access to clubfoot treatment. She was the first Africa regional director for Cure Clubfoot Worldwide. Anna is from Australia and lives with her family in Kenya.
Job Titles:
- Pediatric Orthopedist, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Dr. Vergun's clinical focus is on hip dysplasia, clubfoot, limb deformity, and limb deficiencies. Her training began at Smith College for her undergraduate degree in Chemistry. Subsequently, she worked on the Human Genome Project at Stanford University and then completed medical college at Cornell University. She joined University of California Los Angeles for orthopedic surgery residency and then completed her fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her research interests include clubfoot bracing and the genetics of congenital limb reductions and other limb anomalies. She also has a strong interest in international issues regarding pediatric orthopedics and access to care. In addition to working with MiracleFeet, she volunteers for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund and organizes the Pediatric Orthopedic Education and Training program in Ramallah to enhance orthopedic surgery resident education in Palestine. She is an active member of the Association of Children's Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinics, the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In her spare time, she enjoys her three children and the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Program Support Officer ( Bolivia )
Anne Kallish leverages diverse successes, skills and experiences from over 25 years with for-profit and non-profit roles maximizing effectiveness and efficiencies. She has worked in organizations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 corporations. In her for-profit roles, Anne worked in business development, program operations and product development, usually focusing on international markets. In her most recent not-for-profit role, she oversaw the Cochabamba, Bolivia office of Save the Children managing a multidisciplinary team implementing educational, health, protection and adolescent development programing and operations. Anne holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Brandeis University and an MBA from the Haas School of Business. She speaks French, English and Spanish, has lived in seven countries and traveled to over 50, and currently resides in Bolivia with her daughter and their dog.
Job Titles:
- FACORC Executive Director
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Programs, the End Fund
Carol Karutu previously served as Chief of Party for a USAID funded integrated health project implemented by IntraHealth International in Eastern Uganda. She is a 2014/2015 American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellow; a 2010 Boston University Distinguished Alumni Award recipient; a 2004 recipient of the Boston University Women's Guild Award for Academic Excellence and a 2003 recipient of the PEO International Peace Scholarship. Carol received her Doctorate in Public Health and Master's in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning ( USA )
brings more than 25 years of global experience and technical expertise in successfully designing, managing, troubleshooting, and delivering M&E, evaluation, research, and learning projects in cross-cultural and low-resource settings, including peace-precarious situations such as Iraq and Afghanistan. At MiracleFeet, she champions quality methods and strategic design and use of MEAL systems, tools, and evidence building capacities and partnerships to ensure that evidence and collaborative learning informs and expands our success. With field experience across diverse sectors in more than 30 countries, Catherine especially enjoys teaching and training; she often designs and delivers courses and workshops and spent five years teaching evaluation and M&E seminars to mid-career international fellows at Duke University's Sanford School.
Catherine earned her PhD in Political Science with a focus on political economy methods from Duke, following a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and three years in Mauritania as a State Department Foreign Service Officer. Her extensive track record of senior leadership in research, M&E, and evaluation includes roles as Director of Research and Evaluation (Jhpiego at Johns Hopkins), M&E Director (Jhpiego & RTI on USAID global programs and national projects), and Principal Investigator of numerous complex mixed-method impact evaluations for bilateral, multilateral, and foundation clients.
Catherine is based in Chapel Hill, NC.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Co - Founder
- Business Insider Profiles Executive Director
- Co - Founder & CEO ( USA )
Driven by the idea that a newly accepted low-cost, non-surgical treatment could have extraordinary impact on the lives of children born with clubfoot in low and middle income countries, Chesca co-founded MiracleFeet in 2010. She successfully built on experience in investment banking, management consulting and technology start-ups to refashion herself as a social entrepreneur.
Originally from England, Chesca grew up in Africa and Asia, and has lived and worked in Pakistan, Ecuador, UK and US. She first became interested in clubfoot while working at The University of Iowa, where the Ponseti Method was pioneered. Drawn to the opportunity to have an impact on children's lives in some of the countries where she had grown up, she joined a small group of parents and surgeons interested in creating an organization to address the long-overlooked issue of untreated clubfoot.
She studied economics and political science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead-Cain scholar, and later earned an MBA from Stanford University.
Chesca has a proven track record of helping to create and build organizations in the corporate, academic and non-profit arenas. Her experience includes the University of North Carolina Business School, University of Iowa President's Office and College of Business, eToys, CitySearch, The Boston Consulting Group, Goldman Sachs, International Rescue Committee and CARE. Chesca has worked and lived in Ecuador, Pakistan, South Africa, the UK and the US. She received an MBA from Stanford and a BA from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was a Morehead Scholar.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Orthopaedics and Tropical Surgery, University of Oxford
Dr. Lavy has been interested in clubfoot for the last 17 years since he was taught the Ponseti technique in Malawi by Shafiq Pirani. Chris helped to set up the Malawi Clubfoot Programme, then the CURE Clubfoot Programme. Currently in the UK, Dr. Lavy is a spine surgeon. Clubfoot remains a passion and he is Director of Oxford University's Africa Clubfoot Training Programme.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of California San Francisco
- Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California - San Francisco
Dr. Coleen Sabatini is an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco where she serves as the Medical Director and Chief of Orthopaedics at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. Dr. Sabatini received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego and her Doctorate of Medicine (MD) and Masters of Public Health (MPH) from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, respectively. She completed her residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program and fellowship training in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Now a pediatric orthopedist specialist at the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, Dr. Sabatini runs the clubfoot program and specializes in the treatment of pediatric lower limb/foot deformities and pediatric orthopaedic trauma. Her research focuses on clinical outcomes, pediatric trauma prevention and treatment, access to care, and eliminating disparities in care. She is active in international orthopaedic work with emphasis on education and research and a particular focus in Uganda.
Job Titles:
- Senior Grants Officer ( USA )
Dana is passionate about reducing health inequities around the world, particularly among women and children. Before joining MiracleFeet she received her Master's in Public Health from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and also completed the Global Health Certificate. Dana has experience supporting other international nonprofits focused on maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries through research projects and operational support to local project staff. Dana's work at MiracleFeet includes assisting with fundraising efforts by identifying and applying for funding opportunities and managing relationships and communication with institutional donors. In her free time Dana enjoys yoga and biking.
Daphne joined MiracleFeet from the Lumos Foundation, where she served as regional director for Latin America & Caribbean programs. For more than a decade prior, she held leadership roles at Save the Children-as country director in Bolivia and provincial program manager in Mozambique-and CARE as program coordinator in Brazil. She has also lived and worked in Uganda, Angola, Guatemala, Panama, and El Salvador.
Born in Brazil, Daphne grew up in Venezuela, the United Kingdom, and United States and is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She earned her master's degree in Leadership from Duquesne University and bachelor's in International Studies and Development and Economics from American University.
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania Medical School
Dr. Spiegel, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, also serves as a Consultant in Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the Hospital & Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children in Banepa, Nepal. Dr. Spiegel attended Duke University for college, medical school, and orthopedic surgical residency. He then completed both a research and a clinical fellowship in pediatric orthopedics at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Job Titles:
- Technical Program Officer ( Zimbabwe )
Debra joins MiracleFeet with over ten years experience treating clubfoot and providing technical assistance to clubfoot providers and programs. She is a physiotherapist based in Harare, Zimbabwe where she worked as the clinical manager for the Zimbabwe Sustainable Clubfoot Program since 2013 training, supervising, and mentoring health workers at clubfoot clinics around the country. Debra studied rehabilitation and physiotherapy at the University of Zimbabwe and has practiced for 15 years, including several years for the Ministry of Health treating a range of musculoskeletal conditions, injuries, and disabilities in government hospitals, before becoming the clinical manager for the national clubfoot program. Additionally, she hold a Master's in Physiotherapy from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa. Debra is also a clinical instructor at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Department. Her passion is restoring mobility and ensuring people enjoy their maximum physical potential and quality of life.
Dr. Bibek Banskota is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Nepal. He serves as the executive director of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (HRDC). Dr. Banskota attended undergraduate school in India before pursuing medical training in the UK, Nepal, the US (where he was a research fellow at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia), and Switzerland. He returned to Nepal to work alongside his father, Dr. Ashok Banskota, to continue the HRDC founding mission: to provide treatment to physically disabled children from underprivileged backgrounds. Dr. Banskota has published extensive research on the Ponseti method, including longterm outcomes in older walking-age children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Field Officer, West and Central Africa ( Nigeria )
Dr. Ekene Isikaku is MiracleFeet's Senior Program Field Officer for West and Central Africa supporting the development and implementation of national-driven programs aimed at timely and equitable treatment of clubfoot in West and Central Africa. Ekene supports efforts to drive enrollment, ensure treatment quality, facilitate the integration of clubfoot into national public health systems, and support policy developments relevant to clubfoot. Ekene is a public health physician and certified project management specialist with 14+ years of experience in both public and private health sectors. Ekene has contributed to the efforts of some international organizations such as FHI360, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, PEPFAR, and CDC/ACTION PLUS UP projects. She holds a bachelor's degree in Medicine and Surgery from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka Nigeria, and a Masters of Public Health from Cardiff University, Wales. Based in Abuja, Nigeria Ekene enjoys cooking, dancing, and playing the piano. In the early stages of her career, she received an honorary recognition for Community Development in appreciation of her community health project and health promotion activities.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Managing Partner of Argos GmbH
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder and Managing Partner, Agros GmbH
Dr. Hans Peter Maassen is the Founder and Managing Partner of Argos GmbH in Munich, Germany. Prior to that, he was Cofounder and Managing Partner of GMM GmbH in Munich, Germany. Since 1995, Hans Peter has sponsored search funds that focus on buy & build strategies of mid-sized industrial companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Hans Peter is a board member of Dietze & Schell Maschinenbau GmbH, Galfa GmbH, and Arthur Flury AG. Prior to that, he was a consultant at McKinsey & Company and a researcher at the Max-Planck Institute for Polymer Research.
Born in Germany, Hans Peter received a BS and an MS in chemistry from TU Kaiserslautern, a Ph.D. in polymer science from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He resides in Munich with his wife, Ramona and their three children, Lara, Lena, and Linus.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Founder and Managing Partner of Orlando Management AG
Dr. Henrik Fastrich is a Founder and Managing Partner of Orlando Management AG. Dr. Fastrich was a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GMM GmbH in 1995. His prior experience includes over four years with McKinsey & Company, Inc. Dr. Fastrich has over twenty years of private equity experience. Henrik holds a Doctorate and a Business Degree from the University of St. Gallen, and resides in Munich with his wife Beate and their two children Felix and Hannah.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Medical Advisor
- Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University
Dr. Josh Hyman is Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University, Attending Physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, and Director of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Hyman's research focuses on methods of measuring quality of life in children. He is also actively involved in research trials on clubfoot, scoliosis and neuromuscular diseases in children. Josh completed his orthopedic surgical training at Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Certified Orthopedic Surgeon
- Orthopedic Surgeon and Director of the Dobbs Clubfoot Center at the Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute
Dr. Matthew B. Dobbs is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of pediatric foot deformities and has been listed in Best Doctors in America. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and the Missouri State Orthopaedic Association. He is nationally recognized for his skill at treating all pediatric foot disorders, including the use of the Ponseti method of clubfoot correction, as well as for a minimally invasive approach toward the treatment of congenital vertical talus for which he developed. Additional clinical interests include the surgical management of scoliosis, limb length discrepancies, and the treatment of pediatric orthopedic trauma. He and his team are actively searching for the genetic factors responsible for clubfoot, scoliosis, and other musculoskeletal anomalies. Along with Dr. Christina Gurnett, Dr. Dobbs is co-director of the Washington University Musculoskeletal Genetics Laboratory which is NIH RO1 funded. Dr. Dobbs earned his medical degree from the University of Iowa in Iowa City in 1995. Following a residency in orthopedic surgery at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, he completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children in St. Louis.
Job Titles:
- Orthopedic Surgeon and Senior Advisor for Physical Impairment, CBM International
- Senior Advisor for Physical Impairment
Dr. Norgrove Penny is Senior Advisor for Physical Impairment, CBM International. Dr. Penny completed his medical degree at the University of Alberta in 1973 and qualified as an orthopaedic specialist in 1977. He then did postgraduate fellowship training in sports medicine at the Wellesley Hospital, University of Toronto; Children's orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the Children's Hospital Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston; and Children's Orthopedics at the AI du Pont Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Wilmington Delaware. He has a pediatric orthopedic surgery and sports medicine practice in Victoria, BC. Dr. Penny has had a long term interest in international orthopedics. Early in his career he did several volunteer assignments in Africa. With his family, he then lived and worked full time for six years in Uganda setting up a country-wide children's orthopedic rehabilitation program. Using this experience, he now consults in developing countries around the world and has a part-time position as Senior Advisor in Physical Impairment issues for a non-governmental organization, CBM International, concerned with the problems disabled people face in some of the world's poorest countries. He has been an advisor to the World Health Organization's Disability and Rehabilitation Team. Among his clinical and research interests are Ponseti treatment for babies and children with clubfoot deformity, structural birth defects, chronic osteomyelitis, and prevention of childhood disability in developing countries. With CBM he has a research collaboration with the International Center for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dr. Penny is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and is an active member of the Branch for International Surgery and the Canadian Network for International surgery. He is a member of the Order of Canada.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Field Officer, Middle East and North Africa ( Tunisia )
is MiracleFeet's Senior Program Field Officer, Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Dr. Zekri is a young professional and Fulbright Alumnus with a passion for African affairs, international development, and public health issues. He has a track record of professional field experience in both developed and developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining MiracleFeet, he was a Senior Project Analyst at Dimagi Inc. for their West Africa business unit, based in Dakar Senegal. Dr. Zekri is from Tunisia, grew up in the Chad Republic, lived in Dakar, Senegal and had the opportunity to work in the region in countries such as Burkina Faso, Benin, Madagascar, and others on top of his extensive travels in many other African countries. Dr. Zekri has a DMD from the University of Monastir, Tunisia and an MHA (concentration in Health Services Policy and Management) from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. He will be based in Rabat, Morocco.
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Emeritus Professor of Orthopedics and Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University
Dr. Robert Cady is a semi-retired pediatric orthopedic surgeon in Naples FL. He received his AB degree from Hamilton College (67) and MD degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse NY (71). After an orthopedic residency at Upstate and pediatric orthopedic fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, he developed the section of pediatric orthopedics at Upstate where he is currently an Emeritus Professor of Orthopedics and Pediatrics. He has always had an interest in preventive orthopedics through the early diagnosis and treatment of many of the common orthopedic problems of infancy and early childhood such as hip dysplasia and clubfeet. Over the past six years he has been developing a clubfoot treatment program in Haiti with CURE Clubfoot Worldwide. There are now nine Ponseti clubfoot clinics throughout Haiti managed by Haitian cast technicians and supervised by Haitian orthopedic surgeons. He has also done Ponseti clubfoot training in Guatemala, China, and Ethiopia. He is an Advisory Council Member for Global Clubfoot Initiative.
Job Titles:
- Global Policy & Advocacy Advisor ( USA )
is MiracleFeet's Global Policy & Advocacy Advisor. A leader in maternal and newborn health, especially birth defects, Salimah is well positioned to lead MiracleFeet's global advocacy for clubfoot treatment.
Before joining MiracleFeet, Salimah was Vice President for Global Programs at March of Dimes where she focused on prevention of birth defects and prematurity in low- and middle-income countries, and she served as March of Dimes' global spokesperson with the World Health Organization and other UN agencies, governmental, non-governmental and civil society organizations, as well as the organization's partners in Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Salimah holds a PhD from New York University, a Masters of Public Health from Harvard School of Public Health, and a Master's of Nursing from Simmons College in Boston. Originally from Karachi, Pakistan, Salimah studied and taught at the Aga Khan University before migrating to the United States.
Job Titles:
- Senior Major Gifts Officer ( USA )
Emily brings experience in private university individual giving at the major gift level as well as experience securing nonprofit event sponsorships and programmatic grants. Previously, she worked at Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA, Duke University, and most recently at Carolina Small Business Development Fund. Emily has expertise across a variety of donor segments-from designing individual donor cultivation strategies to developing grant proposals and budgets for institutional funders.
Emily is a North Carolina native and holds a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University and master's in public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill. In her free time she loves cooking, gardening, and exploring the outdoors with her husband and their rescue dog, Lucky.
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs ( USA )
- Interim Executive Vice President at the Global Fund for Children
Emmanuel has served as Interim Executive Vice President at The Global Fund for Children (GFC), where he facilitated strategic thinking and supported programmatic and organizational advancement initiative, and managed strategic relationships. Simultaneously, he held the position of Regional Program Director for Africa & the Middle East and was responsible for a portfolio of 60+ organizations in 19 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. His most recent role was Program Officer for the International Children's Education Program at Wellspring Philanthropic Fund where he facilitated community-led efforts in achieving inclusive quality education for marginalized children.
Prior to his work at GFC Emmanuel was the West Africa Regional Director for Free the Slaves. He has acquired substantial field experience while working with the United Nations Development Program in their Ghana Field Office and with the International Labor Organization/ International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO/IPEC)'s Ghana office. He has also served as a facilitator of community engagements and a catalyst for equity and growth working with various organizations such as Plan International. Emmanuel received his BA in Sociology, Executive MBA in Project Management, and his MA in Social work all from the University of Ghana.
Job Titles:
- Program Grants Officer ( Ghana )
As MiracleFeet's Program Grants Officer, Eubert ensures operational, financial, procedural, compliance, and reporting excellence across our programs. Based in Accra, Ghana, Eubert works closely with the Program Mangers and Program Field Officers to support our partners and promote consistent, innovative, and collaborative grant implementation procedures. Eubert brings 13+ years of progressive experience in grants and financial management and has provided operational and financial management, compliance, and organizational effectiveness support to initiatives in Ghana, Kenya, and Togo. Previously, Eubert led the finance and grants functions at World Education Inc., Oxford Policy Management Ltd., the Palladium Group, FHI360, and Catholic Relief Services. He has significant experience working with governments, civil society organizations/NGOs, and private sector partners in implementing health and education-focused projects, including the Ghana Adolescent Reproductive Health and End Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa. Eubert is a chartered accountant, a certified information systems auditor, and a certified governance, risk, and compliance auditor. He holds an executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, an MBA in accounting and finance from the University of Professional Studies, Accra, and a bachelor's degree in social sciences with specialization in accounting and economics from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
Job Titles:
- Program Field Officer, Middle East and North Africa ( Pakistan )
Faisal is a public health professional with more than 7 years of experience in disease prevention, health promotion, and management of public health programs. Before joining Miraclefeet, he was a consultant with National Emergency Operations Centre for polio eradication in Pakistan and he also served as a training consultant with the Government of Punjab, training district health managers of 36 districts on intervention packages related to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. In recognition of Faisal's advocacy efforts, he was honored by Punjab's Provincial Government and nominated twice to represent his country in Challenge: Future Summits in Slovenia in 2012 & 2013. Faisal is a pharmacist by training and completed his MS in Public Health from Health Services Academy, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. He is based in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Latin America ( Colombia )
Felipe received his BA in Government and International Relations at Externado University of Colombia and an MA in Social Policy Work and Welfare at the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Felipe enjoys reading and watching movies, is fluent in Spanish and English, and lives in Bogotá, Colombia.
Job Titles:
- Application Support Analyst, Asia ( Philippines )
Derek brings broad M&E and technical experience to his role at MiracleFeet. He has developed mobile data collection tools, trained users, and helped to drive the use of data with local programs for organizations including UN, OXFAM, and Catholic Relief Services. Derek enjoys gardening and cooking for his family. He is based in Davao City, Philippines.
Job Titles:
- Economist
- Professor of Leadership, Management & International Business Dean
Garth Saloner is an economist by training with interests in strategy, leadership, and entrepreneurship. A native of South Africa, Garth received a bachelors of commerce and MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He received an MS in statistics, an AM in economics, and a PhD in economics, business, and public policy from Stanford. He has previously taught at Harvard University and at MIT.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, East Africa ( Uganda )
Geoffrey is based in Uganda and manages MiracleFeet's East Africa portfolio including leading the strategic facilitation, development, and implementation of locally-driven initiatives aimed at early detections and referrals, supporting the integration of clubfoot into national health systems, and supporting timely and quality treatment of clubfoot in the region. Geoffrey brings 12+ years of multi-cultural and international experience in program design and management to this role. His passion for advancing child-oriented initiatives motivated him to contribute to the efforts of international organizations such as the Light for the World International and Mott Macdonald Ltd. Geoffrey holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a postgraduate diploma in project management.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
Dr. Schmale is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the UW. He has a specialty interest in pediatric and adolescent sports medicine. He is a graduate of the UW School of Medicine and did his residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of North Carolina hospitals. He also completed a fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Children's Hospital in Denver. He is board-certified in orthopaedics. Dr. Schmale has been involved in training and supporting orthopedic surgeons in Nicaragua for many years which is where he and MiracleFeet connected.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- President of the Community Foundation of New Jersey
Hans Dekker has served as president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey since June 2003. During his tenure, the Foundation's funds have dispersed over $280 million in grants to charitable causes. Hans is a past chair of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and a trustee of the Hyde and Watson Foundation and the Ohl Foundation. He has a background in both community foundation and community development work. Prior to his role at the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Hans served as the Executive Vice President of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. He received his master's degree in public policy from the University of California at Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Board Member of Dietze & Schell Maschinenbau GmbH
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Investor
- Treasurer
Jarret Fass is an experienced entrepreneur, executive and investor. As a passionate business builder, Jarret co-founded family office backed Pierpoint Capital to invest in differentiated technology-related businesses and to selectively launch platform companies within the firm's target industries. Jarret is the co-founder of Emanate Biomedical, a medical device company developing non-invasive therapies for oral diseases and two Israel-based medical technology companies developing novel therapies in the structural heart disease space. He also actively works with and serves on the board of several Pierpoint portfolio companies including Hospital IQ, an AI-enabled healthcare operations management platform and CoreFlow, a precision aeromechanical manufacturing equipment company. Jarret previously was a Principal at Selway Capital, a technology focused multi-stage private equity firm. He began his career as an Analyst in the Corporate Strategy Group at Bear Stearns. He holds a BA from Connecticut College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Job Titles:
- Field Officer
- Program Field Officer, Latin America ( Mexico )
Johanssel González Cid is the Program Field Officer for Latin America supporting facilitation, development, and implementation of programs in the region. Johanssel will assist the Latin America Program Manager in expansion efforts, communicating with field partners/stakeholders, and reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring MiracleFeet-supported clubfoot treatment projects. Previously Johanssel worked at the Hospital Plaza de la Salud managing healthcare for international patients. He also worked with Cure International and Hope Walks managing children's healthcare and was the Program Manager for the clubfoot program in the Dominican Republic with Hope Walks. Johanssel is passionate about ensuring treatment quality and financial due diligence while strengthening relationships and partnerships with stakeholders. Johanssel has a bachelor's degree in Business Management from The Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) and a Master's degree in Financial Management from the Universidad APEC (Universidad Acción Pro-Educación y Cultura). He is based in Mexico City.
Job Titles:
- Application Support Analyst, East Africa ( Tanzania )
Joseph received his Bachelor of Science in Data Management from the Open University of Tanzania. Before joining MiracleFeet, he worked as a technician at several technology and estate companies and as a volunteer tutor at Ebenezer Computer College. Most recently, Joseph was the data analyst for the Tanzania Clubfoot Care Organization (TCCO) where he provided programmatic and technical support as well as monitoring and evaluation. Joseph speaks English, Kiswahili, and Ganda and enjoys live music, traveling, and watching movies.
Job Titles:
- Finance and Administrative Coordinator ( USA )
Josh joins the MiracleFeet team after having finished a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's School of Government, concentrating in nonprofit management. Prior to graduate school, Josh worked in front-line positions in educational and environmental nonprofits, as well as in private medical practice administration. He is passionate about the power of the nonprofit sector to create positive change in people's lives. Outside of work, Josh serves as Vice Chair of the Town of Chapel Hill's Cultural Arts Commission. He can often be found performing stand-up comedy throughout the Triangle region and singing country songs at home to his cat, Evee.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Kellogg Company
Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs, Kellogg Company Kris Bahner leads Communications, Philanthropy, Sustainability and Government for Kellogg Company. Kellogg is committed to creating Better Days for three billion people by the end of 2030 through Kellogg's Better Days global purpose platform addressing the interconnected issues of health, food security and climate change. Kris was the architect of this award-winning platform. She is a member of Kellogg Company's executive committee. She serves as the company's lead corporate spokesperson and oversees the company's annual global Corporate Responsibility report. Prior to joining Kellogg in 2006, Kris held a variety of corporate affairs roles with Kraft Foods. Previously, she led public relations programs for food industry clients at both Edelman Public Relations Worldwide and Powers Agency. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and public relations from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Surgeon
- Clinical Professor ( Step VI ) of Orthopaedics. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Dr. Lewis Zionts is a semi-retired pediatric orthopaedic surgeon in Los Angeles, CA. He is currently a Clinical Professor of Orthopaedics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and is Director of the Orthopaedic Institute for Children Clubfoot Clinic. He received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School and completed his orthopaedic residency at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical School. He completed a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at the Alfred I. duPont Institute in Wilmington, DE. Dr. Zionts has been in practice for more than 30 years.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Assistant ( USA )
supports MiracleFeet's administrative team with projects and organization-wide coordination and communications. Liza holds an MPH from the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Public Health and a BA from Northwestern University. Before joining MiracleFeet, Liza provided operational support to the Board of the Triangle Society for Human Resources Management and Advanced Wellness Systems, and worked at a range of health and wellness-focused organizations throughout her career. Liza has experience working in Mexico and teaching English through a Fulbright in South Korea.
Job Titles:
- Programs Administrative Assistant ( Bolivia )
Luna completed her bachelor's degree in Law and her master's degree in Human Rights and Multilevel Governance. Prior to joining MiracleFeet Luna worked with Defence for Children and Save the Children. Luna loves to travel and enjoys reading and writing. She is based in Bolivia.
Job Titles:
- Country Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager ( USA )
Madison has worked in social innovation and international development for over five years. Before joining MiracleFeet, he served as Program Coordinator for the Duke-UNICEF Innovation Accelerator, a program that identifies and scales social enterprises in Africa. Madison also has experience with USAID-funded global health projects from his time with the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Madison is passionate about leveraging social innovation to give every child a fair chance. He has a BA in Economics from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he graduated as a Buckley Public Service Scholar. Madison spends most of his free time hiking with his wife and his dog and playing tennis.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager, Asia ( Philippines )
- Public Health Specialist
- Registered Social Worker
Maria Cristina Mosende is a Registered Social Worker and a public health specialist. Currently based in her home city of Manila, Philippines, Maria Cristina has worked throughout Asia and the Pacific in various capacities, providing management and technical support to governments, civil society, and non-government organizations. She gathers more than fifteen years of international experience in program design and management, community development, civil society and stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation of public health and Global Fund projects. Her previous consultancy affiliations include the Technical Support Facility for Asia Pacific (TSF-AP), International HIV/AIDS Alliance, Axios International, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). She is a mother of two daughters (Jasmin and Victoria) and two sons (Paul and Christian).
MiracleFeet works to increase access to clubfoot treatment throughout Cambodia in partnership with NextSteps, a Cambodian non-profit that provides treatment and support to children with physical disabilities. NextStep is led by Professor Vuthy Chhoeurn MD, head of Surgery at the National Children's Hospital in Phnom Penh. He is supported by Colleen and John Orange, Australian-based professionals, and a small local staff.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Commercial Leader
Mark Pavao has been a commercial leader in the global biopharma industry for 30+ years. Mark currently supports developing biotech companies with commercial and go-to-market strategy and tactical planning. Previous roles include President and CEO of R-Pharm US, President Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) / AstraZeneca Diabetes Alliance, President Emerging Markets Region at BMS, and SVP of Global Market Access and Pricing at BMS. Earlier, Mark held sales and marketing leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, NitroMed Inc., and HeliosHealth. Mark has lived and/or worked in Brazil, Peru, Spain, Netherlands, Russia, India, China, Turkey, and the US. He received his MBA from Wharton and a BA from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar.
Job Titles:
- Donor Engagement Manager ( USA )
Megan's professional career has focused on the nonprofit sector, most recently as a Financial Empowerment Specialist at Families Together, a nonprofit organization in Raleigh, NC, supporting families with children experiencing homelessness. Megan is passionate about improving the quality of life for children, and brings several years of experience in client facing, customer service, and case management roles, as well as demonstrated experience in database management and a track record of successfully building a rapport with community organizations to cultivate partnerships. Megan is also pursuing a Master of Public Administration, concentrating in nonprofit management, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She spends most of her free time reading, painting, and checking out new restaurants in the triangle area.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Operations ( USA )
Meredith has spent her entire career in the nonprofit sector, working for over a decade in local and national nonprofits focused largely on eliminating childhood poverty. Her work includes building and launching an after-school program in a high-poverty neighborhood in Washington, D.C., to directing corporate and foundation fundraising for Teach For America in eastern North Carolina. She is passionate about ensuring that children can lead full, productive lives and is dedicated to helping MiracleFeet improve the lives of children around the world. Meredith has a bachelor's in public policy and MBA from Duke University. In her free time she enjoys reading about social justice and spending time with her daughter and husband.
Michelle Cooper became passionate about helping children around the world after her third child, Braden, was born with clubfoot and treated in the United States by Dr. Jose Morcende. She holds a graduate degree from Florida Atlantic University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. A former speech-language pathologist and designer handbag buyer, Michelle currently resides in Long Island, New York.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director, Marketing & Communications ( USA )
Nola is an accomplished and versatile writer with a knack for producing compelling content. Working in global health non-profit communications for ever a decade, she is a great story teller and a talented project, campaign, and team manager. Before joining MiracleFeet, Nola worked at IntraHealth International leading fundraising communications and producing SwitchPoint, an annual conference of leading thinkers and doers at the intersection of global health, development, technology, and art. Nola is a force of creativity with a knack for seeing and sparking meaningful connections between people and causes. She has a Master's in English and an undergraduate degree in studio art.
Job Titles:
- Multimedia Content Producer ( USA )
joins MiracleFeet with extensive experience in photography, documentary filmmaking, and writing. Previously, Livvy worked with Child Aid, UN Foundation, and She's the First, among others. Livvy is drawn to real and honest storytelling, and has a desire to cultivate empathy across continents, countries, communities, and individuals. She speaks English and Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Professor of Orthopedics, University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Medicine
Clinical Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Schwend attended St. Louis University School of Medicine and Harvard University, where he was the Chief Resident at the Children's Hospital in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. In addition, Dr. Schwend has served on the POSNA Committee on Underserved Regions since 2009 and has done extensive medical missions to Ecuador and Haiti.
Job Titles:
- Technical Coordinator in Congo
Job Titles:
- Social Media and Graphic Design Specialist
Shelby is a Florida-based creative who is passionate about all things design and communication. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor in Advertising, a Bachelor in Visual Art Studies, and a Certificate in Graphic Design, she worked with numerous brands - both large and small - on their advertising campaigns. She's held many roles within the advertising field, including her most recent position as a Multimedia Designer for the University of Florida Office of Admissions. Although new to the nonprofit sector, all of Shelby's work is focused on one goal: making a positive difference in people's lives.
Job Titles:
- Application Support Analyst ( Guatemala )
Sofia is based in Guatemala City, Guatemala working as MiracleFeet's program field officer for Latin America overseeing the region's CAST administration. Sofia holds a BA in International Relations with a minor in International Organizations from Universidad Francisco Marroquín. She's passionate about international development and global public health. Her work experiences include a position as communications specialist for Global Health Next Generation Network and an international trade specialist for the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She is a fellow researcher from UNLEASH Lab and has volunteered with the UN Online Volunteering Program, The Better Tomorrow Movement, and Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network.
MiracleFeet started supporting its very first patients in 2010-at one clinic in São Paulo, Brazil with partner Dr. Laura Ferreira. She was Brazil's first female orthopedic surgeon, trained by Dr. Ponseti, and has been integral to MiracleFeet's history. Our partnership with the University Hospital of São Paulo has not only provided hundreds of children in Brazil receive treatment, but played a critical role in the development of the MiracleFeet brace.
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Field Officer - East Africa ( Uganda )
Stella has 25 years of experience in the provision of technical assistance and program management working with governments and non-governmental organizations at regional, national, and subnational levels in East, South, and West Africa. She holds a Master of Philosophy in HIV/AIDS management from Stellenbosch University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Development Studies from the University of Pretoria. Stella brings several years of experience engaging with diverse teams at country and multi-country levels, in key health-related interventions including Adolescent sexual and reproductive health, HIV and TB prevention, and care and support programs. She has established and strengthened diverse strategic partnerships and collaborations at the community, district, and national levels. Prior to joining, Miracle Feet, Stella served in high-level leadership positions as TB/HIV Technical Advisor with Partners in Health in Sierra Leone and Deputy Chief of Party at Management Sciences for Health in Kampala, Uganda.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Finance ( USA )
Stephenie joins MiracleFeet with nearly a decade of accounting experience in the nonprofit sector. Previously, she led a full-scale implementation from QuickBooks to Sage Intacct, oversaw federal subaward management, and managed all financial components for donor reporting. In her role at MiracleFeet, Stephenie manages day-to-day financial operations, assists with the annual audit, and ensures MiracleFeet is constantly improving financial policies, procedures, and practices.
Stephenie graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in Political Science, and while she swore she'd never follow in her mom's footsteps and work in the math field, an early supervisor at the YMCA discovered Stephenie's finance talents, and she's never looked back.
Job Titles:
- Professor and Vice Chair, Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine / Chief, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Lucile Packard Children 's Hospital
- Surgeon in Palo Alto
Dr. Steven Frick is an orthopedic surgeon in Palo Alto, California and is affiliated with Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford. He received his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Founder, Eitel Global, LLC
Founder, Eitel Global, LLC Sue Eitel, BScPT, MAEd is a rehabilitation specialist and the founder of Eitel Global, LLC, a consultancy service for proposal writing, program assessments, and monitoring & evaluation - all related to international disability and rehabilitation programs. Her extensive background includes serving as Senior Rehabilitation Advisor with USAID, as Country Director in Angola and Ethiopia for Humanity & Inclusion, and as a physical therapist in Ethiopia, Romania, and Thailand. In addition, she has piloted a small grants disability program in Uganda through Pact, and created amputee support networks in six mine-affected countries for the Landmine Survivors Network. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand and is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Suquey Castillo-Lopez Administrative Brace Coordinator (USA) Suquey Castillo-Lopez brings over 5 years of non-profit experience working with high-risk and diverse populations. She has her BA in Psychology from North Carolina Central University and is certified in Spanish Interpretation & Translation. She is currently working on her MA in Psychology and Racial Equity Certificate. She is passionate about working with children and promoting health equity. Suquey's roots originate from Veracruz, Mexico but is a native to North Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and 3 dogs. She loves trying new food and hiking and exploring NC mountains.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources Manager
- Human Resources Manager ( USA )
is MiracleFeet's Human Resources Manager. Tameka has over ten years of experience in human resources and finance within the nonprofit and government sector, most recently at North Carolina Conservation Network. Tameka also serves as a board member of the Raleigh Metro Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), serving as the organization's Diversity Director. Tameka brings a wealth of experience with recruiting, onboarding and offboarding, employee relations, DE&I, payroll, and more. In her free time Tameka enjoys traveling, exercising and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Emilia GmbH
Åro Tilde Eide is a Managing Director of Emilia GmbH, a private wealth management company, and in addition is a member of MiracleFeet Germany's Board of Directors. Åro has previously worked in market research for the Norwegian Trade Commission in New York, in strategic management planning in the oil industry for Esso Norge AS, and as Account Director in the Corporate Identity and Brand Building company Scandinavian Design Group and served as a Board Member of Stiftung Landheim Schondorf. Åro is a Norwegian citizen living in Munich with her husband Georg and their three children Beatrix, Ingerid, and Frederik, and holds a Bachelor of Business Degree from BI - Norwegian Business School and an MBA from INSEAD in France.