Antoinette Bright is the Program Coordinator for Nursing Education and Professional Development at the Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania at Penn Medicine. With over a decade of experience in healthcare across various roles, she holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Eastern University. Antoinette completed the Penn Futures Program in 2021, further enhancing her expertise in program management, special project coordination, and workforce pipeline development.

Antoinette is dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment for students by creating valuable externship opportunities. Passionate about empowering future healthcare professionals, she fosters partnerships that enhance skills and promote economic mobility for diverse individuals.

George Choe joined the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation as President and Chief Executive Officer in early 2018 after retiring from a corporate career of 35 years, including a global commercial/engineering executive career in a Fortune 300 multinational corporation with significant international business experience.

Philip Jaisohn is a 501(c)3 nonprofit health and human service organization, with three Jaisohn Center operations in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, along with the Philip Jaisohn Memorial House in Media, PA. The Jaisohn Center services include the medical center, home health care, home care, mental health, senior community center, health insurance, and social services/navigation, along with advocacy, cultural education, and young leadership development. The Jaisohn Center serves Asian-American and other underserved communities in the Greater Philadelphia region, particularly in northeast Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Delaware County, and Bucks County. Under his leadership, the Jaisohn Centers serve 10,000 to 12,000 clients each year. They have also provided more than 130 COVID-19 vaccine clinics and distributed 24,000 rapid home test kits to underserved communities.

Choe founded and serves as the Co-Chair of the Asian American Coalition for Health and Human Services and is leading the MontCo AAPI Community Needs Assessment two-year project. He also serves in the Governor's Advisory Commission on AAPI Affairs and is Co-Leader of New American Majority PA with Senator Art Haywood and Rev. Luis Cortes, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Esperanza. Choe is a Board of Trustee Member for Jefferson Health-Abington/Lansdale and an Advisory Board Member of Penn State Abington.

His awards include the Global Korea Award from the Council of Korean Studies, Michigan State University and the "Courage to Make a Difference Award" from Jefferson Health Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. DEI Committee. He also holds 13 U.S. patents.

Saliyah Cruz, EdD, Chief Equity Officer for Mastery Schools, has a long history of leading large-scale initiatives in schools and districts designed to foster stronger academic achievement for marginalized students.

Saliyah began her career as a high school English teacher in the Chester Upland School District, in Pennsylvania, where she helped design dual enrollment programs for students interested in the technology fields. She went on the become a secondary principal, and in her twelve years in principalship (in Philadelphia and Delaware), she led a range of secondary schools, including schools in the charter sector, comprehensive neighborhood schools, and career and technical education schools.

She has served in several central office positions, including Chief Academic Officer and Regional Schools Officer. She joined Mastery Schools seven years ago as the Deputy Chief of Student Development. For the past three years, she has served as Mastery's Chief Equity Officer and is responsible for developing programming to ensure the Mastery model is flexible enough to support the wide range of students needing quality neighborhood schools in Philadelphia and identifying and eliminating issues of academic inequity and disproportionality.

Gregory E. Deavens, CPA*, CGMA, is president and chief executive officer for Independence Health Group (Independence), parent of Independence Blue Cross, one of the nation's leading health insurers.

Under his leadership, Independence has been committed to advancing equitable, whole-person health care. This includes an emphasis on reducing racial and economic health inequities and integrating physical and behavioral health care. The organization also has focused on partnerships dedicated to reducing the cost of medications for the benefit of members and employer customers.

Mr. Deavens has been named to Savoy magazine's Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America, Philadelphia magazine's Most Influential People in Philadelphia, and Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare, among other honors. He also received the Excellence in Governance award from Modern Healthcare in recognition of his contributions as chair of the board of directors for Hartford HealthCare from June 2020 to June 2023.

He assumed the role of CEO at Independence in January 2021. Mr. Deavens joined the company in 2017 as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Prior to that, he held senior financial roles at MassMutual, NY Life, Cigna, and GE Capital. He began his career in public accounting with Price Waterhouse, where he specialized in financial services while working in the firm's New York, London, and St. Louis offices.

Mr. Deavens serves on the boards of Alegeus Technologies, America's Health Insurance Plans, BCS Financial Corporation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, Hartford HealthCare, National Institute for Health Care Management, and Quartet Health. He also is on advisory boards for PNC Bank (Philadelphia Region) and Town Hall Ventures. As part of his responsibilities at Independence, he serves on the boards of Independence Health Group and its subsidiaries. In addition, Mr. Deavens serves as trustee of the Barnes Foundation, on the board of directors of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and as an honorary trustee of the Amistad Center for Art & Culture. He also served on the transition leadership board of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

He is a certified public accountant (CPA inactive)* and a member of the Executive Leadership Council, the National Association of Corporate Directors, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Deavens holds a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Florida A&M University. He and his wife, Beverly, have three adult children.

David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, is a physician-scientist at the University of Pennsylvania and one of the youngest professors to receive tenure in the history of Penn Medicine. He is also the co-Founder and President of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN), co-Founder and President of Every Cure, and the national bestselling author of Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action.

Dr. Fajgenbaum is also a patient battling a deadly disease, for which he discovered a repurposed treatment that is saving his life and the lives of others. Through his work at Penn and the CDCN, he has also identified and advanced 16 other repurposed treatments for diseases they weren't initially intended for. He recently co-founded Every Cure to unlock the full potential of medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat every disease they possibly can. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA.

One of the youngest awardees of multiple top National Institutes of Health and FDA grants, Dr. Fajgenbaum has published scientific papers in high-impact journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and The Journal of Clinical Investigation, including a paper selected as one of the top innovations in science and medicine of 2020.

He has been profiled by The New York Times, Today, Good Morning America, USA TODAY, Forbes 30 Under 30, and others and received numerous awards, including the 2016 Atlas Award along with then-Vice President Joe Biden, the 2022 NDRI Service to Science Award along with Nobel Laureates Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman, and the 2023 Philadelphia Citizen of the Year Award.

Dr. Fajgenbaum earned a BS from Georgetown University, an MSc from the University of Oxford, an MD from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from The Wharton School.

Heather Major is the first executive director of the Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation, which was launched in 2011. Heather uses her background in health policy and healthcare administration to lead the advancement of philanthropic initiatives that improve the health and well-being of communities in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Heather oversees the strategic direction, programmatic, and operational activities of the IBX Foundation and Institute for Health Equity, including $10 million annually in nonprofit funding and research.

A social impact strategist and skilled communicator, Heather presents at national events, was managing editor of the award-winning IBX Foundation publication, The Journal of Change, and reaches a global audience with conversations about the stigma of addiction through the IBX Foundation Someone You Know^® podcast.

Steve Fera is executive vice president of Public Affairs and president of Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross (IBX). Over his 34-year career at IBX, he has led multiple lines of business, advised top leaders in government, and championed health equity and public-private collaboration. Mr. Fera brings a community-oriented approach to his work at the intersection of health care, public policy, and social impact.

Today, Mr. Fera has overall corporate responsibility for IBX's nationally recognized and top-ranked Medicare Advantage plans as well as the company's public affairs division. This includes leading government and community affairs, corporate giving, and IBX's $140 million charitable foundation and its Institute for Health Equity. Through collaborative partnerships and innovative programs, Mr. Fera has worked to expand access to care and improve the lives of those in need.

Mr. Fera serves on several boards, including Vista Health Plan, Tandigm Health, Pennsylvania's Chamber of Business and Industry, Public Affairs Council, and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey and Education Foundation.

Mr. Fera has been recognized for his outstanding service to the community with the Good Scout Award from the Cradle of Liberty Council, Boy Scouts of America, and the Salvation Army Others Award. He was named to City & State PA's 2024 Pennsylvania Power 100 list for being one of the most influential leaders in the state.

Mr. Fera has bachelor of science and master of business administration degrees in finance, both from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

Kate FitzPatrick is the Executive Vice President/Connelly Foundation Chief Nurse Executive Officer for Jefferson Health, a post she has held since January 2021. She is a Professor and Associate Dean for Nursing Academic Partnerships and Innovation at the Jefferson College of Nursing. From 2019 to 2021, Kate served as the Senior Vice President for Nursing Practice and Clinical Development for the Jefferson Health Enterprise. From 2015 to 2019, she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she held a joint appointment as the Associate Dean for Academic and Practice Integration at the University of Vermont College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Prior to her role in Vermont, Kate spent 18 years at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she served in a variety of executive leadership roles on the Penn senior leadership team. During her last five years, she was the senior nurse leader for Women's Health/Neonatal Nursing and the Neurosciences service line. Kate started her tenure at Penn serving for over a decade as clinical/administrative leader for the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. FitzPatrick has a diverse clinical background, including clinical/advanced practice roles in surgical, trauma, prehospital, and emergency nursing. Prior to joining Penn in 1996, Kate served as the State Trauma System leader for the Division of Public Health in the State of Delaware. In this role, she oversaw a federal grant that established a statewide system for the care of injured patients and led to the passage of enabling trauma system legislation.

Kate earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Delaware and a master's degree in nursing from Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania. In 2004, she completed the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Pennsylvania, and in 2012, she subsequently earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Vanderbilt University. She completed the Healthcare Executive Program at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2021, Kate was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science from Thomas Jefferson University.

Kate is Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, where she currently serves on the Finance Committee. Since 2015, Kate has served as a Magnet Program appraiser with the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She completed the Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellowship in 2017 and as part of this experience led national work on mindfulness in clinical practice.

Kate is Past President of the Society of Trauma Nurses and former board member for the American Trauma Society. She currently serves on the Southeast PA (SEPA) advisory board for the Hospital Association of PA and is on the board of the Philadelphia American Heart Association. She also is a member of the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) Healthcare Talent Workforce Committee and is part of the HAP Nurse Ambassador group that is informing policy and dialoguing with legislators to advance key health policy. In April of 2023, Kate was awarded the PA Grassroots Advocacy Champion Award by HAP.

Kate has co-led and published work on innovative approaches to interprofessional clinical leadership to advance patient care. She has been a strong advocate for patient- and family-centered care, advancing nursing practice and governance models as well as lifelong learning programs for nurses and other clinicians.

Nelly Ganesan is deeply committed to ensuring that everyone receives the right care at the right time, regardless of race, gender identity, or financial status. With 20 years of experience in the quality, value, and equity space, she specializes in care models that focus on improving care, health outcomes, and reducing costs. Her expertise includes utilizing patient-reported outcomes to enhance the entire care experience. Nelly is currently supporting organizations in their strategic efforts to embed equity and measurable outcomes into their work.

Most recently, Nelly Ganesan served as the Executive Director of Health Equity and External Affairs at Morgan Health, a business unit within JPMorgan Chase dedicated to improving the quality, affordability, and equity of care for individuals with employer-sponsored insurance. In this role, Nelly led initiatives to promote equitable care for JPMorgan Chase employees and the communities in which they live and work.

Before joining Morgan Health, Nelly spent 10 years at Avalere Health, where she provided advisory services to a wide range of clients, including health plans, life sciences companies, employers, patient groups, health systems, and foundations, with a focus on quality, health equity, care transformation, and measurement. Earlier in her career, Nelly worked at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, concentrating on population health and hospital-based quality improvement.

Nelly received her Masters in Public Health from Boston University and her undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon.

Before founding Tradeoffs, Dan was the senior reporter for Marketplace's Health Desk, covering the business of healthcare. Before that, he spent more than 11 years at New Hampshire Public Radio.

He got his start in journalism at the Chicago Reporter, an investigative journal that examines race and class disparities in the Chicago area. He's won numerous national and local awards, including the Society of Professional Journalist Sigma Delta Chi investigative reporting award.

As the Founder and Executive Editor, Dan sets the vision for Tradeoffs' journalism and strategic direction.

Anna Heard serves as a Senior Policy Analyst in the National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices. In this role, she leads NGA's healthcare workforce and health equity work. Her portfolio also includes healthcare cost and coverage issues.

Prior to joining NGA, Anna served as a Federal Health Consultant at Deloitte, where she supported federal clients with healthcare transformation. Her efforts focused on strengthening primary care, shifting to value-based care, addressing social drivers of health, and facilitating health data sharing.

Anna also has state legislative experience from her time as a Fiscal Policy Analyst with the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means, where she worked on public health, mental health, and disability policy issues.

Anna earned her bachelor's degree in economics from Tufts University and her master's degree in public policy from Georgetown University. She originally hails from Connecticut.

Eliza E. Heppner is the Acting Deputy Associate Administrator in the Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. BHW's mission is to improve the health of people by strengthening the health workforce and connecting skilled healthcare providers to communities in need.

BHW administers over 70 workforce programs with a budget of more than $1.8 billion, with the goal of improving access to quality healthcare by developing, distributing, and retaining a diverse and culturally competent health workforce. The bureau supports the health workforce across the entire education-and-training-to-service continuum.

Eliza previously served as a Senior Advisor in HRSA's Immediate Office of the Administrator, where she provided expert guidance on programs, policies, and initiatives impacting those who are medically underserved with a focus on the healthcare workforce and improving maternal health outcomes. Eliza was also the Director of HRSA's Office of Strategic Initiatives, where she led cross-agency efforts to address federal priorities, including implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

In addition to federal service, Eliza has worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA, a community organizer, a nonprofit leader, and most notably as the Director of Programs for the AARP Foundation, where she focused on improving economic opportunity and social connectedness for older adults.

Eliza received a master's in public administration from the University of Vermont and a bachelor's degree from Wells College.

Shane Janick is the Executive Director at The Arc of Philadelphia, where his passion advocating for, and with, the community with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has grown from having an older brother with a variety of complex disabilities. He has previously coordinated the Adult Advocacy and Healthcare Advocacy programs at The Arc of Philadelphia and worked as a Teaching and Research Assistant at Temple University, where he earned a Master's in Public Health.

Fawn Lopez has a remarkable professional journey, marked by her dedication to promoting healthier lifestyles and driving positive change in the healthcare industry. She is currently serving as President of SourceOne Holdings, a leading nutraceutical company, known for its commitment to providing science-backed products and services.

Before assuming her new position as Publisher Emeritus of Modern Healthcare on January 1, 2023, Fawn served as publisher, overseeing the industry's leading source of healthcare business and policy news, research, and information for healthcare executives. Her tenure at Modern Healthcare began in 2005 and left an indelible mark on the brand.

With a background deeply rooted in publishing, Fawn's experience spans various leadership positions. Before her tenure at Modern Healthcare, she served as the National Sales Director for Crain's Chicago Business and held the position of Director of Advertising at the Kansas City Business Journal in Kansas City, Missouri.

In addition to her leadership roles, Fawn actively contributes to numerous boards and advisory positions, leveraging her expertise to drive strategic initiatives. She serves on the boards of both public and privately held companies and lends her expertise and insights to digital health ventures as an advisory board member. Additionally, Fawn is a valued member of the Dean's Advisory Board at DePaul University — College of Communication. Fawn's dedication extends to her involvement in professional networks, including her memberships in The Health Alliance and Women of Impact: Leaders in Health and Healthcare. She is also a fellow of The Institute of Medicine of Chicago.

As an advocate for health access and equity, Fawn champions efforts to address health disparities and foster diversity within the healthcare sector. Her role as a catalyst for positive change is evident in her organization and throughout the broader healthcare landscape.

Fawn is also an author, having co-written the book UNSTOPPABLE: Inspiring Stories of Perseverance, Triumph, and Joy from Trailblazing Women in Healthcare. In this compelling work, Fawn and her co-authors share inspiring narratives that resonate deeply with readers across the healthcare spectrum and beyond, celebrating the remarkable journeys of trailblazing women in the healthcare field.

Jared Lyon was appointed National President and Chief Executive Offer of Student Veterans of America (SVA) in 2016. He leads the organization's efforts to empower student veterans using the transformative power of higher education. Since he took office, Lyon has overseen SVA's growth to a network of more than 1,500 chapters on campuses in all 50 states and three countries abroad representing more than 750,000 student veterans.

During his tenure, he co-authored the National Veteran Education Success Tracker (NVEST), a comprehensive study of the first 854,000 student veterans to use the post-9/11 GI Bill. In 2017, Lyon led SVA's commitment to pass the "Forever GI Bill," the largest expansion of college aid for military veterans in a decade, with an economic impact of $3.4 billion. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, Jared served as a submariner and diver, taking part in multiple deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Prior to joining the headquarters team at SVA, Lyon served as the National Program Manager for the Institute for Veterans and the Military Families Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, as well as the Manager of Florida Operations for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball team. Lyon is a member of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veteran's Advisory Committee on Education and a commissioner for the American Council on Education's Commission for Education Attainment. He also serves on the advisory boards for the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation and the Florida State University Veteran Advisory Board and is a 2018 Presidential Leadership Scholar.

He holds an Associate of Arts from Eastern Florida State College, a Bachelor of Science from Florida State University, and a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where he is currently pursuing his PhD in Social Science.

José Maciel, BSN, RN, CCRN, is a Neuro ICU nurse at Penn Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. A 2018 Independence Blue Cross Foundation Nursing Program intern, he is passionate about providing culturally competent care to Spanish-speaking patients and addressing health disparities in underserved communities.

He is a co-Founder of Cultivando Juntos, a nonprofit promoting preventive health for Latino farm workers. José also supports nursing education through the Penn Medicine ASPIRE Program, which helps diverse students explore careers in nursing.

Giridhar Mallya, MD, MSHP, is a public health physician and health policy expert who serves as Senior Policy Officer for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In this role, he acts as a strategist, advisor, and grantmaker at the nexus of health, race, and policy. Currently, he leads a foundation-wide effort to defend and advance race-conscious policies and programs.

Dr. Mallya was previously Director of Policy and Planning for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. He is a board-certified family physician and adjunct assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Marino is a key driver on several academic-practice partnerships aimed at nursing workforce development, innovating care models, facilitating interprofessional collaborative practice, and improving healthcare equity, access, and outcomes. Her work in development, implementation, and evaluation of multidisciplinary partnerships was nationally recognized by AACN's Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award.

An advocate for the essential and principal role nurses play in leading multidisciplinary teams, she has developed and disseminated toolkits that validate the importance of nurse-led teams in improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable individuals, families, and populations across settings.

For more than three decades, Dr. Marino has maintained a clinical practice as a pediatric nurse practitioner/forensic medical examiner, conducting more than 3,000 medical evaluations of child victims of abuse and violence. She has provided expert testimony in more than 300 proceedings nationally and contributed as an expert on the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women publication A National Protocol for Sexual Abuse Medical Forensic Examinations: Pediatric, which is used nationwide as the standard of care by multidisciplinary agencies and healthcare professionals who coordinate and implement care for sexually-abused children.

Lorina Marshall-Blake is the president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (the Foundation), a charitable, private foundation founded in 2011, and also the vice president of community affairs at Independence Blue Cross (Independence).

In her role with the Foundation, she leads strategic, programmatic, and operational efforts to fulfill the Foundation's mission to lead sustainable solutions that improve the health and wellness of the community. Under her leadership, the Foundation has established itself as a collaborator, innovator, and thought leader in addressing emerging health needs in southeastern Pennsylvania.

As the vice president of community affairs, Marshall-Blake develops and manages relationships with community partners to advance Independence's social mission efforts.

Marshall-Blake is passionate about giving back to the community. She is involved with more than 30 professional and civic organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the United Negro College Fund, and is the former president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Omega Omega Chapter. She is also an associate minister at the Vine Memorial Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

Currently, she also serves on more than 25 non-profit boards and committees including the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association - Corporate Responsibility Committee, The Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia's Paradigm Award & Scholarship Committee, the Urban Affairs Coalition, and the Urban League of Philadelphia. Marshall-Blake also serves on Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions Executive Advisory Council and Rutgers School of Nursing - Camden Dean's Leadership Circle. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice.

Joanne McCool is Vice President of Human Resources at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She has over 25 years' experience translating vision and strategy into tangible organizational, operational, and financial results in profit and nonprofit sectors.

Ms. McCool has presented on a wide range of organizational development, human resources, and career management topics. She previously served on the board of The Career Wardrobe, helping people transition into the workplace. Joanne holds multiple industry credentials.

Ms. McCool earned a Master's of Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor's of Organizational Development from Eastern University.

After receiving his Human Biology degree at Brown University, Dr. McCrea earned a Doctorate in Medicine and a Master's in Public Health from the University of Pittsburgh. He then trained in Family Medicine at the Crozer-Keystone Health System. Upon completing his residency, he was recruited to join the faculty at the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program, where he later became the Associate Program Director.

In 2015, he was recruited to Drexel University College of Medicine to serve as the Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency and appointed Associate Professor of Family Medicine. Dr. McCrea's academic interests include curriculum development, leadership, mentorship, and competency-based evaluation. He currently serves on the Diversity and Health Equity Task Force of the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. In 2018, he was appointed as Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Drexel University College of Medicine.

He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Family Medicine Educational Consortium. In 2019, Dr. McCrea was invited to serve on the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Oversight Committee for Individuals Underrepresented in Medicine.

In 2020, he was appointed Senior Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Drexel University College of Medicine. In 2022, he was elected President of the Family Medicine Educational Consortium.

He currently serves as faculty for the Chief Resident Leadership Development Program. He previously served as the Program Director for the Drexel Pathway to Medical School postbaccalaureate pipeline program. He is the Chair of the Consortium of DEI Health Educators.

In 2024, he was appointed the Deborah J. Tuttle, MD and John P. Piper, MD Vice Dean for Educational Affairs at Drexel University. He is board-certified in Family Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. McCrea and his wife Nikki celebrated 17 years of marriage this year. He is also the "girl dad" for his 13- and 15-year-old daughters.

Dr. A. Scott McNeal is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc. (DVCH), which operates nine Federally Qualified Health Centers in the Philadelphia region.

DVCH provides high-quality, culturally appropriate, multidisciplinary primary care services. It has an operating budget of $52 million and employs over 350 staff. Services include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Dental, Podiatry, Optometry, Behavioral Health, HIV care, MAT, Social Services, and Medical-Legal Partnership, performed by over 70 providers who care for more than 47,000 patients annually. While serving a truly diverse community, DVCH champions healthcare for marginalized communities. DVCH was recently awarded a Health Resources and Service Administration planning grant to help it start its own ACGME-accredited Family Medicine Residency. Its first class of four residents began their training in July 2024.

Prior to serving as President and CEO, Dr. McNeal was the Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of DVCH for 25 years, guiding healthcare delivery to a growing patient panel. Under his leadership, the organization has expanded health services through new locations, expanded staffing, and medical and administrative innovation.

Dr. McNeal is also the Medical Affairs Consultant at The Behavioral Wellness Center at Girard (formally North Philadelphia Health Systems [NPHS]), which provides comprehensive behavioral medicine services. As the former Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Academic Officer for NPHS, he oversaw the Family Medicine Residency program for more than 20 years. He was instrumental in the training of countless residents and interns. As a mentor and champion of diversity in medicine, Dr. McNeal has guided the careers of hundreds of healthcare professionals.

Dr. McNeal maintains staff privileges at Temple University Hospital. He's been appointed by the current and previous mayors to serve on the City of Philadelphia's Board of Health for the last 16 years. Dr. McNeal is a Trustee and Co-Vice Chair for The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he has also been appointed a clinical professor. He is the Chair of Broad Spectrum IPA and the Treasurer for Constitution Physicians Alliance IPA. Additionally, he serves on many healthcare boards and committees.

Dr. McNeal received his Bachelor's degree in Biology from Hofstra University and is a 1988 graduate of The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his Osteopathic Internship and Family Medicine Residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and completed additional training at Harvard University School of Public Health in managing community health centers. Dr. McNeal is board-certified in Family Practice. He is married to Annette O'Neil, MD, a retired Internist.

Larissa Morgan is a highly accomplished leader and passionate advocate for both personal and professional development, bringing over 20 years of experience to her current role as Program Manager for Talent Acquisition Strategies and Programs at Penn Medicine.

Throughout her career, she has held diverse positions, including clinical nurse, Nursing Professional Development Specialist, and Recruitment Manager for Talent Acquisition. Larissa is deeply committed to empowering others to reach their highest potential. She spearheaded the Surgical Technologist "Earn to Learn" program, which enables employees to earn income while pursuing certifications and education, effectively eliminating financial barriers to career advancement. This initiative has not only helped individuals achieve their career goals but also addressed critical staffing needs within the organization.

Larissa played a pivotal role in Penn Medicine's Emerging Careers program, assisting high school students in securing employment, and was an integral part of the team that launched the Patient Care Technician program in collaboration with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. Additionally, she is one of the Principal Investigators behind the groundbreaking research study, "The Path for Women of Color to Ascend in Healthcare."

A dedicated mentor, Larissa is committed to breaking down barriers and fostering growth both within Penn Medicine and in the broader community.

Leslie Njingang is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, pursuing a major in Nursing and a minor in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies. She has gained hands-on experience through clinical rotations and internships, including working at Mazzoni Center, where she supported LGBTQ+ patients and conducted research on accommodating individuals with hearing loss.

Leslie has also interned at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, focusing on disparities in healthcare for long Covid patients.

In addition to healthcare, she is actively involved in leadership roles at Penn, including chairing the Nursing Board for the Class of 2026 and serving on the Wharton Undergraduate Healthcare Club Service and Impact Committee.

Leslie is passionate about healthcare advocacy, equity, and supporting underserved communities.

Nikki Pumphrey is a leader in workforce development, committed to advancing economic mobility and racial equity through public-private partnerships. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that race, neighborhood, and country of origin no longer determine access to opportunity in the Philadelphia region.

Currently, she serves as Vice President of Talent and Workforce at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, advancing inclusive talent strategies to support the region's economic growth. Prior to joining the Chamber, she was Senior Managing Director at Per Scholas, a national organization focused on connecting women and people of color to careers in technology.

Nikki has also served as the Deputy Director at The Welcoming Center, where she secured $250,000 in national philanthropic funding to support a comprehensive, employer-informed immigrant workforce strategy for Philadelphia, in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce. She has also provided guidance on immigrant integration policy and practices for 16 U.S. states and cities and presented on innovative workforce models at the White House Summit on Immigrant Integration in 2016.

As an active community leader, she has served on the executive leadership team of the City of Philadelphia Workforce Professionals Alliance since 2019. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Technology Learning Collaborative, as well as on the boards of Amplify Philly and 1Philadelphia. In 2019, she founded PHL Women in WkDev, a community of 100+ leaders and professionals to address the need for connection, collaboration, and career advancement in the field of workforce development.

Brenda Robles-Cooke, MBA, is an accomplished healthcare executive with 29 years of experience in community health management. She currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer at Delaware Valley Community Health, Inc. (DVCH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that operates nine health centers across Southeast Pennsylvania, providing care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. DVCH manages an annual operating budget of over $56 million and serves more than 49,500 patients through over 150,000 medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, and behavioral health visits each year.

As the first in her family to graduate from high school, Brenda pursued higher education, earning a B.S. in Business Management from The College of New Jersey and an MBA in Health Administration from Temple University. First introduced to DVCH through an internship, she began her career there in 1995 as the Health Center Manager for its largest site serving the Latino community. Just two years later, Brenda was promoted to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, where she led DVCH through its first successful Joint Commission survey, making it the first Joint Commission-accredited FQHC in Philadelphia.

Brenda has been instrumental in the organization's growth and development. In 2000, she took on the role of Project Manager for a $13 million initiative to establish DVCH's flagship center, the Maria de los Santos Health Center, in North Philadelphia. After seven years of planning and fundraising, the new facility opened in January 2008. Brenda also managed the renovation and opening of six additional health centers across the region. As Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, she oversaw the operations of these centers, several specialty programs, and managed critical areas such as accreditation, grants, HIPAA compliance, insurance, and new program implementation.

In her current role as Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer, Brenda champions a culture of continuous compliance and leveraged community partnerships to expand healthcare access for underserved communities through business development and project management. Most recently, she completed a New Market Tax Credit deal to support the expansion of key sites, positioning DVCH as the first Teaching Health Center Family Medicine Residency Program in the region.

Recognized for her consistent leadership and dedication, Brenda has also worked as a consultant, mentoring middle managers in community healthcare and providing customized workshops on customer service and life skills. In 2019, she was honored with the Wilford Payne Mentor Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.

A graduate of the Philadelphia Urban League Leadership Institute, Brenda has served on several community boards, including the Area Education and Health Training Initiatives, Lifelong Learning Center, and Village Student Athletes. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and volunteers with The Community Care Food and Clothing Pantry.

Her passion for community service drives her commitment to giving back and serving as a role model for others. She considers her greatest personal accomplishment to be her family, whom she cherishes deeply. Brenda resides in southern New Jersey with her husband, Robert, and their two children, Bobbi and Brendan.

Jacobia Solomon has experience in innovation, growth, transformation, and global technology integrations and solutions. She has a successful track record of scaling businesses while capturing market leader positions in diverse industries.

Most recently, Ms. Solomon was responsible for growing the Language Services division at AMN Healthcare 20% year over year for last two years, creating the largest healthcare exclusive language service provider in the industry. She is also known for driving brand growth, operational excellence, people development, and delivering financial performance.

Prior to AMN Healthcare, Ms. Solomon had been helping to improve operations and drive company growth as the Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Logistics Canada. She was responsible for increasing profits and expansion efforts into high-growth, emerging markets. Previous experience includes Vice President of Engineering at Siemens Logistics, KPS Global of Manitowoc, Mimeo, and various leadership positions with Newell Rubbermaid and Ford Motor Company.

As a passionate leader, Jacobia finds gratitude and honor in leading teams while empowering and motivating them toward a common purpose and vision. Her philosophy is to always "call others into leadership with you. As you climb, it's important to lift others with you." As a result of Jacobia's visionary leadership, her organizations have received multiple awards and accolades for stellar growth, performance, and customer impact.

Ms. Solomon is certified in Scrum, PMP, Lean Six-Sigma Black Belt, and in Lean as a Kaizen Leader. She holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas, Arlington; a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan; and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

With all her accolades and accomplishments, what truly matters to Jacobia is her family. She has been happily married for 20+ years and has two sons.

TaRhonda Thomas joined the Action News team as a reporter in February 2019 and was named Action News's first Race and Culture Reporter in March 2021.

Before coming to Philadelphia, TaRhonda worked as an anchor and reporter in Denver, Colorado. She was also an anchor and reporter in Richmond, Virginia and in Colorado Springs. She began her television career in Morgan City, Louisiana.

A Louisiana native, TaRhonda is an alumna of Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!). She earned her Master's Degree in Media, Film, and Journalism Studies from the University of Denver. TaRhonda is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

The Emmy-award-winning journalist has earned national and regional recognition, including an Edward R. Murrow Award and awards from the Associated Press and the National Association of Black Journalists.

TaRhonda became a Gold Star sister when her brother, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Terry Thomas, made the ultimate sacrifice. For that reason, she is passionate about advocating for Gold Star families, military families, and veterans.

When she's not reporting the news, TaRhonda is a busy wife and mom of three very athletic and active kids. She enjoys working out, indulging in skincare, spending time with her family, and visiting her parents in Louisiana.

Romaine Thrower, EdD, is the Senior Director of Workforce Programs at the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI). With a focus on empowering underserved communities, Dr. Thrower leads innovative initiatives that connect individuals to sustainable careers, fostering economic growth and personal development.

In addition to her work at WPSI, Dr. Thrower is an instructor for Temple University's Community Health Worker program. Here, she is committed to training and mentoring individuals who are passionate about promoting health equity in their communities. She equips future community health workers with the necessary skills to effectively address the social determinants of health, ensuring they can serve as strong advocates and leaders in their respective communities.

Dr. Thrower holds a Bachelor's degree in English, a Master's degree in Adult Education, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management. Her extensive educational background provides her with a deep understanding of the principles of effective leadership and adult learning, which she applies to her work in both workforce development and education.

Maureen Tomoschuk joined Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM) in 2008 as the second president of the free healthcare center serving low-income, uninsured working families. She came to the position with more than 25 years of extensive operational and management experience in nonprofit and healthcare organizations.

Immediately prior to joining CVIM, Maureen served as Senior Director of Emergency Services at the Southeastern PA Chapter of the American Red Cross, where she was responsible for the overall administration and operations of emergency services and directly managed over 3,000 staff and volunteers for delivery of services in a five-county, 1,700 square-mile territory with a population of 3.9 million.

Maureen holds a Bachelor's of Social Work degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Master's of Social Work from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. As President and Chief Executive Officer of CVIM, Maureen provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization, works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure fiscal sustainability, and ensures the relevance and effectiveness of the clinic as it relates to community needs and the changing healthcare environment

Stacey Trooskin, MD, PhD, MPH, is the Executive Medical Officer of Mazzoni Center and a faculty member of the Infectious Diseases Division at the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine.

Dr. Trooskin received her MPH from Yale University, her PhD (Epidemiology) from Rutgers School of Public Health, and her MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. Dr. Trooskin is an internist who specializes in infectious diseases with a strong interest in public health, particularly the epidemiology of hepatitis C and identifying and overcoming barriers to testing and treatment.

She completed a three-year term of service as a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and Infectious Disease Society of America's HCV treatment guidance panel and currently serves as the Chief Medical Advisor to the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable and as the Medical Director for the Health Federation's HCV technical assistance program called "C Change".

Dr. Trooskin is widely recognized for her activism and advocacy around issues related to health equity, including access to HCV testing and treatment, particularly for incarcerated individuals and individuals who use drugs.

Angela Udongwo is a fourth-year medical student, entrepreneur, and researcher committed to addressing healthcare disparities through innovation, leadership, and equity. She is the founder of Aspiring Physician Executives (APEx), an organization with over 300 members that empowers future physician leaders by offering leadership training, networking opportunities, and access to influential healthcare executives. Under her leadership, APEx has garnered over $45,000 in grants, working to diversify healthcare leadership to better reflect the communities it serves.

Angela also founded InnoHealth, a healthcare startup dedicated to developing affordable diagnostic tools for early detection of tropical diseases in underserved communities. Her work with InnoHealth has been recognized regionally, winning over $20,000 in pitch competitions and improving healthcare outcomes through community-based initiatives in Nigeria.

Her research intersects radiology and cultural competency, focusing on the impact of Black hairstyles (braids, twists, locs) in medical imaging. Angela's work has gained widespread media attention, including features in NPR, Fox News, and the Philadelphia Inquirer, for advancing best practices that ensure equitable and accurate care for all patients.

Driven by a passion for healthcare equity and innovation, Angela is committed to creating systemic change in healthcare, bridging gaps in access, and inspiring the next generation of diverse physician leaders.

Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Director of the School's WHO Collaborating Center for Nursing and Midwifery Leadership.

Dr. Villarruel leads Penn Nursing to meet its core mission of advancing science, promoting equity, and demonstrating practice excellence. As a bilingual and bicultural researcher, her career has been grounded in these values. She has extensive research and practice experience with Latino populations, health promotion, and health equity.

Dr. Villarruel holds many leadership positions in nursing, government, and healthcare. She is an elected Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. She serves as Chair of the National Academy of Medicine's Culture of Health Program Advisory Committee; Co-chair of the Strategic Advisory Council of the AARP/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Campaign for Action; and is a Regent of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

She has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2021 Health Care Leader Award from the American Academy of Nursing, the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Award, the Globy Award for Educational Leadership from the Global Philadelphia Association, the prestigious Ohtli Award from the government of Mexico, and the Above and Beyond Women Award from City & State PA, 2024.

Dr. Roberta Waite is the Dean and Professor at Georgetown University School of Nursing in Washington DC. She has committed her nursing career to dismantling healthcare inequities, with special emphasis on community-centered work. Having served on the Governor's Think Tank to develop guidelines for a Trauma-Informed Commonwealth of PA, as content expert for the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing, as the American Nurses Association representative on the National Quality Forum MAP Committee on Health Equity, and on Trinity Health's corporate health system board, she has continuously aligned her efforts with racial and social justice.

In 2022, her commitment was recognized with the Modern Healthcare Excellence in Governance Award for her work on the corporate health system board with improvements in clinical quality, safety, and health equity, as well as her leadership in the expansion of community health and well-being programs, and leading community outreach programs throughout the pandemic.

She brings a nursing lens and advocacy to her work and her life - centering on social and racial justice, valuing humanity, collective liberation, empathy, interdependence, kindness, having fun, and humor. These efforts are illustrated in her work as a Board Director for Family Process Institute, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, and Georgetown MedStar Hospital as well as service on Advancing Health Equity's National Advisory Board supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Waite is a staunch advocate for social justice, targeting structural and social mechanisms that promote and detract from health. Prior to joining Georgetown, she was Professor and Associate Dean for Community-Centered Health & Wellness and Academic Integration at Drexel University, College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, PA. While there, she served as the executive director of the Stephen & Sandra Sheller 11th St. Family Health Services and provided strategic oversight of the College's four other clinical sites - counseling and family therapy, nutrition, physical therapy, and the wellness center.

Her social mission and work in education research led to the establishment of the Macy Leadership Program, which she developed as an inaugural Macy Faculty Scholar. This program focused on leadership development using a social justice lens and included students from nursing and other health professions, including behavioral health counseling, nutrition sciences, health administration services, and health sciences.

Academically, Dr. Waite has engaged students across programs from the undergraduate to the post-doctoral level and emphasizes that working with students during critical years of their formation has been a privilege and an honor.

Dr. Waite is an accomplished scholar having published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, essays, and research studies, invited articles, books, and book chapters in nursing and across other disciplines. She is a sought-after speaker on topics related to leadership and racism, especially Anti-Black racism in nursing, with special focus on pursuing health equity and providing trauma-informed care.

Widener Pride and the Fighting Quaker center the educational preparation that Dr. Waite received for her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She earned her BSN and EdD in Higher Education Administration Leadership from Widener University in Chester, PA, and her MSN in psychiatric-mental-health nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship focused on vulnerable women, children, and families at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing.

Dr. Waite has served tirelessly as a mentor and role model for students and aspiring students, colleagues, racialized and minoritized populations, and all nurses who are working toward a more open and equitable society, lifting us up to who we need to be, able to live and work to our full potential.