Carrie Bridges Feliz, MPH, is the Director of the Lifespan Community Health Institute. She has an extensive background in public health having served as the team lead for Health Disparities and Access to Care in the R.I. Department of Health. In that role, she supervised the offices of Minority Health, Women’s Health, and Primary and Rural Health. She also served as a public health prevention specialist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she concentrated on Rhode Island refugee health; HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis prevention efforts; and infectious diseases. She is Co-chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Eileen Hayes, LICSW has been a social worker for 32 years. She has held a variety of positions including the Director of Services for Adolescents and Young Families at the YWCA of New York and the Director of Parenting Education Services for the New York City Department of Health. Since 1990 she has served as a national consultant for MDRC, PPV and National Fatherhood Initiative, consulting on issues of poverty, marriage education, fatherhood and parenting. Ms. Hayes is currently the President/CEO of Amos House, a social service agency and soup kitchen in Providence Rhode Island that serves poor and homeless men, women, and children.
Michelle N. Karn, MA, Communications Director, American Heart Association, is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Music and Communications. Since joining the American Heart Association in 2007, Michelle has been working on campaigns in the Southern New England region that help raise awareness, fund prevention and research programs to fight heart disease and stroke. After transitioning to the role of Communications Director in 2013, Michelle has worked to elevate the brand of the American Heart Association as a leading resource for cardiovascular disease information in the region. By developing a comprehensive multi-channel communications and public relations program, she works to increase awareness about cardiovascular diseases, assist with community health efforts, and support the mission to build healthier, longer lives in Rhode Island and Southeastern, MA.
Peg Miller, MD, FACP, is Director of the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, a Lifespan Partner, and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is a board-certified internist whose primary area of interest is medical problems in pregnancy. Dr. Miller is a member of the International Society of Obstetric Medicine, currently serves as the President of the North American Society of Obstetric Medicine and Co-Chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI. Her clinical and research interests include medical problems in pregnancy and cardiovascular risk in women with pregnancy complications.
Amy Nunn, MS, ScD, is an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown University School of Public Health and in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Brown Medical School. She is also the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute (RIPHI). She currently conducts HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention research and is Principal Investigator of an NIH grant. A social scientist by training, she has conducted domestic and international research on a variety of health topics and has conducted global health policy research. Dr. Nunn has received research grants from Harvard University, the US Departments of Defense and Education, and many others and received an “Outstanding New Researcher Award” at the 2009 CDC HIV Prevention Conference and an NIH Career Development Award in 2010. Dr. Nunn holds masters and doctoral degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health and is a former Fulbright Scholar.
Karen Rosene-Montella, MD, FACP, is the Senior Vice President for Women’s Services and Clinical Integration at Lifespan. Dr. Rosene-Montella is a Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Previously she served as Chief of Medicine at Women & Infant’s Hospital. Dr. Rosene-Montella is a founding member and current Chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Chef Todd Seyfarth, MS, RD, CSSD, is an Associate Professor, Department Chair & Program Director, Culinary Nutrition Program, College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, and a Registered Dietitian and a resource within his profession and by journalists in culinary nutrition. In addition to his role as an associate professor he has been a faculty advisor to the JWU Nutrition Society Student Organization, has consulted on the ‘Simply Ming’ PBS television program, with Chef Ming Tsai, for over a decade, and has been an key resource for the Tulane University “Culinary Medicine” initiative. Chef Seyfarth is a popular speaker and has spoken widely. Chef Seyfarth holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University and an MS in Healthcare Policy and Management, Stony Brook University and is a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) and a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).
Eliza Sutton, MPH has been working in the public health field for many years. She began her career working in community HIV prevention programs in New York City. Her interest in food access strengthened as she spent time in diverse communities in New York. Eliza worked at Southside Community Land Trust working with low-income families for seven years. Currently, she is the Food Access Manager at Thundermist Health Center, increasing food access for low-income patients at Thundermist’s 3 sites. Eliza received her BA from Antioch College and her MPH from Hunter College, City University of NY.
Jennifer Thiesen, MS, RNP, has 28 years of nursing experience in roles of increasing responsibility in both nursing education, nursing administration and as a nurse practitioner. She is the Director of Care Transitions and presently oversees the Heart Failure Transition Program at The Miriam Hospital.
Carrie Bridges, MPH, is the Team Lead for Health Disparities and Access to Care in the Division of Community, Family Health and Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Through policy development and direct service to local communities, her team focuses on eliminating health disparities disproportionately impacting racial and ethnic communities and other vulnerable populations.
Mary Reich Cooper, MD, JD, is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Quality Officer of Lifespan, and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In her current position, Dr. Cooper is responsible for articulating the quality and safety strategy for Lifespan and working closely with the state government and quality organizations in Rhode Island to improve safety and quality of care for the citizens of Rhode Island.
Linn Freedman, ESQ, practices in health care law, privacy and security law and complex litigation. She advises healthcare providers, primarily hospital systems, hospitals and physicians on issues involving physician discipline, patient-related legal issues, behavioral health, regulatory compliance, Medicaid fraud, litigation and the federal health care reform legislation (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA) enacted in 2010. She serves as General Counsel of the Rhode Island Quality Institute.
Amy Gottlieb, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and OB/GYN (clinical) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and the Director of Primary Care Curricula and Consultation in the Women’s Primary Care Center at Women & Infants Hospital. She is also the Chair of Women & Infants Hospital’s Domestic Violence Task Force.
Miriam E. Nelson, PhD, is Director of the John Hancock Research Center for Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention, and Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policies at Tufts University. She is the author of the international best selling “Strong Women” book series. Dr. Nelson is a Luminari Health expert.
Barbara Roberts, MD, FACC, has been the Director of the Women’s Cardiology Center at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI since 2002. Dr. Roberts is the author of “How to Keep from Breaking Your Heart: what every woman needs to know about cardiovascular disease” and “Treating and Beating Heart Disease: A Consumers Guide to Cardiac Medicines.” She has lectured widely on cardiovascular disease in the United States and abroad.
Barbara Roberts, MD, FACC, has been the Director of the Women’s Cardiology Center at the Miriam Hospital in Providence, RI since 2002. Dr. Roberts is the author of “How to Keep from Breaking Your Heart: what every woman needs to know about cardiovascular disease” and “Treating and Beating Heart Disease: A Consumers Guide to Cardiac Medicines.” She has lectured widely on cardiovascular disease in the United States and abroad.
Aimee Thompson is the founder of Close to Home, a domestic violence prevention organization in Boston. At Boston Medical Center, Aimee developed a group therapy program for children and their mothers, and provided training for Boston police officers on children and trauma. Aimee has provided workshops on Close to Home’s approach throughout the United States, as well as in Germany, Uganda, South Africa, and the Caucasus.
Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA is the 18th Surgeon General of the United States. As America’s Doctor, she provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation. Dr. Benjamin also oversees the operational command of 6,500 uniformed health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote, and protect the health of the American People.
Dr. Benjamin is Founder and Former CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic in Alabama, former Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile, and Past Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States.
Dr. Benjamin is a member of the National Academy of Science’s Institute of Medicine, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She was a Kellogg National Fellow and a Rockefeller Next Generation Leader.
Dr. Benjamin has a BS in chemistry from Xavier University, New Orleans; attended Morehouse School of Medicine, and received her MD degree from the University of Alabama, Birmingham; She also has an MBA from Tulane University and fifteen honorary doctorates.
Linda Carpenter, MD, is Chief of the Affective Disorders Program at Butler Hospital in Providence, RI, and is Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University
Mary Reich Cooper, MD, JD, is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Quality Officer of Lifespan, and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is Co-chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Rebekah Gardner, MD, is Senior Medical Scientist atHealthcentric Advisors and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is also an Attending Physician at Rhode Island Hospital.
Linda Nagy, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC, NEA-BC, is the new Chief Nursing Officer at Bradley Hospital in East Providence, RI. Previously she served for four years as Director of Behavioral Health for Salem Health, Salem OR.
Teri Pearlstein, MD is Director of Women’s Behavioral Medicine at the Women’s Health Collaborative in Providence. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University.
Beatriz Perez, MPH, is the Manager of Safe Rhode Island, a program operated by the RI Department of Health. She currently administers federal grants from CDC and SAMHSA for statewide violence and injury prevention programs.
Lt. Governor Elizabeth Roberts, MBA is chair of the Rhode Island Healthcare Reform Commission created by Governor Chafee in 2010. She also serves as chair of Rhode Island’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council, the Small Business Advocacy Council, and the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
Karen Rosene-Montella, MD, is a Senior Vice President for Women’s Services and Clinical Integration for Lifespan. Dr. Rosene-Montella is the Division Chief of Obstetric Medicine and Professor of Medicine OB/GYN at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is Co-chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Lisa Shea, MD, Facilitator, is the Associate Medical Director, Quality & Regulation at Butler Hospital in Providence RI. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Amy S. Gottlieb, MD, Workshop Co-Leader, is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and Attending Physician, Child Protection Program, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, RI. She is the Chair of Women & Infants Hospital’s Domestic Violence Task Force.
Sarah C. DeCataldo, Workshop Co-Leader, is the Legal Advocacy Services Coordinator for Day One, Rhode Island’s sexual assault and trauma resource center. Ms. DeCataldo coordinates the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and provides advocacy to victims throughout the criminal justice process. Additionally, Ms. DeCataldo coordinates and presents trainings on domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking to local law enforcement, hospitals, colleges and community agencies.
Deborah DeBare, MMHS, Workshop Facilitator, is Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Warwick, RI. She is responsible for collaborative planning and statewide networking on behalf of the state’s battered women’s shelters. She also advocates for state and federal legislative initiatives affecting domestic violence issues.
Mary Reich Cooper, MD, JD, is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Quality Officer of Lifespan, and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Research) at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In her current position, Dr. Cooper is responsible for articulating the quality and safety strategy for Lifespan and working closely with the state government and quality organizations in Rhode Island to improve safety and quality of care for the citizens of Rhode Island. She is Co-Chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Amy Goldberg, MD, serves as Attending Physician in the Child Protection Program at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Providence, RI. She is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University and actively engages with a number of community partners to improve recognition, response and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Yvonne M. Heredia, MSN, RN, CDOE, serves as Adult Clinical Team Lead, Case Management at the Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Providence, RI. She is CEO and founder of the Black Nurses Association, Inc. which promotes health and wellness to underserved populations in RI, and advancement of nursing leadership among minorities.
Margaret Howard, PhD, is the Director of the Postpartum Depression Day Hospital at Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI. She is also Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Howard has published and lectured widely on the topic of perinatal psychiatric disorders.
Constance A. Howes, JD, FACHE, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Women & Infants Hospital. She serves as chair of the Innovation Providence Implementation Committee. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Directors of Day One, and a founding member of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Jennifer E. Lang, MSW, LCSW, is a Clinical Social Worker in the Emergency Departments of Rhode Island and Hasbro Children’s Hospitals where she performs biopsychosocial assessments and screenings for abuse and neglect in adults and children. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty for Bachelor and Master level programs at Rhode Island.
Detective Sgt. William Merandi, is Commanding Officer of the Special Victims Unit, Providence Police Department, Providence, RI. His focus has been on improving the Department’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as investigating abuse in the elderly community. In 2010, Det. Sgt. Merandi formed the Domestic Violence TriageTeam which reduced the number of domestic violence homicides from 8 in 2009, to 2 in 2010.
Sandra M. Shaw, MSN, RN, is a faculty member of the VA Nursing Academy. In this role, she is a clinical instructor at Rhode Island College School of Nursing, teaching public health nursing with an emphasis on the care of veterans and their families. Formerly Health Services Coordinator for the Women’s Center of Southeastern Connecticut, she has helped providers develop their capacity for screening and responding to individuals living with domestic violence.
Belinda Borrelli, PhD, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Program in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, Alpert Medical School of Brown University and The Miriam Hospital. She is a clinical psychologist specializing in motivational interviewing techniques for health behavior change. Dr. Borrelli has trained many hundreds of physicians, nurses, and lay providers in best practices for smoking cessation in the US and abroad.
Mary Reich Cooper, MD, JD, is a Senior Vice President and the Chief Quality Officer of Lifespan, and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. In her current position, Dr. Cooper is responsible for articulating the quality and safety strategy for Lifespan and working closely with the state government and quality organizations in Rhode Island to improve safety and quality of care for the citizens of Rhode Island. She is Co-chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Margaret (Peg) Miller, MD, is Director of the Women’s Medicine Collaborative, a Lifespan Partner; and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Miller is a board-certified internist whose primary area of interest is medical problems in pregnancy. Dr. Miller has also contributed to numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on medical problems in pregnancy and speaks widely on topics related to the association between pregnancy-associated conditions and future chronic disease.
Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, serves as the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University. The Public Health Institute is currently working to promote community health in Rhode Island through environmental assessments, health interviews, health information dissemination, and health promotion activities.
Athena Poppas, MD is the director of the echocardiography laboratory at Rhode Island Hospital and a Member of the Clinical Care Working Group of the National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health at Women & Infants Hospital. Dr. Poppas is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. As a cardiologist, her research is focused on the various facets of heart disease in women.
Karen Rosene-Montella, MD, is a Senior Vice President for Women’s Services and Clinical Integration and Vice Chair of Medicine for Quality and Outcomes for Lifespan. Dr. Rosene-Montella is the Division Chief of Obstetric Medicine and Professor of Medicine OB/GYN at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is Co-chair of the Women’s Health Council of RI.
Amity Rubeor, DO, is the Clinical Team B Leader at the Family Care Center in Pawtucket, RI, and supervises residents in the Brown Family Medicine Residency. Within the last year, her team has focused on Smoking Cessation quality improvement projects, working with Quality Partners of RI and Quitworks-RI. The Family Care Center has received Level 3 status through the NCQA and continues to work on other areas of chronic disease management through the Chronic Care Sustainability Index (CSI) of Rhode Island.
Sara Ryan, DAc, owns and operates a private Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine practice in Providence, RI. Her training includes a BA from Boston University and pre-medical studies at Providence College, a summa cum laude degree from the Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA, and additional studies and practice in Tibetan Medicine in Dharamsala, India. Her acupuncture treatments often include the NADA protocol, which uses needles on auricular points to stimulate detoxification and relieve chemical dependency.
Theresa Mrozak, RN, CPHER, is a Prevention Team Program Coordinator with Quality Partners of Rhode Island. She is responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of initiatives associated with QuitWorks-RI as well as the initiative on Prevention and EHR implementation in the physician office setting. She is a Certified Professional in Electronic Health Records and holds a Business Management Certificate from Bryant University.
Jennifer Wood, JD, is the Chief of Staff and General Counsel for RI’s Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, where much of her work has been focused on healthcare reform. While in private practice she served for five years as Legal Counsel to the Rhode Island Senate Health Education and Welfare Committee where she worked on the development of Rhode Island’s ground breaking anti-smoking legislation.