Associate Board

Young Professionals Making a Difference


The Associate Board is a diverse group of committed young professionals who work to increase awareness and raise funds for programs and services that improve the health and wellness of the communities served by Cook County Health.

Members engage in volunteering, fundraising, networking and advocacy opportunities. Each year the Associate Board hosts three to four diverse events and activities. The Associate Board is also an opportunity to build leadership skills and lay the foundation for philanthropic involvement going forward.

Leaders of the Associate Board


Kendall Burton, LCSW, MPH, President
Specialty Pediatric Social Worker, Rush University Medical Center

Levi Getz, Vice-President
Associate – Executive Search, Heidrick & Struggles

Marissa Gaines, Foundation Board Representative
VP of Communications and Strategy, The Prairie Group

Patricia Cipolla, PA-C, Secretary
Physician Assistant, Emergency Medicine, Cook County Health

Casey McCarthy, MS, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
Medical Student – UIC

Clarissa Najera, MBA, MPH, Events Committee Co-Chair
Epidemiologist, CDPH

Deisi Williamson, MPH, RN, Advocacy Committee
Labor & Delivery Nurse, Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Nurse Practioner Student

Ruth (Ruthy) Nydia Venegas, MPH, Advocacy Committee
Network Coordinator, UI Health

Nash (James) Pirie, Events Committee
Network Management Lead Analyst, Cigna Healthcare

Katie Palmer, MPH, Events Committee
Senior Policy Analyst III, American Medical Association

Miles O’Hare, Events Committee
Director, Strategic Partnerships, Teladoc Health

Tatum Andres, JD, Advocacy Committee
Law Clerk, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton

Hannah Koepke, JD, Advocacy Committee
Law Clerk, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton

Isabel Munoz, MPH, Advocacy Committee
Senior Clinical Data & Quality Analyst, Ascension Health

Sandra Kwarteng, PharmD, MBA, Events Committee
Pharmacy Supervisor, Cermak, Cook County Health

Kate Leeman, Events Committee
Customer Digital Strategy Leader, Allstate

Mason DeVarti, MUP, Events Committee
Transportation Planner, Chicago Dept of Transportation

Sarah Posey, PA-C, Events Committee
Physician Assistant, Cardiology, Cook County Health

Lauren Passwater, Advocacy Committee
Project Information Manager, AbbVie

Ada Tong, MPP, Events Committee
Chief of Asian American Services, DCFS

Chezalyn Grant, ND, Advocacy Committee
Health Equity Coordinator, Office of State Representative La Shawn K. Ford

Lauren Kaye, PA-C, Events Committee
Physician Assistant, Urology, Cook County Health

Bryant Roby, JD
Lawyer, Kirkland

Fred Lebed
Senior Project Manager, The Concord Group

Lindsay Zimmerman, PhD, MPH, AB Founder
VP Bartosch Patient Activation Insitute, Upfront Healthcare Services

To learn more and become involved, please contact the Associate Board at: [email protected]. We welcome your participation!