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!