New Staff Feature: Arshya Gurbani Joins The Foundation

In June, Arshya Gurbani joined the Foundation as Communications Writer. In her role, she will develop and manage content for the Foundation’s website, newsletter, and blog. We asked Arshya a few questions to get to know her better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

I was born and raised in Southern California, and was brought to North Carolina to attend graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation?

Since college, I’ve been interested in the intersection of journalism, education, and public health. The Foundation’s dedication to the community and the investment in public health appeals to me for it’s scope and for it’s focus on holistic health.

Q: What type of organizations have you worked for in the past?

Previously, I have worked at the Office of Admissions for the University of Southern California and as a teaching assistant for the French Ministry of Education as well as BlueEngine.

Q: What are you excited for in this position?

I am excited to work and collaborate with a diverse team of committed individuals, to develop writing skills for a new audience, and to learn more about how health is addressed and discussed in North Carolina.

Q: What do you like to do for fun/ in your free time?

I love being by the water, hiking, and cooking with family and friends.

In May, Suzanne Martin joined the Foundation as the Director of Outreach and Engagement for the NC Oral Health Collaborative (NCOHC). In her position, she strives to achieve oral health equity for all North Carolinians through network building and systems change with stakeholder groups statewide.  She will oversee the implementation of a comprehensive communications campaign that will include: broad dissemination of the Portrait of Oral Health, Innovations Bank, NC Oral Health Agenda, and culturally appropriate health messages.  With extensive experience in program management, evaluation, and nonprofit administration, Suzanne brings both knowledge and passion for affecting greater change in oral health across NC.  We asked Suzanne a few questions to get to know her better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

I’m originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, but spent most of my early life in Smyrna, Georgia. After finishing high school, my dad got a job promotion so I moved with him to Raleigh, North Carolina and have stayed ever since.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation?

When I first came across The Foundation and NCOHC, I appreciated their commitment to public health equity.  I also loved the idea that I would get to work with people who are as passionate as me about providing meaningful service to strengthen our communities across NC.

Q: What types of organizations have you worked for in the past?

Prior to joining the NCOHC, I worked for several different types of organizations. Most recently I worked for the American Cancer Society as the program manager for National Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination Roundtable.  Prior to that, I have experience working in non-profit administration for organizations like HopeLine, Inc. (a crisis and suicide prevention nonprofit) and Stop Hunger Now (an international food aid nonprofit) and in higher education, as a social work instructor, an academic advisor and an equal opportunity and diversity trainer for North Carolina State University.

Q: What are you most excited for in this position?

I am most excited about the opportunity to use all of my skills and abilities to strengthen and grow the NCOHC’s network as well as advocate for systematic change to meet the oral health needs for all North Carolinians.

Q: What do you like to do for fun/in your free time?

I enjoy gardening, co-leading my daughter’s girl scout troop, lifting weights, and crocheting.

In February, Jessica Burroughs joined the Foundation as the new Partnership Manager for Rural Forward NC. A public health leader, Jessica brings 18 years of experience in driving the sustainable growth of regional and state-wide initiatives to the team. In her position, she will work with the Rural Forward team to design, organize, and implement capacity-building services for Healthy Places NC. We asked Jessica a few questions to get to know her better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

A: I am originally from Chapel Hill. I have lived in other places, but always felt drawn to North Carolina. I moved back to NC in 2004 and now live in Durham.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation and Rural Forward? 

A: While at the North Carolina Partnership for Children, I worked with Smart Start Local Partnerships and child care centers in some of the same counties as those served by Rural Forward NC. I also volunteer with NC Momsrising, which is a non-profit group working to bring parents’ voices to legislative policy debates through community mobilization. Both experiences have given me the opportunity to travel across the state and collaborate with a diverse range of North Carolinians. Through my experiences in rural North Carolina, I feel called to action by Rural Forward’s mission to build local capacity and support the leadership infrastructure embedded within communities. I wholeheartedly believe in the Foundation’s approach of finding local solutions to community problems by collaborating with community leaders.

What type of organizations have you worked for in the past?

Most recently I worked at the North Carolina Partnership for Children/Smart Start on an initiative called Shape NC, which is a statewide early childhood obesity prevention initiative created to increase the number of children starting kindergarten at a healthy weight. Prior to that, I spent seven years at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at Duke University, helping mental health agencies select, implement, and sustain best practices for treating children with trauma.  I also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Nicaragua. After returning from the Peace Corps, I worked at El Centro Hispano in Durham, NC.

What are you most excited for in this position?

I am excited to begin learning from community members in the Healthy Places NC counties. I feel open and ready to begin fostering relationships within the communities, and am excited to see all the great work that is already happening there!

What do you like to do for fun/ in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my husband and two boys (ages 9 and 11), who are at a fun age still full of wonder and joy at life. I’m trying to squeeze in as much time with them as possible before adolescence kicks in. I also love yoga, hiking, and zoning out to my favorite Netflix shows.

Lisa_TyndallIn June, Lisa Tyndall joined the Foundation as a technical assistant for the NC Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE). With over fifteen years of experience, she will help to provide technical assistance for integrated care program development to a variety of medical practice settings.  We asked Lisa a few questions to get to know her better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

A: I am originally from Florida, but I have lived in North Carolina since I was in elementary school. I have spent most of my time in eastern North Carolina, with my undergraduate education taking me to Chapel Hill and have also spent some time in Raleigh with my husband.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation?

A: I love the idea of being a part of helping shape health policy at the state level. Even in the short time I have been on board I have been able to be a part of conversations that have given me huge light bulb moments of understanding how system wide change occurs. I love that the vision of the Foundation is geared towards helping all of those in North Carolina have access to quality healthcare.

Q: What types of organizations have you worked for in the past?

A: The majority of my employment time has been spent in an academic setting teaching, conducting research, service, and administration. I have also had experience in administration at two independent schools, as well as working in a local nonprofit family violence prevention agency.

Q: What are you most excited for in this position?

A: I think two things excite me the most about this position. First, as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I love building relationships and I am excited about building relationships with our various sites across the state in an effort to help them advance along the continuum of integrated care. Second, I am excited to continue to be involved in the advancement of integrated care across our state as a whole. I have always believed people are more than the sum of their parts and I am excited that our healthcare system is beginning to acknowledge this as well.

Q: What do you like to do for fun/in your free time?

In my free time, my most favorite thing is playing a game with my family. We will pick up a game of kickball, wiffle ball, or most recently monopoly, usually at the urging of one of my boys. While my husband and I may be tired, within a few minutes we are so glad we said yes to the request. Of course, I also love my personal quiet time through running and walking with my dog and time spent on the back porch in the early evenings with my husband.

 

IrinaIn May, Irina Kolobova joined the Foundation as a technical assistant for the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care (COE). With years of experience and a passion for improving health, she will help to provide technical assistance for integrated care program development to a variety of medical practice settings across North Carolina. We asked Irina a few questions to get to know her better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

A: I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and grew up on the west coast, spending 6-8 years each in San Diego, Seattle, and Portland. I moved to North Carolina to pursue my doctoral studies in 2013. When I finished my PhD this May, I decided to stay and call North Carolina my new ‘home’.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation?

 A: Working for the Foundation with the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care provides me an opportunity to apply everything I learned through my educational training while also being true to my passion of supporting marginalized communities and increasing access to high quality healthcare. Working alongside the multiple programs within the Foundation, I get the opportunity to be part of the systemic approach to improve the health of our community.

Q: What types of organizations have you worked for in the past?

A: A significant portion of my work history has been in research, starting with my earliest experiences at the University of Washington. During college, I was a research assistant for Drs. John Gottman and Jessica Sommerville. Following my love for research, after college I worked as a research assistant for a NIDA Clinical Trials Network protocol that evaluated a manualized 12-step program at an outpatient treatment center in Portland, Oregon. Later and until I moved to North Carolina, I worked as a research coordinator in the department of Endocrinology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). In the position, I managed a large NIH-funded randomized-controlled study that looked at the effects of thyroid function on metabolism and cognition. During my doctoral studies, I worked as behavioral health provider at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Eastern North Carolina. Beyond these longer work experiences, I’ve also worked with a variety of other organizations including Cascade AIDS Projects, The Parry Center for Children, the Knight Cancer Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Psychosocial Program, and the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services.

Q: What are you most excited for in this position?

 A: I get to show people how to integrate physical health and behavioral health and why this is important to improving population health. I enjoy getting them exciting about the work!

 Q: What do you like to do for fun/in your free time?

 A: As my colleagues would say, I have a life-long case of ‘wanderlust’. I love to travel near and far and do so with just about every minute of my free time. I enjoy exploring different cultures, trying new foods, finding treasures, and embracing different ways of being. I also enjoy nearly all outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, and snowboarding.

 

 

Monica_HarrisonJust this month, Monica Harrison joined the team as Technical Assistant for the Center of Excellence for Integrated Care. With years of experience and a great deal of passion, she will provide tools, techniques, training and technical assistance to organizations and healthcare professionals that will help them implement best practices for integrated care. We asked Monica a few questions to get to know her better.

Q. Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?
I was born in New Orleans, LA. However, I’ll say I’m from everywhere, as I am what they call a “military brat.” Both of my parents were in the army and we moved to Fayetteville (Ft. Bragg), NC in 1991. I decided to attend college at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for my Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies, and then attended NC A&T for my Master’s Degree in Social Work.

Q.  What drew you to the Foundation?
Talk about the universe smiling down on me. I was eager to learn all I could about integration and making sure my agency participated in continuing our integration efforts in the most concise and evidence-based way possible. I’ve been on this endeavor since 2010. When I met the Center of Excellence staff in 2011, I thought, “wow it would be great to have had a blueprint to build off of and follow.” I’ve kept pushing forward ever since and have hoped I would have the opportunity to help others in their journey. Now I get to do just that.

Q. What type of organizations have you worked for in the past?
Believe it or not my first career was as an educator/teacher so, I hold a Birth Through Kindergarten Teaching License. Since then, I’ve held multiple positions with the Guilford County Head Start/Early Head Start program (teacher, education specialist, professional development coordinator, consultant). I’ve worked for Wake Forest Outpatient Dialysis Centers as a Nephrology Social Worker and Social Worker Manager in which I traveled to facilities in different parts of North Carolina as a part of an interdisciplinary team. I’ve worked for Win-Win Resolutions where we focused on character education, mentoring, bullying and conflict resolutions for the school system as well as juvenile justice led family programs. I’ve been the clinical lead for a residential home (group home) conducting clinical groups, and I’ve also worked at a pediatric primary care office to consult with other pediatric offices to work on integrative efforts. Lastly, I transitioned to working in a Federally Qualified Health Center as a part of and manager of their integrative endeavors.

Q. What are you excited for in this position?
I am excited to get the opportunity to spread my love and joy of integration and to be able to assist others to be successful in their integration efforts.

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
Well if not running around crazy to my children’s sporting events (I have five boys who all play a different sport, some of which travel constantly – and yes I am the loudest yelling mom on the team) then you will find me out with my husband trying out a new or favorite restaurant – we are “foodies.”

Jessica_PikowskiIn February, Jessica Pikowski joined the Foundation as the new Communications Coordinator. In her role, she brings expertise in strategic communication that she will utilize to assist the Communications Team in setting and implementing strategies that help build the Foundation’s brand and visibility. We asked Jessica a few questions to get to know her better.

Q. Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?
I grew up in Connecticut, but ended up in North Carolina when I decided to attend High Point University for my undergraduate degree. I fell in love with the state (and the weather) and ended up staying around to attend UNC Chapel Hill for graduate school. I think it’s safe to say I won’t be leaving North Carolina any time soon.

Q. What drew you to the Foundation?
I studied strategic communication as an undergraduate, but I’ve always had an interest in working for health-related nonprofits, which is why I am now pursuing a master’s degree in Health Communication. I’ve found that I enjoy doing work for organizations that make a difference (especially in health), whether it’s at the community level or nation-wide, which is one of the main reasons I was initially drawn to the Foundation.

Q. What type of organizations have you worked for in the past?
I went right from undergraduate to graduate school, so I don’t have a ton of experience in the work-field, but many of my undergraduate and graduate courses have involved working with clients in the surrounding community, so I’ve done work for a variety of clients like: the High Point Community Foundation, Kozzy’s Grille, Solar Head of State, and the UNC Volunteer Doula Program. I also worked for a small public relations agency called Creative Services, where I worked with mostly university clients, including High Point University and Davidson County Community College.

Q. What are you excited for in this position?
The Foundation’s message is an important one, and one that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, so I’m looking forward to helping with the communication of these messages and being able to help get the word out to others about the great work they do.

Q. What do you like to do for fun?
I love to run, go hiking, biking, basically anything that gets me outdoors. I also love to read. With all the academic reading I have to do for school, sometimes it’s hard to find time lately to read for pleasure, but I’m trying to fit in at least 2-3 books a semester.

 

Tim SmithTim Smith, a past Bernstein Fellow (2012-2014) and full-time Research Associate for Carolina HealthNet (CHN), will be joining the Foundation part-time to assist them with data collection and evaluation. CHN aims to connect uninsured patients to high-quality, low-cost healthcare while educating them on the merits of a patient centered medical home. The Foundation looks forward to having Tim and his expertise on the team. We asked Tim a few questions to get to know him better.

Q: Where are you from and how did you end up in North Carolina?

A: I was born and raised in Chapel Hill, so I didn’t have much choice about coming to NC. But I have chosen not to leave!  My wife, Kelly, was also born and raised in Chapel Hill and we still make our home there with our daughter, Lauren.

Q: What drew you to the Foundation?

A: When I learned about the Bernstein Fellowship and the work the Foundation does, I decided to apply for the fellowship. I was fortunate enough to be one of 4 chosen that year (2012-2014) and that is where my relationship with the Foundation began.  A commitment to rural health and health equity for all are passions I definitely share with FHLI.

Q: What type of organizations have you worked for in the past?

A: I have worked for several types of organizations ranging from political campaigns, higher education and several different non-profits working with rural areas to improve economic development and health outcomes.

Q: What are you excited for in this position?

A: To be part of an organization that works every day to bring our communities closer to a place where all North Carolinians (and beyond) have access to high quality, affordable healthcare.  Working across the different programs will allow me to learn about the different initiatives occurring to help us get there.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?

A: My wife, Kelly, and I enjoy playing with our 19-month old daughter, Lauren, and taking family walks with our dog, Basil. I like attending UNC Tar Heel sporting events, playing golf, running and other exercise. Relaxing with family and friends is important, too.

Omisade Burney-Scott joined the Foundation for Health Leadership & Innovation as partnership manager on the Rural Forward NC team in October. She brings years of experience in community engagement to Rural Forward. Read more to learn about Omisade:

OmiQ:  What experiences or jobs have led you to work at the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation?

I think my ability to hold transformative spaces and support individuals, organizations and communities in navigating growth and deep change in an intentional and grounded facilitated manner brings me to the Foundation. My professional experience of working in rural communities around a myriad of issues such as community development, economic development and leadership development over the past 15 years is also a key factor. Additionally, I had the opportunity to support healthy eating and active living projects across the country in my previous role as a Program Officer with Active Living by Design (an intermediary of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation).

Q:  What role do you play in the Foundation?

I am a Partnership Manager with the Rural Forward NC team. I work with the director and associate director to design, organize, and implement capacity-building services for Healthy Places NC in rural central and eastern North Carolina.

Q. What is most rewarding about your job? What is most difficult?

The most rewarding part of my work is seeing community members and groups become self-sustaining in the ways they come together to do their work (self-facilitated, clear lines of communications and accountability). It’s also rewarding to see the long-term impact of shared leadership processes that lead to innovation and tangible outcomes. The most difficult part of my job is learning the alphabet soup of new health field lexicon (lol)