Region 4 | February, 10, 2025 | Raleigh, NC
McKimmon Conference and Training Center
1101 Gorman St, Raleigh, NC 27606
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
Ryan Millner (He/Him/His)
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, Compassion Health Care, Inc.
Ryan has been in his role at Compassion Health Care since 2016 and is proud of the meaningful impact his organization has made. Ryan was born and raised in South Florida and decided to make the move to his family farm in Providence, NC in 2016 when he had his second child. They now have 3 total children, ages 6, 9, and 10 and love rural life. In fact, they’ve added cows to the family.
Jahdea Clare (She/Her/Hers)
Medicaid Regional Support Specialist, NCCHCA
Jahdea hails from Jamaica and is a champion for health equity and holistic health. She serves communities in the triangle and surrounding areas with health insurance outreach and education. She is a yogi and lives by the motto “we are students and teachers at the same time.”
Rebecca Cerese, (She/Her/Hers)Health Policy Advocate, NC Justice Center
Rebecca Cerese is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who is the Health Policy Advocate at the NC Justice Center, where she works with coalition partners and community member around the state to promote better healthcare policies for all North Carolinians. In that role, she partners with people who have been directly impacted by our dysfunctional healthcare system to amplify their stories and fight for policy changes.
Her passion for healthcare justice comes from a very personal place, watching her mother struggle through breast cancer treatment without any insurance. She was Families USA Advocate of the Year for Health Coverage in 2024.
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
Brandi Thayer (She/Her/Hers)
Social Determinants of Health Coordinator, Haven House Services, Inc.
I graduated from Ohio University in 2016 in social work and psychology and have found my passion in working with youth, parents and families especially in the realms of housing, employment, financial stability, and mental health. I have lived in Raleigh for about 5 years and am excited to be a life-long resident because I love this community so dearly. I look forward to partnering with you all and learning more about ways we can change lives in the Triangle for the better!
Paulina Ruiz (She/Her/Hers)
Project Manager, Duke Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Ms. Ruiz is a project manager in the Duke Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Ms. Ruiz has experience managing complex projects, coordinating state-wide interventions, and engaging key informants and community partners. She currently manages Project FIEL-NC (Fostering Insurance Enrollment among Latinos in North Carolina), an interdisciplinary initiative encompassing research, community-engagement, and health policy.
Gabriela Plasencia, MD, MAS (She/Her/Hers)
Associate Physician Policy Researcher, RAND | Family Medicine Physician, El Futuro
Dr. Plasencia is an Associate Physician Health Policy Researcher at RAND and Family Medicine Physician at El Futuro. Dr. Plasencia has extensive experience with health policy research and community engaged approaches, particularly for la comunidad Latina in North Carolina, and currently serves as Co-Investigator for Project FIEL-NC (Fostering Health Insurance Enrollment among Latinos in North Carolina). For the past several years, Dr. Plasencia has focused on improving engagement between community coalitions and policymakers, highlighting the needs of la comunidad Latina during the pandemic, and improving measures of systemic racism and health equity.
Stephanie Williams (She/Her/Hers)
Senior Director of Community Living, Alliance Health
Stephanie has worked in the human service field for over 25 years in positions within nonprofit organizations, local government and state government promoting and advancing services, programs, and policies that build and support healthy family units and access to affordable housing. She helps individuals and families impacted by family violence, mental illness, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorders, low-income, and/or homelessness acquire the resources and skills needed to be mentally, emotionally, economically and socially self-sufficient in their communities.
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Olivia Fletcher (They/Them/Theirs)
Program Manager, NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Olivia Fletcher is the Program Manager of the North Carolina Medicaid Ombudsman. Olivia joined the Ombudsman program 3 years ago, starting off as a front-line advocate for Medicaid Managed Care members and helping them to navigate the new complex Medicaid system before moving to a leadership role in October 2023. Olivia is extremely passionate about equal access to healthcare and is thrilled so many more North Carolinians now have access to low-cost healthcare through Medicaid Expansion.
Clarissa Arguello (She/Her/Hers)
Adult Services and Digital Literacy Consultant, State Library of North Carolina Library Development
Clarisa Arguello is the Adult Services and Digital Literacy Consultant for the State Library of North Carolina, Library Development section. In her position she provides resources and consultation services for adult programming, adult and digital literacy collections, digital literacy training, Spanish language programming, and outreach initiatives to library staff around the state. She holds a BA from Florida International University, a Master of Arts in International Administration from the University of Miami, and a Master of Science in Library & Information Studies from Florida State University.
Kim McNeil (She/Her/Hers)
Operations Specialist, NCDHHS Office of Rural Health
Kim McNeil, MIS is an Operations Specialist at the NCDHHS Office of Rural Health. She was born, raised, and currently resides in Raleigh. She has worked in state government for ten years in various capacities related to Medicaid and rural health.
Ivan Almonte (He/Him/His)
Medicaid Extender, NC Community Health Worker Association Ivan Almonte is a dedicated senior advocate and Community Health Worker. His strong communication, organizational, and planning skills, along with his expertise in best practices, have enabled him to effectively serve Youth and Latino parents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ivan used these skills to advocate for underrepresented families and individuals who, due to language barriers, lacked access to the same resources as others in the community. Ivan envisions a world where healthcare is accessible to all.
Region 2 | February 13, 2025 | Boone, NC
Parkway Ballroom at Plemmons Student Union
Appalachian State University, 263 Locust St, Boone, NC 28608
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
Jeff Walker (He/Him/His),
Director of Programs, Wilkes Recovery Revolution
Jeff is the Director of Programs at Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc. An accredited Recovery Community Organization where he oversees 12 unique programs that we call our Recovery Echo System. Jeff is an NC Certified Peer Support Specialist, Forensic Peer Support, Certified Recovery Coach Professional, and a Peer Support in the criminal justice system. Jeff uses his lived experience to go into the prisons to offer support groups and locally works with Wilkes County Jail to offer pre-trail release services and re-entry services through Wilkes Recovery Revolution, Inc. Jeff is a father, dog-lover, and outdoorsman in his free time. Jeff believes that the opposite of addiction is connection, connection is community, and community is recovery. Jeff believes in authenticity and the voices of lived experience.
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
Robyn Segal, MPH (She/Her/Hers)
Medicaid Expansion Regional Support Specialist, North Carolina Community Health Center Association
Robyn Segal supports community health centers, partner organizations and the surrounding communities with Medicaid Expansion outreach and enrollment. She proactively establishes and maintains relationships, becoming a trusted resource for the communities she serves. She focuses on meeting people where they’re at and providing compassionate support that extends beyond health coverage and includes social determinants of health. Before joining NCCHCA, Robyn worked with Partners in Health on Covid-19 initiatives and the Association of Public Health Laboratories on strengthening capacity of public health laboratories internationally. Robyn holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of South Florida and a MPH from the University of Sheffield UK.
Alicia Edwards (She/Her/Hers)
Director, Disaster Relief Project, Legal Aid of North Carolina
Alicia Edwards is the Director of the Disaster Relief Project at Legal Aid of North Carolina, a statewide nonprofit law firm that represents people with low incomes in their civil legal cases to ensure equal access to justice. The Disaster Relief Project provides legal assistance and education to survivors of disasters throughout North Carolina and supports community economic development and equitable long-term recovery and resiliency in disaster-impacted communities. Alicia has worked at Legal Aid since 2005, handling a variety of cases across multiple practice areas throughout her career. She obtained her B.A. in English at Boston College and her J.D. at University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. While not at work, Ms. Edwards enjoys spending time with her husband, Ben, and their 3 kids.
Julio Ruiz (He/Him/His)
Community Health Worker, NC Community Health Workers Association
Julio Ruiz, a native of Mexico, is a Community Health Worker currently working in Region 2 with a focus on Medicaid Expansion. By providing education and direct support to members of the community, Julio has been able to help many people in his region to make educated decisions about Medicaid benefits and its expansion in North Carolina. In addition to health promotion, Julio is dedicated to promoting Mexican culture through folk dance at his organization “Ballet Folkorico Mexican Tradition of Julio Ruiz”, where he teaches children, youth and adults to perform traditional Mexican folk dances, sharing these traditions in various states across the country.
Julio Ruiz, originario de México, es un promotor de salud que actualmente está trabajando en la región 2 con un enfoque en la expansión de Medicaid. Por medio de la educación y el apoyo directo a miembros de su comunidad, Julio ha podido ayudar a muchas personas en su región a tomar decisiones educadas acerca de los beneficios del Medicaid y su expansión de beneficios en el estado de Carolina del Norte. Además de promover la salud, Julio se dedica a promover la cultura mexicana por medio de la danza folclórica a través de su Ballet Folklorico Mexican Tradition of Julio Ruiz, donde enseña a niños, jóvenes y adultos a bailar los bailes tradicionales del folclor mexicano; compartiendo sus tradiciones en varios estados del país.
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Justin Kearley, MPH (He/Him/His)
Operations Specialist, NC Office of Rural Health, NCDHHS
Justin is a native of WNC and an Alumni of AppState’s Public Health program. His experience includes work in the non-profit sector, academic research and teaching, and in local, state and federal government. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, gardening and spending time with his husband, Myles.
Eugene Wilson (He/Him/His)
Outreach & Enrollment Manager, Triad Adult & Pediatric Medicine
As Outreach and Enrollment Manager, Eugene and his phenomenal staff’s primary focus is to connect people to insurance and health resources. By leveraging community partnerships like the NC Navigator Consortium and utilizing community events, one-on-one engagement, they prioritize a patient-centered approach. Partnerships are essential in helping our patients and community members navigate complex health systems.
Amanda Dezarn (She/Her)
Senior Program Coordinator, HealthCare Access (HCA)- Winston-Salem
HCA receives referrals from providers for uninsured patients that need further specialty care. My work involves financial intake for our charity care program as well as, assisting patients with Marketplace health insurance, Medicaid referrals, and education as applicable.
Katey Millette, NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Justin Kearley (He/Him/His)
Operations Specialist, NC Office of Rural Health, NCDHHS
Justin is a native of WNC and an Alumni of AppState’s Public Health program. His experience includes work in the non-profit sector, academic research and teaching, and in local, state and federal government. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, gardening and spending time with his husband, Myles.
Region 5 | February 17, 2025 | Wilmington, NC
Cape Fear Community College Union Station
502 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
Miranda Catania (She/Her)
SDOH & HOP Coordinator, North Carolina Community Health Center Association
Miranda began working with NCCHCA’s Clinically Integrated Network, CMHN, in early 2022 when the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program launched for Medicaid Managed Care beneficiaries in North Carolina. She is passionate about educating FQHCs and healthcare professionals on the impact of Social Determinants of Health on patient care and daily life. By assisting Medicaid members in identifying and addressing SDOH barriers, Miranda works to close social gaps and improve health outcomes, with the long-term goal of further raising awareness about social needs and their impact through data analysis and health equity education.
Michelle Gunn (She/Her)
Deputy Director, Leading Into New Communities (LINC)
Michelle has worked with LINC since 2014, focusing her work on fostering resilience, advocating for marginalized communities, and promoting person-centered care. A graduate of the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Psychology, Michelle has also earned a Master of Administration in Justice-Involved Care from Morehouse School of Medicine. Her expertise and passion drive her commitment to creating systemic change, enhancing access to resources, and empowering justice-involved individuals to thrive.
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
James Osborne (He/Him/His)
Director of Community Education, Alliance Health
James Osborn is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist with over 30 years of experience. He has worked in a variety of settings in various roles – inpatient, outpatient, crisis and assessment, vocational rehabilitation, and administration. He is the Director of Community Education with Alliance Health
Talya Williams (She/Her/Them)
Linkage to Care Specialist & Outreach Worker, North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition (NCHRC)
Talya Williams is a Native of Wilmington, NC for over 40yrs. She is certified in HIV, HEP C Testing & Counseling. She has training through N Florida AIDS and Southeast Education Training Centers. Talya is currently The Linkage to Care Specialist/Outreach Worker for NCHRC located in the Wilmington, NC area where she advocates for those living with HIV, Domestic Violence, Substance Disorder, and to the Equality to Marginalized Populations and People of Color. Favorite quote ” What is done in Love is done well”.
Kim Gore (She/Her)
Chief Operations Officer, WARM NC
As Chief Operations Officer at WARM NC (formerly Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry), Kim oversees all aspects of the Homeowner Services Team and Construction Department, ensuring efficient application intake, case management, and performance improvements for WARM’s Traditional Services. She also leads the Community Partner Program (CPP), fostering collaborations with organizations to secure funding and referrals that enable WARM NC to provide critical home repairs. This includes overseeing the Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program (HOP) and the HUD-funded Older Adult Home Modification Program, an initiative awarded to only 14 organizations nationwide.
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Yesenia Cuello (She/Her)
Executive Director, NC FIELD
Yesenia Cuello is the Co-founder and Executive Director of NC FIELD, a grassroots nonprofit based in rural eastern North Carolina. Dedicated to supporting the agricultural workforce and their families, NC FIELD streamlines and delivers essential resources to foster healthier, thriving communities.
Leslie Wolcott, MA (She/Her/Hers)
Operations Specialist, NCDHHS Office of Rural Health
Leslie Wolcott is an Operations Specialist at the NCDHHS Office of Rural Health. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Doug, and dog, Bub. She worked on the effort to expand Medicaid in her previous roles with FQHCs in North Carolina and with a budget and policy organization in Florida.
Nicollette Adams (She/Her)
NC Medicaid Ombudsman Outreach Coordinator
Nicollette has been a part of the NC Medicaid Ombudsman Program since November of 2021, where she began as an Ombudsman and later transitioned into the role she is in today. As the Statewide Outreach Coordinator, she is responsible for coordinating and participating in virtual and in-person outreach events as well as maintaining key community partnerships across NC.
Region 3 | March 4, 2025 | Charlotte, NC
Harris Conference Center
3216 CPCC Harris Campus Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
Deborah Rose (she/her)
Community Health Worker, NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program
Deborah Rose is a Certified Community Health Worker with the NC FIT (Formerly Incarcerated Transition) Program in Mecklenburg County, NC. She is also a Certified Peer Support and Trauma Informed Care Specialist. Deborah has worked in the Reentry field for the past 5 years. Deborah’s tools include education and coaching, two of the most powerful tools needed for her patients. She also uses her lived experience along with her heart for people to partner with her patients while on their journey to overall health and wellness. Deborah enjoys meeting her patients where they are and assisting them with reaching their personal and professional goals. Deborah’s motto: I’m just a small pebble in a large pond doing my part one patient at a time.
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
Robyn Segal, MPH (She/Her)
Medicaid Expansion Regional Support Specialist, North Carolina Community Health Center Association
Robyn Segal supports community health centers, partner organizations and the surrounding communities with Medicaid Expansion outreach and enrollment. She proactively establishes and maintains relationships, becoming a trusted resource for the communities she serves. She focuses on meeting people where they’re at and providing compassionate support that extends beyond health coverage and includes social determinants of health. Before joining NCCHCA, Robyn worked with Partners in Health on Covid-19 initiatives and the Association of Public Health Laboratories on strengthening capacity of public health laboratories internationally. Robyn holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of South Florida and a MPH from the University of Sheffield UK
Verlina Lomick (she/her)
Director of Community Outreach and Advocacy, Kintegra Health
Verlina Lomick has built a successful career in public health, advocating for the under-served on the local, state, and national levels. In her role as Director of Community Outreach & Advocacy, Mrs. Lomick leads the implementation of critical healthcare initiatives. She engages with diverse community partners to provide a unified voice on behalf of those most vulnerable. A true leader, along with her team of frontline workers (21), she helped expand the Kintegra outreach footprint into five additional counties. She is a proud NC Navigator and a Community Health Worker IV. She earned a “Strengthening Community Health Worker Program Certificate” from Harvard University.
Crystal Walls (she/her)
Executive Director, HealthNET Gaston
Crystal Walls is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience in both administrative and clinical roles. As the Executive Director at HealthNet Gaston, she oversees staff management and fosters community partnerships. Previously, Crystal served as the Outreach Coordinator at HealthNet Gaston, focusing on enhancing patient access to care, and as Operations Manager in the rural health sector. She has also held clinical positions within the hospital system. Crystal holds a Bachelor’s in Health Services Management and an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting. Passionate about improving Social Drivers of Health and supporting underserved populations, she is actively involved in several community boards and a member of the Gastonia Rotary Club.
DeQuia Rainey (she/her)
Community Health Worker II, North Carolina Community Health Worker Association.
I am Certified Community Health Worker Level II with over 13 years of experience as a CHW. I sit as a board Chair of the Queen City Connect Coalition (aka QC4) to help unify, equip, and empower community health workers in Mecklenburg County communities. My journey into community health work was driven by my personal experience with lack of assistance, lack of advocacy and barriers. This inspired me to dedicate myself to serving others by providing help, advocacy, education, and encouragement.
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Aamir Amjad (he/him/his)
Program Manager, NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Aamir John manages the NC Medicaid Ombudsman Program in Region 3, leveraging his expertise as an International Development Specialist. He has extensive experience in managing and consulting on global and regional initiatives focused on citizen engagement, economic justice, and equitable healthcare access. Prior to this role, Aamir led numerous programs funded by international agencies such as the European Union, UNDP, USAID, and German BMZ. His work is rooted in a strong commitment to empowering communities and transforming systems that serve vulnerable populations.
Robbie Jarrett (she/her/hers)
Director of Patient Engagement, NC MedAssist
Robbie is the Director of Patient Engagement at NC MedAssist where she develops and implements patient engagement and communications strategy to increase enrollment in the Free Pharmacy Program. With over 20 years working in the nonprofit field, Robbie is well-versed in face-to-face engagement, adept at problem-solving to ensure personalized care and support. In her free time, she enjoys church activities, performing arts events, old movies, and spending time with family.
Leslie Wolcott, MA (she/her/hers)
Operations Specialist, NCDHHS Office of Rural Health
Leslie Wolcott is an Operations Specialist at the NCDHHS Office of Rural Health. She lives in Raleigh with her husband, Doug, and dog, Bub. She worked on the effort to expand Medicaid in her previous roles with FQHCs in North Carolina and with a budget and policy organization in Florida.
Bekah Lanier (they/them)
Lead PATH Case Manager, Charlotte Trans Health
Bekah Lanier (they/them) is the Lead Case Manager for the PATH program. They received their Bachelor of Arts in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Bekah’s philosophy on client care is to create a humanistic, compassionate, safe space for clients to be agents in their own care while having a team of supportive people there to help guide them in their journey. Bekah’s areas of interest include Queer Theory, Intersectionality, and Disability Culture.
Region 6 | March 12, 2025 | Greenville, NC
Eastern AHEC
2600 W Arlington Blvd, Greenville, NC 27834
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Region 1 | March 20, 2025 | Lake Junaluska, NC
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center
91 N Lakeshore Dr, Waynesville, NC 28785
Impact of Medicaid Expansion So Far
Miranda Catania (she/her)
SDOH & HOP Coordinator, North Carolina Community Health Center Association
Miranda began working with NCCHCA’s Clinically Integrated Network, CMHN, in early 2022 when the Healthy Opportunities Pilot program launched for Medicaid Managed Care beneficiaries in North Carolina. She is passionate about educating FQHCs and healthcare professionals on the impact of Social Determinants of Health on patient care and daily life. By assisting Medicaid members in identifying and addressing SDOH barriers, Miranda works to close social gaps and improve health outcomes, with the long-term goal of further raising awareness about social needs and their impact through data analysis and health equity education.
Melissa Lacy (she/her/hers)
Program Supervisor, NC Medicaid Ombudsman
Melissa is a Program Supervisor with NCMO and has been with the organization for 3 years. Prior to NCMO, Melissa worked as a pediatric nurse and a paralegal. She grew up in Pennsylvania, and has lived in the Asheville area for over 20 years. She is honored to be an advocate for people with Medicaid.
Rebecca Cerese (she/her)
Health Policy Advocate, NC Justice Center
Rebecca Cerese is an award-winning documentary filmmaker who is the Health Policy Advocate at the NC Justice Center, where she works with coalition partners and community member around the state to promote better healthcare policies for all North Carolinians. In that role, she partners with people who have been directly impacted by our dysfunctional healthcare system to amplify their stories and fight for policy changes.
Her passion for healthcare justice comes from a very personal place, watching her mother struggle through breast cancer treatment without any insurance. She was Families USA Advocate of the Year for Health Coverage in 2024.
We’ve Reached 600k! What Now?
Lauren Ashley Redmon (she/her)
Staff Attorney, Disaster Relief Pro Bono Programs
Lauren Ashley joined our Pro Bono Programs team as a staff attorney in 2025. Working from our Asheville office, she focuses primarily on our efforts to coordinate pro bono services for survivors of Hurricane Helene. Originally from Georgia, Lauren Ashley earned her J.D. from Mercer University in Macon and worked as a civil litigation attorney until relocating to Asheville in 2019. Since becoming licensed in North Carolina, her practice has focused on real estate law and estate planning & administration.
In her free time, Lauren Ashley enjoys fly fishing, gardening, stand-up comedy, and exploring the outdoors with her fiancé and two dogs.
Glenn Wise (he/him/his)
MANNA FoodBank
Glenn Wise has been with MANNA FoodBank for more than seven years and leads all of MANNA’s programs. These include Youth Programs, Benefits Outreach, Health and Nutrition, and our initiatives aimed at addressing the Social Determinants of Health in partnership with the healthcare sector, including the Healthy Opportunities Pilot in Western North Carolina (an innovative program within NC Medicaid). Prior to coming to MANNA, Glenn has worked in both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, leading local, national and international teams, focused on improving the health of the public and communities.
Jose Infanzon Chavez (he/him/ el)
CHW Program Regional Coordinator, UNETE
Jose Infanzon Chavez is the CHW Program Regional Coordinator at UNETE and an Ambassador for the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (NCCHWA). With over 18 years of experience in the for-profit sector, including 16 years in management, Jose transitioned to nonprofit work to focus on community service. He is a dedicated advocate for rural and migrant communities, leveraging his expertise in outreach, health education, and resource navigation to support families in Western North Carolina.
Key Partners in Medicaid Expansion Panel
Justin Kearley, MPH (He/him/his)
Operations Specialist, NC Office of Rural Health, NCDHHS
Justin is a native of WNC and an Alumni of App State’s Public Health program. His experience includes work in the non-profit sector, academic research and teaching, and in local, state and federal government. In his free time, he enjoys exercising, gardening and spending time with his husband, Myles.
