Mother of two, Baking ninja, Travel enthusiast, Nature lover, Health geek

Kristine Zerkowski is Vice President, Community Development at Health Union, where she applies her medical writing and health expertise to develop and manage several of Health Union’s patient communities. With her background in Kinesiology and many years of experience in medical and scientific communications, Kristine is able to connect with patients on a personal level to better understand their unique interests and needs. Her passion for health – and her infectious enthusiasm for learning – help to nurture Health Union’s growing communities.

Mid-western transplant, Dog (and all animal) lover, Health data geek, Avid follower of science, medical, and political news

Brian M. Green, MS, is Executive Director of Community Development at Health Union where he brings 20 years of experience in public health, health policy, and community health programs to enhance our online patient communities. Brian has worked on HIV prevention research studies, educating communities about HIV vaccine research, overseeing quality improvement initiatives for HIV clinical care, healthcare provider training, and engaging communities to improve their access to sexual and reproductive healthcare..

Advocate for patient empowerment, Aspiring Jeopardy contestant, Science nerd, Gummy bear connoisseur, Architectural Digest enthusiast

Sara Hayes, MPH, is Executive Director of Community Development at Health Union where she uses her experience in health care and patient engagement to support Health Union’s communities. With a Master’s degree in Public Health and experience across a variety of healthcare settings, Sara is dedicated to helping patients feel empowered and engaged as active participants in their own care. She uses her past experience a counselor to better understand the individual experiences of patients and help provide a comforting environment for them to learn and share their stories.

Former criminal defense attorney, Lover of old things, Obsessed with recommending quality dog food, Eats only plants

Rebecca Braglio, J.D., is Director of Community Development at Health Union where she uses her background in psychology and law to create welcoming and supportive environments that meet member needs. In a former life, Rebecca practiced as a criminal defense attorney and specialized in mental health cases. After becoming involved in a senior pet rescue organization and volunteering for her local shelter, Rebecca shifted her focus from the law to building communities and connecting people. Her background in mental health has given her a genuine sense of understanding the struggles others endure while recognizing the importance of a supportive and empowering community. When she isn’t building communities, she spends her free time surrounded by senior dogs and cats.

Sweater enthusiast, Over-the-hill soccer player, Terrible cook/Awesome reservation maker, Chaotically organized, Too clumsy for heels

Kelly McNamara, MA, is Senior Director of Community Development at Health Union where she blends emerging media, analytics and the psychology of human behavior to create real connections within our patient communities. With a master’s degree in mass communications and media theory, and her previous experience in the non-profit sector, Kelly has a unique perspective on growing online communities and member interaction. In her role at Health Union, she applies critical analysis of mass media trends to engage individuals.

Mama to one awesome babe, Public health nerd, Lover of carbs, cheese and chocolate, DIY-hater, Globe trotter

Amna Rizvi, MPH is Senior Director of Community Development at Health Union where she uses her background in health communications to understand and cater to the needs of people living with challenging health conditions. Amna has a Master’s degree in Public Health and many years of experience in the government and non-profit sector. She strives to use her experience and skills to build and sustain communities where patients feel empowered to advocate for themselves, get the most up-to-date information about their health conditions, and share experiences in order to improve the quality of their lives.

Lead singer in a band, Proud auntie, Health educator, Life coach, Ocean enthusiast

Emily Downward is Senior Medical Writer at Health Union where she creates engaging and thought-provoking content for Health Union’s patient communities. With a degree in health education, experience in health marketing and communications, and a master life coach certification, Emily brings a diverse set of skills and deep understanding of how health conditions can impact a person’s life. Emily’s writing helps people understand complex aspects of their diseases, provides a sense of compassion and empathy, and illuminates hope and possibilities.

Loving wife, Language and communication enthusiast, Pattern spotter, Cooking whiz, Thinks Chai is the answer to all troubles, Cat lover

Ketki Gupte, MA is Director of Community Development at Health Union where she employs her education in Marketing, Communications, and Linguistics along with her experience in healthcare communication to understand and cater to patient needs. During her time analyzing doctor-patient communication, Ketki discovered the power of empathy as key to effective communication with patients and also a means to engage and empower them. At Health Union, she strives to nurture empathetic communities which will eventually help patients and caregivers take charge of the condition,improve their quality of life, and find support while doing so.

Husband, Father, Drummer, Backpacker, Pre-“Black Album” Metallica fan

Chris Hall is Director of Community Development at Health Union. During his previous career in health insurance product management, he realized his true desire was to utilize web and social media technologies to make positive impacts on people’s lives. At Health Union, Chris strives to leverage his background and experience to cultivate and engage patient communities in effective ways.

Adventurous diner, Avid traveler, West Coaster at heart, Sporadically athletic, and Friend to anything with four legs

Marcia Kavulich, MPH, is Director of Community Development at Health Union. She draws on her experience in health behavior research and clinical trials to establish and grow Health Union communities. With a master’s degree in public health and previous positions where she interacted with people living with a variety of chronic health conditions, Marcia looks forward to facilitating lively discussion and fostering deep connections between patients. 

Proud parent of three “gingers” and one husband, Aspiring DIYer, People person, Shopaholic

Laura Kompanik is Director of Community Development at Health Union. She has more than 15 years of experiences working in medical communications where she focused her strengths on cultivating meaningful, enduring relationships with patients. Laura strives to leverage her previous experience, skills and personal love for people to develop and maintain a safe and supportive environment for people whose lives are impacted by chronic health conditions. When not working, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and cat, Gnocchi.

To-do list enthusiast, Book clubber, World’s okayest runner, Spin & TRX fan, Cat lover

Pamela Kline, MBA is Director of Community Development at Health Union where she will draw on her background in patient engagement and relationship building to develop meaningful communities for individuals facing a cancer diagnosis. Before joining Health Union, she worked in major medical centers developing patient education initiatives for breast, ovarian, and gastrointestinal cancers. Pam’s passion for providing engaging and useful information to patients and caregivers guides her work each day. 

Loves traveling, fine wine, and live music … And always saves room for macaroni and cheese

At Health Union, Kate Volpicelli Leonard is the Director of Community Development. She brings over nine years of experience in developing health communications materials and working to improve the health of communities globally. Before joining Health Union, Kate managed a number of innovative programs focusing on global and domestic health issues. She worked alongside community members to understand their needs and support them in solving their problems. She strives to use her past experience to build meaningful relationships with community members suffering from chronic health conditions.

Mom of one canine & one little girl, Philly suburb native, Sushi enthusiast, Shopaholic, Family girl

Lauren Tucker is Director, Community Development at Health Union, where her former career as an elementary school teacher paved her way to understand and empathize with many different people of all ages. She brings her creative eye to making real-world connections and building relationships with all those she interacts with. Lauren’s passion for helping and teaching others is infectious and will help to nurture Health Union’s online communities.

Book devourer, Map collector, Adventure travel seeker, Organizer extraordinaire, Dog mom to Chester Copperpot

Katie Van Horn MSW, MPH, is Director of Community Development at Health Union where she utilizes her background in patient- and family-centered care and patient experience to empower and engage individuals living with chronic health conditions. Before joining Health Union, Katie worked for several years in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors as a social work practitioner and a public health program manager. Katie uses her experience working alongside patients and families during their health journeys as her compass for providing support and content in her communities.  

Mother of three, Fitness lover, Clutter phobic, Cooking enthusiast (before having persnickety eaters), HGTV addict and all things home design

Joanna Bodner is Associate Director of Community Development at Health Union where she utilizes her strong passion for connecting and building positive relationships. She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in communications and has worked in the healthcare industry for over a decade. Now at Health Union it is her motivation to continually connect with others by finding a common ground to boost awareness in every segment for those with chronic health conditions. Joanna currently resides in Durham, Connecticut with her husband and three young children. She enjoys staying active and volunteering for their town youth wellness programs.

Philadelphia Phillies Phreak, Dog lover, Music maker, Snowboarder, Elite Fishtown hacky sacker

Anthony is an Associate Director of Community Development at Health Union where he uses his background in psychology and mindfulness to help create positive, meaningful relationships through online communities for people living with certain health conditions. Anthony received his Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies and has worked in healthcare for the past 6 years supporting various communities including families with children on the Autism Spectrum, people suffering from addiction, and patients with cancer.

Marathon runner, Passport stamp collector, Cooking and wine enthusiast, Lord of the Rings fanatic, Never not reading a book of poetry

A Texas native with California roots, Shelby is an Associate Director of Community Development. With a BA in Plan II and English from the University of Texas at Austin, and experience developing an online retail start-up that emphasized female empowerment and yoga, Shelby is passionate about building deep and meaningful connections and creating an intimate, personal, and always delightful online experience for clients. Her goal at Health Union is to use her interpersonal skills and writing talents to help those who are living with chronic health conditions discover meaningful community and lasting joy in their everyday lives.

Inflexible yogi, Wannabe sommelier, Loves dogs and cats equally, Tattoo collector, Can make a mean campfire

Bridget is Associate Director of Community Development at Health Union. She received her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Drexel University and has worked in chronic disease management and patient engagement for seven years, helping to empower patients with knowledge and support. Before joining Health Union, she worked in patient- and family-centered care and created patient education materials that made health information accessible to patients of all literacy levels.

Travel & adventure seeker, Risk taker, Baking extraordinaire, Health food freak, Family Feud lover, Wine-o

Pam Kingsland is Associate Director of Community Development at Health Union. Pam has an entrepreneurial spirit and a strong passion for health and wellness which has inspired her desire to develop meaningful connections and foster positive relationships within Health Union. From her prior experience in both hospitality management and owning her own successful bakery, Pam brings a diverse skill set to Health Union that includes creative thinking, resourcefulness and the adaptive social skills needed to create great communities. Above all else, Pam is devoted to helping patients feel empowered to live their very best life.

Avid yogi and wellness advocate by day, Aspiring wine and cheese connoisseur by night

Graceann Palmarella, MPH is Associate Director, Community Development at Health Union where she works to build strong and meaningful relationships to foster thriving communities. Graceann also volunteers as a yoga instructor, and she loves connecting with students to help them achieve what they are seeking from their practice. Before joining Health Union, Graceann worked in the academic setting in programming and communications to connect students, faculty, and community members around public health engagement. She is excited to work in a position where she can bring people together around informative and engaging content.

Loves family, french fries, travel itineraries, Harry Potter, and feminist theory

Alina Ahsan is Senior Manager of Community Development at Health Union. A graduate of The College of Jersey, Alina obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with minors in Public Health and Spanish. Her experiences in reproductive health and anti-sexual violence work have tethered her to the belief that patient empowerment is the key to successful health management. She is thrilled to work in a position where she can combine her personal advocacy with her professional goals by connecting patients with an understanding community and providing relevant, engaging content.

Amateur pastry chef, Quizzo champion, Perpetual people-person, Inconspicuous fitness enthusiast, Seasoned turophile, Type A minus

Alesandra “Alee” Bevilacqua is Senior Manager of Community Development at Health Union, where she utilizes her diverse professional background to foster sincere relationships and develop meaningful connections. From her work in film publicity, to her success in the co-working industry, Alee’s breadth of experience has shaped her unique community management style, allowing her to effectively maximize engagement within Health Union’s robust communities. Alee’s passion to empower others, coupled with a deep interest in healthcare and medicine, will drive patient communities to expand and flourish.

Cat mom, Amazon addict, Aggressively organized, Sports inept, Lover of all things pink

Juliana Swaren, MPH, CHES® is Senior Manager of Community Development at Health Union. Juliana holds a Master of Public Health degree from Emory University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in public health and psychology. As a former contract writer for Health Union, Juliana combines her passion for health communications with her understanding of behavior science, health education and patient engagement. Working with the Community Development team, Juliana strives to find inventive and effective ways to build community, helping patients to feel better and lead healthier lives.

Popcorn fanatic, Used bookstore enthusiast, Fledgling meditator, Frequent concert-goer, Rarely seen without a water bottle

Margot Tishberg, Senior Manager, Community Development at Health Union, is excited to combine her background in digital marketing with her passion for healthcare to build meaningful relationships and encourage community engagement in her role as Manager of Community Development at Health Union. She is driven by her empathy and a deep desire to connect with and learn from the people around her. Margot’s experiences promoting concerts and concert venues, tutoring college philosophy and history, and studying English Literature at Oberlin College have provided her with a diverse skill set relevant to her many areas of interest.

Frequent concertgoer, Dancer, Plant lady, Bird lover, Traveler who always takes the scenic route

Pallavee aspires to establish supportive communities at the corner of empathy and creativity. Whether it’s connecting people, ideas, moments, words, images, or visions, she believes that life is more magical when it is shared. Deeply committed to mobilizing communities, she is passionate about furthering Health Union’s mission to create an environment that fosters honest interactions about health conditions between and among patients, caregivers, professionals, and providers.

Pet fish lover, Distance runner, Donut eater, Road trip enthusiast

Sarah Wallin is a Manager of Community Development for Health Union who recently attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Communication Studies. Her prior role managing her college’s Parent & Family Resources page has given her valuable experience working with educators, students and their families while understanding how to meet their needs. Sarah is excited to use her knack for social media and attentiveness to trends to create communities that are relatable and engaging.

Social introvert, Cheese devotee, Human naturalist, Unabashed optimist, Collector of big words

Nina Winterbottom, BA, is Manager of Community Development at Health Union, where they delight in seeing online communities thrive. Their years serving with AmeriCorps in low-income communities have fostered a strong belief in mutual responsibility, a passion for understanding diverse viewpoints, and a talent for connecting with all sorts of folks ages six and up. In such a dynamic, quickly-evolving field, Nina is excited to be on the frontier of health-centered social technology that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

Aspiring gardener, Tea enthusiast, Hobby dabbler, Wannabe thru-hiker, Daydreams of joining Starfleet

Shayna Yeates is Manager of Community Development at Health Union and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy. Her volunteer experience as an online crisis counselor reinforced her belief in the power of a supportive community and an empathic ear when confronting uncertainty. Shayna draws on her background in the social sciences to find creative ways to help build meaningful communities where members can connect with empowering resources.

Enthusiastic spaghetti eater, Airstream glamper/global wanderer, Bibliophile, Ringleader and wrangler of tiny humans (babies & toddlers), Chatterbox

Courtney Getty is Associate Manager of Community Development at Health Union. She is a recent graduate of Stony Brook University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health. Courtney is passionate about ensuring people living with chronic health conditions have a sense of empowerment and access to the information they need while navigating the patient and caregiver experience. She is elated to work in a capacity in which she can help to highlight patients’ voices and experiences while addressing community needs by fostering engagement.

Loving handler of a husband and canine, Sushi fiend, Addicted to Uber, Coffee snob (La Colombe, always), Wanna-be child of the 80s

Jeanette Cucura, BA is Executive Director, Media Account Solutions and Sales Operations at Health Union where she utilizes her years of pharmaceutical and agency experience to translate media briefs and RFPs into winning proposals, to foster agency relationships, and to execute successful advertising campaigns. (And she excels at wrangling Health Union’s internal operations, too!) Jeanette thrives in Health Union’s fast-paced environment, applying her strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills to get things done and navigate whatever challenges come her way.

On-the-go father to three teenagers, Dog lover, Native New Yorker, Beach-obsessed

Sean is VP, Business Development for Media where he leverages his 15 years of partnering with OTC and pharmaceutical clients and their agencies to develop successful media plans and nurture trusted relationships. Inquisitive by nature, he is always looking to dig deep with customers and identify best-in-class solutions. Sean has worked with patient data for years and is excited to share how Health Union’s insights can provide value in developing programs that connect with a brand’s most valuable community.

Dad/Fan/Coach to 3 amazing kids, Admirer of human achievement, Will compete at almost anything, Dog lover – especially German Shepherds, Student of fly fishing

David Jundt is VP, Business Development for Media at Health Union because he truly believes that empowering people with information and support enables them to make more informed decisions about their health. He’s been collaborating with pharma partners for 15+ years, guided by the principle of never sacrificing a long-term partnership for a short term gain. Rarely first to speak and always in search of diverse perspectives, David’s ultimate goal is delivering value as an indispensable business partner.

Grateful Dad, Happy snowboarder, Golf course roamer, Beer & music = Life, Philly sports

David Marsland is VP, Business Development for Media because he loves to understand a customer’s goals and objectives, can’t wait to find ways to help them succeed and doesn’t do well behind a desk. He’s worked with pharmaceutical and OTC brands since 2005 and believes the future of healthcare will lie in the hands of the well informed consumer. He realizes that everyday is a chance to develop a new relationship and improve an existing one.

Grateful Mamoo, Kickboxing lover, Lover of peanut butter & jelly and binge-watching TV series with her husband

Andrea Valente is VP, Business Development for Media at Health Union, where she uses her experience of more than 18 years to help build new relationships and explore innovative ways to work with pharmaceutical companies, agencies, and all potential new partners. She has worked extensively with pharmaceutical and OTC brands and has a true passion for healthcare media, because she believes in empowering people with information and support in order to live happier, healthier lives.

Father, Honest, “We’ll figure it out,” and All things ocean-related

Brian Webster is VP, Business Development for Media where he leverages his sales experience in technology, direct-to-patient and point-of-care marketing to bring structure and strategy to the fast-paced (and often chaotic) world of digital media partnerships. Brian’s previous work with pharmaceutical companies, payers, and OTC products – not to mention some of the largest mass and food retailers in America – helps Health Union build new relationships and explore innovative ways to bring patient perspectives at the forefront of media and strategic planning. At the end of the day, Brian ABSOLUTELY loves working in healthcare, knowing that Health Union helps real patients with real challenges (although he finds it hard to compete at the dinner table with his wife, a Physician’s Assistant).

Proud cat lady, Food lover, Fitness junkie, Theatre nerd, Wannabe citizen of the world

Stacey is Senior Director, Business Development at Health Union where she is thrilled to combine her passion for healthcare and human relationships to evangelize the mission of the company. Through nine years of experience selling digital media, Stacey has learned to appreciate both the art and the science of the sales process, and prides herself on building authentic relationships with her clients. She is passionate about helping those with chronic conditions, and firmly believes in “doing well by doing good.”

Foodie, Sports fan, Gluten-hater, Sarcastic, Avid carnivore

Jordan Miller is Director, Media Account Development at Health Union where he puts his previous agency experience into action, delivering unique and custom media solutions tailored to every client’s objectives. Jordan keeps an eye on the competition and trends within the healthcare media landscape in order to provide agency partners and clients with a clear understanding of what differentiates Health Union platforms, capabilities and – most importantly – our results. A former media planner, Jordan continues in an active role with current and prospective clients to develop actionable and results-driven media solutions that engage Health Union communities in meaningful ways.

Proud dog mom to a Miniature Schnauzer named Walter, Loves to travel around the world with her husband, Philly foodie, Coffee snob

Lindsay Goldenhorn is Associate Director, Media Account Development at Health Union where she uses her previous digital advertising experience to craft winning proposals that help her clients exceed campaign goals and objectives. Having worked with both local and national agencies throughout her career, she now focuses on building Health Union’s media agency relationships. Lindsay is inspired by innovative thinkers and creative problem solvers, and is devoted to helping the communities Health Union serves.

Eagles and Flyers enthusiast, Cider over beer, League bowler, Burger lover, The cool uncle

Rob Groves is Associate Director, Media Account Development at Health Union, bringing 7+ years of media planning experience to deliver custom and creative solutions that achieve client goals. He also leverages his agency experience to connect with media planners in the fast-paced agency world, while understanding some of the pressures of the agency side. Rob came to Health Union to help build relationships with media agencies that provide proven results.

Off the boat from England in 2006, spells ‘Mom’ the correct way (‘Mum’), Liverpool FC fan

Jon Balfour is a Senior Manager, Media Account Development at Health Union. An experienced media planner, Jon has developed unified media messaging strategies and measurement plans, customized for each brand’s end-goals, across multiple pharmaceutical categories for both health care professionals and consumer health verticals. Jon’s role at Health Union focuses on building strong agency relationships and helping clients exceed their goals.

Mom to three amazing kids (one son, one daughter, one husband), Philly native, online shopaholic, Food Network & HGTV addict, beach lover

Nicole Toll is Associate Director, Media Operations at Health Union, where she draws upon her background in digital advertising and programmatic media to execute successful campaigns. With 10+ years of experience, Nicole has held roles on both the client side and agency side where she worked with a variety of healthcare clients. Nicole is excited about leveraging insights and data to drive digital media strategies. In her role, she uses her vast and varied experience to implement new media solutions that will provide value to Health Union’s communities.

Data driven, Modern Viking, New Yorker, Wine, food and cat lover

Lars Jensen, SB Mathematics, is Senior Media Strategist at Health Union, where he leverages his background in market research, big data, and health analytics to identify and communicate client value. In his role at Health Union, he brings over 10 years in market research to help launch emerging platforms to connect clients with valuable audiences.

Mom to two spunky girls, Coffee and popcorn lover, Sun-seeker, Bag lady, Hoya Saxa

Megan Passerini is Senior Strategist, Media at Health Union, where her over 10 years of experience and tenacious drive are bringing to life the company’s newest offering of best-in-class data-driven marketing campaigns. After dedicating most of her career to the growth of a start-up in the digital advertising space, Megan is grateful to join a small business powered by a group of such dedicated, entrepreneurial leaders in healthcare marketing and community development. With her broad experience on both the client and publisher side, Megan provides focused leadership for her team and is working to seamlessly and thoughtfully leverage business development, client success, and campaign ops to ensure the successful development and implementation of the company’s latest media offering.

Dog mom, Loyal Philadelphia sports fan, Driver of the WentzWagon, Adventure seeker, Wine lover

Janelle Setzer, Senior Manager, Media Account Solutions, brings her passion for excellence and previous agency experience to help build successful media programs. In this role, she leverages her industry knowledge and her communications expertise to maximize campaigns across Health Union platforms and nurture relationships – both internally and externally. 

Wife, retired college athlete (yet still a fitness enthusiast!), loves to-do lists, traveling, food, wine and everything about Philadelphia

Julia (Bateman) Tewksbury, Senior Manager, Media Account Solutions, brings more than six years of advertising experience to Health Union, having worked in both business development and account management. She is experienced in navigating clients through the entire lifecycle of a media campaign, from creative strategy and content execution to the proper implementation, maintenance and performance of their ads. Julia excels at building and maintaining relationships and is excited to apply her previous knowledge and passion for executing successful marketing campaigns at Health Union.

Avid online shopper, Playlist extraordinaire, Wine-o, Meticulous planner

Whitni Caruso is Client Success Manager/QA at Health Union, bringing her diverse media experience to this role. Whitni started her career in TV advertising and eventually transitioned into the fast growing world of digital media. As a member of the media team, Whitni will leverage her vast media experience to help maximize campaign yield and performance across Health Union’s portfolio of digital properties.

#TempleMade, Puppy Mom, Philadelphia Proud 

Lauren Dowd, BA from Temple University, brings years of experience developing relationships to Heath Union as a Client Success Manager. She is passionate about connecting people with resources that will empower them to enrich their lives and communities. Lauren is excited to join the team at Health Union to use her relationship building skills to implement successful media programs across multiple platforms.

Beach bum, Foodie, Dog lover, Chocolate fanatic, Delaware Blue Hen

Britt Booth, Double Bachelors, is Senior Director, Audience Development at Health Union where she draws upon her education and experience to translate clients’ KPIs into strategic marketing campaigns. Britt’s first-hand knowledge – both client-side and agency – spans the entire lifecycle of a campaign including strategy development and planning, tactical plan execution, performance analysis and improvement. In her role at Health Union, Britt fosters strong agency relationships, manages media delivery and campaign optimization, along with facilitating project management of internal initiatives.

Bookworm, Starbucks addict, Beach lover, Sucker for anything chocolate, UVA sports fan

Kate Buzzelli is Director of Audience Development at Health Union where she leverages her previous work in digital marketing analytics to help build and maintain effective campaigns. Driven by a love for numbers, she has experience gathering and interpreting data, identifying trends, and highlighting key insights to optimize digital campaigns. At Health Union, Kate will help manage campaign performance and apply her analytics knowledge to bring a unique perspective to the team.

Sports fan, Hiker/Explorer, Video game nerd, Analytical planner, Woodworker

Colin is Manager, Audience Development at Health Union, where he utilizes his collective five-plus years of media planning and buying to strategically reach the goal of each campaign. A big advocate of test-to-learn, Colin is at the forefront when it comes to the latest media technology available. While managing campaigns at Health Union, he leverages his experience across a multitude of media channels, to bring a new and innovative perspective to both paid and organic efforts.

Family first, Eagles second, More grit than Gritty, Explorer of the outdoors and always down for a spontaneous road trip

Danny is Manager, Audience Development where he employs his background in custom analytics and client insights to bring a fresh perspective to the team. His studies in economics serve as a foundation for understanding trends and deriving key insights from datasets to improve ROI and client satisfaction. Danny’s role at Health Union focuses on optimizing campaign performance while leveraging multiple platforms to fulfill media deliveries.

Avid tea & lemon drinker, Shoeaholic, Professional guest lecturer turned adjunct professor, Actively “doing it for the gram”

Kaiti VanArsdale joins Health Union as Manager, Audience Development with seven years of experience in the media planning and buying industry. Kaiti brings a unique perspective of translating business goals into strategic media campaigns by executing buys, monitoring performance and optimizing campaigns across various platforms. Kaiti continues to share her love for the media industry by teaching 7th and 8th-grade students through the Philly Ad Club for Teens Program as well as college students at local universities.

NYC transplant, Salad fanatic, Avid trip planner, Zumba enthusiast, Lover of breweries, live music & anything dark chocolate

Victoria Sperazza, MS, brings resilience and ambition to her role as Analyst for the Audience Development team at Health Union. Victoria uncovered her aptitude for translating data into actionable strategies while completing an accelerated and innovative communications degree at Boston University. It’s not just numbers for Victoria – her previous experience in college admissions and new student recruitment helped cultivate a passion for finding meaningful insight in the metrics. She looks forward to applying this approach at Health Union to curate effective promotional campaigns that foster strong online communities.

Hawaii local, Data wizard, Gamer, Ice cream fiend, The next Avatar: Master of all four elements

Avery Troske steps into the role as an Analyst for the Audience Development team with over two years of healthcare experience. With a BSBA in business analytics, management information systems, and marketing, Avery is passionate about diving into the data to inform both effective and efficient campaigns. At Health Union, Avery is excited to be a part of a team focused on improving and optimizing experiences for patient communities.

Rich Vitali, VP Business Development on the Insights team, leverages his extensive pharmaceutical and consulting background to help clients dissect their business challenges, identify the game-changing insights and develop the strategies that drive brand growth. With over 20 years of life sciences experience in marketing, insights and analytics, market access and sales leadership, Rich works as a strategic business partner with clients, helping them harness the value of Health Union communities to infuse brand strategies with the voice of the patient.

Quintessential hockey mom, Vegetarian, Ambivert, Real estate investor

Amber Esco is Senior Director of Business Development on the Insights team at Health Union where she taps into 20 years of experience across the pharmaceutical research spectrum to help support teams by creating and proposing actionable plans to help address the most pressing business questions. Passionate about fostering consultative relationships, she is thrilled to be part of appropriately and meaningfully connecting the pharmaceutical industry with patients.

Former athlete turned soccer/baseball mom, Basketball coach, Opportunistic traveler, Reader, Fitness fan

Courtney Robertson is Executive Research Director for Health Union Insights. Courtney has spent over ten years working in various market research management positions for firms specializing in healthcare, financial services, and insurance, with responsibility for directing both qualitative and quantitative custom studies.  She looks forward to helping Health Union clients connect their business decisions to real, powerful customer insights, and to help make sure the voices of those in the HU communities are heard throughout the healthcare journey.

Mom to two humans and one pup, Aspiring tennis player, Knitter of accessories, Audiobook listener, Researcher of all things

Amanda Lipski, MBA, is a Research Director in the Health Union Insights group. Amanda has spent 15 years in healthcare market research in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device space and managed projects across a wide range of therapeutic categories with various stakeholders including healthcare providers, payers, and patients/caregivers–both qualitative and quantitative. With an attention to detail, a love of numbers and digging into the research, Amanda leverages her experience to uncover insights and share the stories from our patient communities with Health Union clients to guide them in making strategic decisions.

Theatre Mom/Band Mom, Karateka, Spreadsheet queen, Lover of all things data, Antique junkie

Leslie Beth “LB” Herbert, PhD, is Executive Director, Research & Analytics at Health Union where she leverages her background in customer research, statistics, user experience design and innovation to tackle diverse projects in both research and analytics. LB’s 15+ years of professional experience spans the range of primary research services, such as online surveys and user-intercept surveys, interviews/focus groups, ethnography and usability testing, along with social media monitoring and metrics. At Health Union, LB directs both qualitative and quantitative research initiatives, along with clinical trial screening and recruitment programs. She leverages her strengths in synthesizing all types of data to tell a “deeper story” and share research findings to fuel Health Union’s ongoing relationships with patients, caregivers, disease advocates and partners.

Chipotle addict, Gilmore Girls fanatic, Stylist for a cat-dog, Hot beverage hater, One-and-done marathoner

Kaitlyn McNamara is Senior Analyst, Research & Analytics at Health Union, where she combines her past professional experience as a medical underwriter with her degree in mathematics and statistics. While underwriting, Kaitlyn garnered extensive knowledge in chronic medical conditions and treatment experience. This knowledge, along with her interest in statistical analysis, allows Kaitlyn to uncover meaningful data within Health Union’s patient and caregiver communities.

Loves traveling, cycling, learning, finding his next new adventure and spending time with his awesome family

Chris Woodson is Executive Director, Technology & Data Engineering at Health Union where he combines his extensive experience in programming with his background in Chemical Engineering to find functional and elegant solutions to optimize Health Union’s data science efforts and to align their community websites. He is excited to realize the potential that harvesting and using big data can bring to Health Union and its members. Chris believes that a robust, organized team is essential as he works to transform data into growth and success for Health Union’s communities.

Lover of gastronomy, Hockey fanatic, Proud Philly native, Unreformed optimist, Willing conversationalist

Mike Haas, MBA is Director, Technology Delivery at Health Union, where he uses his background in business strategy and technical project management to bring impactful projects to fruition for the company and its communities. Leveraging management experience in industries ranging from education, publishing, and e-commerce, Mike seeks to enable his team by creating effective, flexible processes for ideation, evaluation, planning, and execution. He is excited to grow and develop the technology team’s strategic impetus within the organization to promote innovative technological solutions.

Avid runner, Dog lover, Tech geek, Sports fanatic, Semi-professional Madden NFL player

Austin Huminski is a Senior Developer at Health Union where he utilizes his extensive background in big data web development and APIs to maximize Health Union’s software platform. Austin believes that process and tech stack can always be improved, and he has spent over six years incorporating that belief across multiple industries from healthcare to green energy. His deep passion for coding and entrepreneurial spirit make him a perfect fit for this thriving start-up.

Sailor, Comedy nerd, Problem solver, General vagabond, Triathlon survivor

Dave Walker is a Senior Software Developer at Health Union and brings years of experience solving complex problems to his role as a senior web developer at Health Union. He has worked in a variety of fields to improve how users interact with technology at all levels. He will work to continuously enhance the user experience while improving the performance and efficiency of the underlying technology.

Problem solver, Fledgling photographer, Avid traveler, Been nerdy since the ’90s

Darrell De Freitas, Software Engineer at Health Union, got his start working with technology building websites for Geocities. He’s since gone on to solve problems in the energy, corporate and healthcare spaces for more than eight years utilizing a variety of tools and technology solutions. Darrell has a passion for learning and is constantly striving to work smarter (and not harder) by making technology do the work. His tech claim to fame has been building a customer service tool in his spare time using Visual Basic for a large telecoms provider operating in the Caribbean and Latin America – that is still in use over a decade later!

Favorite things … cooking and traveling, Loves Zumba, Terrible dancer

Lynne Robinson is Director, Quality Assurance at Health Union where she develops and executes the exploratory and automated tests that ensure quality experiences across our web platforms. Lynne brings more than ten years’ experience in QA and technology consulting to her role at Health Union, most recently as QA engineer at URBN. With a focus on monitoring all stages of software development, she guides the Technology team to develop superior products that support our online patient communities.

Animal rescuer, Open source/Raspberry Pi hacker, Suburban transplant in the city

Brad Derstine is Director, Enterprise IT Services at Health Union, and brings an extensive background in systems engineering and development support to help migrate and automate systems in the cloud. He has worked with organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 500 to small startups, and embraces the open source philosophy to find new and innovative ways to solve problems and create solutions with technology. 

Curious weirdo, STEM junkie, Stubborn activist, Fanson

Marieke Jackson, MPH, is a Health Union data scientist. She loves and treasures data like Scrooge McDuck loves gold coins. Her background combines understanding and measuring health behaviors, practicing public health in the public sector, and learning about forward-thinking applications of technology in the private sector. She believes that the future of public health lies in marrying large datasets with empathy and well-conceived analyses. In her spare time, she tries to do everything and succeeds about 60% of the time.

Desert native, Amateur photographer, Reality TV junkie, Lover of all things cryptozoological

Valerie Slade is a QA Engineer at Health Union, where she leverages her eye for detail and drive for continuous improvement to ensure quality and stability across all of Health Union’s software. Originally intending to work in editorial, she wound up using the same skill set that drew her toward editing in her previous position on the QA team at a major retailer. Valerie takes pride in testing and delivering software that is built to best serve all of Health Union’s communities.

Musician, Effects pedal builder, Small dog fanatic, Spicy food enthusiast, Clean code devotee

Jeff Bowne is a Front End Engineer at Health Union who entered the world of software as a member of the very first graduating class of the first intensive coding bootcamp to open in Philadelphia. He utilizes his eye for design, dedication to accessibility, and excitement for efficient code to strengthen the user interface of Health Union’s many websites. In addition to his previous experience in e-commerce web development, Jeff has worked as a graphic designer and a teacher, once teaching a web development course at the same coding school where he got his start.

Weekend hiking adventurer, Tech nerd, Dog rescuer, Car scene enthusiast, World traveler

Julian Trendelenburg is a Junior DevOps Engineer at Health Union where he uses his 10+ years of tech support experience and organizational skills in the bio-health science industry. An enthusiastic problem solver with a passion for IT support, Julian is eager to help streamline the operations and processes in Health Union’s fast-paced, growing environment.

Continuously learning, Cat advocate, Gameshow lover, Sports fan, Philadelphia native

Kody Lawton is a Junior Engineer who brings his experience at a coding boot camp to bring unique ideas and solutions to Health Union’s tech team. He enjoys problem-solving and creating simple but effective solutions that are intuitive for users. Kody uses his experience with multiple tools and frameworks to contribute to different areas in the code base.

Deadline wrangler, Data nerd, Stevie Nicks fangirl, Animal fawner-over, Night cheese connoisseur

Eudora Linde is a Technical Project Manager at Health Union where she combines her love of data and organization with multi-team communication, website debugging and technical troubleshooting. Eudora has a diverse background in both media and healthcare, starting her career as a news producer in Columbus, GA before entering the tech world through her work on hospital and healthcare-related website builds in Raleigh, NC. She uses this experience to work across the company to set processes, plan priorities and achieve an overall product the entire team can be proud of.

Film enthusiast, Determined perfectionist, User-oriented, Culture seeker, One-of-those health nuts

Gentry Griffith, BFA, is Creative Director at Health Union where she blends her background in user-experience strategy and art direction to bring Health Union content to life. Gentry is a diverse designer – bringing skills in both interactive and traditional art direction – with experience in publishing, finance and advertising. Working through this lens, Gentry applies a unique approach to visualizing our editorial and community-based content, creating not only thought-provoking visuals, but also effective experiences that reflect awareness and understanding of unique patient needs.

Cookie baker, Loud laugher, World adventurer, Cat hugger, Food & beer enthusiast

Caroline Liddic, BS, is a proud and overly-excited Associate Creative Director with a varied background in marketing, advertising, graphic design, illustration, and photography. She enjoys detailed planning, saying yes to new experiences, and finding fun in everyday situations. A hardworking perfectionist in both her work and at home, she excels at organizing and making processes easier and more efficient, and plans to use her creative experience and talents to help expand awareness about Health Union’s many great communities.

Design nerd, Philly transplant, City girl raised in the country, Incurable daydreamer, Globe trotter

Stacey Toseland, BS, is an Associate Creative Director at Health Union where she applies her diverse background in print, digital, and web design to craft engaging, user-centered experiences. Stacey strives to constantly improve her design process and skill set; she always sweats the details. Inspired by her own experience as a migraine sufferer, Stacey is grateful to be able to use her design practice to positively affect Health Union’s unique communities.

Seeks to make excellent work, Desires to serve others, Has a WAY BETTER other half, Loves deep friendships

Philip Gemmell is Senior Art Director at Health Union where he feels privileged to use his artistic talents and creativity to help people in need. He is a graduate of Kutztown University’s Interactive and Advertising Design Program where he was challenged to bring sharp and fresh perspective to graphic communications in an ever-evolving culture. Phil has an infectious enthusiasm and energy and aspires to help the Health Union team to reach even greater success through conceptual and graphic innovation.

Mom to two kids and one husband, Architecture and history nerd, Universal design fan, Backyard organic farmer, Philadelphia phanatic, Takes too many pictures on her phone

Jenn Poyser, BS, is a Senior Art Director at Health Union where she uses skills honed over the past 13+ years in advertising, marketing, photography, and print to create a cohesive visual experience for our online communities. As an Industrial Design major, Jenn enjoyed working with the occupational therapy community to design for specific needs. In her current position, Jenn uses her real life experiences with an autoimmune disease, combined with her art and content abilities, to craft a useful forum and lively platform for community members.

Introvert with extrovert tendencies, Science nerd, Suffering Eagles fan, Wing connoisseur, Whiskey lover

Tiesha Miller, BS, is a Senior Multimedia Designer at Health Union where she applies her multimedia background to develop captivating user experiences. When she was a preteen, Tiesha taught herself how to code and continued to expand her multimedia design skills throughout the years. Tiesha utilizes analytical and creative approaches to produce effective user-centered designs. She employs her education in technical and science communication to improve user interaction with every platform.

Constantly curious, Adventurer, Doodler, Photog, Coffee snob

Matt Dean, BFA is Art Director at Health Union where he uses his creative problem solving to visually communicate the unique content of Health Union. Matt uses his background in advertising along with his traditional art and design knowledge to create strong concepts that allow the user to view something complex in a simple way. A design jack-of-all trades, Matt’s curious nature has led him to teach himself many skills from web development to photography that he utilizes in his role at Health Union.

Ramen lover, Youngest of five, Travel enthusiast, Netflix junkie, Design inspired

Wannabe barista, Husband to a much better half, Proud Dad, User-focused, Pineapple-on-pizza advocate

Mike Meulstee, BFA, is an Art Director at Health Union where he utilizes his background in empathic user-focused design and visual storytelling to both reach our communities and amplify their message. Mike comes from a diverse background. He has spent time doing traditional advertising, in-house marketing at a non-profit, and even did a short stint in social media marketing. Mike’s goal at Health Union is to understand the HU communities, empathize with the patient’s struggle, and bring striking visuals to their story.

Art supply addict, Fan of breezy fall days and red wine, Working on her handstands, Mom to little dog Desi, Ravenous traveler

Luci has a degree in illustration from Maryland Institute College of Art and has many years of experience as an independent graphic designer for a wide range of clients. She enjoys creating design solutions that amplify patient voices and help others explore their stories in depth. She enthusiastically brings her varied style and skill set to serve Health Union’s communities.

Philadelphian at heart, Food enthusiast, Listener of anything Father John Misty, Lifelong Eagles fan, Craft beer drinker

Max Cooper, BS, is a Production Designer at Health Union, where he brings his knowledge and experience of new media to the UX team. As a graduate from Ithaca College in Emerging Media, Max has a wide array of experience in different communication mediums that allows him to create dynamic visual content for the various Health Union platforms. He looks forward to producing engaging and meaningful designs that will make a positive impact on others.

Plant collector, Exotic pet mom, Lifetime learner, Kind of a ukulele player, Podcast enthusiast

Tara Shachter, BFA, is a Production Designer at Health Union where she uses her eclectic artistic talents and blends them with her technological prowess. With several years of experience in freelance, as well as in-house marketing and web design, Tara has continued to explore different skills that make her a well-rounded creator. Tara is thrilled to be part of the Health Union team, as she can use her love of visual art and technology to benefit others.

Boy mom, Dogue lover, 90’s grunge music enthusiast, Late-blooming obsessed runner, Perpetual arranger

Cheryl Makopoulos is Senior Director, Corporate Marketing and Communications at Health Union where she brings a passion for turning information into insights that help fuel relevant and effective patient conversations. With over 15 years of healthcare marketing, advertising and analytics experience, she has an ability to identify business needs and communicate how perceived challenges can become opportunities. At Health Union, Cheryl is responsible for helping clients appreciate and fully leverage the depth and value of our patient insights through all of our syndicated and custom research offerings.

Tap dancer, Taco connoisseur, Ambivert, Barefoot Contessa wannabe, Oldies music enthusiast

Lina Kirby is Public Relations Manager at Health Union, where she creates and disseminates meaningful content to showcase the company’s expertise and grow the Health Union brand. With a bachelor’s degree in communication, Lina has worked to build digital marketing, thought leadership, and social media strategies for e-commerce and higher education, driven by a desire to connect people with companies and products that can make a real difference in their lives.

Doting dad and husband, Sports fanatic, Planner of everything, Dedicated brew taster, Golf course tamer

Jeff Orban is Executive Director, Operations at Health Union, where he focuses on operational efficiency and effectiveness of programs and services. Jeff’s mantra, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail,” (courtesy of Benjamin Franklin) guides his day-to-day responsibilities managing Health Union’s multiple complex programs from inception to successful completion. Jeff joins Health Union with more than 15 years experience in the healthcare industry and a reputation for adeptly bringing teams together to achieve common goals (and desired results). Never one to take himself too seriously, Jeff is a self-proclaimed “class clown” who provides much-needed comic relief to keep the big picture in focus throughout all things planning and implementation.

Animal lover, Traveler, Brewery enthusiast, Foodie

Chloe Piccola, Double Bachelors is a Project Manager at Health Union, where she combines her background of science and business with her passion for planning to successfully manage projects across the organization. Chloe brings an energetic and positive personality to her project management work, coupled with an ability to cultivate and maintain relationships in multi-functional teams. Applying these interpersonal skills, while handling actionable project plans, enables her to help teams meet their goals at Health Union.