NACHC’s Innovation Advisory Council

During her tenure with Asian Health Services, Ms. Liou has led the charge in strategic planning, development, the AHS Business Council, communications, advocacy and fundraising campaigns, and with cornerstone relationships. In recent years, Ms. Liou has catapulted AHS’ development successes in donor gifts, capital campaign fund raising, events, and grants from government and foundations. During the COVID pandemic, Julia collaborated with the Chief Innovation Officer and leveraged technology and government relationships to initiate a federal funding stream that seeds innovation and technology for community health centers nationwide.

Dr. Polkey joined BJHCHS in September 2002 as a Pediatrician. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer, Beaufort-Jasper-Hampton Comprehensive Health Services. She is also the Regional Director of Medical Education for AT Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, whose South Carolina campus is embedded within the health center.

Mr. Bettini is President and CEO for the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center as well as serves on NACHC’s board as representative for Region IX. He is board chairman of AHARO Hawaii, a network of FQHCs applying advanced analytics. He has expertise in many areas of FQHC operations including accountable care and artificial intelligence. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley School of Public Health and was a visiting scholar at Stanford University studying the “Diffusion of Innovation”.

Dr. Bruton has worked with community health centers at the site, state, and national levels since 1999. Her professional background spans a variety of business lines and vocations including leadership positions in physical and mental health, philanthropy, association management, advocacy, news, and organizational development.

Rashad A. Collins is President and Chief Executive Officer of Unity Health Care, Washington, DC’s largest community health center, serving more than 90,000 patients annually across a growing citywide network of primary care, dental, behavioral health, and specialty services. He brings more than 15 years of executive leadership experience across community health centers and health center associations, with a career focused on organizational performance, access to care, and system sustainability.

Prior to joining Unity Health Care, Mr. Collins served as Chief Executive Officer of Neighborcare Health in Seattle, Washington, the city’s largest community health center, where he led a system-wide transformation to strengthen financial sustainability, modernize operations, and expand access to care for more than 60,000 patients across 30+ sites. Earlier in his career, he held executive leadership roles including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and Chief Program Officer of the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut, where he directed statewide initiatives in value-based care, workforce development, and health system performance.

Mr. Collins has also served in key governance roles within the community health movement, including as former Board Chair of Caring Health Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), where he contributes to national discussions on governance, policy, and the future of community-based care.

He holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership and is a frequent national speaker on leadership, governance, and innovation in community health.

A key member of Executive Leadership team and Board of Director at Chase Brexton HealthCare in Baltimore MD, Mahro spearheaded transformative initiatives, redefining the organization’s value, mission, and strategies to achieve both short and long-term goals. Currently serving as Chief Strategy and Pharmacy officer, Mahro played a pivotal role in successfully securing federal grant for an organization-wide diabetes management program and championed value-based strategies for historically disenfranchised populations. Recognized as a Top Health Care Business leader in 2021 by Baltimore Business Journal, Mahro is a licensed pharmacist at Maryland and Florida, with a commitment to advancing healthcare and making a lasting impact.

Dr. Shaun Garcia, the Chief Quality Officer at Brevard Health Alliance, brings a wealth of expertise to healthcare innovation. With a career spanning various facets of healthcare delivery, his strategic vision and operational prowess have been pivotal in transitioning organizations to value-based care models. A fervent advocate for data-informed decision-making, Shaun’s proficiency in clinical and business operations, population health, and healthcare consultancy is augmented by his firsthand experience in medicine. His collaborative endeavors with technology startups reflect a deep-seated commitment to integrating cutting-edge solutions in healthcare, with a special focus on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence and workforce innovation.

Andrew is a master’s prepared nurse informaticist with 17 years of experience including in-patient nursing care, outpatient community health, and nursing administration. In addition, he is co-chair of the Chicago Area PCORnet Informatics Working Group and HHS UDS Modernization efforts. Andrew is a Fellow of the third class of the Health Innovators Fellowship and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Feygele Jacobs, DrPH, MS, MPH is a Professor of Health Policy and Management and Director of the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University. Prior to joining GW, she was President and CEO of the RCHN Community Health Foundation (RCHN CHF), a non-profit foundation dedicated exclusively, until its sunset in 2022, to supporting and benefiting health centers and the communities and patients they serve across America, and whose signature initiatives focused on expanding access and helping health centers enhance their capacity and strengthen systems and operations.

Annette has more than 30 years of health care policy experience. She is considered a policy expert in many areas impacting Community Health Centers and an expert on association management.  She actively advocates access to health care as a right.

Debbie Lester is the Chief Quality and Social Impact Program Officer at Urban Health Plan. She heads up the quality division and directs the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, an internal quality improvement (QI) institute and an innovation arm of Urban Health Plan.

In partnership with Directors of Social Services, Nutrition, Health Education and Care Management, Debbie created a robust organizational infrastructure that addresses the social determinants of health through integrated support services and innovative patient programs at health center sites. She is a contributor to the quality improvement implementation guide developed by NACHC in 2007 and has co-authored three published articles on health care quality improvement.

Raul Marrero is the Health Information Technology Manager for Tennessee Primary Care Association and their HCCN. He supports the member health centers through technical assistance, training, and project management in several areas. These include RPM initiatives, Telehealth, EHR optimization, patient engagement, and improving interoperability. Raul has 18 years of experience in IT and holds a B.A. degree in Education Studies and an M.A. degree in Educational Technology Leadership from the University of Arizona and a Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology from Walden University. He has completed doctoral coursework in Information Technology at Capella University and Health Sciences Leadership at AT Still University.

Dr. Mir is an Internist and Infectious diseases physician graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her medical degree at the Universidad Central de Venezuela where she developed a passion for community health and serving the most vulnerable populations. She has a 20+ year career working as a clinician in Boston’s federally qualified health centers (FQHCs); over the years, Dr. Mir has held multiple leadership positions including being the Chief Medical Officer for DotHouse Health in Dorchester, MA. She maintains a clinical practice in Boston and is a great advocate for community health and rebuilding trust in our health care system.

Deborah Morrison is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center (RCCHC), located in Eastern North Carolina. She leads a board that is committed to RCCHC’s mission of comprehensive health care that reduces health disparities for the people of the Roanoke-Chowan area. Professionally, Deborah serves as a Magistrate Judge for the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, District 6.

Preethi is the Chief Operating Officer for Community Medical Centers, overseeing operations of 30+ primary care clinics, ensuring high-quality care to over 113,000 patients in the Central Valley region of California. Inspired by the health center movement and its mission of providing healthcare access for all, she transitioned from a decade-long career in business intelligence and consulting to pursue her passion in community health and non-profit management. She presently serves as a Board Member for the San Joaquin County Health Information Exchange and is an alumna of the J&J/UCLA Health Care Executive program.

Andrew Robie, MD, is Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO) and Vice President of Population Health at Unity Health Care.  Dr. Robie has spent 15 years practicing family medicine at Unity’s Anacostia Health Center. As medical director of that center, he led the clinic’s move to a new facility and growth from 20,000 to more than 40,000 patient visits per year.  After spending 2022 as Unity’s interim Chief Medical Officer, he took on the new role of VP of Population Health, focused on leveraging data and innovation to promoted health equity and reduce health disparities in surrounding communities.

Dr. Wiltz has been employed with TAC for 40 years. During his tenure, he has also held many positions of leadership at the local, state, and national levels. Dr. Wiltz served on four Governor’s Healthcare Transition teams, more recently, Co- Chairing current Governor John Bel Edwards’ team. He is also a Board of Trustee and past Chair of AT Still University and past Chair of NACHC.