Meet our Speakers
Shaharyar Ahmed is a third year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. I am from New Jersey, where I graduated from Monmouth University with a B.S. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, in 2014. In medical school, I have presented my brain cancer research locally, at the state-level, and nationally and also emceed two concerts. In addition to working hard academically in college, I was a newspaper editor, tutor, and did research in nanotechnology. In my free time, I like snowboarding and eating authentic food.
Cecile Williams is a Radiological Technician.
Ms. Cheryl Boyd has worked for the past forty years in a variety of social work settings: hospitals, dialysis units, individual and family counseling agencies and with geriatric patients in a nursing home. Ms. Boyd recently retired as the kidney and pancreas transplant social worker at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where she was part of an interdisciplinary group of doctors and nurses working with transplant patients, their families and living donors. Her jobs have always given her a great deal of personal satisfaction. Ms. Boyd earned a BA in history from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in social work from Columbia University
Brenda Bowens is a Community Health Worker Apprentice at the Y-HEP Health Center, a community health center for young people run by Philadelphia FIGHT, a comprehensive health services organization providing primary care, education, research, and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk.
Lynn Pecora, a Philadelphia native, has spent 3 decades dedicated to the healthcare field. Her most recent position was the Director of Training at Inglis where she was employed for 18 years. During her time at Inglis her area of focus and expertise was on employee onboarding and employee engagement contributing to numerous human resource projects and initiatives She also served as the chair for the Industry Partnership for the past 5 years which is overseen by the training and upgrading fund of 1199C labor union. Prior to 1998, her healthcare profession included both the management of clinical staff and treatment of adults with physical and psychological disabilities as an occupational therapist through the Tenet healthcare system formerly known as Elkins Park Hospital. Her knowledge of recovery and wellness range from the acute care hospital setting, to inpatient and outpatient rehab, as well as long term care. Lynn has a master’s of science degree in gerontological services from Saint Joseph’s University and a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Temple University. She also possesses a certification as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR).
Gerard Taglianetti is an employee of Pfizer, a biopharmaceutical company
Karen Butler-Colbert, CRNP, is a Certified Nurse Practitioner with nearly 20 years of clinical experience who specializes in the medical treatment and oversight of weight loss and wellness. Karen uses a personalized comprehensive highly effective regimen for wellness and weight loss by providing FDA approved medications, lipotropic injections, Vitamin B12 supplements, dietary guidelines, support and behavior modification to achieve healthy weight management. Karen is committed to providing a one on one program to help men and women achieve their weight loss goals. Karen’s objective for all of her patients is to help them reach their ideal weight for optimal health. Karen also founded a nonprofit healthcare clinic providing high quality, low cost reproductive health care to at risk teens and young adults and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of her clinic. Karen has received awards recognizing her dedication to the healthcare field including The Centennial Achievement Award from Georgetown University and The Young Alumnae for Excellence in Clinical Practice from the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Butler-Colbert holds a BSN with honors
Carol Tenneriello , RN, IBCLC, is a board certified Lactation Consultant and a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in childbirth, maternity care and supporting breastfeeding families. In addition to her current work as a lactation consultant in the Philadelphia area, she also substitutes as a school nurse at Abington Friends School. Carol studied nursing at Hahnemann University.
Marc Neufeld, R.N. has recently retired after a 40 year career in Nursing and is eager to share his experience with you. He is a graduate of the Philadelphia General Hospital School of Nursing, the Thomas Jefferson University School of Nursing Anesthesia and the University of Pennsylvania. His areas of practice include the emergency room, administering general anesthesia, auditing clinical trials and providing Home Care for young adults
Joy Ahn received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Messiah College near Harrisburg, PA, in 2002. She became a Registered Nurse (RN) and began her career at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver. Since then her experience has been varied, including spending time in India and Nepal, and working in a number of health care clinics. Currently, she works for Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) with an evidence-based home visiting program called Nurse-Family Partnership, where she helps guide first-time mothers through the adventure of early motherhood.
Jack Logan, Medical College of PA: Jack’s long career in healthcare began in his 20s. He trained in respiratory therapy, working with AIDS and cystic fibrosis patients. He went on to earn a degree at the Medical College of PA in anesthesiology, and worked with patients in that field. Jack continued earning degrees and certifications qualifying him to work in a management capacity. Now, Jack enjoys teaching medical terminology at the District 1199C Training & Upgrading Fund, and other schools across Philadelphia
Regina Whortenberry BSN, RN was employed at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 2004-2013 in Environmental Services (housekeeping EVS). She had always wanted to be a Registered Nurse. While working in EVS, she joined District 1199C and took full advantage of the tuition reimbursement for Nursing prerequisites. While in nursing school, she was awarded the Dr. James T. Ryan Scholarship and Stipend Fund from May 2014-to May 2016, at which point she graduated with her RN. What she learned from this long journey was that if you have a strong desire to achieve what may be an "unobtainable" goal....make a plan. If an obstacle jumps in the way, don’t allow that to stop you; it is just a detour towards that GOAL!
Dr. Carmen Guerra is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Guerra is the Associate Chief of Staff and Associate Director of Diversity and Outreach of the Abramson Cancer Center. Dr. Guerra is also the Vice Chair for Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine. Dr. Guerra is also a practicing primary care physician and a cancer control researcher. She is the recipient of several NIH and American Cancer Society grants that have supported her research to better understand and overcome barriers to cancer screening. She is also the recipient of the Amos Medical Faculty Development Program fellowship from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Guerra is the current President of the Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society, East Central Division, a current member of board of directors of the American Cancer Society, Inc. Dr. Guerra is also a member of the American Cancer Society Guidelines Committee.
Claudia Siegel works on a range of projects related to the interface between health care and public health, and clinical-community collaborations. She has been a resident of Philadelphia for 23 years, and has held positions at three of the city’s academic health centers (not all at the same time!). She has also served as a consultant to in-state and out-of-state projects related to health care and public health (Midwest Center for Rural Health, North Central Services Foundation), and health professions education and distribution (Kellogg Foundation, Indiana Health Care Professional Development Commission, Governor’s Task Force on Long-term Caregivers, Indiana University Physician Workforce Task Force). She also served as Director of Medical Programs or the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Executive Director of the Texas Center for Rural Health Initiatives.
Lorelei Narvaja serves as Philadelphia FIGHT’s first Chief Strategy Officer, where she is responsible for creating and maintaining strategic partnerships in order to further FIGHT’s programmatic and clinical work. Her career experience includes project management of large-scale, federal and privately funded programs for youth and adults, non-profit management, organizational development, fundraising, and program evaluation for various non-profit organizations. Lorelei has a B.A. in Media Studies with a minor in Visual Arts from Fordham University and an M.A. in Media Studies from the New School University. She is a 2010, 2012 and 2013 photography grantee for the Leeway Foundation.
Dominic Adams is a healthcare administrative mid-careerist with experience in patient safety, risk management, quality improvement, revenue cycle management, and operations. Currently, he is serving in the capacity of Risk Manager for Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. In this role, he analyzes ways to improve processes and work flows to mitigate the risk of patients or employees becoming harmed while visiting or working in the hospital. Prior to joining Temple University Hospital, Mr. Adams was employed at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, PA where he moved progressively during his tenure. He began his healthcare career as a Patient Registrar in the Emergency Department and eventually became the Patient Access Manager for Outpatient Services, Admissions, and the Emergency Department. A native of Philadelphia, Mr. Adams received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Lincoln University, and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph’s University.
Fernando Bribiesca is representing the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
TJ Rhodes is a second-year Master’s student studying Software Engineering at Drexel University. He completed his undergraduate degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (2015), double majoring in Electrical & Computer Engineering and Robotics Engineering. He will begin working early next year at Adobe in San Jose, CA as a Hardware Research Engineer.
Brendan Roth, 17, is an avid young scientist studying in his junior of high school at the Dalton School in New York. His first encounter with scientific research was his 9th grade "biology research project", which he was so enveloped by that he extended it several months past what was required. This prompted him to join the Dalton Science Research Program, a program which helps children enrich their scientific passions through research. Brendan worked with his advisor Ms. Brizzolara, to prepare for and find a real research lab to work at. With unlikely ease, he received an offer for a 2 month volunteership at the Weil Cornell Pediatric Urology Research lab during the summer of 2015. He immediately fell in love with the trade and was fortunate enough to have been able to pursue a project of his own design and continue it the following summer. This past summer he additionally began a clinical research project with radiation oncologist Dr. John Ng, primarily focusing on data collection and analysis of previously published research
Haomin Tian is an Apprenticeship Graduate.
Grace Rutha is a Communications Specialist with a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communications and Journalism from University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a Certified Community Health Worker (Temple University) where she graduated as a Salutatorian in her Class in 2015. She is currently a Patient Care Concierge at the Jonathan Lax Center. She has worked at Philadelphia FIGHT for the last two years. She previously served as a member of the Board of Directors and Community Advisory Board at FIGHT for 2 years before joining FIGHT as a staff member. Mrs. Rutha has chaired and served as panelist in several workshops in our previous Aids Education Month Summits. She just received the 2016 Exemplary Apprenticeship Pioneer Awards under the First Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1199C Training and Upgrading Fund
Healthy Workers Working Healthy is a training program that focuses on healthcare worker safety on-the-job, in nursing homes, health clinics, and hospitals. It is funded by OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and classes include information about employee’s legal rights to a safe workplace. HWWH trains healthcare workers and HS students entering healthcare careers about disease prevention, hand hygiene, back safety, preventing workplace violence, chemical safety, job hazards for teen workers, and much more.
Three graduates of the District 1199C Training Fund’s HWWH Train-the-Trainer program will be presenting workshops and interactive exercises about Infection Control, Hand Hygiene and How to Stay Healthy in Healthcare.
Peer Trainers From Roxborough High School: Darr Freeman, Asiah Northern, Catara Lane, Onyea Cropper, Matthew Law, Jada Starrett
Three graduates of the District 1199C Training Fund’s HWWH Train-the-Trainer program will be presenting workshops and interactive exercises about Infection Control, Hand Hygiene and How to Stay Healthy in Healthcare.
Peer Trainers From Roxborough High School: Darr Freeman, Asiah Northern, Catara Lane, Onyea Cropper, Matthew Law, Jada Starrett