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ICAAP > About ICAAP > Staff Directory
Staff Directory
The Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP) is an organization of approximately 2,300 pediatricians in Illinois. Primary activities include advocacy on behalf of children, families, and health professionals in Illinois; the provision of continuing medical education and other resources for pediatricians, pediatric specialists, and other child health care providers; and collaboration with other state organizations and agencies on programs and projects that improve the health and well-being of children.
Scott Allen, MS
Executive Director
312/733-1026, ext 202
sallen@illinoisaap.com
Scott Allen is the Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (ICAAP). Prior to joining the Chapter in late 2000, he worked at the national offices of the American Academy of Pediatrics in Elk Grove Village for nearly 9 years, managing medical subspecialty education programs as well as staffing the AAP’s activities in school health, child care, and early childhood. He initiated a period of growth in membership and programming for the Chapter and served as staff leader in the development of multiple practice-based education and research programs addressing immunizations, tobacco, asthma, child development, and other issues. Scott has his BA from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and has been Education Director for the Public Library Association and done fundraising work for professional arts organizations.
Jodie Bargeron, MSW, LSW
Director, Medical Home Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext 209
jbargeron@illinoisaap.com
Ms. Bargeron joined ICAAP in January 2010 . She has over a decade of experience in medical social work, including serving as health educator and nutritional counselor for a rural health clinic in the West African nation of Mali. She earned her MSW from Grand Valley State University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2007. During this time Ms. Bargeron created and pilot-tested a new model of transitions services for Kent County’s Center for Independent Living. From 2007-2010, she coordinated in home care for individuals with HIV and co-occurring disabilities at BEHIV, while also managing a CDC dialectical-educational behavioral intervention to increase the number of people who disclose their HIV status to potential partners. At ICAAP, Ms. Bargeron has managed multiple grants to spread the impact of medical home and transitions programming. She is lead staff for ICAAP’s web-based learning management system, which will debut in 2012.
Annie Boesen, BA
Manager, Immunization Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext 216
aboesen@illinoisaap.com
Annie Boesen joined in November 2009 as the newest Project Manager for the Immunization Projects at Illinois Chapter; American Academy of Pediatrics working with Chicago Department of Public Health to educate medical providers about immunizations and promoting the I-CARE program. Prior to joining ICAAP Annie was a bilingual case manager with pregnant and parenting women at a suburban social service agency. Focusing on reducing and eliminating infant mortality, she worked directly in the community and homes to promote education and health of mothers and children in underserved communities. Annie holds a duel bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.
Juanona Brewster, MDiv, MTS, MJ
Director, Early Childhood Development
312/733-1026, ext 203
jbrewster@illinoisaap.com
Juanona Brewster joined ICAAP as the Director of Early Childhood Development Projects in 2008. She received her BA from Northeastern Illinois University, and has graduate degrees from Northwestern University (MDiv and MTS-Garrett Seminary) and Loyola University of Chicago, School of Law (MJ-Child and Family Law) and is currently a fellow at University of Illinois, School of Public Health Policy. Throughout her nonprofit career, Ms. Brewster has advocated on behalf of vulnerable child and family populations. She is the mother of two and the grandmother of four, including a child with special health care and education needs.
Mary Elsner, JD
Director, Obesity Prevention Initiatives
312/733-1026,ext. 220
melsner@illinoisaap.com
Mary Elsner joined ICAAP in March 2009 as the Director of Obesity Prevention Projects. She received her BA from Tufts University and her JD from University of Wisconsin Law School. She has more than twenty years of health organizational management and health policy experience. As a practicing attorney, she promoted equal access to justice through representation of the poor in public health benefits’ and SSI disability cases. Prior to joining ICAAP, she directed health policy, advocacy, and government affairs for the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders – ANAD, where she successfully led efforts to mandate Illinois group insurance coverage for eating disorders and worked to bring about public recognition of mental health and its relationship to the entire spectrum of disordered eating behaviors.
Sandra Fraction
Administrative Assistant
312/733-1026, ext. 201
sfraction@illinoisaap.com
For the past eleven years, Sandi Fraction has provided administrative, budgeting, and chapter support in the non-profit sector, first at the Alzheimer’s Association national office and then at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, IL. Prior to her involvement in non-profits, she taught office systems and computer graphics at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, coordinated computer training for small businesses, and supervised figure skating practice sessions for the Evanston recreation department. She has a BA from Morningside College in Sioux City, IA.
Donna Mermel, BA
Business Manager
312/733-1026, ext. 211
dmermel@illinoisaap.com
Donna Mermel joined ICAAP in 2009 as Business Manager. She has a B.A. from National-Louis University and has over thirty years of experience in public accounting. She has focused on the non-profit sector for the last ten years, after her youngest child was diagnosed with leukemia. He recovered with the help of a team of dedicated cancer specialists and is currently attending an MD/PhD program at Harvard University focusing on oncology research. In addition to volunteering for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Leukemia Research Foundation, and Make-a-Wish Foundation, Donna has co-coordinated a Humor Therapy program at Advocate Lutheran General Children’s Hospital since 1998. She is devoted to ICAAP’s mission to promote the right of all children to live happy, safe, and healthy lives, and is grateful to have three healthy grown children and one beautiful new granddaughter.
Kena Norris, MJ
Chief Operating Officer
312/733-1026, ext. 205
knorris@illinoisaap.com
Kena R. Norris joined ICAAP in September 2009 as part of the executive management team. Kena has over ten years experience in provider relations and education, clinical workforce development, community outreach, oral health, and cultural and linguistic competence initiatives in healthcare settings. Prior to joining ICAAP, Kena was the Executive Director and the Vice President of Clinical Services and Workforce Development for a statewide non-profit and medical association respectively, which focused on decreasing healthcare disparities in Illinois. Kena has also served on advisory boards and committees of state agencies, educational programs, and community-based organizations to promote collaboration and achieve consensus in public health policy. She has a Master of Jurisprudence in Health Law and Policy from Loyola University in Chicago.
Dru O’Rourke
Coordinator, Medical Home Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext 207
dorourke@illinoisaap.com
Dru O’Rourke joined ICAAP in November 2011 as the Coordinator of Medical Home Initiatives. Prior to working with ICAAP, she was a Cancer Research Fellow with the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, MD where she worked in communications and outreach, developing reports and webinars for the Office of Cancer Centers. Dru received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Miami University of Ohio with a minor in History.
Jessica Papp
Manager, Reach Out and Reach of Illinois
312/733-1026, ext 204
jpapp@illinoisaap.com
Jessica Papp is the Program Manager for Reach Out and Read of Illinois. Prior to joining Reach Out and Read, Jessica coordinated State-wide efforts to link health benefits to underinsured and uninsured individuals and families in the Chicagoland area. She also served as legislative assistant to an Alderman in the City of Chicago. Jessica holds a BA in political science and a minor in history from Northeastern Illinois University.
Jennie Pinkwater
Senior Director, Prevention Programs and Advocacy
312/733-1026, ext 213
jpinkwater@illinoisaap.com
Ms. Pinkwater joined the Chapter in February of 2008 as a Project Director overseeing Bright Smiles from Birth and Safe and Healthy Homes. Previously she was Associate State Director of Program Services and Public Affairs for the state chapter of a national not-for-profit working in maternal and child health. She has worked extensively on development of professional education programs for medical staff. In addition, she has lead statewide advocacy efforts for passage of mother and child friendly legislation. Ms. Pinkwater received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from Kalamazoo College with a minor in Biology. She is currently enrolled in the Masters of Non-Profit Management program at De Paul University’s School of Public Service. In addition to directing oral health initiatives for the chapter, she also assists with advocacy efforts for the chapter and facilitates the Resident Education in Advocacy for Children’s Health (REACH) program. In her free time, she can often be found knitting, sewing or baking delicious treats.
Rachel Sacks, MPH
Manager, Early Childhood Development
312/733-1026, ext 218
rsacks@illinoisaap.com
Rachel Sacks joined ICAAP in 2011 as the new Manager for Early Childhood Development. Previously, she spent three years as the Community Outreach Coordinator at the Chicago Center for Jewish Genetic Disorders, working with community organizations, hospitals, academic institutions, and governmental agencies on educational initiatives for health professionals and community members around issues of genetics, family health history, and reproductive health. Ms. Sacks has also worked with the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she led a committee of partner organizations in conducting part of the City’s community needs assessment. Ms. Sacks holds a BA in History and Science in Human Culture from Northwestern University and a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Kathy Sanabria, MBA, PMP
Associate Executive Director, Programs
312/733-1026, ext 208
ksanabria@illinoisaap.com
Ms. Sanabria has provided consulting services to the Chapter since 2002 in project management, program evaluation, and grant writing. In July 2004 she joined the ICAAP staff as Director of the Illinois Medical Home Project. More recently she assumed responsibility for directing the Coordinating Care Between Early Intervention and the Primary Care Medical Home project and the Building Community-Based Medical Homes for Children program. In 2009 she became Project Director and Principal Investigator for the Integrated Systems of Services for Illinois Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs project, which is grant funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. In 2011, Ms. Sanabria became ICAAP’s Associate Executive Director for Programs. She also provides facilitation support and consulting services to medical groups and associations. From 1985 to 1998 she worked with the national AAP, serving ten of those years as Director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Health. Kathy holds a double BA in Public Relations and Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; an MBA from Dominican University, IL; and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Ms. Sanabria is the parent of three children, one of whom has special health care needs.
Lauren Seemeyer, MPH
Director, CHIPRA Demonstration Project
312/733-1026, ext. 237
lseemeyer@illinoisaap.com
Lauren Seemeyer joined ICAAP in July 2011 as the Director of the CHIPRA (Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act) Demonstration Project. Under this position, Lauren is helping to lead ICAAP’s efforts in the State of Illinois’ federal grant to improve the quality of health care for children who utilize Medicaid and state health insurance programs. Lauren has ten years of experience in the non-profit sector and began her career in the public health field working with low-income children affected by HIV/AIDS. Most recently, she served as a consultant to non-profits across the country, working to improve organizational and program effectiveness by providing evaluation, research and capacity building services. Lauren also has experience in policy advocacy at the state and federal levels, health education, and research in both the social and biological sciences. She holds a BS in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin and an MPH in Maternal and Child Health and Community Health Sciences from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Julie Shaffner, MS, MPH
Manager, Obesity Prevention Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext 214
jshaffner@llinoisaap.com
Julie Shaffner joined ICAAP in January 2011 as Manager of Obesity Prevention Initiatives. She holds an MPH in community health from Purdue University, where she taught courses in health and wellness and worked for the Purdue Homeland Security Institute on pandemic preparedness issues for hospitals and schools. She also holds an MS in movement and sport sciences (with a concentration in biomechanics) from Purdue, and a BS in kinesiology from the College of William and Mary.
Jeanine Solinski, MPP
Manager, Immunization Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext. 206
jsolinski@illinoisaap.com
Jeanine Solinski joined ICAAP in mid-November, 2008. She is responsible for overseeing immunization education programs for medical assistants, development and implementation of an immunization patient advocacy leadership program, an adolescent immunization educational program and related initiatives, the bi-monthly newsletter and update on immunizations, and more. Jeanine previously worked at the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago as their Medical Education Coordinator. She received her undergraduate degrees in Environmental Sciences/Chemistry and Spanish from Loyola University Chicago. In 2004, she received a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Chicago with a concentration in health administration and policy.
Paula Zajac
Coordinator, Prevention Programs
312/733-1026, ext 212
pzajac@illinoisaap.com
Paula Zajac joined ICAAP in September 2005. She works with ICAAP project managers to provide staff assistance for the asthma, oral health, immunization and developmental projects. Ms. Zajac is responsible for ongoing work related to these programs including scheduling office- and hospital-based programs, tracking and implementation of CME and CEU guidelines and information, and providing on-site staff support for educational presentations. Ms. Zajac completed her undergraduate degree in English (Bachelor of Fine Arts) at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago.
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Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
1400 W. Hubbard, Suite 100
Chicago, IL 60642-8195
Voice 312/733-1026
Fax 312/733-1791
info@illinoisaap.com
