Matt Siemer is the Executive Director of Mobile Care Chicago. For 20 years, Mobile Care has used Asthma Vans to provide allergy and asthma care to over 13,000 children at no cost. Through partnerships with local schools, the organization also surveys 15,000 children annually, attempting to identify children who have asthma but lack a diagnosis. For asthma patients who stay with their Asthma Van for one year or more, 95% will never go back to an ER for asthma. During Matt’s tenure, Mobile Care’s programs have won local and national distinctions including most recently the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago’s 2016 Impact Award, the 2017 Premier Cares Award, the 2018 CHEST Community Service Award, and the 2019 EPA National Environmental Leadership Award. Matt holds a BS in Philosophy & Literature from Truman State University and an MA in Philosophy from Duke University.

Vice President  

Anna Volerman, MD
Co-Chair, Data Sharing Committee of the Illinois Asthma Partnership

Anna Volerman, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at University of Chicago Medicine. She is a primary care physician for both children and adults, as well as an advocate for children and families in both the clinic and community settings. She received her Bachelors degree from Northwestern University and graduated summa cum laude from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine / Pediatrics residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Boston Children’s Hospital. Since joining University of Chicago, she has developed and led innovative programs in clinical and community settings to improve health care delivery and optimize care. Her work focuses on reducing health disparities for children, including in asthma and obesity, with a focus on examining and improving systems of care in collaboration with academic and community partners. In addition to her work at the University of Chicago Medicine, Anna is the new Co-Chair of the Data Sharing Committee of the Illinois Asthma Partnership. 

Felicia Fuller, DrPH
American Lung Association

Felicia Fuller, DrPH plays a central role in the development and coordination of ALA mission activities, including health promotion, lung health education, and advocacy. She works collaboratively with ALA staff to plan, manage, and implement activities in the following areas: adult and child lung disease services, environmental health programming, pediatric quality improvement services for health professionals, and overall Chicago market grant outcomes. Prior to this position Dr. Fuller managed a cooperative agreement between CDC’s Healthy Aging Program and the Alzheimer’s Association National Office. In that capacity she oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Healthy Brain Initiative which involved providing technical assistance to staff, and coordination of the research demonstration projects targeting at-risk communities. Along with these duties, Dr. Fuller assisted in the cognitive impairment surveillance opportunities with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Dr. Fuller also worked at the Chicago Department of Public Health in the Epidemiology Program where she led a city-wide educational outreach program based on BRFSS data and assisted in bioterrorism efforts. Dr. Fuller holds her B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara, MPH from the University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health, and her doctoral degree from the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina in Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior.

Executive Director

Rachelle Paul-Brutus, MPH

Rachelle Paul-Brutus brings years of experience as a leader in public health, including time with Partners in Health-Chicago, the Chicago Department of Public Health, Sinai Health Systems, and the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. During her previous tenures, she’s worked in such areas as community health, infection disease prevention programs for underrepresented populations in Chicago, and played a pivotal communication role for the city of Chicago during the COVID pandemic.

Rachelle Paul-Brutus holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Walden University (Baltimore, MD) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biochemistry (with Honors) from the University of Ottawa (Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA).

Directors

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Public Health Nursing & School Nursing Expert

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN currently works as a certified school nurse at a public high school outside of Chicago, and as visiting professor of nursing at UIC. She is committed to being a lifelong learner and continues her efforts in improving child health outcomes in our most vulnerable populations through her current practice, advocacy, and teaching.

Barrera was the first Latina President of Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) and served during the pandemic. She’s engaged with ANA-Illinois by serving on the Executive Board as Secretary. Gloria was appointed to the IDPH Diversity in Health Care Professions Task Force as well as the Governor’s Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s School Safety Committee. Barrera has demonstrated her deep commitment to helping others through her volunteerism and community service with various non-profit organizations where she shares her expertise and serves as a leader. She is a Fellow of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), a Climate Health Organizing (CHEEA) Fellow and Co-Founder of Nurse Heroes for Zero (NHFZ). Barrera is considered a subject matter expert in school nursing, environmental advocacy and health equity, and public health. Barrera is invested in mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders and is Co-Founder of the Society of Latinx Nurses. She’s been recognized for her leadership and service by several organizations, both locally and nationally. Barrera was recognized as 40 Under Forty by ANA-Illinois in its second year, named 40 Under Forty in Public Health by the de Beaumont Foundation and Nurse Influencer of the year by ANA-Illinois in 2023.

Dr. Shimoni Dharia
Board-certified Pediatric Pulmonologist and the Division Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Advocate Children’s Hospital

Dr. Shimoni Dharia is a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist and the Division Director of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Illinois. With a career spanning clinical excellence, leadership, and healthcare strategy, Dr. Dharia brings a comprehensive approach to advancing pediatric respiratory care.

She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science and completed her pediatric residency at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. She further specialized with a fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. In addition to her clinical training, Dr. Dharia holds a Master of Business Administration in Medical Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and is a Certified Physician Executive through the American Association for Physician Leadership.

Her dual expertise in medicine and healthcare administration supports her work in leading multidisciplinary teams, implementing evidence-based practices, and improving patient outcomes across the pediatric continuum. She is committed to mentoring the next generation of physicians and contributing to innovative, patient-centered care for children with complex pulmonary conditions.

Dr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN
Public Health Nurse at The American Lung Association as National Director of Health Systems Improvement

Dr. Mimi Guiracocha, DNP, RN, is a public health nurse working for the American Lung Association as National Director of Health Systems Improvement. There, she leads a national asthma quality improvement program, partnering with primary care providers, clinics, and systems to improve asthma outcomes.

Prior to this position, Dr. Guiracocha worked as a NICU nurse, advocating for all families to have equitable access to quality care. She has also worked with the Chicago Public Schools to improve school management of chronic conditions for students. Dr. Guiracocha is Ecuadorian-American, a life-long resident of Chicago, passionate about environmental justice and community organizing, and speaks Spanish.

Helen Hammond Redding, MBA
Christopher D. Redding Youth Asthma Foundation

Helen is an accomplished financial professional and community advocate. She spent 41 years in the banking industry, including 26 years at Citibank from which she retired in 2013 from her position as Senior Vice President of Community Development for the state of Illinois. Helen currently serves as Founder and Community Outreach Director of the Christopher D. Redding Youth Asthma Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2014 in memory of her youngest son, Christopher, a 3-sport student athlete who died of an exercise-induced asthma attack at the age of 18. Through collaborative partnerships, the CDR Youth Asthma Foundation provides asthma screenings, access to asthma camps, and asthma management education through workshops, health fairs, and community events. Competitive college scholarships are also awarded annually to gradu-ating student-athletes with a medically- diagnosed case of asthma.

Helen has served as a Board member of the Chicago Public Schools Academy of Finance, Mercy Housing Lakefront, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, and the AKArama Foundation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Theta Omega Chapter. Helen has also served as a men-tor for students in the Citi Foundation/UNCF Mentoring Program. Helen currently serves as a mem-ber of the Chicago Asthma Consortium Community Advisory Board and Society of Mannequins Trophy Board. Helen is a member of the Hoffman Estates Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Chi Alpha Omega Chapter.

Helen holds an MBA in Finance from DePaul University, a BA in Business Administration from Elmhurst College, and a Certificate in Banking from the University Of Virginia Graduate School of Retail Bank Management.

Janice Henry, RN
Community Health Nurse at The Loretto Hospital

Janice Henry is the Community Health Nurse at The Loretto Hospital. She is a compassionate, conscientious, dedicated professional registered nurse with 30 plus years of nursing service, with a background of providing optimal care in a variety of settings. Specializing in Community Health dedicated to providing and ensuring high standards of culturally competent care for a variety of patients with diverse needs. My goal is to advocate for access to care for everyone, especially persons in communities of color to eliminate health disparities. My community work includes providing health fairs and screenings I am dedicated to patient education. My work includes collaborating with other health care agencies, elected officials and community partners.

Dr. Reneé Matthews
Content Creator, Host, Author, Doctor, Media Expert

With her natural charisma and authenticity, Dr. Renee Matthews is a natural connector with an extraordinary ability to motivate, inspire, and create positive results. She is described as a big picture thinker and a results-driven optimist with a drive for enterprise success and has influential connections across social, cultural, professional, and economic circles. Like any great leader, Dr. Renee is a highly perceptive, creative and intuitive individual built with a strategic mindset. She's an innovator, resourceful, determined and thrives on change and strategic planning. Dr. Renee connects ideas into valued solutions and looks at how she can contribute rather than conform. Dr. Renee produces a weekly live talk show, The Ask Dr. Renee Show, with celebrity interviews she also allows the viewers to ask questions. She also produces a daily Periscope show, #ReneesRemedies.

Dr. Renee has began coaching others to "Live the life they deserve" by helping them to develop the reputation that will help them to live their dreams. She is a social media guru with extensive knowledge of LinkedIn, Twitter, Periscope, Facebook, and Blogging.

Rachael Morkunas, MPH
Program Director at Respiratory Health Association

Rachael Morkunas, MPH, is an experienced public health professional and lifelong asthmatic committed to advancing health equity and improving access to care. With over eight years of experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation, her work focuses on breaking down barriers to good health—especially in the areas of chronic disease management and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Rachael currently serves as Program Director at Respiratory Health Association, where she leads the Chronic Disease Team and oversees a wide range of lung health initiatives, including asthma, COPD, tobacco cessation, radon awareness, and lung cancer programming. She works to improve asthma outcomes for students and families across Chicago through education, systems-level strategies, and partnerships between schools and healthcare providers. Her lived experience with asthma fuels her passion for creating community-based solutions and building meaningful collaborations that address the root causes of health disparities.