Join us for CAC's Spring 2026 Lunch & Learn series! These days, schedules seem to be more packed than ever; but learning more about asthma management doesn't have to take hours. Each month, February through May at 12:00PM, we'll be hosting a 30-minute, informal Zoom group with an expert in the field of asthma to educate and answer questions around asthma and issues that can affect those living with it.

Lunch and Learn is free and open to all, and designed to be valuable for everyone, from experienced healthcare workers to community members looking to improve their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones.

This event is FREE to attend for all!
The Lunch & Learn Series will be hosted on Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Upon registering, you'll receive the Zoom access details in your confirmation email. Feel free to join us on the platform of your choice—we look forward to seeing you there!

Dr. Kelsie Alvarez, DO holds a B.A. in Preprofessional Studies from the University of Notre Dame and received her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is double board-certified.   Dr. Alvarez's career has been defined by a commitment to health equity, innovation, and collaborative team-building.  As the Medical Director for Mobile Care Chicago, she strives to address systemic health disparities and provide accessible, high quality asthma and allergy care to patients of all backgrounds. She also has a passion for medical education and currently serves as the co-director for the Doctoring and Clinical Skills course at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. 

Facilitator: Marc Rubin

Join us for a dynamic networking event designed to refresh your asthma knowledge, explore best practices, and share strategies to strengthen community engagement. This is a great opportunity to connect—or reconnect—with fellow community health professionals dedicated to improving asthma outcomes.

This is also an opportunity to come together and support our communities by packing resources that will be distributed throughout the city. If you or your organization would be interested in getting bags for your partners please contact Rachelle Paul-Brutus at execdirector@chicagoasthma.org

Host

Karmin Wright

Karmin Wright graduated with her Bachelors in Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Since graduating, she has made great strides to make healthcare accessible for her community. Strides that include spearheading COVID-19 testing through CVS Pharmacy and being a Community Health Worker for pediatric asthma patients through Urban Health Initiative’s LinC Program at UChicago Medicine. While currently being the Asthma Outreach and Education Coordinator for South Side Pediatric Asthma Center, she is bringing education and resources directly to churches, schools and outside organizations in the form of asthma training. Karmin’s interests include vintage fashion and taking care of her fur babies Bentley and Puma.

Presenter

Martha Baca-Ryan 

Sinai Medical Group

Martha Baca-Ryan is an Ambulatory Case Manager with Sinai Medical Group in Chicago, with extensive experience working with health plans and across multiple healthcare systems, including Medicare and Medicaid populations. She specializes in care coordination, utilization management, and helping patients navigate complex healthcare systems to improve access and outcomes.

Martha works closely with providers, care teams, and community health workers to address barriers to care, connect patients to needed services, and support overall population health. She brings a strong understanding of how health plan policies impact patient care and access to medications.

Meet the Panelists

Jannette Guzman 

SUHI

Jannette Guzman joined SUHI in 2021 as a bilingual Community Health Worker II where she works on Health and Healing for Life: Preventing Cancer and Promoting Early Detection through Screenings and Education, providing breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer navigation. Jannette is also part of the CHW Assisting Patients program, supporting Mount Sinai Hospital inpatients and post-discharge, and connecting them to resources.

Prior to joining SUHI, Jannette worked as a home care aide where her passion and commitment to patients resulted in positive patient care experiences, knowledge and outcomes. She successfully completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Training Program. Jannette loves assisting people and utilizes her helping hand in various ways including conducting outreach, assisting with health screenings, and educating on diabetes prevention, all which uplift people and provide opportunities for them to improve their health and the health of the community.

Jorge Hernandez

SUHI

Jorge Hernandez (George) joined SUHI in 2024 as a bilingual Community Health Worker (CHW) II in the Oncology Department. Jorge previously worked in oncology where he navigated and supported individuals diagnosed with cancer, including facilitating an introduction to The Five Wishes, a living will that encompasses personal, emotional, spiritual, and medical wishes. Prior to working at Sinai Chicago, Jorge was a pharmacy technician and has a background in insurance authorizations. He is pursuing a certificate in the CHW program through City Colleges of Chicago. Jorge has the heart and passion necessary to advocate for those in need by being the bridge between communities and medical teams. Born and raised in a Mexican Chicago family, he knows the needs and limitations to accessing resources firsthand.

Jenay Plummer

South Side Pediatric Asthma Center

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