About Us

Rebeka Acosta, BCPA
Executive Director
Chronic Illness Patient
Patient & Family Caregiver

Rebeka Acosta is the first Board Certified Patient Advocate in the state of Nevada. After a 15-year career in health administration, she transitioned to health advocacy in 2018. She believes every individual with a medical diagnosis should have a health advocate by their side, and works to ensure her clients get the best from their health providers. When not supporting clients, Rebeka enjoys being by the water, trying new restaurants, and traveling. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband, teens, and Great Danes.

Joel Cox
Board Director, Family Caregiver

Mr. Cox is a graduate of the U.S. Navy School of Health Sciences, and after an honorable discharge, he built a career in healthcare information technology. Joel is a Senior Solutions Specialist with Veradigm and supports health systems across the country. A native of North Carolina, he is a grill master and Tarheels fan who enjoys working in the yard and tinkering with his classic car. Joel lives in Raleigh NC.

Sara Cox
Board President, Patient Caregiver

Ms. Cox studied at Wake Technical College in Business Administration, Management, and Operations. Her early career focused on private medical practice functionality, and for the last 11 years she has supported larger industry clients with personnel and technology optimizations. Sara is the current Director of Growth Accounts at Veradigm and lives in Raleigh NC. You can find her running a marathon or shopping for home decor.

Erin Donohue-Lynch, BS, CADC, PRSS
Board Director, Patient Caregiver

Ms. Donohue-Lynch holds a B.S. in Human Services & Clinical Studies with a minor in Addiction Treatment from UNLV, and is in her second year of the Master of Social Work in Management and Community program. As the Clinic Director at Henderson Comprehensive Treatment Center, she provides equitable access to addiction treatment for all and leans on positive psychology and emotionally-focused therapy for those in recovery. Erin loves a great dad joke and lives in Henderson NV with her spouse and four pets.

Marie-France Hache, CPA, CIA
Board Treasurer, Family Caregiver

Ms. Hache graduated from Université de Sherbrooke in Québec with a bachelors in Business and masters in Environmental Studies. She is a Certified Internal Auditor and works with clients who wish to optimize their sustainability practice, both environmentally and financially. Marie is a Director of Sustainability at PwC, enjoys cultivating her desert plants, and a sipping a good glass of wine. She is trilingual (French, Spanish, English) and lives in Las Vegas.

James Lee, JD
Board Director, Family Caregiver

Mr. Lee holds a Bachelors of Fine Art from New York University and Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University, where he was the Editor of Journal for Business, Entrepreneurship and the Law. James is bilingual (Korean, English) and specializes in commercial law, advising several prominent U.S.-based corporations. When not working, he enjoys adventures with his family, weight lifting, and great food. James lives in Las Vegas.

Elizabeth Schurrer
Board Secretary, Patient Caregiver

Ms. Schurrer holds a degree in Journalism from Ohio University and a graduate certificate in Communications from University of Toledo. She is the current Director of Advancement at St. Ignatius of Loyola School and has 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, focusing on communications, fundraising, and volunteer management. Liz lives in Cincinnati OH and can be found on long walks or eating gourmet ice cream.

Aaron Carpenter
Chronic Illness Patient, Patient Caregiver

Mr. Carpenter is a graduate of North Carolina State University and holds degrees in Computational Physics and Mathematics. He works as a Software Engineer at University of Washington, enjoys DIY projects, North Carolina barbecue, and modifying his Subaru. Aaron lives in Las Vegas with his family, including two children with lifelong illness, and also serves on the board of for Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada.

Carissa Klundt
Wellness Instructor, Chronic Illness Patient

Ms. Klundt has been in health and wellness for nearly two decades. She holds a degree in Psychology and numerous certifications in health, wellness and fitness, specializing in Meditation, Yoga, Sound Healing and Breath Mastery. You can find her teaching classes, exploring nature with her family or having tea ceremonies under the moonlight. Carissa lives in Las Vegas and you can learn more about her work at Celestial Sol.

Stacie Lampkin, PharmD, BCPPS, CA
Pediatric Pharmacist, Cancer Survivor

A pediatric pharmacist with a passion for education, Stacie has spent more than 10 years providing clinical services and supporting to those who care for medically complex youth. After experiencing the difficulties of navigating a serious health issue, Stacie began sharing her knowledge on a larger scale through Stacie Lampkin LLC. She creates digital resources, online courses, and personalized presentations for families and health professionals from Buffalo NY.

Courtney Leaver
Insurance Broker, Chronic Illness Patient

Ms. Leaver is a graduate of Roger Williams University and a Licensed Broker at Durante Insurance & Financial Services. She provides her clients with the utmost care when it comes to their health, home, and auto insurance needs. Courtney prides herself on spending time getting to know her clients and is passionate about educating them on policy coverages, limitations, and exclusions. She is an active member of her community, children’s school, and the greater insurance industry. Courtney lives in Las Vegas.

L. Natalie Lee, RN, BSN
Women & Family Health Nurse, Family Caregiver

Ms. Lee holds a degree in Biology from University of California Irvine and a degree in Nursing from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She is currently enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Chamberlain University and lives in Las Vegas. At a young age, Natalie was aware of the hardships and inequities in the healthcare system, and she acted as medical translator for her mother. She saw how the language barrier prevented many people in her neighborhood from seeking care and has dedicated her nursing career to helping the most marginalized patients.

Dijonasse Lofton
Chronic Illness Patient, Family Caregiver

Ms. Lofton is a nursing student living with complex, chronic illness. She has learned the hard way to keep excellent records, speak up when no one is listening, and ask questions until she has answers. She is hopeful her care team’s plan will help her return to school and become a nurse advocate. Dijonasse lives in Las Vegas and is active in several patient support groups. Be sure to watch her Dysautonomia awareness videos on TikTok.

Artyom Pyatin
Chronic Illness Patient, Chronic Illness Sibling

Mr. Pyatin is a teenager living with multiple congenital conditions. He is learning to advocate for his health, with guidance from his parents and primary care doctor. Recently, he scheduled his own annual appointments and completed routine lab work. Artyom enjoys video games, History, and bread. He plays on the school soccer team and lives in Las Vegas.

Alex Sakash
Patient Caregiver

Mr. Sakash earned a degree in Education from Framingham State University and currently directs an elementary school enrichment program. He is the parent of two children, one born with complex congenital heart defects, and is a devoted parent advocate. When not spending time with his family, Alex can be found making videos on the disc golf course. He lives outside Boston MA.

Nathan Say
Chronic Illness Patient

Mr. Say is currently working on a Masters degree in Forensic Mental Health Counseling and lives with Cerebral Palsy and chronic illnesses. He enjoys combining professional and personal experiences in teaching others to dismantle internalized ableism, while living authentically within the boundaries of his conditions. Nathan lives in Las Vegas and provides support to peers living with disabilities across the country.

Nauman Shahid, BSc, MPH
Public Health Professional, Chronic Illness Patient

Mr. Shahid earned a Bachelor’s in Biology, a Masters in Public Health Policy, and is currently in medical school. He is an active patient advocate in the congenital heart disease community and has been featured on various podcasts and a DocuFilm. Nauman lobbied for disease funding on Capitol Hill and is a published author in the European Heart Journal. He takes great pride in guiding those with health conditions through higher education, enjoys cooking, and lives in West Virginia.

Tabitha Rainey
Chronic Illness Patient, Patient Caregiver

Ms. Rainey is the Founder and President of Roll For The Heart, an organization bringing awareness to chronic illness through the martial art of Jiu Jitsu. She is an experienced advocate for her son living with congenital defects and medical injury, and currently serves as a Parent Liaison to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Tabitha is dedicated to her practice of Jiu Jitsu, enjoys nature, and lives with her family in Lexington KY.

Jennifer Williams
Patient Caregiver, Family Caregiver

Ms. Williams is a graduate of East Carolina University and Walden University, holding a degree in Education with a concentration in middle level social studies. She won Teacher of the Year in 2015 and 2020 and currently teaches 7th grade History. Jennifer is the parent of two teens living with genetic conditions and an experienced parent advocate within their disease community. Jennifer lives in Raleigh NC.