2022 Conference Speakers
Amber Roache, DNP, FNP-BC
Dr. Roache' joined the School of Nursing faculty as Assistant Professor in 2007 being named the Kay K. Chitty Professor. In this position she taught in the undergraduate and graduate programs, and practiced as a Family Nurse Practitioner two days a week in a community clinic serving vulnerable and underserved populations. After obtaining her DNP, Dr. Roache’ moved to Knoxville to coordinate the nurse practitioner program at King University as Associate professor. She taught in the doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate RN-BSN program. In 2016 she was promoted to Associate Dean of Graduate Programs. In 2018 Dr. Roache’ returned to UTC as the Nurse Practitioner Program Coordinator and Primary Investigator of the CANDL grant. Her primary teaching responsibilities are in the graduate programs, in the FNP concentration. She maintains national certification and continues to engage in faculty practice at University Health Services at UTC where she precepts Family Nurse Practitioner Students.
Rae Young Bond, BS, CEO, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, Project Access
Rae Young Bond is the CEO of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, and Project Access, a community health partnership to coordinate charity care for low-income uninsured residents. Rae has led the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Health Council and serves on the Health Disparities Task Force, Infant Mortality Task Force; the boards of the Tennessee Charitable Care Network, Tennessee Physician Quality Verification Organization, and Volunteers in Medicine. She has provided technical assistance to numerous communities as they developed Project Access Community Health Initiatives. In 2020, she received the Champions of Health Care Lifetime Achievement Award.
Hamilton County Health Department, Panel
Sabrina Novak is the Administrator of the Hamilton County Health Department. She received her BS and MS degrees in Environmental Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). During her work with the Health Department, she has served in the roles of Emergency Preparedness Planning and Response Coordinator and Director of Administrative Services. She also serves as an adjunct Professor for UTC in fields of biology and environmental sciences.
Diana Kreider, RN received her BSN from Mississippi University for Women and MSN with a focus in Community Health from the University of Tennessee, Memphis. During her time with the Hamilton County Health Department, she has worked in various roles including Maternal Child Health Program Manager and Director of Case Management Services. She is currently serving as Director of Clinical Services for the agency.
Janie Burley received her BS in Community Health Education and her MPH from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is an Epidemiologist with the Hamilton County Health Department.
Megan Sloan received her BA in Anthropology from Lee University and her MPH from UTC. Immediately after graduation, she began work with COVID-19 case investigation at the Hamilton County Health Department before transitioning into the role of Hepatitis C Coordinator and, later, epidemiologist.
Renee Craig is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She began her career with the Health Department in the Step ONE program and is currently the Community Outreach Program Manager.
Ezequiel Garcia began his career at the Health Department as a medical interpreter. At the start of the pandemic, he transitioned to the Communications Team as the communications liaison for the Spanish speaking community. He is currently a Health Information Specialist with the Community Outreach and Communications Teams.
Holden Young received his BS in Pre-Law Studies from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. After graduation, Holden worked with various nonprofit agencies developing and running programs for low-income populations that focused on holistic healthcare. He is currently the Communications Manager for the Hamilton County Health Department.
Leslie Moro, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC
Dr. Leslie Moro earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) concentration, from East Tennessee State University in 2017. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) in 2010. Previous to her nursing education, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (University of Memphis, 1996) and a Master of Science degree in Psychology (Auburn University of Montgomery, 2000). As an FNP, she has worked in family practice and primary care. Currently serving as the Kay Chitty Chair, Dr. Moro provides patient care at CHI Memorial Community Health Clinic and teaches in the Nurse Practitioner program at UTC.
Sandy Grove Matheson, Development Officer, Primary Healthcare Centers Georgia
Sandy is the Development Officer for Primary Healthcare Centers in North Georgia where she has worked over the past 9 years. PHC is an FQHC serving 7 counties and 9 center sites. She is a Non Profit Executive that specializes in economic development and growth strategy through promotion of community collaboration and team building. Her passion is working with the school-based health clinics at Tiger Creek Elementary School and Gilbert Elementary School. Sandy works closely with several Superintendents, school nurses, Principals, homeless liaisons , social workers , parents , grandparents and students to identify and meet the needs of families and those most vulnerable in the community
Currently Sandy shares her knowledge and leadership by serving on the board of directors for the Southeast TN/North Georgia Family Resource Agency/ Head Start as President, the Catoosa County College and Career Academy where she serves as Treasurer, The Family Crisis Center and The Heartbeat Fund for Walker County.
Mary Andrews, LCSW, ACSW, CCM
Mary Andrews is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Case Manager, and member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. Prior to moving to academics, Mary was a Certified Clinical Transplant Social Worker, and has developed programs and services addressing emerging issues in health care in rehabilitation and behavioral health facilities, an Autism clinic, and established disability support services at a college. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree at UT Chattanooga and her Master of Science in Social Work at UT Knoxville. She is a member of the Hamilton County Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic Host Committee. Mary is the President, Southeast Chapter of the Tennessee Society of Health Care Social Workers.
Michael Gordon, BS, CAMAS, President and CEO, The Pursuit of Happiness
Michael D. Gordon was born in Chattanooga, TN. Michael graduated from Brainerd High signing a college scholarship to play football and baseball at MTSU. Michael learned at an early age the importance of R.O.E. Resources, Opportunities, and Exposure as the keys to success in the underserved community. Michael earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999 from UTC. Michael was a police officer early in his career, but realized his skills were more aligned and engaged with providing case management to youth. Michael worked with for profit companies for a number of years before founding The Pursuit of Happiness for Underserved and Under-Resourced Youth to address adverse childhood experiences and trauma that heavily impact the bodies and brains of our youth.
Briana Lee, BS, MSL, Social Worker, The Pursuit of Happiness
Briana Lee was born and raised in Chattanooga. She has a B.S in Child and Family Studies, and a Masters in Leadership. "Advocating for the underserved community has always been a passion of mine," she says, "because I come from that community. I want to be to teen girls, what I wish I had when I was younger. Understanding the why and not just the what is vital! My goal is to meet youth where they are and introduce them to resources, opportunities and exposure."
Tina Q. Harris, MS, NP-C, AOCNP, Executive Director, Chattanooga Tumor Clinic
Tina has been an oncology nurse practitioner for 16 years in the Chattanooga area. She has served on various committees in our local hospitals, including throughout Hamilton County. In addition, she remains active in health care policy. Tina is the director of the Chattanooga Tumor Clinic, a non-profit organization that has provided services for the underserved cancer community for over 80 years. She is very passionate about her service and enjoys developing programs to improve cancer patient care. For example, Tina developed a financial screening program for patients experiencing economic distress and currently working with local oncology facilities to integrate.
Taylor Bostwick, President and CEO, The Speech & Hearing Center
As president and CEO of The Speech & Hearing Center, Taylor Bostwick acts as the voice of the Center. She’s also tasked with managing the staff, ensuring the nonprofit’s fiscal health and overseeing program delivery and expansion. Taylor took on the role in March 2021 with no nonprofit, medical or administrative experience. She used her fresh perspective to the Center’s advantage and has spent the last year on an organization-wide cleanup effort. Taylor’s an active member of the National Association of Speech & Hearing Centers, ETSU Alumni Association and Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute. As the mom of a preemie, she serves on the Erlanger NICU Family Advisory Council. Born and raised in Chattanooga, Taylor lives in Hixson with her husband, Harrison; son, Wiley; and dog, Cricket. She’s previously held positions at Waterhouse Public Relations, Unum, Papercut Interactive and CBL Properties. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from East Tennessee State University.
Amber Espindola, Family Development Specialist, Elderly Support Director, Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency
Amber Espindola currently serves as the Elderly Support Department Director at Tennessee Human Resource Agency in Dunlap, TN. She has worked for the organization for over 10 years in various roles including serving as the Family Development Specialist and Elderly Support Coordinator.
Traci A. Hefner, PhD, LMSW, Director of Case Management, Chattanooga Community Kitchen
Traci Hefner is the Director of Case Management at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. She manages the Permanent Supportive Housing and Emergency Solutions programs, providing services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness as well as to those in danger of becoming homeless.
With a focus on human rights, Dr. Hefner’s career has centered on assisting vulnerable populations at the local, national, and international level. While living in Beijing, China, for example, she worked with UN Women on gender-based violence projects. She also conducts research on organizational readiness to identify and respond to human trafficking survivors through a trauma-informed approach.
Sarah-Beth Riggs, BA, Agency Relations & Program Manager, Hamilton County, Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Sarah Beth has always called Chattanooga home. While moving away for college and post-grad international service opportunities for a time, she is happy to be back and serving the community in which she grew up. She began work at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank two years ago and has loved the opportunity to learn more and grow in her passion for food assistance and poverty alleviation.
Sponsored by the HRSA-funded CANDL grant (Clinical-Academic Network for Developing Leaders).