Michelle Rathman
Chief Executive Officer
Impact! Communications
Impact Communications! Michelle is a Certified Master PeopleMapTM Facilitator and holds certifications in Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Leadership, and Business Intelligence. She has written hundreds of articles and blogs on a variety of these subjects and is a former radio talk show and freelance news producer. She is also a four-time Pinnacle Award recipient for Excellence in Healthcare Communication and has been recognized as one of “Chicago’s Very Own,” a prestigious profile reserved for those making a difference in their community, specifically for the development of a self-esteem-building program for girls ages 9-14 in underserved communities.
Michelle wrote and produced an educational documentary about Critical Access Hospitals and the vital role they play in our nation’s healthcare delivery system through a grant awarded to the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. She was a contributor to the HRSA Critical Access Hospital Replacement Process Roadmap and a number of business books, including a body of work on the subject of creating strategic alliances. She is the creator of “Excellence in an Instant, TM” a series of tools designed to help caregivers at every level be and do their best in every moment. She is also currently writing two books: the first is a memoir about her interesting and unexpected life journey; the second is on the subject of organizational culture, teamwork, leadership, and communications.
https://www.michellerathman.com/professional-experience/
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Chief Executive Officer
Impact! Communications
Mercedes Avila, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), and Health Equity Liaison in the Larner Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program
Maria ‘Mercedes’ Avila, Ph.D., MSW, MED is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. Dr. Avila provides consultation and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and has trained more than 10,000 providers across 27 states and 150+ organizations (hospitals, community health centers, state departments of health, mental health and disability, family and youth-serving organizations, higher education institutions, emergency response, and schools). Since 2011, Dr. Avila has been invited to lead 58 national presentations and 100+ regional sessions on topics related to National CLAS Standards, health disparities, social justice in health care, culturally responsive care and practice, social determinants of health, racial equity, and cultural humility. Dr. Avila has received 14 national, regional, and state service, training, and research awards for her equity work.
https://www.med.uvm.edu/vtlend/home
About Mercedes Avila, Ph.D.
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Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND), and Health Equity Liaison in the Larner Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Vermont Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program
Jonathan Chapman, MBA
Chief Project Officer
Capital Link
In his role with Capital Link, Mr. Chapman supports the organization's project consultants in capital development and operational analyses with community health centers.
He formerly served as Executive Director of the Louisiana Primary Care Association (LPCA) where he developed various technical assistance programs and helped member health centers and partner organizations navigate the complex health care, political, and financial environments. During his tenure, the LPCA established a legislative caucus, implemented a Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN), initiated an Independent Practice Association (IPA), completed a $110 million health center expansion initiative, and purchased a new LPCA facility.
Prior to joining the LPCA, Mr. Chapman worked for Capital Link as a Project Consultant and assisted Primary Care Associations and health centers around the country with market assessments, capital campaigns, and financial feasibility studies. Mr. Chapman also has experience with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals and pharmacy management.
In addition to having earned both a BA degree in marketing and MBA from Southeastern Louisiana University, he has completed multiple health care executive programs and recently earned a predictive analytics certificate through the University of California, Irvine. He is located in Capital Link’s Colorado office.
https://www.capitallink.com/
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Chief Project Officer
Capital Link
Bernadette Johnson
Director of Client Relationships
Capital Link
Bernadette Johnson joined Capital Link in January 2021 as Director of Client Relationships. As a member of the Project Consulting Team, her primary role is to initiate, develop, and strengthen Capital Link’s business relationships with health centers, Primary Care Associations (PCAs), networks, and funders. In this client-facing role, Ms. Johnson represents the organization at conferences, client meetings, virtual training programs, and presentations; builds strategic relationships and partnerships to further Capital Link’s mission; develops programmatic solutions to address health center growth and market needs; collaborates with staff across the organization to drive new product and service development; and undertakes specific project assignments.
Ms. Johnson brings a wealth of experience in community health and in working with FQHCs. She served as Director of Business Development and Program Services at the Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers (MACHC), the PCA for Maryland and Delaware. In this role, she developed and implemented several public-private partnerships, oversaw funder initiatives, and enhanced the Association’s brand with external stakeholders. Ms. Johnson’s previous positions also include Program Manager for the DC Area Health Education Center and Provider Relations Account Manager for Amerigroup, a Medicaid MCO.
Ms. Johnson holds a Masters in Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina and a BA from the University of South Carolina. She works remotely in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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Director of Client Relationships
Capital Link
Nicole LaPointe, MSW
Executive Director
Northern VT AHEC
Nicole came to work at the Northern Vermont AHEC in 2009. She began work in the field of public health in 2000 as a community organizer to improve access to health and human services for the uninsured. She received a master’s degree in Social Work in 2001 from the University of New Hampshire. Nicole worked with the Northern New Hampshire AHEC from 2005 until she joined the Northern Vermont AHEC as Executive Director. She lives on her family’s farm in West Burke with her husband and young son
https://nvtahec.org/
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Executive Director
Northern VT AHEC
Paula Smith
Director
Southern NH AHEC
Paula is responsible for the overall direction of Southern New Hampshire AHEC. Working with the Local Advisory Committee, Paula develops and implements a variety of programs that support community health professionals, identifies topics for continuing education, and initiates partnerships with academic and community organizations. Paula has been with Southern New Hampshire AHEC for 23 years.
https://www.snhahec.org/
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Director
Southern NH AHEC