Formerly known as Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force

Our Team

Dr. Paris Thomas

Chief Executive Officer

PhD, MS, MCHES

Dr. Paris Thomas is a devoted health and racial equity leader, researcher, and advocate based in Chicago. As the Executive Director of Equal Hope, she plays a pivotal role in driving the organization’s mission to promote health equity and eliminate disparities for historically marginalized communities through culturally competent interventions.

Born and raised in the Chicagoland area, Dr. Thomas has a deep-rooted passion for promoting health equity. Her motivation stems from personal experiences within her own family, where she witnessed the impact of the healthcare system on their health outcomes. Driven by a desire to create positive change, Dr. Thomas has dedicated her career to promoting health through intersectionality and innovative strategies that improve access to care for under-resourced communities.

Jiana Calixto

Chief Health Operations Officer

MPH

Jiana Calixto (pronouns – she/her) is the Director of Community Health & Engagement at Equal Hope. Jiana’s responsibilities at Equal Hope includes reviewing process of operations for outreach and navigation efforts, grant management and budgetary oversight over community health initiatives. As well as maintaining and developing strong partnerships with local hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH), community-based organizations and stakeholders. In addition, she provides leadership for the community health team and Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, contributing to Equal Hope’s pillars of equal access, equal care and an equal voice.

Dr. Sarah Lomahan

Director of Health Research

PhD, MS, MCHES

Sarah serves as the Director of Health Research for Equal Hope and supports the work of Equal Care through maintaining data that has and will be collected. Her work includes building survey tools, analyzing data, and reporting so that we may better understand quality mammography, breast cancer capacity treatment, and cervical cancer disparities. She received her MPH in Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology from the University of Illinois and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia.

Maurice Byrd

Director of Finance

MBA

Maurice Byrd is a result-driven senior level management professional; Experienced analyzing business processes and developing solutions to meet the client’s/company’s desired outcome.  Skilled business turnaround specialist, that employs innovative & strategic ideas to improve results.  Professional that is proficient in finance, investments, real estate, accounting, and managing multiple divisions, with emphasizes placed on developing initiatives and criteria to foster success for the business.

Nacary Arreola

Community Health Worker (IBCCP)

MBA

Nacary is our Community Health Worker for our Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP). She previously interned for Equal Hope last year and made a lasting impression on staff as she assisted with outreach and engagement ideas. She has CHW training from Malcolm X College. She is responsible for public outreach, education, and awareness about Equal Hope and our IBCCP program.

Sherlene Branscomb

Development Assistant Patient Navigator

Sherlene Branscomb, has extensive demonstrated experience providing administrative support to Directors, Managers, VPs, CIOs. As an Assistant to the Director of Development at Equal Hope, Sherlene is responsible for Development Outreach, Administrative Support. She also serves as the Associate Coordinator of event planning.

Lydia London

Community Health Worker (LinC)

Lydia London is a community health worker at Equal Hope. She is currently finishing up a degree in business management. Lydia comes from a background of education and fine arts. She joined Equal Hope in July of 2022. Through Equal Hope, she lives out her passion for eliminating Health disparities for black and brown women and children. 

Oreletta Garmon

Patient Navigator

Oreletta Garmon has 25 years of health care experience and has expertise in quality breast health services and community outreach. Prior to joining Equal Hope, Oreletta worked at the Sinai Urban Health Institute as a Community Health Worker II for the Helping Her Live program.

In 2009, Oreletta served as a health educator in the AmeriCorps at a FQHC. In August of 2015, Oreletta joined Equal Hope as the Navigation Program Coordinator. In addition to her duties as a navigator, Oreletta also assists the Nurse Navigator in the Equal Hope Program.

Qiana Gillespie

Community Engagement Manager

MA






Carmella James

Executive Assistant to Dr. Paris Thomas

MBA






Grace Kadubek

Data Coordinator

MPH







Leilani Lacson-Soltysiak

Social Media Strategist

MPH

Leilani Lacson-Soltysiak (she/her) is the Social Media Strategist at Equal Hope.  She creates and manages the social media and communications for Equal Hope and the Chicagoland CEAL Program (part of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 Disparities). Her goals while creating social media content are to ensure they’re educational, comprehensive and somewhat entertaining.

After graduating from Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Leilani began her career working in research, first as a research assistant at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now called ShirleyRyan Ability Lab) and then as a research coordinator at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.  She has experience coordinating numerous research studies, many of which were funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and pharmaceutical companies.  She has always had an interest in health and pursued a Master of Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health with a concentration in community health sciences.

Melina Martinez

Patient Navigator







Brandon Ozobu

Community Health Worker (ARCH)






Gabriela Peña

Data Coordinator

MPH/MSW







Jennifer Riera

Community Health Worker (LinC)

Jennifer Riera is a Community Health Worker at Equal Hope. She earned a BA in Gender & Women’s Studies and minored in Sociology at UIC. She joined Equal Hope in April of 2023. Through Equal Hope, Jennifer actively works to ensure that those most marginalized and underserved in our communities are connected to crucial health services and resources, such as mammograms and cervical cancer screenings, regardless of citizenship or ability to pay. As a daughter of immigrant parents, Jennifer truly understands the importance of bridging the gap between our undocumented community, nonprofit organizations, and the healthcare system.

Kelldy Rodriguez

Patient Navigator







Maira Roman

Navigation Manager

MSN, DNP

Maira has been a registered nurse for over nine years. She earned her MSN and DNP (Advanced Public Health Nursing) at RUSH University’s College of Nursing. She joins Equal hope as the clinical nurse navigator for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program. Maira began her career in healthcare as a certified nursing assistant. She has a passion for providing compassionate and quality care to underserved individuals. In her spare time Maira enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

Diana Sanchez

Patient Navigator

Diana Sanchez is a bilingual patient navigator at Equal Hope. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2020. She worked for two years as a medical assistant where she developed her interest for helping others. She joined Equal Hope in July of 2022 and is committed in eliminating barriers for accessing healthcare. Currently she serves the community by helping men and women get their health screenings to ensure a healthier life.

Emily Tavares

Patient Navigator






Veronica Sanchez Villa

Community Health Worker (Lake County)

Veronica Sanchez Villa is a community health worker with Equal Hope since November 2021. She provides outreach and education services in The Northern Lake County community. She is bilingual. She helps to connect women with their health by showing the importance of prevention through 1:1 connections or presentations.

Donalynne Schaffer

Sr. Community Outreach Specialist

Donalynne provides outreach and education services to Equal Hope and is busy reaching out to women every day. She develops and strengthens relationships between Equal Hope and important leaders, community organizations, faith-based organizations, health institutions, and women’s associations. Donalynne attends community-based events and health fairs in Metropolitan Chicago to connect more women with Equal Hope’s services and educate women on the importance of breast healthcare, including the importance of early detection in saving lives. She empowers women through knowledge and links women to the Equal Hope navigators who help women access free mammograms or schedule mammograms or generally navigate the healthcare system.

John Tate

Community Health Worker (Wellness West)

John is our Community Health Worker for our Wellness West project. It is an initiative on Chicago’s West Side that uses a comprehensive network of community-based partners and medical providers to screen community members with chronic illness for social determinants of health and provide comprehensive services to resolve identified issues. John serves as a bridge between the patient, the medical system, and community-based organizations by building trusting relationships with community members served by the program. John has a BS in Psychology in Addiction and has years of experience in case management and service coordination.

Dana Wint

Community Engagement Specialist

MA, PhD (Honorary)

Dana Wint joined Equal Hope in 2017. As the Community Engagement Specialist, Dana uses her public relations and communication skills to further the Equal Hope mission and footprint throughout Chicagoland communities. Dana received her BA in Marketing from the University of Illinois, a MA in Media Communications from Governors State University, and an Honorary Ph.D from WWMI  Bible Institute.