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Team Members

The Asclepius Initiative is proud and honored to have an exceptional group of passionate, skilled, and highly engaged individuals working to make access to
high quality, affordable healthcare a reality for all Kentuckians-and Americans.

Susan Bornstein, MD, MPH

Susan Bornstein, MD, MPH

Founder and CEO

Susan G. Bornstein, MD, MPH is an OBGYN by training. She became so frustrated with

Jeffrey Zakem, MHSA

Jeffrey Zakem, MHSA

Secretary

Jeff Zakem, MHSA, brings more than 20 years of experience: designing education to help individuals develop

Tina Bojanowski, PhD

Tina Bojanowski, PhD

Advisory Member

Tina is a certified special education teacher who works with students who have learning and behavioral disorders such as autism.

Lindsay Della, PhD

Lindsay Della, PhD

Board Member; Chair Education and Messaging Committee

Lindsay Della, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville in the Department of Communication where she provides expertise in

Michael Gruenthal, MD, PhD

Michael Gruenthal, MD, PhD

Board Member; Chair Research Advisory Council

Michael Gruenthal, MD, PhD is a neuroscientist, epileptologist and academic medicine administrator. He served as the

Joni Jenkins

Joni Jenkins

Board Member

Joni Jenkins was elected Kentucky State Representative, District 44, in 1994 and served through 2022. She served as the Minority Floor Leader from 2019-2022, the first woman in Kentucky

Kimberlee Turner

Kimberlee Turner

Board Member; Chair Education & Messaging Committee

Kimberlee Turner is the President/Owner of 5 Star Public Relations, Inc., located in Louisville, Ky. She began her business in 2005.

Kevin Pearce, MD, MPH

Kevin Pearce, MD, MPH

Chairman of the Board

Kevin A. Pearce, MD, MPH is a tenured professor in the UK College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, where

Steve Barger

Steve Barger

Board Member; Chair Finance Committee

Steve Barger has over 45 years of experience in providing health care benefits for working families. He has

John Chessare, MD, MPH

John Chessare, MD, MPH

Board Member

John B. Chessare, MD, MPH, is the President and CEO of GBMC HealthCare, in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Chessare has

Shireen Deobhakta, PhD

Shireen Deobhakta, PhD

Board Member

Shireen Deobhakta serves as an Evaluation Researcher for REACH Evaluation. She provides expertise in Behavioral Science approaches,

Barbara Hadley Smith

Barbara Hadley Smith

Board Member

Barbara Hadley Smith graduated from Indiana University (Bloomington) and worked as a teacher, journalist, and community organizer before

Kim Link, DNP

Kim Link, DNP

Board Member

Kim Link, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC is a tenured associate professor in the School of Nursing and Allied Health and Co-Director of the Institute

Carole Christian, JD

Carole Christian, JD

Vice Chair

Ms. Christian is a partner in the law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP in its Louisville office. Her practice

Craig Blakely, PhD, MPH

Craig Blakely, PhD, MPH

Chairman of the Board

Dr. Craig Blakely, Dean of the School of Public Health and Information Sciences at the University of Louisville, has

Liza Creel, PhD

Liza Creel, PhD

Board Member; Chair Strategic Planning and Metrics Committee

Liza M. Creel is an Associate Professor in the Division of Health Care Policy and Research

Lee Gill, JD

Lee Gill, JD

Advisory Member

Lee Gill is a nationally recognized leader with both university and private practice experience and currently serves as the University of Louisville’s

Richard Hirth, PhD

Richard Hirth, PhD

Board Member

Richard Hirth, Ph.D. is the S.J. Axelrod Collegiate Professor of Health Management and Policy and Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan. His research

Bill Londrigan

Bill Londrigan

Advisory Member

Bill Londrigan is the president of the KY State AFL-CIO

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