Jackie Barton has more than two decades of experience working with communities to preserve and share their history through historic sites and museums and historic preservation. She has a Master’s in Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University and a Bachelors in American Studies and English from Youngstown State University (Ohio). Jackie was a planning consultant with Mary Means + Associates and through her own firm, Birch Wood Planning, where she developed historic preservation, museum, interpretive, and heritage cultural tourism plans. She served in a variety of leadership positions over 12 years at the Ohio History Connection, notably starting one of the first history-focused AmeriCorps programs, leading the state’s Civil War 150th commemoration, supporting tribal consultation into the organization’s efforts, and contributing to significant success at the headquarters museum. She ran the ARCUS Leadership Program for public historians under Cultural Heritage Partners, incorporating antiracism into the fellowship experience and transitioning the program to the American Association for State and Local History. Today, she oversees the Westerville History Museum, where intergenerational audiences connect to Westerville’s history through engaging exhibits, programs, and research.

Born in West Virginia, now living in Fairbanks, Alaska, Sonja Lauren is the author of "The Covered Smile" and a captivating speaker who shares her true story of childhood abuse, neglect, recovery, forgiveness, and triumph. At the age of twelve years old, dentists wrote "Situation-Hopeless" on her dental records and proceeded to extract all of her teeth leaving her to begin wearing dentures at the age of thirteen. Ms. Lauren shares a one-of-a-kind true story that cannot be found elsewhere. She intertwines her gut-wrenching story, educational experiences as a dental office manager, humor, and inspiration. Sonja brings with her lectures a profound compassion and respect for professionals working within the field of dentistry. Today, Ms. Lauren’s speaking engagements are a personal and powerful testimony about the importance of good oral health and the role of those working within dentistry. Ms. Lauren’s ability to captivate, mesmerize and educate her audiences has created a mass call for her lectures across America since the release of "The Covered Smile" in 2003. In 2015 Ms. Lauren earned her National Speakers Association Professional Membership.

Barbara is a dental hygienist who worked in clinical practice for several years until she caught the “public health bug”. That began a journey that has lasted more than 36 years with the Ohio Department of Health. She started her public health career as an environmental epidemiologist and then worked for the Diabetes Control Program to help establish diabetes patient education standards and guidelines for clinicians in hospital settings. After a few years, she went back to her oral health “roots” (no pun intended) and has been with the Oral Health Program ever since. Her work has involved program administration, policy development and directing oral health initiatives as the State Oral Health Program Administrator. She received her Certificate in Dental Hygiene, Bachelor of Science in Health Education and Master of Science in Preventive Medicine from The Ohio State University.

Prior to being named as President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2023, Julie DiRossi-King served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers since 2014, and previously served as Policy Director since 2006. Her work has included leading the association’s COVID-19 efforts, initiating value-based payment reform, and overseeing OACHC’s public affairs agenda, member technical assistance, and external partnership development. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance, Oral Health Ohio, Buckeye Health Plan, Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine, and is a member of the National Association of Community Health Center’s Legislative Committee and Vice Chair of the NACHC Advocacy Task Force. Julie earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The Ohio State University and lives with her family in Dublin, Ohio.

In January 2019, Governor Mike DeWine appointed Maureen Corcoran to assume responsibility as the Director of Medicaid. During her time in this role, the department has undertaken an ambitious agenda -- to support Governor Mike DeWine’s goal to respect the potential of all Ohioans, with a priority for children and youth with complex behavioral health needs; developing a new managed care program that is person-centric with an emphasis on population health and collective impact, quality improvement in partnership with the department’s managed care partners. Prior to joining the DeWine Administration, Ms. Corcoran was the President and Founder of Vorys Health Care Advisors (VHCA), a healthcare policy consulting firm. Previous public service included two prior stints in Ohio state government as the Assistant Deputy and Acting Deputy for Medicaid at the Department of Jobs and Family Services, Deputy Director of the Department of Mental Health, Human Services Policy Advisor to Governor Richard Celeste, and Chief of the Office of Healthcare Cost Containment policy for the Department of Health. Ms. Corcoran has been honored regionally and nationally in the fields of behavioral health and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her education and professional experience include clinical nursing and health care finance.

Senator Mark Romanchuk is serving in his first term in the Ohio Senate representing the people of the 22nd Senate District, which includes Ashland, Medina and Richland counties. He previously served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. Senator Romanchuk has over 35 years of experience in small business, systems engineering, management, and community development. He is the owner and CEO of PR Machine Works, Inc., a contract manufacturer providing precision machining, fabrication, and assembly services in the city of Ontario. Prior to his work at PR Machine Works, he worked at Hughes Aircraft Company in a diplomatic capacity to the former Soviet Union in support of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Also, he was based in Japan as a team leader and technical advisor to the U.S. Navy in support of the F/A – 18 aircraft. He has been heavily involved in his community, particularly in local efforts to create jobs and in workforce development. He is a member of the National Tooling and Machining Association and served as Economic Region 6’s team leader for the state’s “Ohio Skills Bank,” which strives to develop regional manufacturing career pathways. Senator Romanchuk also serves on the Ashbrook Center Board at Ashland University. He is also the co-founder and past president of the Regional Manufacturing Coalition and is the past chairman of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is an active member of the Mansfield Sertoma Club, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. Senator Romanchuk resides in Ontario with his wife, Zoi.

Dr. Anita Somani is currently serving her first term as State Representative for Ohio’s 11th House District, which includes the cities of Dublin and Hilliard. She is running for re-election in District 8 which encompasses Worthington and parts of Dublin and Columbus. For the last 32 years, Dr. Somani has worked in Columbus as a highly respected healthcare professional, currently as an OBGYN at OhioHealth. She earned her M.D. from the Medical College of Ohio and completed her residency in OB/GYN at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus. She has her certification in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). Dr. Somani is a past board member of the Columbus Medical Association and Planned Parenthood. She is currently a Board Member of LEAD Ohio. Dr. Somani ran for office because she believes the state of Ohio has gone down the wrong path regarding prominent issues such as health care, increasing abortion restrictions and the loosening of gun laws, all of which disproportionately affect marginalized communities. As a physician and legislator, she has used her medical background to improve the public health of our state and to create evidence-based legislation that helps everyone in our community. She serves on the Health Policy, Health Providers, Families & Aging and Insurance Committees. She is the ranking member on Health Providers. She has sponsored many health related bills including the Reproductive Care Act (HB343), the Protect IVF technology(HB502) and the funding of Crisis Pregnancy Centers(HB565). She strongly believes in the separation of church and state. Public school funding should not go to school vouchers. Dr. Somani lives in Columbus with her husband where they raised their son, an engineer and their daughter, an OB/GYN. She is a first-generation immigrant from India, and her father was the first Asian to serve in a Governor’s cabinet. On a personal level, she has completed 10 half marathons and still enjoys running. She is an avid reader and one of her biggest stress reducers is baking.

Earning her PA from Yale, Ms. Lord has spent much of her 33-year career working in primary care and academia. Currently, she works as a PA and is vice-president of the board of directors at Lake County Free Clinic in Painesville, OH, a clinic with medical-dental integration. A PA educator for 29 years, she spent most of her time as a PA program director, most recently as associate professor and founder of the Case Western Reserve University PA program. She was also a co-founder of the Quinnipiac University PA program in 1994. Cindy has served on numerous oral health advisory boards including the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH), the national PA Oral Health Advisory Group, the Connecticut Oral Health Initiative (COHI) and as contributor to the 2014 HRSA Oral Health Competencies. Most recently, she served on the Planning Committee for the 2024 National Academies of Science, Engineering, & Medicine’s workshop, “Exploring Holistic Oral Health Value Proposition Frameworks Embedded Within a Whole Health Home”. Cindy currently serves on the board of Oral Health Ohio (OHO) and is the Ohio oral health champion for the Center for Integration of Primary Care and Oral Health (CIPCOH) 100 Million Mouths Campaign, helping Ohio health professions programs integrate oral health into their curriculum. Her scholarship includes numerous presentations, abstracts and poster presentations around oral health and interprofessional education. She was also a contributor on a Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine NIH/NIDCR research grant (2015-2020), as a member of an interprofessional team working to improve access to dental care for low-income children in Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Tanikka Price uses her training as a lawyer, her passion as a motivational speaker and the knowledge she gained during her doctoral training at Northcentral University to develop curriculum to educate and train others in caring for and taking responsibility for their own health and healing. She is currently the Chief Education and Equity Officer at the Health Impact Ohio. For over a decade, in addition to being a Family Law Attorney, she has developed and taught learning topics for pregnant women and Community Health Workers in At-risk communities in Columbus, Ohio. She was inspired to educate following the birth of her premature twins. She uses narrative and trauma-informed care to meet people where they are and empower them to change. She engages through several interactive workshops including “Love Letters,” “Writing to Heal” and “Narrative Repair.” Dr. Price is a wife and mother of six. She earned a Doctorate in Education in May of 2021, researching the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on African American women’s educational attainment at Northcentral University. She also has an American Culture degree from Vassar College and a law degree from Capital University Law School. She is a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, The Columbus Bar Association and The Ohio Bar.

Shanice is a dedicated community worker with a passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others. With a background in substance abuse work and community development, Shanice has spent years advocating for underprivileged communities and implementing programs to address social inequalities. Driven by a deep sense of empathy and a commitment to social justice, Shanice works tirelessly to empower individuals and families facing adversity. Whether it's providing access to essential resources, advocating for policy changes, or offering emotional support, Shanice’s compassionate approach creates a safe and nurturing environment for those in need. In addition to her work in the community, Shanice is actively involved in here initiatives and collaborative efforts aimed at creating sustainable solutions to pressing social issues. Her ability to build strong relationships and foster community partnerships has been instrumental in driving positive change and fostering a sense of unity among diverse populations. Outside of her professional endeavors, Shanice enjoys spending time with her three children being outdoors, traveling, volunteering at local organizations, and engaging in creative pursuits. She believes in the power of collective action and is committed to building a more equitable and inclusive society for all.

Kerri joined the OHIO Alliance for Population Health in 2021 as the Community Health Worker Program Lead. Shaw was instrumental in developing the CHW training program at Ohio University and has trained hundreds of CHWs in central and southern Ohio since 2017, when the program was launched. Shaw is now a state leader in community health work and a Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ohio Center for Community Health Worker Excellence. Prior to joining the Alliance, Shaw was a faculty member in the Ohio University Department of Social Work, including three years as the Field Director. Shaw is a proud alumnus of Ohio University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a master's degree in social work administration. She has over 20 years of practice experience in Appalachian Ohio as a school social worker, counselor, creative leader, and educator, and she has developed enduring successful programs regionally and internationally. Shaw has received multiple awards for her leadership and activism both locally and statewide. In 2022, she was named the National Association of Social Work – Ohio Chapter Social Worker of the Year for Region 7. Fundamentally, Shaw is passionate about workforce development to improve the health, equity, and wellness of Ohio communities. She lives in Dayton with her husband and son.

Elizabeth (Biz) McClure is an Emerita Professor of Dental Hygiene at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College, where she recently retired after teaching from 1990 to 2024. She graduated from the Raymond Walters College (now UC Blue Ash) dental hygiene program in 1984 and has worked in general practice, education, and research. She received her certification as a Community Dental Health Coordinator (CDHC) in 2022, and co-taught Ohio's first CDHC course in 2023. She continues to be an active member of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, a continuing education presenter, adjunct clinical instructor, CPR instructor and a volunteer for dental events.

Dr. Lee is the Demeritt Distinguished Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Chair of the Division of Pediatric and Public Health at the University of North Carolina. She is also a Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr Lee received her MPH and DDS degrees from Columbia University and her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry and PhD in Health Policy and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was also a NIDCR National Research Service Award recipient. She is board certified Pediatric Dentist and an active member of the medical staff at UNC Hospitals and practices in the Dental Faculty Practice in the School of Dentistry. She has authored over 150 peer reviewed manuscripts and is a renowned expert in health literacy and health disparities. She is dedicated to bridging the gap between medical knowledge and patient understanding and reducing health disparities. She has led projects funded by the NIH and HRSA. Dr Lee is involved in teaching, clinical practice and research. In addition to her academic pursuits, Dr. Lee is actively involved in leadership, community outreach and education initiatives. She collaborates with healthcare providers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. She served as the President for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) from 2020-2021. She is the recipient of numerous teaching and research awards including the 2008 AAPD Jerome Miller “For the Kids” Award. In 2010, she received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers from President Barack Obama. In 2011, Dr Lee was named the ‘Pediatric Dentist of the Year” by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and in 2021 she received the AAPD Merle C Hunter Leadership Award.