About Us

The Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) is a voluntary collaboration between more than 200 individual and organizational stakeholders dedicated to improving the health of low-income, uninsured, and under-insured populations across Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Our Team

The Center for Health and Research Transformation (CHRT), a non-profit impact organization located at the University of Michigan, serves as the backbone organization for the Washtenaw Health Initiative. Since 2010, CHRT staff members have provided strategic, administrative, evaluative, analytic, and technical support to enhance the impact and effectiveness of the Washtenaw Health Initiative.

Steering Committee

Alex Plum

Executive Director
The Corner Health Center
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Alfreda Rooks

Director of Community Health Services
Michigan Medicine
WHI Position:
WHI Secretary and Community Representative

Alonzo Lewis

President
Saint Joseph Mercy - Ann Arbor & Livingston
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Angela Moore

WHI Position:
Community Ambassador

Ann Davis

Retired Administrator
Chelsea Community Hospital
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Benjamin Miles

President
Trinity Health, Chelsea Hospital
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Brent Williams

Medical Director
Michigan Medicine
WHI Position:
Community Representative and WHI Steering Committee Co-Chair

Connie Conklin

Executive Director
Livingston County Community Mental Health
WHI Position:
Ex-Officio Steering Committee Member

Ginny Creasman

Medical Center Director
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Gregory Dill

County Administrator
Washtenaw County
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Jack Billi

Professor
University of Michigan
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Jeremy Lapedis

Executive Director
Washtenaw Health Plan
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Jimena Loveluck

Health Officer
Washtenaw County Health Department
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Julie Aronica

Director of Strategic Initiatives
Blue Cross Complete of Michigan
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Mashod Evans

Pastor
Bethel AME Church
WHI Position:
Community Representative

Naomi Norman

Interim Superintendent
WISD
WHI Position:
Community Represenative

Pam Smith

President and CEO
United Way of Washtenaw County
WHI Position:
Organizational Represenative

Sharon Moore

Retired
UAW Local 898
WHI Position:
Steering Committee Co-Chair

Tendai Thomas

Associate Division Head
IHA
WHI Position:
Organizational Represenative

Tony Denton

SVP and Chief Environmental, Social, and Governance Officer
Michigan Medicine
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Trish Cortes

Executive Director
Washtenaw County Community Mental Health
WHI Position:
Organizational Representative

Work Group Chairs

Alyssa Tumolo

Grants Coordinator
CMHPSM
WHI Position:
Opioid Project Co-Chair

Dale Berry

President Emeritus
Emergent Health Partners
WHI Position:
Healthy Aging Collaborative Co-Chair

Liz Conlin

VP Client Service Director
REGROUP
WHI Position:
Communications Co-Chair

Marie Gress

Founder
Kovir
WHI Position:
Healthy Aging Collaborative Co-Chair

Melinda Cooper

Program Manager
UNIFIED HIV Health and Beyond
WHI Position:
Opioid Project Co-Chair

Staff Representatives

In addition to the leadership team described above, each active work group is assigned a CHRT staff member to assist with collaborative activities.

Ayşe G. Büyüktür

Program Manager
CHRT
WHI Position:
MiCC Staff Representative

Deana Smith

Associate Director of Health and Social Equity
CHRT
WHI Position:
Leadership Team Member

Erin Horne

Community Engagement Program Manager
CHRT
WHI Position:
Healthy Aging Staff Representative

Erin Spanier

Marketing and Communications Director
CHRT
WHI Position:
Communications Staff Representative

Kimberly Snodgrass

Health Communications Analyst
CHRT
WHI Position:
Communications Committee Staff Representative

Matt Hill

Project Manager
CHRT
WHI Position:
Leadership Team Member and Opioid Project Staff Representative

Robyn Rontal

Interim Executive Director
CHRT
WHI Position:
Ex-Officio Steering Committee Member

Sharon Kim

Health and Social Equity Director
CHRT
WHI Position:
WHI Leadership Team Member