Our Staff
DeAnn Bednowicz
VP of Operations
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7578
DeAnn is inspired by the knowledge that she is making a difference in peoples’ lives by helping them get healthcare they could not access anywhere else. Although every day is different, everything she does revolves around building relationships both inside and outside the Coalition to ensure people in DuPage County are taken care of. DeAnn likes to spend as much time outdoors as possible either with coffee, her family or both if she is lucky. Her family (including three adorable grandchildren) and puppies keep her busy and laughing.
Charito Bularzik (Habla Español)
Education and Outreach Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7576
Charito is flexible and has a passion for health education, she thinks health information is the key to help people live healthy lives. When she is not working, she enjoys gardening and spending time with family and friends.
Brenda Chavez (Habla Español)
Client Benefits Supervisor
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3845
Brenda takes great joy in helping the community navigate the many resources DuPage County has to offer. Giving the client a sense of relief brings a smile to her because she knows that she is part of a team that gives hope. Brenda likes to spend her free time with family and catching up on her favorite books and shows.
Daisy Corpus (Habla Español)
Community Health/
Financial Assistance Navigator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3065
Daisy assists clients with applying for and obtaining relief from outstanding medical bills/debt. She fully supports the organization’s mission and believes everyone has a right to affordable healthcare. She also loves working alongside enthusiastic people that are passionate and truly want to make a difference in their community. Daisy loves traveling and seeing new places (preferably somewhere with mountains). She also enjoys relaxing at home by cooking Asian cuisine and listening to comedy podcasts.
Sandra Corpus (Habla Español)
Client Benefits Assistant
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7574
Karen Doyle
Director of Development & Communication
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7566
Karen relishes the opportunity to connect people and organizations to the Coalition’s mission. She firmly believes that there should be no correlation between income and access to high-quality health care and is proud of the role she plays in opening the doors to a healthier community. Karen is often laughing, socializing and figuring out ways to avoid cooking dinner.
Vanessa Corpus (Habla Español)
Silver Access Program Manager
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7573
Vanessa is deeply committed to ensuring that families can
access affordable ACA insurance plans and receive assistance with their premium
costs through the Silver Access program. She strongly believes that everyone
deserves access to high-quality care, regardless of their income, background,
or legal status. With her experience in the nonprofit sector since 2015, she
takes pride in supporting community members by connecting them to resources,
benefits, and vital services. During her leisure time, Vanessa finds joy in
traveling with friends, going on road trips, and cherishing moments with her
family and dogs.
Joel Jara (Habla Español)
Community Relationships Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7579
Joel is personable, enjoys building relationships and is energized by equipping and developing others. For over 15 years he has served in the nonprofit sector driven by the mission to empower the community by making resources accessible to everyone. Joel sees the dignity and value in each person and finds great satisfaction in problem-solving and networking to ensure individual needs are met. In his free time Joel enjoys taking long walks with his wife, tackling home improvement projects, and of course making his famous salsa.
Nancy Garcia (Habla Español)
Specialty Care Manager
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7567
As a registered nurse, Nancy is passionate about high-quality healthcare for all in our community. Motivated by her caring nature, Nancy works deliberately to coordinate patient care; achieving a safe and effective specialty care experience. Being a part of a team that positively impacts many lives, further supports Nancy’s desire to enhance patient care. When not at work, you can find Nancy spending time with her very large family and four-legged friends or enjoying some retail therapy.
Denise Martinez (Habla Español)
Pharmacy Manager
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7577
If you are familiar with the DuPage Health Coalition, you are familiar with Denise. Compassionate, considerate and empathetic she has been with DHC for 20 years and has performed a variety of roles. She is currently the program manager for our Dispensary of Hope and as the name indicates she loves that her role gives her the chance to provide hope to some of our county’s most vulnerable. Outside of work Denise enjoys taking her puppy Max to the park, being with her family and is known as the ultimate hockey mom.
Kara Murphy
President
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7569
Kara knows she is blessed to work with an incredible DHC team and an equally mission focused network of partners in health equity, healthcare, and community. After 25 years spent working here in DuPage County, she is thoroughly spoiled and inspired. After 20 years at a small nonprofit, she has also become an expert lightbulb changer. Kara recharges exploring the forest preserves with two-legged and four-legged friends, curling up with a good book, and traveling to places with forests, mountains, and water.
Karina Ochoa (Habla Español)
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7571
Karina assists clients with general questions and directs them to the appropriate staff. She also manages the reception area, welcoming all with a warm smile. She has been working for non-profits since 2019 and finds her role unbelievably rewarding and fulfilling. She is currently in school full time, pursuing a degree in pediatric occupational therapy. Karina has a three-year-old daughter and two cats. During her very rare free time, she likes going to concerts and trying new restaurants!
Gale Patyk
Office Clerk
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7580
Gale is dependable, hardworking, and organized, all necessary traits to keep all of the paper that passes across her desk in order. Gale is an avid quilter and enjoys road trips with her friends to visit quilt shops as well as time spent with her grandchildren.
Patty Perez (Habla Español)
Director of Benefits
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7570
Patty begins her morning with a friendly “Hi ”to her teammates and that upbeat attitude remains throughout the day as she tackles enrollment applications. Patty appreciates the opportunity to use her organizational skills to develop systems that work best for her and approaches everything with a caring heart. Patty has a houseful of boys and delights in spending time at their ballgames, playing in the park and cuddling. Patty has been with Access DuPage since 2002, and that experience serves our patients very well, every day.
Luz M Ramirez (Habla Español)
Community Health Navigator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3608
Luz assists clients in obtaining healthcare coverage by finding the benefits that fit them best. She loves this type of work because she can help to provide clients with many community resources that they might have been otherwise unaware of. In her spare time, Luz loves spending time with her family and going shopping with her daughter.
Miguel Romero (Habla Español)
Specialty Care & Education Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-516-7568
One thing that makes Miguel so effective is the conscientious way he assists both community members and our entire staff. Miguel is compassionate and genuinely enjoys helping people, and it shows in each of his interactions. When not at work, Miguel regularly plays soccer and basketball and is happiest spending time with his friends and family.
Alex Solis (Habla Español)
Care Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7572
After her AmeriCorps VISTA service, DHC invited Alex to join the Care Coordinator team, and she gladly accepted. She is responsible for scheduling, organizing and managing all aspects of a patient’s healthcare maintenance and treatment. It is her fate to work in social services, since she is an older sister and has always looked for the wellbeing of others. Alex loves fixing things, home projects and DIY’s and that is how she spends her weekends. That is if her teen daughters don’t have her driving them around.
Meg Thompson
Director of Strategic Initiatives
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3844
Meg works closely with the Coalition’s team to ensure new initiatives launch successfully and have the maximum impact. She builds partnerships with health systems and community stakeholders critical to the organization’s mission. Throughout her career, Meg has been committed to addressing health disparities and improving access to care. Meg loves spending time with her family, catching up with friends and playing tennis.
Jennifer Flores (Habla Español)
Financial Assistance Counselor
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3846
Jennifer is upbeat and friendly. She gets a sense of satisfaction knowing she is doing her part in helping clients get relief from outstanding medical debt. She enjoys being part of a team of passionate people who all have a goal to make their community a better place. Jennifer loves spoiling her dog Akko. On the weekends she enjoys clubbing...Sam's clubbing.
Jessica Adamson
Health Equity Summer Intern
[email protected]
Jessica is the Health Equity Summer Intern supporting the implementation and growth of new initiatives, creating pathways that connect high-barrier populations and improving overall health equity. She is passionate about developing community partnerships to reduce health disparities and improve overall health outcomes for the residents of DuPage county. Jessica is a rising junior at the University of California in Santa Cruz studying global and community health. She's an avid runner and recently completed her first half marathon and is a member of the American Red Cross student organization at school.
Monserrat Ponce (Habla Español)
Health Equity Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Direct: 331-806-3007
Monserrat is a driven and hardworking individual that is passionate about helping our DuPage County community. As the Health Equity program coordinator, she aims at reducing healthcare disparities and assisting our members gain meaningful knowledge that aids in enhancing their health and wellbeing. She works closely in developing partnerships with our Everyday Hero program that teaches hands on CPR and our Access Fit program that gives further access to gym membership with our community partners, via marketing and outreach efforts. During her free time, she enjoys trying out new coffee shops, travelling and indulge being outdoors with a good book.
Miriam Pasillas (Habla Español)
Specialty Care Coordinator - Oral Health
[email protected]
Direct: 331-716-7167
Miriam coordinates dental care services, driven by her passion for making a positive impact in the community. She firmly believes that everyone deserves access to high-quality healthcare, and working for DHC helps her put this conviction into action. Miriam is a mother of three girls and an avid long-distance runner. In her spare time, she enjoys training on the trails for her next marathon or spending quality time with her family.