Allie Bryan moved to Charlottesville from New York City in 2018, where she worked for nearly a decade in the nonprofit sector providing social and educational services for at-risk children and families. She most recently worked for Books Behind Bars, an educational program in which UVA students meet with incarcerated youth and adults to explore questions of meaning, value, and social justice.  Raising three young children with her husband, she is excited to be a part of an organization that builds strong communities by coming alongside children and their parents.  Allie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish from Colgate University and a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialization in nonprofit management from the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at NYU.

Greg is a retired Healthcare Executive with a broad background in operational, financial, marketing and general management functions of medical entities, in both profit and non-profit sectors. Proven leader recognized for both strategic planning and execution of best practices and programs. Strong focus on customer relations, quality and achieving financial objectives. In retirement my major emphasis is on addressing inequities / disparities in healthcare access to ensure universal coverage.

Martin has owned and operated a practice as a Financial Planner and Wealth Advisor with Northwestern Mutual for 15 years. One of the most enjoyable parts of his career has been the many people he has met and shared stories with along the way. Martin and his wife Alida attended UVA and graduated in 2007. After a six-year stint in the DC area, they recognized that Charlottesville was an ideal place to start their family. They are currently raising their three children, Mac, Charlie and Allie, in the Ivy area. When they have free time, Martin and Alida enjoy watching their kids play sports, attending UVA events, and playing golf and tennis. They both have supported the Child Health Partnership for many years and look forward to many more!

Serwa Ertl, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Adolescent Medicine and the Associate Chair of Community Engagement for the Department of Pediatrics at at the University of Virginia. She grew up in Branford, Connecticut, and attended undergraduate and medical school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She returned to Connecticut for residency training at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, and completed a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. In 2018, she moved to Charlottesville to join the UVA Teen and Young Adult Health Center. She is passionate about providing care for vulnerable populations in the community and supporting adolescents and young adults in taking ownership of their health.

After teaching obstetric and public health nursing at the University of Virginia School of Nursing for more than 20 years, Mary retired in 2019. Early in her career, she worked as a Public Health Nurse in Charlottesville and Albemarle and that experience profoundly influenced her subsequent practice as an obstetrics nurse and professor. Mary was a member of the board of Child Health Partnership from 2011-2020, and chaired the board from 2014-2016. Following a year off from her first nine years on the board, Mary has returned and currently serves on the Program and Diversity and Equity Committees.

Claudette Grant is originally from Hartford, CT. She completed her undergraduate work in Urban Studies at the University of Connecticut and has a master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Urban and Environmental Planning. Claudette has worked as a planner for the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Her work in the housing field includes community organizing for Piedmont Housing Alliance, housing counselor for Housing Opportunities Made Equal, and loan assistant for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Claudette currently works as Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist at the University of Virginia, School of Medicine Cancer Center. She enjoys spending time with her family and being involved in the community through her work at church.

Farah was born and raised in Iraq, where she later graduated with a civil engineering degree. After losing family members to sectarian violence, Farah fled with her daughter to Jordan. She was granted refugee status by the UNHCR who decided she would resettle in the United States. Since arriving in 2008 as a single mother with a toddler, Farah has found it most rewarding to work in a sector where she has the opportunity to offer support, share experiences, and encourage people in similar situations. She enjoys empowering others with resources, knowledge, and guidance. Farah worked at the IRC (refugee settlement agency) for almost 10 years before having an opportunity to be a part of the family support team at Child Health Partnership. She then transitioned to work at the Piedmont Housing Alliance, assisting first time homebuyers with financial literacy and education. Farah currently works at the IRC as a casework supervisor. Charlottesville, Virginia, has been Farah’s home for the last 15 years; this is where she and her daughter now call home.

John Jertson has lived in many places including Connecticut, Uruguay, Brazil, Florida and most recently Austin, but has called Charlottesville his favorite home for the last 3 years. John has been in the tech space for over 10 years and is currently working at TradeCentric, a Charlottesville based tech company. His better half, Casey, is a neonatal nurse practitioner at the University of Virginia Medical Center. On John’s downtime, he enjoys trail running and triathlons.

Since graduating from UVA with her clinical psychology degree in 2011, Ann Lhospital has worked at UVA’s Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (UVA-CASTL). She focuses on early childhood coaching and mental health consultation programs that support children, teachers, and families. Ann is excited to join the Child Health Partnership Board to be of service to children and families in our community!

Cara Pates is a Virginia native and graduate of The College of William and Mary (BBA in Accounting) and UVa’s McIntire School of Commerce (MS of Accounting). Cara has 7+ years of experience in public accounting and is a Tax Manager for KPMG, LLP. She and her husband Seth, a Charlottesville native, moved back to town 4 years ago. Cara enjoys reading, cooking, and chasing after her two kids.

Toya Trager is the Director of Marketing and Administration for family-owned and operated Trager Brothers Coffee. For 12 years she has worked alongside her husband William in growing the family’s organic coffee brand and promoting the local food movement. As the mother of a special needs child who required intensive home health care, she understands the importance of the role Child Health Partnership plays with support and outreach to families in the Charlottesville area community.

Vickie Southall is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia, where she has taught pediatric and community/public health nursing for 37+ years. She began working with Child Health Partnership in 1997 supervising nursing students, recognizing the impact of the organization on the lives of children and families. She served on the first Board of Directors in 2008 until 2018, was off for a year and has been on the board since then. She is involved in many volunteer activities in her hometown of Louisa, and her collaboration of teaching with community service garnered her UVA’s first Excellence in Public Service Award in 2019, an all-University award from the Provost. She lives with her husband, Al, who is a family practice physician in Louisa. They have two adult sons and one granddaughter.

Grace Applefeld Cleveland is chief of staff to the dean at the University of Virginia School of Law. She has worked for a decade in higher ed administration at UVA Law. Before that, she worked as a federal judicial law clerk, a trademark and copyright lawyer, and in marketing and education at dance companies in Chicago. Grace holds a J.D. from UVA Law and a bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. A parent of two young children, Grace is thrilled to be a part of an organization that supports parents and children.

Valerie Palamountain served as the Dean of Workforce Services at Piedmont Virginia Community College from 2005 to 2021. In her position, Ms. Palamountain worked with business organizations, the Virginia Workforce Center, and economic development agencies within the Charlottesville region to develop training programs that meet the needs of the business community. Prior to joining PVCC, she held a similar position at Bucks County Community College in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Ms. Palamountain also worked in private industry for 15 years as a project management consultant in the information technology industry. Her experience includes marketing, training and consulting with Fortune 1000 companies. Ms. Palamountain holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from the University at Albany, Albany, NY. Ms. Palamountain is on the boards of Child Health Partnership, Albemarle County Rotary Club, and the Fluvanna Economic Development Authority. She is a volunteer for Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in foster care. She was elected to the Lake Monticello Owners Association Board of Directors in 2011, served as Secretary in 2011-12, and President in 2012-14. Ms. Palamountain resides in Palmyra, Virginia, and enjoys traveling, gardening, music and outdoor activities.

Rudy has a diverse background of over 35 years of coaching and financial consultation experience that he relies on to work with clients on their personal and business retirement plans.

He has over 25 years of adult education experience, having served as a trainer educator in the U.S. Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He brings over 26 years of Managerial experience in both the military and federal government, culminating his military career as the Deputy Commandant for the US Army’s Quartermaster School’s NCO Academy where he oversaw curriculum development and delivery of over 23 courses to over 3000 students annually. Rudy also has experience as a High School French and Spanish Teacher at Fork Union Military Academy.

Rudy’s desire to serve others also manifests itself in his community involvement. He has been involved in service organizations since 1980 when he was the Lion Tamer for the Ft Bliss Lions Club in El Paso, Texas. While stationed in Tunisia in the mid 1990’s he was the treasurer for the US Government Employees Recreation

Jackie Martin was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, and has lived here most of her life.  She received a bachelor’s degree from Mary Baldwin University, a master of public health from the University of Virginia, and a certification in diversity management from the American Hospital Association.  Formerly employed by Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital for 25 years in various positions, she is currently the Director of Community Partnerships and Health Equity at UVA Health. 

Jackie specializes in qualitative research, community engagement, and program development and implementation.  She is passionate about addressing health disparities and improving health equity, specifically through opportunities and connections to social determinants of health.