About Us: Staff

August Burns, MPH, CM, PA
Executive Director
august@groundsforhealth.org

August has worked in women’s health as a midwife, clinical practitioner, and as a consultant to international reproductive health programs, and has taught courses on global issues in reproductive health at both the University of Vermont and Tulane University School of Public Health. August has worked in over a dozen countries and is an untiring advocate for every woman’s right to good health. She was a contributor to the most recent edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves, and coauthored Where Women Have No Doctor, a health guide for women in low-resource settings that has been translated into over 30 languages and used around the world.

Jane Sakovitz Dale, MS
Development Director
jane@groundsforhealth.org

Jane has more than 25 years of professional experience in health care, communications and development. For the past decade she has been working closely with a number of Fortune 500 clients to help them align their philanthropic activities with their business objectives while advancing social causes that seek private sector support and engagement. She holds a Masters Degree in Communications from Syracuse University, as well as accreditation from the Public Relations Society of American. Jane sits on numerous non-profit boards in Vermont and is an elected Justice of the Peace.

Annah Kichambati, MD
In-country Coordinator, Tanzania

Dr Annah Kichambati has over 25 years experience as a health care provider, community activist and community educator. In January 2010, Dr Annah joined Grounds for Health’s staff as the program coordinator of our cervical cancer prevention collaboration in Kigoma, Tanzania. Prior to joining Grounds for Health, Dr. Annah was the HIV/AIDS coordinator for the Jane Goodall Institute’s TACARE project in Kigoma. She is an expert community educator, community organizer and talented health care provider. Over the last decade she has also held leadership positions in many local organizations, including the Kigoma AIDS Control Network (KACON) and the Tanzanian Red Cross Society. In addition to her work with Grounds for Health in Kigoma, Dr. Annah is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work.

Justin Mool
Communications Specialist
justin@groundsforhealth.org

Justin works as a contractor for Grounds for Health and manages its Websites, Facebook page and all marketing campaigns, including print ads, the annual report and the E-newsletter. Grounds for Health is Justin’s first real venture into the nonprofit sector and is a welcomed addition to his client base at Discern Marketing, Inc, where he is currently President. Prior to Grounds for Health, Justin spent three years as a content manager at outdoor gear etailer Backcountry.com. Mr. Mool graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Northwestern University.

Kayla Moore, MPH
Program Manager
kayla@groundsforhealth.org

Kayla comes to GFH from Management Sciences for Health where she has worked since graduating from public health school. At MSH she was hired as a program manager and was quickly promoted to Senior Program Officer for MSH’s Center for Leadership Management program in Tanzania, where she managed field staff, finances and contracts and interfaced regularly with federal donors and local partners. According to her past supervisors she was always three steps ahead and would take on and manage more than many more senior staff. Kayla also has experience traveling and working in Latin America with coffee farming communities and is dedicated to the value of health as a human right.

Barinia Osejo, MD
In-country Coordinator, Nicaragua

Dr. Osejo is Grounds for Health’s first in-country physician on staff. Dr. Osejo has been an invaluable addition, coordinating patient follow-up, coaching local doctors and nurses to provide continued women’s health care, and expanding community training and outreach.

Katherine Parcell
Operations Manager
katherine@groundsforhealth.org

Katherine comes to Grounds for Health with a long history working with Conservation Corps around the country. Most recently, Katherine was the Program Manager for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Her academic background is in Psychology and Women’s Studies, with a degree from Wheaton College, where she spent a year abroad in both Mexico and England. Katherine combines this education with three years experience in non-profit management.

Lupita Jovel Sanchez, MD
In-country Coordinator, Mexico

Bio coming soon.

Rebecca Singer, RN, ND
Senior Program Officer
rebecca@groundsforhealth.org

Rebecca brings a strong background in humanitarian response and development work to the Grounds for Health team. She most recently returned from Papua New Guinea where she worked for the past 16 months as Project Coordinator for Doctors Without Borders managing a Family Support Center. She has also worked in Uganda, Liberia and Bulgaria and brings a wealth of experience including program management and applied research.

Ellen Starr, NP
Senior Clinical Officer
ellen@groundsforhealth.org

Ellen is a nurse practitioner with over 25 years experience in women’s health, both as a provider and most recently as VP of Health Center Operations for Planned Parenthood Northern New England. Ellen was a volunteer on our last two trips to Tanzania and quickly made herself indispensable. She brings in-depth clinical and management experience, natural leadership and a great sense of humor to our team. Ellen will join us for the short term as a consultant helping with the transitional period as our new program managers come on board. She will be responsible for overseeing the Tanzania project during that time.

Elisa Vandervort, MSN, FNP
Senior Clinical Officer
elisa@groundsforhealth.org

Elisa joined Grounds for Health in the fall of 2009. As Senior Clinical Officer she develops and implements Grounds for Health’s programs with a focus on capacity building at our Latin American sites. She has ten years of experience in women’s health and primary health care as a family nurse practitioner. Elisa was compelled to obtain skills as a primary care provider after working in Nepal, Latin American and the USA with NGOs engaged in community development, public health and issues of social justice. Prior to completing her master’s training at the Yale University School of Nursing, she worked as an educator in service-learning with international youth at the United World College in New Mexico. Elisa remains dedicated to increasing primary health care access and reducing health disparities among underserved populations both domestically and abroad.