Speakers
Ann Searight Christiano, Founder and Director, Center for Public Interest Communications, and Clinical Professor, Department of Public Relations, University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications
Ann is the founder and Director of the Center for Public Interest Communications and a clinical professor in the department of public relations at the University of Florida, College of Journalism and Communications. She developed the first-ever curriculum in public interest communications. Public Interest Communications uses science-driven strategic communications, human-centered design, systems thinking and storytelling to advance positive social change.
She completed a 10-year term as the inaugural Karel Chair in Public Interest Communications in May 2020. Before coming to the University of Florida in 2010, Ann was a senior communications officer for the
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, directing communications efforts for programs that address social factors like housing, education and mental health that drive health and well-being.
Ann’s writing has appeared in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, Barron’s, Quartz and Scientific American. She has been a University of Florida Teacher of the Year, International Educator of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.
Her work through the Center includes partnerships with the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees, the United Nations, the International Labor Organization, the Department of State, and several agencies who work in this domain. She has worked with several federal and state agencies, nonprofits, and foundations throughout the world. She regularly trains scientists, senior military officials from around the world and other leaders to more effectively convey the importance of their work and ideas.
Barbara Collura, President and CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Barbara serves as the President/CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and has led the organization since 2007. Barbara is a nationally recognized expert on infertility and the family building journey, with a special emphasis on advocacy, public policy, and access to care. Barbara has worked with the World Health Organization on infertility definitions and clinical guidelines, worked with ACOG on their clinical definitions for infertility, and served a four-year term on the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at NIH. Along with being a frequent guest speaker at medical conferences, Barbara has been a guest on CNN, TODAY Show, MSNBC, Fox & Friends, and Nightline. She is routinely quoted in major media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and Politico on a variety of topics related to infertility.
In 2014, Barbara received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Barbara was named by PR Week to the Health Influencer 30: Class of 2024.
Barbara is passionate about RESOLVE’s mission as the organization was a source of support and information during her own battle with infertility.
Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Montana and her Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from American University.
Nicole Friedland, President and CEO, National Alopecia Areata Foundation
Nicole joined NAAF as President & CEO in January 2022 and has led the organization through an extraordinary period of growth. During her tenure, alopecia areata experienced a global awareness event through the incident at the March 2022 Oscars, as well as the first-ever FDA treatment approval for alopecia areata in June 2022. Since then, two more treatments have received FDA approval. Nicole’s three decades of experience includes over 20 years at Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as JDRF), most recently as their Executive Director of the Northern California Chapter for six years. Working with the Type 1 diabetes community gave Nicole valuable autoimmune disease and patient-focused experience.
Prior to JDRF, she served as Division President for National Kidney Foundation, Chief Development Officer at ReSurge International, and Director of Development at Seva Foundation. Over her career, Nicole has been nationally recognized and has demonstrated strong capabilities in the areas of strategic growth, planning and development, fundraising, innovation, partner- and community-building and team development.
Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Community Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Susan Gaffney, Executive Vice President, National Health Council
As the Executive Vice President of the National Health Council, Susan provides strategic direction for the group’s fundamental work of ensuring that its robust membership is engaged and supported while tackling the critical issues related to chronic health conditions, which are at the heart of the NHC’s mission.
Gaffney’s progressive experience in both the health and non-profit sectors allows her to draw on a range of skills and experiences in helping to drive the NHC’s work.
Previously, Gaffney had been the National Director of Membership and Governance at NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, where she focused on nonprofit governance, compliance, strategy, and member support. She has also worked in a variety of roles in the
nonprofit education and health sectors in Washington, DC, New York, and San Francisco including the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.
Gaffney earned a master’s in Nonprofit Management and Public Policy from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment at The New School in New York City, and a bachelor’s in history from St. Bonaventure University. She is certified in Group Facilitation by the Institute of Cultural Affairs and as a Change Management Practitioner by Prosci.
Brad Kerschensteiner
Brad Kerschensteiner, LMFT maintains a firm in Miami Beach that includes Executive Coaching, Leadership Training and Psychotherapy services. Since 2007, Brad has been coaching and advising leaders across industries across the US and LATAM. He also provides clinical psychotherapy services to individuals and families in South Florida. Brad proudly serves as the primary Executive Coach for ALSAC St Jude’s Executive Leadership Team, Daikin South Florida, and CANO Health. Other clients included: AAR Corp, the Federal Aviation Administration, Goldman Properties, The Children’s Museum, Univision and Johnson & Johnson. He also frequently provides training for YPO, EO, Vistage and other business associations.
Brad was one of the selected Executive Coaches for Florida International University’s Leadership Development program which HR.com and Leadership Excellence Magazine ranked as the #1
Leadership program in the highly competitive leadership development category. Finally, Brad served as the lead Life & Executive Coach at the esteemed Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa from 2008 to 2015.
KiKi L’Italien, VP, Marketing & Community Engagement, Big Red M
KiKi L’Italien is an accomplished digital strategist and AI advocate, with over 20 years of experience in driving technology adoption and digital transformation for executive teams and organizations. As Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement at Big Red M, KiKi brings a cutting-edge approach to leveraging AI and innovative tech solutions that empower leaders to make informed, strategic decisions.
Known for her dynamic, engaging workshops, KiKi has guided organizations through practical AI applications tailored to enhance leadership and governance. She also serves as the editor-in-chief of Association Chat, a recognized media platform that explores trends in digital strategy, AI, and community building, reaching a wide audience through its award-winning podcast, magazine, newsletter, and live events.
KiKi’s recent honors include recognition by BizTech Magazine as one of the ’30 Nonprofit IT Influencers to Follow’ and a 2024 Technology Champion Award by
AWTC, underscoring her impact on the tech landscape. Her workshops emphasize actionable strategies and ethical frameworks that help executive leaders harness AI to improve efficiency, foster collaboration, and navigate the evolving digital terrain with confidence.
Randy Rutta, CEO, National Health Council
National Health Council (NHC) CEO Randall “Randy” Rutta is dedicated to policy-to-practice solutions that interpret, influence, and improve federal and state health care policies to enhance public and private sector health care innovation, outcomes, and efficiency. Since joining the NHC in February 2021, Rutta leads the NHC with the goal of affecting change across the health ecosystem and promoting increased access to affordable, high-value, and sustainable health care.
Prior to joining the NHC, Rutta was the President and CEO of the American Autoimmune Related Disease Association (AARDA), an organization dedicated to addressing autoimmunity and a longtime member of the NHC. He also served as AARDA’s Federal Policy Consultant and as Principal at ConnectHealth, LLC, a DC-based
consulting company he established in 2017 that provides strategic insight in achieving objectives across the health care ecosystem.
In 2017, Rutta transitioned from the position of President and CEO at Easterseals, a global, nonprofit organization dedicated to the health, well-being, and success of people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and families. For most of his 36 years at Easterseals, he worked at the organization’s Office of Public Affairs, where he oversaw federal and state legislative and regulatory activities, federal grant development, and international knowledge exchange.
Rutta is a Board member of Patient Focused Medicines Development (PFMD) and the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC). He holds a master’s degree in politics from Catholic University of America in DC, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.
Amy Sonderman, Director of U.S. Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement, U.S. Pharmacopeia
Amy is the Senior Director of U.S. Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement at U.S. Pharmacopeia, where she has been since 2017. In her current role, Amy leads comprehensive strategic engagement to build relationships with key health advocacy organizations to advance public policy issues that ensure patient access to a supply of safe and quality medicines.
Amy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in political science and earned a master’s in public administration from Marywood University. Amy also serves as Vice-Chair for the National Network to End Domestic Violence Board.
Schroeder Stribling, President and CEO, Mental Health America
Schroeder Stribling is the President and CEO of Mental Health America, the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all. She is a lifelong social justice advocate with over 20 years of experience managing organizations focused on mental health, homelessness, poverty, and racial justice.
Prior to joining Mental Health America, Stribling was the CEO at N Street Village, a nonprofit providing housing support services for women and families in Washington, DC. Under her leadership, N Street Village expanded from one to eight locations. She helped diversify revenue streams, create partnerships with government entities, lead city-wide policy initiatives on homelessness, and acquire a smaller nonprofit organization.
Prior to her time at N Street Village, Stribling was a Senior Social Worker at Johns Hopkins Bayview Hospital, where she was responsible for the implementation of new mental health programs in the inner-city Head Start school system. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Clinical Social Worker and served as a Coordinator for the Dual Diagnosis Program on the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Suburban Hospital, which is now a part of Johns Hopkins.
Stribling received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Wellesley College, a master’s in social work from Smith College School for Social Work, and a certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University. She speaks and writes frequently on topics related to mental health and racial and economic equity and is an ever-passionate spokesperson for mental health and social justice in our times.