Anita finds great meaning in her work as a pediatric nurse practitioner. She has a strong passion for serving those in need and is committed to aligning her actions with her values. She is the founder of Medan, and serves as the president on the board of directors. Since her first trip to Ethiopia in 2012 to adopt her oldest, she has known that she would be involved medically in Ethiopia at some capacity. Her concern for the health of the children of Ethiopia, as well as her acute awareness of the need for better preventative care, continuity of care, partnership, and adherence to standards of practice led to the development of Medan Initiative. She adores her two boys, loves to travel, is an avid reader, enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and friends, and never passes up a good cup of coffee.
Our Team
Board of Directors
Treasurer
Justin Charles
Justin has enjoyed working as a clinical psychologist since early 2013. He serves as the treasurer on the board of directors for Medan and is married to Anita. Since adopting their two sons from Ethiopia in 2012 and 2015, he and Anita have sought opportunities to serve the people of Ethiopia. He believes that Medan Initiative provides an incredible opportunity to utilize his skills and resources to help the children of Ethiopia in ways that he finds both profoundly meaningful and also integrally important to the health and development of the children served. He enjoys podcasts and hiking with his family, and much of his free time is spent attempting to keep up with his two sons.
Secretary
Joel Charles
Joel has been involved with Medan since the very beginning when Anita (founder) began developing plans for serving the medical needs of children in Ethiopia. He has helped to develop the many non-medical aspects of the organization, as his background is in education and business. He serves as the secretary on the board of directors for Medan, and plays a huge role in development and strategic planning. The most life-changing and perspective-shaping experiences of his life have occurred while spending time in underdeveloped countries with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and those experiences are what drive his passion for seeing consistent healthcare available to those who do not have it. Joel loves ideas and learning and listens to many podcasts about everything from history to psychology to entertainment. He also enjoys visiting museums and doing crossword puzzles and many other things traditionally reserved for someone twice his age.
Board Member
Katie Andrews
Katie is a residency trained pediatric optometrist. She is eager to serve the visual needs of the children in Ethiopia because she knows that a simple eye exam can have a profound impact on a child’s wellbeing and ability to learn. She values Medan’s emphasis on continuity of care, as she knows the importance of following children over time. Katie enjoys outdoor activities, playing sports, and spending time with her husband, family (13 nieces and nephews) and St. Bernard Sully.
Board Member
Aimee Simmons
Aimee has been a physician assistant since 2006. Throughout her career she has worked in multiple patient care settings, including community medicine and pediatrics. Her strong passion for both service and wellness are reflected in Medan's mission to provide medical care to children in Ethiopia, and she believes that Medan’s model of continuous medical care will serve the children well for a lifetime of health and opportunity. She is excited to learn more about the culture and the people of Ethiopia and will never pass up a good cup of coffee and the opportunity to share conversation with another. She is married, has two wonderful children, and specifically enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Board Member
Kevin Weaver
Kevin has followed and supported the work of Medan since it first started in 2019. He specifically appreciates Medan’s vision to not only help the children of Ethiopia, but to do it with excellence through an approach that offers continuity of care, recognizes the importance of patient safety, and focuses on health development, healthcare collaboration, and community empowerment. He loves to engage donors as he shares about the incredible work that Medan is doing, and is passionate about ensuring that Medan has the finances needed to fulfill it's mission. Kevin’s career has led him into leadership positions within both HVAC and security businesses. He is married, has two incredible children, and enjoys playing golf, watching most sports, and spending time with family and friends.
Board Member
Jim Lynch
After a career of serving as an Officer and Optometrist in the U.S. Navy, the opportunity to join Medan on its inaugural trip to Ethiopia in April of 2023 turned out to be a life-changing experience for Jim. Throughout this trip he experienced first-hand the positive impact of Medan’s work. After this experience, he was eager to invest more of his time and energy into this incredible organization. He is both humbled and honored to serve on the board of directors. Jim enjoys spending time with his awesome family -- his wife Beth, son Sam, and daughter Josie. He loves to travel and explore new areas, and especially enjoys hiking and being out in nature. He is also a sports nut and can be found watching and playing (more watching these days!) football, basketball, and tennis. He is a coffee lover and can’t wait to get his hands on another Ethiopian macchiato sometime soon!
STRATEGY TEAM
Our strategy team was developed to carry out the actionable objectives of Medan, determined in conjunction with the board of directors. Thus, this team makes things happen! Quarterly meetings allow this team to set 90-day goals with outcomes that will directly impact Medan’s growth and development. Members of this team are individuals who support Medan’s mission, vision, and values, and a desire to work with others to advance the effectiveness and impact of Medan.
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