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.
About Us
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.