Founding Executive Director
Jeanette Contreras, MPP
Jeanette is a prominent health policy and public health advocate with over 20 years of experience dedicated to improving health outcomes for underserved communities in the U.S. Before establishing OLHA, she founded the Latina Health Collab, a consulting firm aimed at engaging diverse stakeholders in patient advocacy. Jeanette has held leadership roles in several national nonprofits, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), the National Consumers League, and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Jeanette began her career in the legislative office of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, culminating in over a decade of public service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She serves on the board of directors for the Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases and Mom Congress. Jeanette holds a Bachelor's in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master's in public policy from American University in Washington, D.C.
Board of Directors
Sabrina Lopez, Chair
Estela Mata, Secretary
Estela Mata, Secretary
Sabrina is a results-driven leader and passionate advocate for equitable healthcare. As Vice President of Multicultural Initiatives and Engagement at McUlksy Health Force, she works with her team to amplify underrepresented voices and drive meaningful change in health access and outcomes. With over 20 years of experience in business dev
Sabrina is a results-driven leader and passionate advocate for equitable healthcare. As Vice President of Multicultural Initiatives and Engagement at McUlksy Health Force, she works with her team to amplify underrepresented voices and drive meaningful change in health access and outcomes. With over 20 years of experience in business development, media and communications, Sabrina brings a unique ability to bridge the worlds of advocacy and industry. Her career includes leadership roles at NBC Universal, Telemundo, and Univision, making her an expert at engaging U.S. Hispanic and minority communities using culturally relevant strategies. Fluent in English and Spanish, she brings a bilingual, bicultural lens to all her work. Sabrina holds a Bachelor‘s degree in biology and chemistry from St. Joseph's College in Indiana. Prior to attending college in Indiana, Sabrina pursued medical studies in Argentina which ignited her passion for Latino health advocacy and making a difference in people’s lives through health-focused work.
Estela Mata, Secretary
Estela Mata, Secretary
Estela Mata, Secretary
Estela is a passionate advocate for health equity, leading impactful initiatives that blend healthcare policy, community engagement, and patient empowerment. As president and co-founder of Looms for Lupus and Mata Advocacy and Support (MAS), Estela drives awareness for lupus, fibromyalgia, mental health, and community wellness. With ove
Estela is a passionate advocate for health equity, leading impactful initiatives that blend healthcare policy, community engagement, and patient empowerment. As president and co-founder of Looms for Lupus and Mata Advocacy and Support (MAS), Estela drives awareness for lupus, fibromyalgia, mental health, and community wellness. With over 30 years of healthcare experience and personal insights as both a patient and caregiver, she fosters meaningful connections across diverse communities, bridging industry and patient advocacy voices. Her health care and public policy influence spans local to global platforms, collaborating with organizations like the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health: All of Us Research program, and Scripps Research Digital Trials Center. Estela also serves on the City of Baldwin Park Stakeholder Oversight Committee.
Sean Bruna, Treasurer
Estela Mata, Secretary
Sean Bruna, Treasurer
Dr. Bruna is an associate professor of medical anthropology at Western Washington University, where he is also a founding faculty member of the Institute for Critical Disability Studies and an affiliate faculty member of the Center for Cross-Cultural Research. Dr. Bruna brings more than two decades of experience with interdisciplinary a
Dr. Bruna is an associate professor of medical anthropology at Western Washington University, where he is also a founding faculty member of the Institute for Critical Disability Studies and an affiliate faculty member of the Center for Cross-Cultural Research. Dr. Bruna brings more than two decades of experience with interdisciplinary and cross-methodological health disparity research, including work addressing chronic disease prevention, disability studies, and research with rural populations. He served as a senior advisor to the Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) under the Biden- Harris Administration. His previous research has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Smithsonian Institution, among others. Dr. Bruna holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of New Mexico, where he researched chronic disease prevention on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Advisory Board
Michele Cordoba Founding Director, Culture IQ Group
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Michele is the Founding Director of Culture IQ, a full-service market research and strategic communications firm dedicated to amplifying the voices of multicultural consumers and voters and delivering actionable insights to companies, policymakers, candidates, and campaigns. She is a skilled researcher in both English and Spanish, with
Michele is the Founding Director of Culture IQ, a full-service market research and strategic communications firm dedicated to amplifying the voices of multicultural consumers and voters and delivering actionable insights to companies, policymakers, candidates, and campaigns. She is a skilled researcher in both English and Spanish, with expertise in issue advocacy, message development and consumer engagement. Michele brings a unique perspective to the research world from her background in the media and entertainment industry, where she gained recognition as an Emmy-award winning producer. Prior to founding Culture IQ, Michele led consumer insights, marketing and promotions efforts for top Spanish-language networks Telemundo and Univision. She is passionate about empowering underrepresented communities and ensuring their voices are heard. Michele holds a Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Scripps College and a Master's from the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird).
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Sinsi is a national public policy and health equity advocacy thought leader with 25 years of experience advancing equal opportunity for women and families of color, and almost 20 years advocating for increased health care access and improved quality of care for underserved communities. Prior to joining the National Partnership’s staff, sh
Sinsi is a national public policy and health equity advocacy thought leader with 25 years of experience advancing equal opportunity for women and families of color, and almost 20 years advocating for increased health care access and improved quality of care for underserved communities. Prior to joining the National Partnership’s staff, she was the founding director of Families USA’s Center on Health Equity Action for System Transformation. Sinsi has served on numerous advisory committees for organizations, including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Center for Complex Health and Social Needs, and the American Association of Pediatrics. She has published extensively and made numerous appearances in both local and national media, including English and Spanish television, radio, and print outlets. She earned an A.B. from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Pedro Martinez, Director of Health, UnidosUS
Sinsi Hernández-Cancio, National Partnership for Women & Families
Guadalupe Pacheco, Founder, President/CEO, Pacheco Consulting Group
Pedro is a public health leader and equity advocate with over 15 years of experience advancing health access and outcomes for underserved communities. His career spans public service, nonprofit leadership, and national initiatives focused on closing health disparities across systems and populations. Pedro currently serves as Director of H
Pedro is a public health leader and equity advocate with over 15 years of experience advancing health access and outcomes for underserved communities. His career spans public service, nonprofit leadership, and national initiatives focused on closing health disparities across systems and populations. Pedro currently serves as Director of Health at UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), where he leads efforts to strengthen vaccine equity, improve health access, and support community-based solutions to public health challenges. He has held leadership and technical roles across local, state, and federal levels, contributing to major initiatives addressing maternal and child health, injury and violence prevention, overdose and suicide prevention, and public health preparedness. Pedro began his career in local and state health departments and has advised on several federally funded programs. A trained epidemiologist, he integrates data, policy, and community collaboration to drive sustainable impact. He holds a Bachelor’s in public health sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master’s in public health from Loma Linda University.
Guadalupe Pacheco, Founder, President/CEO, Pacheco Consulting Group
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Guadalupe Pacheco, Founder, President/CEO, Pacheco Consulting Group
Guadalupe is the founder, President/CEO of Pacheco Consulting Group (PCG). With over 30 years of senior-level experience in health management, policy development, and both non-profit and private sectors, PCG provides strategic solutions for healthcare enterprises to enhance their market products or penetrate new markets, particularly in d
Guadalupe is the founder, President/CEO of Pacheco Consulting Group (PCG). With over 30 years of senior-level experience in health management, policy development, and both non-profit and private sectors, PCG provides strategic solutions for healthcare enterprises to enhance their market products or penetrate new markets, particularly in diverse, underserved communities.
Mr. Pacheco previously held the position of Project Manager at Lockheed Martin Corporation, assigned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights.
Before that role, Mr. Pacheco served as the Training Director for the AIDS Education and Training Center-Multicultural Center (AETC-MC) at Howard University College of Medicine. Mr. Pacheco also served as a senior health advisor/project officer to the director of the Office of Minority Health, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Mr. Pacheco currently serves as the Director of Programs for the National Hispanic Health Foundation. Mr. Pacheco earned his B.A. and MSW from California State University, Fresno, and has completed coursework for an MPA from USC.
Pam Rattananont, Senior Patient Engagement and Advocacy Leader Oncology & Rare Diseases
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Pam is a lifelong patient advocate dedicated to breaking down barriers to care and improving care coordination. With a strong focus on mental and emotional well-being, she champions support services and education for both patients and healthcare professionals. Pam collaborates closely with industry leaders, patient advocates, clinicians,
Pam is a lifelong patient advocate dedicated to breaking down barriers to care and improving care coordination. With a strong focus on mental and emotional well-being, she champions support services and education for both patients and healthcare professionals. Pam collaborates closely with industry leaders, patient advocates, clinicians, policymakers, and researchers to shorten the diagnostic odyssey, accelerate clinical research, and enhance healthcare accessibility. Her expertise spans executive leadership roles in rare disease advocacy at Global Genes and healthcare communications organizations, as well as key positions in biotech and pharmaceutical companies across medical affairs, marketing, and patient advocacy. She also serves on the board of directors for several patient advocacy organizations, including the Patient Empowerment Network, the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy, Uplifting Athletes, and Raregivers. Pam holds a Bachelor's degree in neuroscience from Colgate University and a Master’s degree in public health from Columbia University.
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Deborah Requesens, PhD, co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases)
Deborah is the Director of the Orphan Disease Center’s JumpStart Program. This program serves to establish and progress research agendas in emerging and neglected diseases. She partners with patient groups and scientists to encourage scientific collaboration and drive therapeutic development for rare diseases.
Deborah is also the co-fou
Deborah is the Director of the Orphan Disease Center’s JumpStart Program. This program serves to establish and progress research agendas in emerging and neglected diseases. She partners with patient groups and scientists to encourage scientific collaboration and drive therapeutic development for rare diseases.
Deborah is also the co-founder and President of SHER (Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases), an organization that promotes awareness about rare diseases in the Hispanic population and aims to increase the participation of this community in rare disease research and advocacy.
