Leadership Archives - Unity Care NW

One of the unique aspects of a Community Health Center (CHC) is patient involvement in service delivery. The majority of Unity Care NW’s governing board of directors is made up of patients, serving as community representatives and making decisions on which services we provide. This active patient oversight ensures responsiveness to community needs.

Jonathan Charnitski

Jonathan is a practicing attorney and principal of Samish Hill Legal in Bellingham. He is a graduate of the University of Washington journalism program and Villanova University School of Law. His professional career has taken him from covering the Washington State Capitol in Olympia as a journalist for The Oregonian, to working as a U.S. Congressional staffer for one of the “Stupak Nine” during the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, to his current role as a general counsel and litigation attorney in Washington, representing a broad range of individuals and business. He regularly serves as a volunteer attorney for LAW Advocates and is proud to contribute to the Whatcom County community in new ways with his role on the Unity Care NW board.

Cataline Harkleroad

Caty has a background in Molecular Biology and Virology. She received her BA in Public Health from Sacramento State in 1981. She retired in June 2021 after 40 years in the Biotech field where she worked as a Principal Scientist on various Diagnostic Tests used to protect the blood supply, and later as a Laboratory Supervisor, where she oversaw 70+ Research and Development labs. She is a transplant from the California East Bay Area and settled in the Blaine area where her husband’s family is from. She is currently the lead for the Blaine Emergency Response Team. She joined the UCNW Board in March 2024 and looks forward to serving the Whatcom County community.

Chelsea Joefield-Cairwyn

Chelsea graduated in 2025 with her Masters in Public Health and has worked in higher education, health education, and is currently working in community engagement & programming. Working within and advocating for marginalized and underrepresented populations remains her focus in any role she holds. She is passionate about maternal & infant health, patient advocacy, and quality measures. Chelsea joined the Board in February 2025 and is dedicated to working with UCNW to continue working towards ensuring that everyone has access to care necessary to thrive.

Dr. John Coffey

John has a background in healthcare and education; he recently retired from teaching Dental Hygiene for 30 years at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. During that time he was a dentist in private practice, and previously served in the Indian Health Service and two tribal programs. As an advocate for preventive and science-based medicine, he supports parity of behavioral health and dental services as an important part of “health care for all.” A third generation Washingtonian, John welcomes the opportunity to serve the Whatcom County community.

Jonathan King

Jonny has been a patient with Unity Care NW for over 20 years, experiencing firsthand the organization’s dedication to accessible, high-quality healthcare. He works in civic and nonprofit engagement, and has spent years supporting programs through C4PIN and other nonprofits, helping people build skills, strengthen networks, and achieve success. He joined the UCNW Board in 2026 to further engage with community-minded individuals and serve as a catalyst for their growth. Jonny fondly remembers the gumball machine at the children’s dental office, where picking a small toy or sticker after appointments made him excited to visit the dentist, which was an early experience that shaped his appreciation for patient-centered care. He is honored to serve on the Board and looks forward to helping Unity Care NW continue making a meaningful impact in Whatcom County.

Teresa Mansoor

Teresa was born in Whatcom County and graduated from Ferndale High, and left after graduation to see the world. She lived in King County off and on for many years and also had the opportunity to live in Cairo, Egypt for 10 years. In 2006, she returned home to Bellingham. In 2015, she returned to school earning an AA degree in 2017, and has been employed for the past 6 years with an organization that “Powers the World.” Having struggled in many areas in life and come out on the other side, she was happy at the opportunity to give back to the very organizations that were so kind during those times. She is honored to have been elected as a Board member and wouldn’t be where she is today without the help of Unity Care NW, Opportunity Council, and Work Source Whatcom County.

Jennifer Moldver

Past President

Jennifer has a strong background in health and science. She earned a BS in Biology from Washington State University in 1992 and a LMT from Seattle Massage School in 1994. Throughout her career, she has worked as a LMT in private practice, managed her husband’s dental practice, and is currently heavily involved in the local real estate market as an agent with Keller Williams. She believes that working with children to teach healthy habits starts early. Jennifer has volunteered her time as a Board Member of Catch the Son Preschool and is heavily involved with NW Cheer.

Chris Phillips

President

After nearly 40 years in community health and nonprofit leadership positions in Monterey CA, Burlington VT and Bellingham WA, Chris is now semi-retired, and offers consulting services focused on organizational pathways to collaborative progress. A resident of Bellingham since 1994, Chris loves to bike and run trails, produce travel videos, and spend time with his wife and two adult children.

Catherine Strong

Secretary

Caty recently retired, following 39 years as a Clinical Psychologist in Bellingham. Her Ph.D. was from the University of Chicago, focusing on mental health and adult development. She was a founding member in 1993, and served on the executive board, of Associates in Mental Health, a local independent practice association. She has served on the Advisory board for the Palliative Care Institute (WWU). Born and raised in the Northwest, her extended family here spans ages 1 to 96. Her hopes include access to quality healthcare for all. She joined the UCNW Board in October 2020.

Adam Van Ness

Treasurer

Adam comes to the board with a background in finance and education. He has spent the last several years teaching continuing education courses on personal finance and investments at Whatcom Community College. Adam moved to Bellingham from Seattle in 2016 with his wife and two kids and has loved every minute of it. He is a firm believer in the healthcare exchange and that healthcare is a human right that should not be tied to employer choice.

Dr. Vince Foster

Vice President

Dr. Vince Foster is grateful to have the opportunity to serve on the Unity Care NW Board of Directors, having previously served as an Employee Assistance Program provider to UCNW employees. He and his wife have lived in Bellingham for over 25 years.

He is a semi-retired psychologist with a Masters in Addiction Counseling. His professional background includes over 40 years in health care as a mental health services provider along with 22 years as a clinical supervisor and mental health program manager.

He is particularly interested in assisting UCNW to advance their population health perspective because he believes that evidence supports that it is the most cost-effective way to reduce human suffering and to build strong, vibrant and successful communities.

Jason Bradley

Chief Operating Officer

Jason serves as Chief Operating Officer at Unity Care NW, which he joined in 2025. He previously served as the Site Director of Operations for One Community Health – one of Oregon’s leading non-profit Federally Qualified Health Centers. In that role, he was directly responsible for leading clinical support and aligning operations across multiple locations and mobile units to optimize the healthcare experience for 30,000 patients.

Prior to this, Jason devoted 22 years of service to the United States as an Air Force Aerospace Medical Services Craftsman. During his military service, he held a variety of positions ranging from primary care, specialty care, emergency medical services, emergency management, and labor & delivery across eight installations.

Jason brings extensive experience in community health and has upheld a strong commitment to serving vulnerable populations throughout his career. He holds a Master’s in Health Care Quality from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s in Quality Systems from Bowling Green State University, which positions him well to help the UCNW team create opportunities for everyone in our community to live their healthiest lives.

Danielle Crim

Human Resources Director

Danielle joined Unity Care NW in November of 2017. She has 8 years’ experience in the field of Human Resources and is dedicated to developing and implementing HR strategies that align with UCNW’s mission and values. Originally from Whatcom County, Danielle loves the PNW and all it has to offer. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Business Management.

Charlie Earle

Chief Information Officer

Charlie Earle is a Bellingham native and has recently returned home to the great Pacific Northwest to join Unity Care NW after spending almost 10 years in Austin, TX. He brings with him over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, more than 20 of those specifically in Healthcare IT. Prior to this role, Charlie spent several years as the Director of Affiliate IT Consulting for a national healthcare network, working with the organization’s affiliates across the country to improve their Health IT infrastructure, security, and organizational sustainability. Charlie holds several industry related certifications, including from Microsoft and Cisco, and is excited to apply his experience and expertise to the mission of Unity Care NW.

Pam Jacobs, PhD

Behavioral Health Director

Pam’s previous position was the Chief Behavioral Health Officer at the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the NW (NARA) where she also had served as the Adult Mental Health Director and as a clinical manager. Pam spent 15 years in private practice in Hillsboro, Oregon and had an adjunct faculty appointment at Pacific University’s Graduate School of Psychology, where she taught courses in basic clinical skills, advanced clinical skills, and the business of psychology. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, and her master’s and doctorate from The Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University) in Palo Alto, California. Pam’s family includes two grown daughters, Zoe and Audrey, and her partner, Bob. Her abundance of interests include hiking and birdwatching, travel, and horseback riding.

Jodi Joyce

Chief Executive Officer

Jodi Joyce joined Unity Care NW in 2020. Jodi began her career as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse and has over 30 years of healthcare leadership experience. Most of her prior roles included responsibility for Quality Improvement & Patient Safety in large healthcare systems, and many of her teams have gained national recognition for achieving and sustaining large improvements in patient health and wellness. Jodi earned a bachelor’s degree at Wheaton College (IL), her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Northwestern University, and her Master’s in Business Administration at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Jodi feels incredibly honored and proud to be a part of UCNW’s efforts to increase the years of healthy life for our patients and our entire Whatcom County community.

Chris Kobdish

Chief Strategy Officer

Chris Kobdish joined Unity Care NW in 2016. Chris has over 20 years of extensive experience in healthcare strategy, agency planning, public policy, public relations, communications, and fundraising. Prior to her current position at UCNW, Chris built a nationally recognized development, public policy, and community education team in the non-profit sector. Before moving to Washington, Chris was an independent filmmaker and owned and operated her own turn-key marketing agency in Dallas, Texas. Chris currently serves as a Commissioner on the Governor’s Washington State Women’s Commission, a member of the Whatcom County Public Health Advisory Board, and a member of Bellingham-Whatcom Commission on Sexual & Domestic Violence. Chris earned her Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin, is a George Washington University Geiger Gibson Health Policy Fellow, and participated in a Stanford d.school boot camp.

Susan Kranzpiller, MD

Medical Director

Dr. Kranzpiller joined Unity Care NW in May 2020.

She started her career as a Registered Nurse in both the USA and Germany before and while attending medical school. She received her MD degree at Ruprecht-Karls-Universitate in Heidelberg, Germany, then completed her Family Practice residency at Southwest Washington Medical Center in Vancouver, WA. Since then she has worked in Family Practice roles in Washington, Oregon and California.

She enjoys working in community health because it provides the opportunity to fulfill her commitment and passion for health care for all patients.

Lisa Nelson, PharmD, RPh

Chief Pharmacy Officer

Lisa Nelson received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Washington State University where she also earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology. After graduating, Dr. Nelson began practicing community pharmacy before finding her calling in community health. Dr. Nelson is an active member of the National Association of Community Health Centers serving as co-chair of NACHC’s 340B Workgroup, a member of NACHC’s Pharmacy Policy & Operations Subcommittee, Clinical Practice, Legislative, and Health Policy Committees; a 340B Apexus Certified Expert (ACE), serves as a member of Apexus 340B FQHC Council and peer faculty for Apexus 340B University; and president-elect of Washington State Pharmacy Association. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family enjoying all the scenery and activity the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Bonnie Ross

Chief Financial & Compliance Officer

Bonnie joined Unity Care NW in February 2021. She has 18 years’ experience in the field of finance including roles as auditor, finance manager, finance director, CFO and CEO. Before joining UCNW, she worked at Federally Qualified Health Centers in California and Oregon. She has an MBA from the University of Phoenix and a BS in Behavioral Science and Health from the University of Utah. She is also a Certified Internal Auditor.

Carrie Shane, DDS

Dental Director

Carrie Shane has over 20 years experience as a practicing dentist, including more than 17 years as lead for programs and strategic planning for Unity Care NW’s dental programs in Bellingham and Ferndale. Carrie has been with Unity Care NW for over 19 years. Unity Care NW’s programs include mobile outreach and treatment to Whatcom County schools and Head Start. Carrie earned a DDS from Creighton University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Western Washington University.