Our Staff
Our staff has expertise and advanced education in public health, health education, quality assurance, marketing and program management. Our board of directors and members of the coalition have a vested interest in maternal and child health.
Together with WellFlorida Council, we administer programs that help ensure a healthy start in life and a hopeful future for pregnant women and families with young children.
Our Board of Directors and Members represent:
- consumers
- county health departments
- migrant and community health centers
- hospitals
- local medical societies
- local health planning councils
- business community members
- faith-based community members
- child welfare agencies
Our members are responsible for:
Building and maintaining broad community support
Conducting short and long range planning for local maternal and infant populations
Conducting needs assessments of the maternal and child health systems within their service area
Increasing public awareness of issues related to infant mortality
Preparing a plan for community action to improve maternal and child health outcomes
Want to help make a difference
for local families? Join Our Team!
Board of Directors:
Healthy Start of North Central Florida
2025-2026 Officers
President – Lauren Mollman
Vice President – Nancy Castillo
Treasurer – Deepthi Varma
Secretary – Elizabeth Deola
Lauren Mollman, President
Healthy Communities Director
Suwannee River Area Health Education Center
Community Organization
Nancy Castillo, Vice President
Program and Outreach Director
Community Coalition Alliance
Community Organization
Deepthi Satheesa Varma, Treasurer
Assistant Professor
University of Florida, Epidemiology
Community Organization
Elizabeth Deola, Secretary
Chief Program Officer
Early Learning Coalition of Marion County
Community Organization
Ann-Marie Fenn, CNM, ARNP, MS, FACCE, MSW, LMHC
Midwife
Advocacy
Dr. Adetola Louis-Jacques
Assistant Professor
University of Florida, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Community Organization
Cheryl Dawson, RN
Nurse Care Coordinator
Partnership for Strong Families
Community Organization
Heather Gilardi, BSN, RN
Birth Coordinator, Labor & Delivery
Advent Health Ocala
Community Organization
Varnessa McCray
Director of Community Engagement
The Children’s Movement of Florida
Advocacy
Central Healthy Start
2025-2026 Officers
President – Esmeralda Batiz
Vice President – Lesha Buchbinder
Treasurer – Dawn Jackson
Secretary – Vacant
Past President – Vacant
Esmeralda Batiz, President
Outreach and Marketing Director
Community Health Centers
Community Organization
Lesha Buchbinder, Vice President
Executive Director
Early Learning Coalition of Lake County
Community Organization
Dawn Jackson
Program Director – MAPS Citrus
Operation PAR
Community Organization
Atiya Spellman
Program Manager
Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando
Community Organization
Linette Torres
Community Health Worker
Lake County Government
Community Organization
Sandra Woodard
Director of Communications
Early Learning Coalition of the Nature Coast
Community Organization
