OUR STORY
JAVIN PETERSON | FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Javin Peterson is the founder and Executive Director of Shepherd’s Gate Health. His story is a testament in perseverance, faith, and overcoming obstacles. At an early age, Javin struggled with ailments that created pain in his legs and joints. As a result, his legs atrophied and at times, impacted his ability to walk. Ever the optimist, he did not allow these challenges to deter him from pursuing his dream to fly.
Javin attended the US Air Force Academy, where he was a 3-time All-American and 2-time USA Gymnastics collegiate national Still Rings champion. He graduated from the Academy in 2000 with a B.S. degree in Human Factors Engineering and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Following graduation, then Lt Peterson was assigned to Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas for pilot training. He earned a KC-135 aerial refueling tanker and the Del Rio Chamber of Commerce Citizenship Award for outstanding work with the local community. As an aerial refueling pilot, Javin amassed over 600 combat hours and earned five Air Medals for sustained excellence in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has over 20 years of service culminating as a Lt Colonel and Executive pilot at Joint Base Andrews, MD.
The vision for Shepherd’s Gate Health was born in the spring of 2010 as Javin was watching the Affordable Care Act debates. Frustrated by the process, Javin thought “Somebody should do something about this”. His question was answered with a tug on his heart saying “Yes, you’re right, you should.” After running from this answer, Javin, like Jonah, ultimately chose to be obedient to the promptings on his heart and enrolled in the Masters of Health Administration program at George Washington University. While at GW, Shepherd’s Gate Health began to take shape and it has been working with community stakeholders, namely churches, to provide preventive health care with the underserved in their communities ever since.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RHONIQUE SHIELDS, MD, MHA, FAAP
Rhonique Shields is a board certified pediatrician who is currently the Vice President of Medical Affairs for Holy Cross Health Network. Dr. Shields earned her Medical Degree from the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine and trained at Georgetown University Hospital. She also holds a Masters of Healthcare Administration. In her current role as VP of Medical Affairs for Holy Cross Health Network, she is responsible for oversight of the medical care delivered by network clinical sites as well as overseeing the development of strong relationships with community physicians to advance Holy Cross Health's ability to succeed under the Maryland All-Payer Waiver. She has vast experience with public health data management and establishing new medical practices. She has presented at national forums around creating a medical home for children in foster care, asthma, mobile health care delivery, toxic stress, culturally competent care, patient centered medical home, managing stress and quality improvement initiatives.
MACI PHILITAS
I am passionate about building businesses that help people be the best version of themselves. My goal is to make an impact and lead change through every opportunity that comes my way.
I am the CEO and co-founder of On Second Thought (OST), the definitive delay-recall mechanism for mobile communications platforms. As an entrepreneur and respected thought leader, I am a frequent lecturer, subject-matter expert and advisor on entrepreneurship, innovation and diversity initiatives.
Under my leadership, OST has expanded to 190 countries; secured multiple patents; and now licenses its highly scalable software system across several industries.
I have been named to several notable lists, including: BBC 100 Women; Inc. Magazine’s 30 Under 30; and Washington Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. I have also been profiled by NPR, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, Black Enterprise, Fox and others. I earned my BA in public relations and advertising from Chapman University, and was named Chapman’s 2017 Distinguished Young Alumna of the Year.
I currently reside in Casablanca, Morocco.
KENAN PETERSON
Kenan Peterson is a Senior Wealth Planner located in the Tampa, Florida Wells Fargo Private Bank office. Mr. Peterson works with clients to help develop custom wealth plans and implement solutions based on a thorough understanding of their personal values, asset growth and wealth transfer goals, and vision for their legacy.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mr. Peterson worked at Gassman Law Associates, where he specialized in estate planning and asset protection. He has been in the financial services industry for nearly 5 years.
Mr. Peterson earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado, a Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law, and an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Mr. Peterson served as an Associate Editor for the DePaul Law Review and as an Editor for the Florida Tax Review. Mr. Peterson has been active in the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Clearwater Bar Association, the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and the Tax Section of the Florida Bar.
Mr. Peterson is a Chicago native, and he is passionate in the fight against childhood cancers. He also enjoys reading, playing guitar, trivia, racquetball, and cooking.
MURIEL JEAN-JACQUES, MD
Muriel Jean-Jacques, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a practicing primary care physician. She received her medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, completed a residency in Primary Care Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, and received a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. She teaches clinical skills, cultural competency, and addressing social determinants of health to physician trainees. Her research focuses on the evaluation of the effects of quality improvement interventions on health care disparities and the implementation and dissemination of quality improvement activities in safety net primary care settings.
ERIN FRISBY
Erin Frisby chooses to live each day with the intention of reflecting heavenly light so that all may see it. Erin’s life purpose is manifested in her choice to love all those whom she encounters, whether directly or indirectly, so they may feel the depths of God’s Love and be inspired to share His Love. As an Air Force Academy graduate, Erin served for eight years in the Air Force Medical Service Corp and earned a Masters in Healthcare Administration from Baylor University. Upon leaving military service, she led operations at a healthcare community that focused on making a difference in the world. One of her favorite community projects while serving at DaVita, Inc. was being part of the team to help make over 1,400 prosthetic hands for amputees in 67 developing countries. This incredible impact inspired Erin to find other ways to ignite positive change. Erin believes God’s path has been laid out before her and she humbly and rejoicingly follows it; Erin fuels her passion for social good as a senior solution marketer for Blackbaud Healthcare Solutions. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
JOY VOLARICH MBA, MHA, FHFMA
Ms. Volarich has held several positions in healthcare and higher education. She is currently a full-time faculty member at George Washington University (GWU), and teaches healthcare finance in the on-campus and on-line Masters in Health Administration degree programs. She interacts with students outside of the classroom through academic, internship, and culminating research project advising. She received the School of Public Health Excellence in Teaching Award for Online Faculty (2020); and the MHA Excellence in Teaching Award for Part-time Faculty (2014, 2012, and 2011)
Prior to working in academia, Ms. Volarich spent 20+ years in the healthcare industry, with several senior financial management positions. She worked as an Interim Controller for Tatum LLC, State Controller for US Oncology, and Controller for Medical Faculty Associates at GWU. She began her career as a Financial Analyst at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Ms. Volarich is a member of Women in Healthcare- DC Chapter and serves on their board as Treasurer. She is a Fellow in the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA). She has been a volunteer wish granter for Make A Wish Mid-Atlantic for over 20 years. Her leisure time is filled with family activities, personal fitness and reading.