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LaKisha Blackwell

Patina Health Champion

LaKisha is a Patina Health Champion – or, in her words, “the person my patients didn’t know they needed.” She works hand-in-hand with her patients to coordinate their care, answer their questions and seek resources to ensure her patients receive the healthcare and aging experience they want and deserve.

A graduate of Penn State and a former elected official in Montgomery County, Kisha has spent much of her life helping people. She joined Patina because she wanted to be able to help her patients lead their own care, amid the often confusing healthcare landscape. Kisha finds joy in spending time with her patients and getting to know them in the context of who they are and what they value. Having worked on the health plan side of the healthcare industry, she knows her way around benefits.

Born and raised in Chester, Pa., Kisha currently lives in Montgomery County with her husband and their children. Kisha says she enjoys the walkability of her neighborhood and the friendliness of her community. She runs her own jewelry business at home, and is fond of traveling, experiencing new cultures and being on the water. Her friends, she says, call her “Cruise Kisha.”

Kisha’s Favorite Quote: “Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.” – Oprah Winfrey

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Luis Gonzalez

Patina Health Champion

Luis is a Patina Health Champion. He serves as the go-to person on his patients’ dedicated care team, quarterbacking care. As a Health Champion, Luis takes the time to get to know every patient he works with, and to ensure he has a comprehensive understanding of their needs, goals, values and preferences. In fact, talking with his patients is Luis’ favorite part of the job.

Luis, a graduate of La Salle University, began his professional life working in finance before realizing he enjoys working with people much more than numbers. Luis has an extensive background in healthcare and education, and joined Patina because he is motivated by the opportunity to make an impact on peoples’ lives. He believes that you get what you give; Luis values the relationships he builds with his patients and has made it his goal to help them navigate the complexities of the healthcare system and empower them to, as he says, “live their best life.”

Born in Puerto Rico, Luis is a former ESL tutor. He resides in the Mayfair neighborhood of Philadelphia, a cultural melting pot where he enjoys trying new cuisines at restaurants in his neighborhood, volunteering for the local animal rescue as a transporter, and spending time with his family – including his two dogs, Tobbie and Rosie. When he’s not working with his patients at Patina or caring for animals at the shelter, Luis likes to travel.

Luis’ Favorite Quote: “Stand for what you believe, even if you are standing alone.”

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Nina Hernandez, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Nina is a Patina Nurse Champion — or, in her words, a “jack of all trades.” Nina’s role is to work closely with her patients’ Primary Care Practitioner and Health Champion to make sure they get the care they need. Nina does everything from having important discussions with patients about preventive care and wellness to helping families through confusing or critical healthcare events. Nina was fortunate enough to grow up in the same home as her maternal grandparents and right next door to her paternal grandparents. She says their own healthcare experiences deeply impacted her, and motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare and join Patina.

A graduate of SUNY Purchase College and Frankford Hospital School of Nursing, Nina approaches patient care the way she would want someone to care for her family and loved ones, and strives to ensure her patients know she is always in their corner. Before becoming a nurse, Nina received her undergraduate degree in literature, which is perhaps one reason why she loves taking time to listen to the stories her patients share with her.

In her free time, Nina likes to go on long runs, travel and spend time with her husband and their dog. Nina lives in Philadelphia, where she loves to spend time with her tight-knit community. Her neighborhood, she says, is the kind of block where you can knock on someone’s door for a cup of sugar or a few eggs.

Nina’s Favorite Quote: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi

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JaCarla Royall

Patina Health Champion

JaCarla is a Patina Health Champion. She is the go-to advocate on her patients’ care team, working with Primary Care Practitioners, nurses, specialists and loved ones to ensure her patients get the healthcare and aging experience they deserve. As a Health Champion, JaCarla has mastered the art of authentic listening. JaCarla joined Patina because her passion is helping people, and she’s able to do that by being someone her patients know will have answers whenever they call with questions.

JaCarla is a graduate of La Salle University, and has over a decade of experience working in healthcare, primarily on the insurance and benefits side of the healthcare system. She draws on this experience often to help her patients better understand what’s available to them through their health plan. JaCarla strives to give her patients the same quality of service she would want her own family to receive, and she does that by making sure she not only hears her patients, but listens to what they have to say.

Originally from Chicago, JaCarla currently resides in Mount Airy with her husband and their two children. In her free time, JaCarla enjoys participating in fun activities with her family, whether it’s having cousins over to the house, visiting museums or organizing playdates.

JaCarla’s Favorite Quote: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelo

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Valerie Voluntad

Patina Health Champion

Valerie is a Patina Health Champion, where she works closely with her patients as part of their care team to ensure they have everything they need to live and age well. As a Health Champion, Valerie is the go-to advocate for her patients – or, in her words, their “cheerleader for anything related to health and wellness.”

Valerie, a graduate of Lincoln University, has worked in social services and healthcare for most of her career. She has extensive knowledge of how healthcare works and enjoys helping her patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system to receive the care they need, when they need it. Valerie joined Patina because she loves helping her patients. In her words, “They come with a tapestry of stories about their lives, with knowledge of learned experiences.”

In her free time, Valerie enjoys cooking for company, gathering with friends and family (especially her two grandsons), going to the beach, walking trails and practicing mindfulness and yoga. Valerie grew up in a family of artists, and the creative gene did not skip a generation – she loves to paint whenever she has a chance. Valerie lives in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, where she likes to frequent her favorite Thai and sushi restaurants, and catch up with her community in the local coffee shop.

Valerie’s Favorite Quote: “To the world, you may be one person; but to one person, you may be the world.” – Dr. Seuss

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Irene Yeboah Ameah, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Irene is a Patina Nurse Champion. Her job is to work with her patients in their home, where she has an opportunity to get to know her patients personally in the context of who they are and how they prefer to live. She collaborates with her patients’ care team members to ensure her patients receive the healthcare and aging experience they want and deserve. A graduate of Harcum College, Irene is a registered nurse who understands that healthcare starts with seeing the person first — not their health conditions.

Irene joined Patina because she holds the practice’s mission close to her heart. She has had the support of many older adults throughout her life, and believes her work at Patina is an opportunity to pay it forward by helping her patients live the life they want. Irene loves what she does, and is motivated by helping her patients reach their goals.

Irene lives in Montgomery County, where she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping and cheering on Philly’s sports teams. Her favorite sport is rugby, which she also happens to play whenever she has the opportunity. Irene’s patients have taught her the importance of living life on her own terms.

Irene’s Favorite Quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

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Tanasia Bell, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Tan Bell is a Nurse Champion at Patina, where she meets with patients in their homes and works with their Patina primary care practitioner (PCP) and Patina Health Champion to ensure they get the care they need to thrive and reach their health goals. 

A nurse for more than ten years with a bachelor's degree in nursing from North Carolina AT&T State University, Tan is well-prepared to provide exceptional care for her patients. She’s also a certified CPR and First Aid instructor with the American Red Cross.

Before joining Patina, Tan worked at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Department of Surgery in Baltimore, MD, working closely with older patients. Earlier in her nursing career, she worked as a home health nurse as well as a nurse in a long-term care facility. Her decision to join Patina stems from her desire to be at the forefront of providing long-overdue and much-needed attention and support for older adults, whom she feels are often overlooked and forgotten in the healthcare system. 

During her spare time, Tan loves watching movies or binge-watching her favorite TV shows, creating fun memories with her 7-year-old son, and unwinding on Caribbean vacations. She also enjoys eating at Steak 38 Restaurant and cheering on the Charlotte FC soccer team. 

Tan’s inspirational quote: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need” - Matthew 5:3.

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Willa Bowie, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Willa Bowie, RN, is a Patina nurse champion. She plays a key role in providing quality care to patients in the comfort of their own homes, serving as a hands-on care provider who is on the patient’s dedicated care team. 

Willa earned an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree from Herzing University and has a diverse background in healthcare. She has cared for older adults in their homes, long-term care facilities, and skilled nursing facilities, and also spent a year as a travel Hospice RN Case Manager, providing compassionate care primarily in patients' homes. 

Inspired by Patina's commitment to honoring and supporting individuals as they age, Willa's joined Patina based on her desire to be a part of a ‘trailblazing company’ that wholeheartedly values and celebrates older adults and the aging experience. 

Outside of work, Willa enjoys singing karaoke and is exploring a newfound interest in biking. She also finds joy in swimming, traveling, sightseeing, and spending quality time with her family. She lives in Charlotte, NC, where she appreciates the local dining scene (Mariah's Tacos is her go-to!). Willa also loves visiting the Whitewater Center, watching movies at Concord Mall and cheering on her beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

Willa considers her family her greatest source of motivation – they provide the daily fuel she needs to make a difference in people's lives.

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Brooke Randall, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Brooke Randall, RN, is a Nurse Champion at Patina, where she meets patients in their homes – building meaningful connections, assessing their needs and collaborating with them and other care team members to achieve their health goals.

Originally from the Midwest, Brooke has a B.A. in Athletic Training from North Central College in Illinois and a nursing degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College in Michigan. She has deep experience in home-based care and was previously a nurse case manager who supported an array of patients and their diverse medical and well-being needs. Earlier in her career, Brooke was a Licensed Athletic Trainer and Massage Therapist.

Brooke is driven by her dedication to providing compassionate, individualized care for older adults and finds inspiration in making a positive impact on their lives. It’s this drive that is well-aligned to Patina’s mission of improving the healthcare and aging experience for older adults – and ultimately what drew Brooke to Patina.

Married for 25 years with three children, Brooke moved to the Charlotte area four years ago and now lives in Fort Mill, SC. She appreciates the area’s local charm, particularly strolling along the Catawba River at the Riverwalk Park in Rock Hill. When she’s not working, Brooke enjoys walking and swimming at the local YMCA. She also loves supporting her daughters' soccer and cheer competitions and rooting for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

Brooke’s favorite quote: "People are the undisputed experts on themselves. No one has been with them longer, or knows them better, than they do themselves" - Bill Miller.

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Hee Cho, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Hee is a Nurse Champion at Patina. A graduate of the University of Virginia’s nursing program, Hee brings 25 years of nursing experience to her role. Working with her patients virtually, Hee supports her patients at every step of their care journey, from answering questions about treatments and therapies to being on hand to navigate confusing healthcare events.

Hee admires her parents, aunts, uncles and neighbors for the support they’ve provided her as she’s worked to achieve her dreams. That gratitude has fueled her passion for caregiving, and today, she is able to pay it forward through her work. Patina, Hee says, is unique in that it allows loved ones to easily be part of patients’ care, and ensure they have the support they need to enjoy a healthy aging experience.

Hee spent the first decade of her nursing career in telemetry, cardiothoracic, and heart and lung transplant step-down units, as well as trauma and general surgery in the ICU, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She also has an extensive case management background, related to Medicare complex cases and readmission reduction. Hee also worked as a utilization review nurse at Aetna for acute care admission, long term acute care admission, acute rehab and skilled nursing care admission.

Hee is a long-time resident of the Philadelphia suburbs, where she currently resides with her family. In her free time, Hee loves to read and listen to music, and is learning how to crochet. She has learned plenty of lessons from her patients, but foremost among them is to be humble and kind.

Hee’s Favorite Quote: “Do not complain about growing old. It is a privilege denied to many” – Mark Twain

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Ruth Manning, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Ruth is a Nurse Champion at Patina, where she meets her patients in person in their homes to ensure they receive the healthcare and aging experience they want and deserve. Ruth is a graduate of Abington Dixon School of Nursing and West Chester University, and has been a Board Certified Gerontological Nurse for over 10 years. Having worked with older adults for over two decades, Ruth strongly believes all people should be treated with respect and dignity. She believes healthcare should be easily accessible and convenient, and loves seeing her patients happy in their homes, receiving the care they need where they are most comfortable.

Ruth’s passion for caring for older adults stems from her experience with her own parents and their struggle to receive the care they wanted and deserved. Her favorite aspect of her role at Patina is the time she gets to spend listening and learning from the older adults she cares for.

A former high school and college science teacher, Ruth was born and raised in New York, and moved to South Philadelphia, where she enjoys local cuisine and watching the Eagles. In her free time, Ruth loves taking long walks through Philly’s neighborhoods and parks, and treasures the time she gets to spend with her three daughters.

Ruth’s Favorite Quote: “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh

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Marshalee Markland, RN

Patina Nurse Champion

Marshalee is a Nurse Champion at Patina, where she provides comprehensive care to older adults in the comfort of their home. As a Nurse Champion, Marshalee is able to address any concerns her patients have and follow up on any needs that require in-person care.

With a nursing degree from East Stroudsburg University, Marshalee brings over 20 years of nursing experience to her patients. Marshalee joined Patina because she is able to provide older adults the level of care she would want her own loved ones to receive. Marshalee works tirelessly to ensure her patients feel valued, empowered, supported and respected. She believes that by building a trusting relationship with her patients, she is able to help them live a full and independent life.

Marshalee resides in Lansdowne, where she enjoys spending time with her family. Being a nurse is Marshalee’s life’s work — she cannot think of anything else she would rather do. In her own words, “I have found that there is so much valuable life knowledge and wisdom that can be learned from older adults,” and she appreciates the opportunity to incorporate those lessons into her own life.

Marshalee’s Favorite Quote: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”