Jean Proehl, RN, MN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, FAEN, FAAN

President

Jean has been an emergency nurse for over 40 years and an emergency clinical nurse specialist since 1985. She has worked in emergency departments and trauma centers across the U.S. She currently works in two EDs, one in a tertiary care trauma center and the other a small rural hospital. She also teaches, writes, and consults about emergency care and humanitarian healthcare.

Jean is a founding member of Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc and is the Board President. She has been involved in humanitarian healthcare teams since 2012 and has traveled to Cambodia and Uganda. She is a veteran team leader. Jean’s focus is on providing sustainable and ethical assistance for low resource communities by focusing on education for community members and healthcare workers.

Candace Katta-Liptrot, MSN, RN

Vice-President

Candace began her healthcare career as a nursing assistant where she loved helping patients and having a positive impact on their lives. Candace became a registered nurse in 1974 and began working as a staff nurse in a medical-surgical unit. She eventually moved into a cardiovascular intensive care unit, working with patients who had heart transplants and open heart surgery.

In 1987, Candace shifted her focus from the bedside to medical device and content sales with Fortune 50 companies. She has volunteered her time to the Misericordia Home in Chicago, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and is a founding member of Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc. Candace has been involved in humanitarian healthcare missions, having traveled twice to Uganda providing healthcare and education

Mark Barnard

Treasurer

Mark is Founder and CEO of SnapDragon Associates, a niche executive recruiting firm which he started in 2004. Mark is a founding member of Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc. and serves on the Board as the Treasurer.

Mark’s humanitarian travel includes trips to Uganda with a healthcare team and to Nicaragua on a construction team. As a non-healthcare worker, Mark plays an essential team role in a variety of ways, including morale officer, organizing supplies, monitoring safety conditions, and assisting community members to build tippy taps (handwashing stations) using local materials. Mark’s wife is a nurse practitioner and they are huge believers in sharing their gifts and talents by supporting many charities.

Cindy Tryniszewski, MSN, RN, FAEN

Secretary

Cindy has been a registered nurse since 1974. Her clinical experience includes working in surgical intensive care and trauma units. The majority of Cindy’s career has been spent in healthcare publishing where she developed books and online products for nurses and other healthcare professionals. She currently works for the American Red Cross in their Training Services Department.

Cindy is a founding member of Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc. and is the Board Secretary. She has been involved in humanitarian healthcare teams since 2011 and has traveled to Bolivia and Uganda. Cindy’s passion is educating underserved and low resource communities and she is the Education Director for the Uganda teams.

Chris Gisness, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, FNP-C, ENP-C, CEN, TCRN, FAEN

Director

Chris has been a registered nurse for over 43 years, primarily in the emergency department (ED) but also in intensive care. For the past 24 years, Chris has worked for Grady Health System in the ED as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has also worked for Emory University Nell Hodgson School of Nursing as adjunct/clinical faculty. Chris is a founding member of Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc. and is currently serving on the board of directors. Her involvement in humanitarian service began in 2013, and she has completed seven missions to Uganda providing healthcare and education.

Harriet Hawkins, RN, CCRN, CPN, CPEN, FAEN

Director

Harriet Hawkins has been a nurse since 1969. Her career includes 13 years of caring for adults in psychiatry, critical care, and the emergency department. Since 1982, Harriet has worked at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children’s Memorial Hospital), starting in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Her accomplishments include helping to start the Neonatal Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team and starting a resuscitation education program in 2001, where she continues to serve as a resuscitation educator.

Harriet’s humanitarian healthcare work has taken her to 11 countries and has become her passion. She is an instructor in the Helping Babies Survive suite of classes for traditional birth attendants. Harriet is a founding member of the Health●Education●Empowerment, Inc. and loves that this organization has such a strong emphasis on the education for the populations that it serves.

Lucinda (Cindy) Rossoll, RN

Director

Cindy Rossoll has been an RN for over 40 years. Her favorite place to work is the emergency department and her next favorite place is the intensive care unit. Cindy worked in large and small hospitals. Cindy has been involved with healthcare humanitarian work for years, having been to Uganda 4 times. Cindy truly enjoys the Uganda mission because she likes to provide healthcare and do education sessions.

Sam Siebach

Director

Sam graduated from Utah Valley University (UVU) with a bachelor's degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in American government. While attending UVU, Sam became interested in medicine and took a basic emergency medical technician (EMT) course. He went on to become a certified, Intermediate EMT, and then transitioned to an Advanced EMT. Sam is our current jack-of-all-trades, using his resourcefulness to identify outstanding needs and provide solutions. His contributions have included everything from designing walkers to teaching educational classes. Sam has a strong drive to serve others in whatever capacity he is able.