School Health

Lauren Aronson is a Partner at Mehlman Consulting where she helps health clients achieve policy and political objectives. Prior to her current role, Aronson directed the Office of Legislation at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She also served as a Professional Staff Member for the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as in the White House under President Obama as the Policy Director in the Office of Health Reform. Aronson is the Executive Director of the Campaign for Sustainable Drug Pricing (CSRxP), a coalition of leaders promoting bipartisan, market-based solutions to lower drug prices in America.

As Administrative Director at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, Sam leads efforts to expand pediatric care access, focusing on care coordination and virtual services. He played a crucial role in scaling the school-based telemedicine program to nearly 150 schools in North Carolina, aiding underserved communities. Sam’s commitment to this innovative approach, which he finds immensely rewarding, has greatly impacted families across the state. His leadership combines empathy, healthcare insight, and innovation. Outside work, Sam enjoys golf, vegetable gardening, and whitewater kayaking in North Carolina’s mountains. 

Patsy Amanda Fisher, Senior Manager, School Based Virtual Care, at Atrium Health Levine Children’s, leads their School-Based Virtual Care Program. Utilizing TytoCare’s platform, she oversees a clinical team providing accessible virtual visits, enhancing care beyond traditional settings. Patsy’s strength lies in developing clinical teams for virtual healthcare, ensuring high-quality, equitable care. Her diverse background as a US Army Veteran Combat Medic, CNA, Registered Medical Assistant, and Advanced EMT, underpins her commitment to patient-centered care. Patsy’s leadership in the school-based program fosters partnerships with schools, integrating healthcare into educational settings. Her passion for health equity and community wellness extends to her hobbies, including gardening and family outdoor adventures. 

Dr. John Jenkins is the Medical Director of School-Based Care at Cone Health, focusing on innovative telehealth in schools. He spearheaded telehealth programs in Guilford County’s Title One elementary schools, supported by Duke Endowment and ARPA funds. Previously, he engaged in academic medicine, including roles in digital health education and telehealth projects. As the former Senior Vice President at Connected Care Cone Health, he developed ambulatory telehealth strategies and collaborated on virtual visits. Dr. Jenkins also contributes to community leadership, emphasizing digital health for enhanced access and equity. 

Sheila Freed, BSN, RN, NCSN serves as the School Health Director for Avel eCARE; which provides school nursing and behavior health services via live audio/visual technology to over 135 schools in 12 states.  She has been a building nurse, a School Health Supervisor and then the Director of Nurses/School Health Liaison for a public health unit.   A strong advocate for children’s health she believes leveraging technology can solve access issues to rural as well as urban schools and provide every student with the opportunity to be healthy and safe at school, regardless of location.   She is a 2015 Johnson and Johnson School Health Leadership Fellow and a Nationally Certified School Nurse.  She received her BSN from the University of Wyoming.

Lindsey, an RN and Manager of Clinical Services at Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC), started her medical career in 2016 with SICHC. Her multifaceted career includes nursing, quality, compliance, teaching, leadership, and management. She earned her LPN from Spencerian College and her ASN at Ivy Tech Community College. Lindsey values her ongoing journey with SICHC, dedicated to fulfilling their mission. 

Tamara Perry is an experienced operations executive with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry focused in Virtual Health Care and Innovations – Program development and implementation. Skilled in Strategy, Organization Development, Coaching, Program Evaluation, Conflict Resolution, and Change Management. Strong operations professional with a Master of Arts focused in Interpersonal and Organization Communication from University of Arkansas at Little Rock.