On video: Deborah hosts the Understood Care video library, with short explainers on Medicare Part D, Open Enrollment, denied claims, transportation benefits, COPD, stroke recovery, neuropathy, mental health, food insecurity, and more — every video has a full transcript.
About: Dr. Danielle Olson, MD, FAAFP, is a board-certified family medicine physician who treats patients virtually, providing compassionate, whole-person, easy-to-understand care nationwide. In prior roles, she supervised and mentored multidisciplinary teams while leading care coordination initiatives that supported thousands of patients across multiple programs to access faster, more affordable care. Drawing on her experience across primary care, urgent care, tele-health, and inpatient settings, Dr. Olson understands how real-life pressures, such as choosing whether to prioritize bills, food, or medicine, dealing with unreliable transportation or mobility issues, or struggling to secure safe, affordable housing, can get in the way of addressing health needs. She co-develops practical, personalized care plans with her patients, helping them access the essential resources and support they need.
About: Lisa O’Neill is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with experience in urology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, geriatrics, hospice, psychiatric support, primary care, and case management. She knows health is not one size fits all and that access, finances, and daily demands can make care hard. Lisa listens, explains options, and removes barriers. She guides chronic care plans, coordinates services, and advocates so each person feels heard and supported, with respect and without judgment.
About: Across hospitals nationwide, Dr. Adam Bonder, a board-certified physician, saw patients struggle to grasp diagnoses, reach services, and get steady support. That frontline view shaped his mission to redesign the patient journey so it is informed, compassionate, and connected. At Understood Care, he leads clinical strategy and partners with a team of care navigators who help people understand choices, access the right resources, and move forward with clarity and confidence. He focuses on clear communication, timely referrals, and practical help that removes barriers. His work centers on equity, trust, and measurable outcomes.
About: Jaina Vallarta, MSN, APRN BC, CCRN, is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with 20+ years in cardiology, internal medicine, and hospital medicine. Based in Wayne, NJ near New York City, she earned her degree at Columbia University and began at NewYork-Presbyterian, specializing in heart surgery and ventricular assist devices. She later served as Lead APN for cardiology at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, overseeing advanced services across heart failure, electrophysiology, and interventional cardiology, and guiding multidisciplinary teams.
About: Thirath Chau, MD, MPH is a board-certified family physician, healthcare executive, and consultant focused on advanced primary care, startup growth, and value based care. He has over a decade leading and scaling care models for people with complex chronic conditions. He served as CMO at Hopscotch Primary Care and Lyn Health, building advanced and virtual programs for rural and commercially insured members. Earlier at Oak Street Health, he led multisite teams that cut admissions, improved quality, and lowered total cost of care.
About: Yeasol Lee, MD is a board certified family medicine physician. Having worked both inpatient and outpatient medicine, she knows firsthand the barriers and obstacles present within our healthcare system and how complicated it can be to navigate it. She is passionate about treating the patient as a whole and understands that social issues like access to food, transportation, social support etc can all directly impact a patient’s overall health and wellbeing. She hopes to contribute to a more compassionate and equitable healthcare system where patients can thrive and really advocate for their best health.
About: Amanda Ledwich guides chronic care and post discharge needs. She arranges referrals, fixes authorizations, and connects patients to equipment, rides, and aid.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Deborah Hall’s primary specialty is other healthcare benefits access. She helps people apply for coverage, clears questions, and connects them to programs fast.
Specializes in:Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Madeline Vincente’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security and DME access. She guides food support and arranges needed devices so care stays steady at home.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Averey’ Anna Smith’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, housing, community and peer support, health literacy, provider access, DME access, and other benefits and navigation. Averey’ streamlines next steps, connects peers and providers, and fixes daily care hurdles.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Heidi Foraker’s primary specialties are community and peer support, provider access, home safety access, and DME access. She guides people to visits, equips safer homes, and links steady support.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Holly Sanford’s primary specialties are health literacy, provider access, and DME access. She helps decode instructions, arranges visits, and connects people to the devices they need.
Specializes in: Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access
About: Tangier Lemon’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, community and peer support, health literacy, and provider access. Tangier connects people to food, peers, and clinics, then clears follow-up steps.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access
About: Liz Perez-Munasinghe’s primary specialty is health literacy. She guides plan reviews, fixes confusion, and helps people act with confidence.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Shaly Lahman’s primary specialties are health literacy, provider access, medication access, and other healthcare navigation. She streamlines referrals, clears med questions, and connects the right services.
Specializes in: Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Cordaija Stokes’s primary specialties are housing, transportation, medication access, and DME access. Cordaija arranges rides, steadies housing, and secures meds and equipment.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Jennifer Rodriguez’s primary specialty is nutrition and food security. She connects people to food programs, arranges benefits, and guides next steps.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Michelle Rindfleisch’s primary specialties are housing, community and peer support, and VA care. She connects veterans and families to stable housing, peer networks, and VA resources.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation, VA care
About: Cheryl Strickland’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, housing, community and peer support, home safety access, transportation, DME access, and SSDI/SSI supported employment. She coordinates food, rides, devices, safe homes, and work supports.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation, SSDI/SSI Supported Employment
About: Angela Newman’s primary specialty is home safety access. She helps assess risks, arranges repairs and equipment, and connects people to safer living.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Kristina Mabry’s primary specialties are provider access, transportation, other healthcare benefits access, and other healthcare navigation. She schedules care, arranges rides, and guides people through coverage steps.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Carolina Rees’s primary specialty is health literacy. She helps people read plans clearly, clears next steps, and guides follow-through.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare navigation
About: T’Keyah Ingram’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, housing, community and peer support, transportation, and medication access. T’Keyah connects food, housing, meds, and rides to keep care moving.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Donald Washer’s primary specialties are medication access, other healthcare benefits access, and other healthcare navigation. He fixes prior auths, connects savings options, and guides people through the system.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Alondra Saunders’s primary specialty is medication access. She helps secure prescriptions on time, clears pharmacy issues, and connects assistance programs.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Kiera Hill’s primary specialty is other healthcare navigation. She guides referrals, arranges steps in order, and connects people to the right services fast.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Desi Palmer’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, provider access, medication access, DME access, and other benefits and navigation. Desi streamlines visits, secures meds and devices, and connects food support.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Jade Marley’s primary specialties are housing, health literacy, home safety access, transportation, medication access, and DME access. Jade steadies housing, sets rides, and equips safer homes with the meds and devices required.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Renee Osborne’s primary specialties are provider access, other healthcare benefits access, and other healthcare navigation. She schedules care, clears coverage steps, and connects people to the services that fit.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Mon’Nae Pickett’s primary specialties are housing, community and peer support, health literacy, provider access, transportation, and other healthcare navigation. Mon’Nae connects peers and providers, arranges rides, and guides steady housing plans.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Ashia Williams’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, health literacy, provider access, and other healthcare navigation. She helps secure food support, explains options, and arranges the right visits.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Kimberly Smith’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security, provider access, medication access, other healthcare benefits access, and other healthcare navigation. She connects food aid, visits, and meds while fixing coverage roadblocks.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Health literacy, Provider Access, Home safety access, Transportation, Medication access, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Makena Cardona’s primary specialties are nutrition and food security and transportation, with additional support in housing, community and peer support, provider access, DME access, other healthcare benefits access, and other healthcare navigation. She connects food support and rides to care, helps coordinate provider visits, and works through coverage and access roadblocks.
Specializes in: Nutrition and food security, Housing, Community and Peer Support, Provider Access, Transportation, DME access, Other healthcare benefits access, Other healthcare navigation
About: Welcome to PAoSWFL. CarolAnne Dube, a seasoned nurse, healthcare administrator, and board-certified patient advocate, leads our efforts to guide individuals through the healthcare system with clarity and confidence. With over 25 years of experience and advanced credentials, she develops personalized care plans based on each person’s unique needs.Our services include care planning, chronic disease management, medication adherence, and goal setting, all focused on reducing stress and improving health outcomes. We offer both individual and group coaching, serving clients locally in Southwest Florida and remotely across the country.Contact us at (941) 267-7109 to learn how Patient Advocates of Southwest FL can support your healthcare journey.
