People - Family Connects International

Dr. Michele Benoit-Wilson, MD, FACOG

Michele Benoit-Wilson is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist whose life’s work has been providing the full scope of women’s health care, including preventative care, high-risk obstetrics, and gynecologic surgery. She is a writer, speaker, and continues to live her passion through her work as an advocate for maternal healthcare and reproductive justice. Dr. Benoit-Wilson is a graduate of Brown University where she earned her B.A. in Biology and Afro-American Studies before completing her medical education there in 1999. She is serving her second term on the board of the Brown Medical Alumni Association. She trained at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and has since practiced in New Jersey, Central Pennsylvania and North Carolina, most recently with WakeMed Health. Dr. Benoit-Wilson is a 2021 recipient of the Triangle Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Award and received the highest honor at WakeMed Health through induction into the 2021 Pyramid Society for her work in partnering with a group of Black female physicians to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine to marginalized people. She and those physicians were also recipients of the 2021 Dogwood Award presented by North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Her article summarizing their work was featured in the North Carolina Medical Journal.

Chair

Jonathan Kotch, MD MPH MA

Dr. Jonathan Kotch, a board-certified medical specialist in pediatrics and preventive medicine, retired in 2016 after 38 years on the faculty of the Department of Maternal and Child Health of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Kotch was the lead researcher for the North Carolina cohort of LONGSCAN, Longitudinal Studies in Child Abuse and Neglect, which at the time was the longest (22 years) and the largest (1354 mother-infant pairs) ever funded by the Office of Child Abuse and Neglect of USDHHS. Dr. Kotch served for 8 years on the Advisory Board of the Durham Family Initiative, the precursor of FCI.

NURSE SPECIALIST

BRITTANI MCKINNON

NURSE SPECIALIST

Brittani is a RN who has focused her nursing career on maternal-child health. She has experience working in the hospital as a nurse in Mother-Baby. She has spent the past 5 years working in the community providing case management to high-risk pregnant women. She has extensive experience supporting mothers and families to achieve optimum health and care during pregnancy and postpartum period.

Founder

Robert Murphy, PhD

Robert Murphy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, Executive Director for the Center for Child & Family Health, and co-founder. Robert collaborates with the Duke University Research Team to publish findings.

Committee Member, Founder

Robert Murphy, PhD

Robert Murphy is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, Executive Director for the Center for Child & Family Health, and co-founder. Robert collaborates with the Duke University Research Team to publish findings.

ADVANCED IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST

Sydney Nadel

TEAM LEAD, ADVANCED IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST

Sydney joined FCI in May 2022 to support communities implementing the Family Connects Model. Sydney holds a Master in Public Health degree from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, with a concentration in Maternal, Child and Family Health. She is passionate about and dedicated to improving the lives of children and families. Prior to joining FCI, Sydney worked at a healthcare talent and performance solutions company where she provided customer service, technical assistance, and training regarding a learning management system for healthcare workers and hospital administrators.

IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST

CARA O’CONNOR

IMPLEMENTATION SPECIALIST

Cara has worked serving diverse population groups, emphasizing improving outcomes for children and families. She recently worked with the Durham Co Department of Public Health supporting the implementation and evaluation of Bull City Strong, an Office of Minority Health grant-funded program to improve health literacy. Previously, she served as a program manager preparing youth to transition out of foster care with system-wide program development, and equity-centered public health programming. Cara is Doula-certified and has a master’s in public health from UNC-CH. Cara loves hiking, farmers markets, and live music.

Committee Member, Founder

Karen O’Donnell, PhD

Founder

Dr. Karen O’Donnell is Associate Professor (retired), Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center and Director of Prevention and Global Initiatives at the Center for Child and Family Health (also retired). She is a Senior Research Fellow at Duke Global Health Initiative. She received her graduate training in special education (M.Ed.) and clinical psychology (Ph.D.) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed post-doctoral study in Early Childhood at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. She has been a Licensed Practicing Psychologist in North Carolina since 1988. Her expertise focuses on infant and early childhood and development, traumatic stress, parenting, maternal mental health and treatment, the effects of in utero cocaine and HIV exposure on early development, and child and family assessment. Dr. O’Donnell is the lead author on the PEPFAR funded Child Status Index (CSI), now used to assess orphans and other vulnerable children in over 16 resource poor countries; the CSI provided the model for the Family Support Matrix, used in the Family Connects program. She continues to be an active participant in the implementation of the universal short-term home visiting program for newborns and their families, Family Connects, and its national dissemination.

NURSE SPECIALIST

EVA OCHARO

NURSE SPECIALIST

Eva is a RN with over 14 years of experience. She has a BS in Nursing from Eastern Carolina University. When not working Eva enjoys making memories with her loved ones and believes life is about celebrating the little things, which become valuable. Eva enjoys traveling, spending time with her family and her dog. She gives back to her community through volunteering. She enjoys working with kids and volunteers at the local YMCA and boys and girls club.

Chief Internal Operations Officer

Colette Parrish

Chief Internal Operations Officer

Colette Parrish is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in finance, human resources, and operations management. She earned an MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, where she honed her skills in finance, strategy, and operations management. As the Chief Internal Operations Officer, Colette oversees the Finance, Human Resources, Informational Technology, Data Systems, Marketing, Reporting, Communications, Business Development, and Legal teams. She collaborates on the development and execution of strategic plans, manages cross-functional initiatives, and works to optimize processes, reduce costs, and drive results, all while maintaining a focus on the needs of employees and stakeholders.

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