Researcher, Writer, Editor
Jessica Wurtz
Jessica Wurtz is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College, where she studied Anthropology and Biology, and gained an interest in the intersections between culture and health. Pursuing this subject area led her to obtain a Master’s degree in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health and to work as a health educator in Colorado. As a researcher and writer at Cook Ross, Jessica enjoys her role in adding culturally competent health information to the CultureVision resource.
Researcher, Writer, Editor
Meena Nutbeam
Meena Nutbeam is a current undergraduate student at American University studying Public Health, and has recently been accepted into their Health Promotion Management Master's program. As a contributor to CultureVision, she cares deeply about making sure health care providers are connected with resources to help them cultivate culturally-competent care. Ms. Nutbeam brings her own experience in the field of public health and cultural competence as Executive Director at the nonprofit she founded (July 2014-Present), Stork & Company of Wisconsin, which provides resources for new parents in need in the Milwaukee area, as well as her previous work as Research and Program Coordinator at Evermore (June 2016-October 2017), a DC nonprofit dedicated to improving systems of support for bereaved parents. Nutbeam is excited to bring this background and experience to her work in CultureVision.
Account Management
Cathy Kuangu
In her role as Client Services Associate with Cook Ross Inc, Cathy Kuangu is responsible for maintaining data integrity across her portfolio. She serves as Account Manager for CultureVision. Prior to joining Cook Ross, Ms. Kuangu worked at the Department of State in the Passport Communications Department. She graduated from William & Mary with a B.A. in International Relations and with a Minor in French. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, discovering new music and dance.
Senior Software Developer
Stephanie Pfefferkorn
Stephanie Pfefferkorn is a full stack web application developer with over 14 years' experience creating data-driven line of business applications and websites. Ms. Pfefferkorn attended St. John's College, Annapolis, majoring in philosophy. Her interest in the humanities and love of programming has enabled her to traverse the boundaries between analyst and coder, providing expertise in marketing, business workflow and processes, content, programming, and operations. Ms. Pfefferkorn directs the technical development of the special projects applications at Cook Ross, and looks forward to expanding the CultureVision web presence and providing exceptional support for existing and new initiatives.
In addition we would like to acknowledge the following for their previous contributions to CultureVision™, as it has continued to grow:
Researcher, Writer
Hafsa Ahmad
Hafsa Ahmad is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she studied International Politics and Economics, and focused on Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies. As an American of Pakistani heritage, Hafsa has dedicated herself to encouraging dialogue between the American Muslim/SouthAsian communities and the wider American population, as well as building ties between the American people and the people of Pakistan/the Muslim world. Among other things, Hafsa has worked on researching and writing the Pakistani cultural group on CultureVision, as part of her effort to bridge the cultural gap and improve healthcare for this community.
Researcher, Writer
Susan Burch, PhD
Susan Burch, PhD, has authored numerous works in disability and deaf studies and edited the Encyclopedia of American Disability History (Facts on File, 2009). Burch has taught at Gallaudet University, King's College, Aberdeen (UK), and The Ohio State University.
Researcher, Writer, Editor, Client Service
Hannah Mack
Hannah Mack is a Content Specialist at Cook Ross Inc. Prior to joining the Cook Ross team, Hannah lived in Tamil Nadu, India, where she worked for a study abroad program that introduced American students to South Indian culture. Hannah has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Bates College, and brings to CultureVision a strong social science research background. She is committed to facilitating cross-cultural communication, and is passionate about improving patient access to quality, respectful health care.
Researcher, Writer
Priscilla Mendenhall
Priscilla Mendenhall is principal of Samsara Communications, LLC, a Washington, DC consultancy specializing in cultural competence, interpreter training, language services and intercultural communication. Previously, Ms. Mendenhall established the first multi-lingual interpreter service/training and community-based cultural competence programs in metropolitan DC and Virginia. Ms. Mendenhall is the co-author/editor of two interpreting curricula, “Introduction to Community Interpreting” and “Interpreting in Community and Health Settings,” and producer of Too Much Air to Breathe, a film narrative of Lao Buddhist healing in rural Virginia. Priscilla Mendenhall considers herself a White ally in the struggle for immigrant, refugee and minority civil rights. She has lived and worked cross-culturally her entire life, in Switzerland, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, France, Italy, Quebec and Madagascar; she speaks fluent French and conversational Italian.
Researcher, Writer
Madhyatu Mercado
Madhyatu Mercado is a “student of life” who is passionate about world cultures/ multiculturalism, traveling, cooking, dance and yoga. She incorporates these passions with her medical background as a basis for her research contribution to CultureVision. Madhyatu is a registered respiratory therapist (RRT) and health educator. She graduated from the School of Public Health of University of Maryland College Park. Her practice as a RRT encompassed the care of patients in the following arenas: Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Emergency care (ER/ED),Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), Pediatrics, Labor and Delivery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Rehabilitation and Long term care and home health care. As a health educator, Ms. Mercado has worked in area high schools and as a patient educator in a community clinic serving recent immigrant populations.
Researcher, Writer, Editor, Client Service
Priscilla Mendenhall
Minjon Tholen is a Training & Development Specialist at Cook Ross Inc. Minjon holds a Master’s degree in Gender and Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Television Studies from the University of Utrecht in her home country of the Netherlands. She is also currently a fellow with the Roosevelt Institute. As a former women’s health educator, and someone who was born in Sri Lanka, grew up in the Netherlands, and has lived in the U.S. for several years now, Minjon brings her passion for culturally competent healthcare to her work with CultureVision.