Heather has returned to the staff after obtaining compliance experience at a local hospital. Previously, she managed the Navigator Program at CHC. She graduated from Springfield College with a Bachelor of Science degree and a major in health science, followed by a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in community health education. Heather has a passion for helping those in need and ensuring the delivery of quality care. She plays a crucial role in supporting the President and CEO and the CHC staff. She strives for excellent customer service and is extremely well-organized, allowing her to complete all necessary tasks as they arise.

Chetan Gohil is a graduate from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy- Boston. He has an extensive background ranging from hospital to long term care.

Chetan is highly skilled at pharmacy operations, management and 340B. He prides himself in finding innovative solutions to provide the best possible patient care.

Jacqueline Johnson, Ed.D,  serves as the Chief Facilities Expansion & Sustainability Officer for Caring Health Center. Johnson joined the health center in 2008, bringing over 10 years of prior experience in the non-profit management sector. Since completing her undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Johnson has held various leadership roles, driving strategy and policy to improve operational quality. In 2017, Johnson began working as a part-time Adjunct Faculty at Bay Path University, providing guidance to women so that they, too, can enrich our communities. Johnson has served as a board member on several non-profits in Western Massachusetts, including Bay Path University’s Advisory Council and the Mental Health Association Board of Directors. Most recently, Jacqueline, was honored by BusinessWest as a member of the “40 Under 40” Class of 2017.

Before his current role as Chief Government Affairs Officer at Caring Health Center, Everett was appointed by President Joseph Biden to serve as the Region 1 Director for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, which encompassed all six New England states and 10 federally recognized Native American tribes.

Everett was the first African-American to serve as the Region 1 Director of New England and played a pivotal role in coordinating federal health initiatives across the region during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this role, Everett worked closely with local, state, and federal legislators, health agencies, policymakers, and community organizations to analyze data, direct critical resources, and address health disparities in pandemic response efforts. Additionally, Everett served as a direct liaison to U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, advancing secretarial priorities including maternal health, reproductive rights, behavioral health, substance abuse prevention, and harm reduction.

Everett previously served as the deputy state director for U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, where he was responsible for overseeing her state operations, constituent services portfolio, and political outreach across the commonwealth.

Everett received his Master’s from the University of Southwest in Hobbs, New Mexico, with a concentration in Public Health Administration, a Master’s in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Ashley Naginewicz is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who works with mental health and substance use clients to help them on the path to recovery and overall wellness. Ashley believes that long-term recovery and wellness from substance use and mental health issues can be achieved; as well as finding a sense of peace and balance within one’s life.

Ashley has worked in the field of mental health and substance use for 8 years with experience in counseling with medication-assisted treatment, mindfulness recovery, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Ashley is a trained in mindfulness and acceptance therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing.

She has also published articles for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Advances in Research in Education, written a chapter for a publication on social justice, and presented for Learning Disability Worldwide.

Ashley holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from American International College.

Tylor Vaillancourt joined Caring Health Center in July 2020. He serves as a primary care provider and oversees our Advanced Practice Provider Residency Program. Tylor, who is fluent in Spanish, went to school at D’Youville College (now D’Youville University) in Buffalo, New York, for both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He has worked in Buffalo, Hartford, and Holyoke. His clinical interests include management of asthma/COPD, and gastrointestinal problems.

Dr. Dawn Wright serves as the Chief Nursing Officer at Caring Health Center, having joined the organization in 2022. With over 30 years of experience in critical care, education, and nursing leadership, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

Wright earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Stevenson University in Baltimore, MD, and subsequently obtained her Master’s degree in Nursing Health Care Management from Elms College in Chicopee, MA. She further advanced her education by completing her Doctoral degree in Healthcare Administration at Virginia University at Lynchburg. Additionally, she is a certified ACLS and BLS instructor and possesses specialized skills in Lean Process Improvement.

Her professional background includes significant leadership positions, such as Nursing Supervisor in acute care settings, Nurse Manager in the non-profit sector, and Director of Nursing in Mental Health. Since 2018, Wright has also served as an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Elms College, where she fosters high levels of student engagement in clinical practicums within acute care environments, catering to a diverse student population. Additionally, she serves as Faculty in Residence at the Tania M. Barber Learning Institute.

Wright is committed to community service, volunteering on the Practice Advisory Council for Porter and Chester, Lincoln Tech, and Springfield High School of Science and Technology’s Certified Medical Assistant Programs. In these roles, she advises on best practices to meet the evolving demands of the healthcare workforce.

Dr. Hala Alsalhi, DO, is a board-certified pediatrician with experience providing comprehensive care to children from infancy through adolescence. She has practiced in both outpatient and hospital settings, including newborn care, inpatient pediatrics, high-risk deliveries, and pediatric emergency consultations.

Dr. Alsalhi is fluent in English and Arabic and is committed to providing compassionate, family-centered care to her young patients.

Dr. Yedalis Ruíz is an educational researcher and scholar/practitioner with 22 years experience working in community educational programming, STEM education, assessment and evaluation.

Dr. Ruiz leads the development and implementation of a workforce development model designed to enhance the success, retention, and personal development of CHC’s employee community.

Dr. Ruíz earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and education from Mount Holyoke College and graduated with honors and Phi Beta Kappa. She holds a master’s degree in policy studies, as well as a PhD in Education, Policy, Research and Administration with a concentration on urban education with an emphasis on first generation students and adult learners, both from the tier one research University of Massachusetts Amherst.

She is a quantitative and qualitative researcher and is trained in educational program evaluation and assessment methodologies.

In addition to her roles at CHC, Dr. Ruíz is a faculty affiliate at UMass Amherst’s College of Education and teaches foundational courses on professional practice and career development. She has been adjunct professor for the American Women’s College at Bay Path University since 2013. She has presented nationally at research conferences and is a published author.