Administrative Leadership
Gwenn Rausch, FACHE
Chief Executive Officer
Gwenn Rausch serves as chief executive officer at Heartland Health Centers where she has been since 2010. She brings over 30 years of experience and a track record in healthcare leadership. Gwenn also served as the Chief Operating Officer of Saint Anthony Hospital and the Administrator of the Stone Institute of Psychiatry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Gwenn has a master’s degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is also a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. She serves on the Governing Board of Weiss Hospital, MyCare Chicago and the Illinois Primary Health Care Association. Additionally, she volunteers her time for Marillac St. Vincent’s Beacon of Hope Committee.
Randall Johnson, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Randy Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant responsible for managing the financial records of Heartland Health Centers. He also ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. He develops and monitors the budgets and provides financial information to management and the Board of Directors. Randy has over 30 years of experience in healthcare financial management at both academic medical centers and provider healthcare settings. This includes over 25 years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He previously served on the Board of Directors at a Federally Qualified Health Center and led several initiatives within Strategic Planning, Human Resources and Finance. He is now committed to applying his broad knowledge of finance and technology to the unique challenges of nonprofit organizations. Randy volunteers in the community and is the past chair of the United Way at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Letty Sargant
Chief Operating Officer
Letty Sargant joined Heartland Health Centers in 2013. She is responsible for Heartland business operations including human resource management, service delivery, resource utilization and program development. In addition, Letty leads the implementation of new initiatives that support Heartland Health Centers’ growth and enhance operational processes and quality. Letty has 30 years of experience in healthcare operations. Most recently she held the position of Director of Operations at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She is a member of a professional and technical advisory committee with The Joint Commission. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Mary College. Her master’s degree is in Management/Organizational Development from National College of Education.
Molly Bougearel, MPH
Vice President, Strategy & Development
Molly Bougearel oversees planning, fundraising, marketing and community relations for Heartland Health Centers. She brings extensive experience in non-profit management, strategic planning, program development, fundraising, and organizing and advocacy. Her focus areas have included health care access, behavioral health, community development, affordable housing, environmental justice,and tax reform. Previously, Molly was at the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs for 14 years where she was the Associate Director and Policy Director. She also worked in a development capacity at Arden Shore Child and Family Services and Healthcare Alternative Systems. Molly has a Master’s Degree in Public Health Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Megan Erksine
Director of School Health Centers
Megan Erskine joined Heartland Health Centers in 2016. She will oversee the operations, development, grants management and strategic planning for our school health centers and dental services. Previously, Megan worked at the Chicago Public Schools Office of Student Health and Wellness where she directed the relationships between CPS schools and 50 external partners that provide school located healthcare services. Additionally, she also has vast experience in CPS health policy around asthma, food allergy, and diabetes. She has exceptional experience that will support our continual growth and operational excellence at HHC. Megan earned a Bachelor’s degree in English at Kalamazoo College, and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Clinical Leadership
Laurie Carrier, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Carrier is responsible for overseeing all clinical operations at Heartland Health Centers. She completed her residency at the University of Cincinnati in combined family medicine and psychiatry. There she served as chief resident. Dr. Carrier began her work at Heartland Health Centers in 2009 as the Director of Behavioral Health care. Her focus has been implementing integrated care throughout HHC and with community partners. Dr. Carrier has a hospital appointment at Swedish Covenant Hospital. She also has an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg’s School of Medicine, Department of Community and Family Practice. She also teaches integrated healthcare to residents at Northwestern Family Medicine. Dr. Carrier is working with Rush Medical Center and Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare on the creation of the Center for Integrated Health Education, a continuing education program for individuals working in the field of integrated health. Her interests include preventative health, global health, and anxiety and mood disorders.
Cheitali Bhansali, DMD
Director of Oral Health
Dr. Bhansali attended dental school at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. She is board certified by the North East Regional Board. Dr. Bhansali oversees the dental division of HHC where dental prevention and treatment services are provided for all ages. Dr. Bhansali enjoys working with the pediatric population. She has experience in both clinical private practice and community health centers. She is involved within the Chicago community through various dental outreach efforts. These include Give Kids a Smile and Chicago’s 2020 Oral Health Initiative.
Jay Mayefsky, MD, MPH
Medical Director of School Health
Dr. Mayefsky is board certified in General and Emergency Pediatrics. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School and completed a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Subsequently, he was a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow in Academic General Pediatrics at the University of Rochester, where he also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health. His professional interests are serving the underserved and preventive medicine. Dr. Mayefsky is fluent in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.
Tania Hossain, MD, MPH
Clinical Site Leader HHC-Wilson
Dr. Hossain is board certified in Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed her residency at Loyola University Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics. She received her Master’s in Public Health, with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health, from Boston University. Dr. Hossain is dedicated to providing care to the underserved and helping to reduce disparities. Her interests include newborns/infants, asthma, preventative medicine, obesity and eating disorders. Dr. Hossain is fluent in Bengali and Spanish.
Michael Curtis, MD
Clinical Site Leader HHC-Devon & HHC-Touhy
Dr. Curtis is a board certified Family Physician. He also teaches in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Northwestern University’s School of Medicine. His interests include women’s health care, prenatal care, prevention, and medical education. Dr. Curtis is fluent in Spanish.
Mary Dudek, PA
Clinical Site Leader HHC- Lincoln Square
Mary is a board certified Physician’s Assistant. She received her certification from the National Commission of Certified Physicians Assistants and is licensed by the State of Illinois. Mary has been in the medical field for 32 years and enjoys building relationships with her patients and helping to make a difference in their health. Her interests include Family Practice, primary care medicine and healthcare policy issues. Mary is fluent in Spanish.
Timothy Buckley, MD
Clinical Site Leader HHC-Albany Park
Dr. Buckley is board certified in Family Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and completed his residency at the University at Buffalo Family Medicine. Dr. Buckley has worked internationally treating patients in the Republic of the Congo in Africa and in rural Chiapas in Mexico. His experience also includes deliveries, urgent care, inpatient and outpatient medicine for newborns through adults. Dr. Buckley is a Guttuso Scholar and Gold Humanism Honor Society Member.
David Freedman, MD
Clinical Site Leader HHC-Touhy
Dr. David Freedman is a board certified Family Physician who has spent the last 25 years practicing medicine in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago. Dr. Freedman attended medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed his Family Practice residency at Cook County Hospital. He also completed a Preventive Medicine Residency at Carney Hospital and Boston University School of Public Health. Dr. Freedman’s professional interests are caring for the underserved, public health, preventive medicine, nutrition, integrated primary care and behavioral health, and his children. He is also a certified Civil Surgeon as of 2012.