Andrea Clark, JD, MDiv

Andrea Clark is an attorney, ordained minister and therapist who currently serves as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director for the Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color with Postpartum Support International.  Prior to joining PSI, Andrea previously worked as Staff Chaplain for Women’s Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. In addition to being a PhD Student on the clinical track of the Pastoral Theology, Personality and Culture program at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Andrea is the mother of an amazing son, Grant Clark Horton. 

Abbe Kordik, MD

Abbe Kordik, MD is a general obstetrician/gynecologist with a focus on obstetric quality improvement work on the south side of Chicago.  She has been an active participant in ILPQC since 2016 and has served as the physician champion for many of the initiatives at UChicago since that time.  In March of 2025 she expanded her role as the Chief of Obstetric Quality at UChicago Medicine to include Ingalls Memorial Hospital in addition to the Hyde Park Campus. 

Jamie Kane, DNP, MBA, RN

For 17 years, Jamie Kane has been passionate about women’s health, advocating as a labor & delivery nurse through leading the care team through transformation. A strong proponent of breaking down barriers and meeting women where they are, she will share her team’s journey to building better community through Doula support. 

Laura La Porte, LCSW, PMH-C

For nearly two decades, Laura has contributed to the MOMS Hotline—the nation’s first 24/7 perinatal mental health hotline. She holds a Perinatal Mental Health Certification from Postpartum Support International and has extensive experience supporting the mental health of pregnant and postpartum individuals. Laura specializes in implementation, training, and program evaluation to improve access to evidence-based care. 

Nicole Gastala, MD

Dr. Gastala is board certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She graduated from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Iowa. In her clinical role, she has developed and expanded MAR by mentoring new prescribers, precepting residents, and training clinicians within the Chicago and Illinois communities.  She has also focused on the development of a walk-in integrated behavioral health, addiction, and primary care program within her FQHC system. In January 2021, Dr Gastala joined the team at the Substance Use Prevention and Recovery Division of IDHS as the medical director. 

Kimberly Vuckovich, MSN, CNL, RNC-NIC

Neonatal Outreach Coordinator, Advocate Children’s Hospital- Park Ridge

Kim Vuckovich is a neonatal outreach coordinator nurse with over two decades of experience within the NICU and neonatal transport—and a former NICU parent. She currently co-leads the Equitable and Safe Sleep for Infants initiative through ILPQC for her hospital and MW region. Kim is also a a passionate advocate for system-wide quality improvement in neonatal care committed to advancing health equity and infant safety across hospital settings.

 Valencia Wilson, PharmD, RPh, MBA 

Parent Partner at Advocate Children’s Hospital

Dr. Valencia Wilson is a dynamic leader with over 23 years of global pharma experience and a deep passion for health equity and advocacy. Her diverse background spans public policy, clinical trials, quality, marketing, and regulatory affairs across international assignments.  While she’s actively engaged in professional and community organizations, her most cherished role is being Mom to her two toddler children.

Kia Ferrer, PhD, MS, CCLS

Dr. Kia Ferrer received her PhD in Child Development from Loyola University and Erikson Institute, jointly. Her research focuses on equitable psychosocial assessments and interventions for historically minoritized communities. As a Certified Child Life Specialist, she currently works on the NICU at Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago, facilitating socioemotional support and family-centered care to babies and birthing persons in the form of parent education and developmental play while hospitalized.