King County Medical Society’s Staff
NANCY L BELCHER, PhD, MPA
CEO
Nancy's Bio
Nancy started her science career as an undergraduate at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The labs Principal Investigator inspired her to complete her Ph.D. at Drexel University, and her doctoral research at University of Pennsylvania’s Wistar Institute. Returning to Fred Hutch for her postdoctoral research, Nancy continued on as a research scientist and was a professor of Biology at Seattle Pacific University. After many years at the bench (and chalkboard), Nancy returned to school and received a Master’s in Public Administration from the UW, Evan’s School.
Internships in the Seattle City Auditor’s Office, and with Senator Patty Murray were fascinating additions to Nancy’s career. The wetland mitigation efforts for the Arboretum Foundation during the SR 520 expansion was a highlight. Nancy eventually returned to Fred Hutch where she could view science from ‘the other side of the bench.’
Currently Nancy is completing coursework at Stanford University in the area of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Nancy has enjoyed nearly every step of her circuitous career path; believing that varied experiences gained over time have equipped her to perfectly represent the members at King County Medical Society.
Nancy enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Dr. Chris Belcher, and their five sons.
To get in contact with Nancy, please email: nbelcher@kcmsociety.org
SALEM ADISU
Program Manager
Salem's Bio
Salem Adisu was born and raised in Seattle, where she first developed her passion for non-profit work and working with children by volunteering with organizations like Teen Feed and St. Martin de Porres, as well as assisting as a teaching aide in Seattle schools. Her experiences with these organizations have inspired her to create a positive impact within the communities she is involved in and appeal to their diverse needs.
Salem continued to pursue her interests when she traveled to San Jose, California to attend Santa Clara University, where she earned a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Child Studies. During her time at Santa Clara, Salem became involved with Ethiopia Reads, an organization dedicated to improving child literacy in Ethiopia. She worked with a team to coordinate fundraisers and events and create marketing materials promoting the organization’s mission. Salem continued her professional experience by promoting student welfare programs within the SCU Office of Student Life.
Salem has returned to Seattle as a recent graduate to take on the role of Program Manager at King County Medical Society, where she will be coordinating a new program to expand awareness of lead exposure and poisoning within children. She is excited to begin the process of bettering a community that is near and dear to her heart.
To get in contact with Salem, please email: sadisu@kcmsociety.org
CZARINA MANZANO
Program Manager
Czarina's Bio
Czarina, a Seattle local, is excited to be a part of an organization committed to promoting health and the right to health in King County. During her time as a volunteer with Teen Feed and other homeless shelters in the Seattle area, she began to recognize the ways in which she wanted to serve her local communities.
Her experiences working with the diverse population of Seattle led her to pursue a degree in Public Health at the University of Washington, where she continued to work with various communities on topics such as nutrition and food security. During this time, Czarina began working with the Boys and Girls Club of America. Here, she gained teaching experience and further expanded her public health knowledge to include the health problems and issues children face in today’s society.
Czarina graduated from the UW with a B.A. in Public Health – Global Health in 2019. Her interests include health advocacy, community outreach, and health equity. Czarina is excited to be a part of the team at KCMS and learn more about the complexities and nuances of the healthcare system.
To get in contact with Czarina, please email: cmanzano@kcmsociety.org
JAMES PARIBELLO
Lobbyist
James' Bio
James has spent 20 years working at the local, state, and federal governments by delivering lobbying, messaging, policy analysis, and consultation for both elected officials and a broad spectrum of clients. We are delighted to have James join our team.
BAILEY HARMON
Intern
Bailey's Bio
Bailey Harmon is from Seattle and attended Lakeside School where she volunteered with both the Boys and Girls Club and the Alzheimer’s Association. She is currently a sophomore at Carleton College in Northfield, MN where she is studying biology with a potential emphasis on biochemistry and neuroscience. On campus, she plays on the Knights’ varsity women’s basketball team, volunteers with Special Olympics, and plays on the women’s club lacrosse team.
Bailey is excited to be involved with KCMS, learning more about the healthcare system and public health as an intern this summer.
CONNOR HINTON
Intern
Connor's Bio
Based out of Bellevue, Washington, Connor has continually found inspiration in bettering the local community through both advocacy and policy. His education and past professional work have inspired his desire to put this vision to work in the sector of healthcare.
As a Junior at Gonzaga University Connor is pursuing a degree in Political Science, an opportunity that is providing the tools necessary to find his voice in the field of policy development. Outside of this Connor has been a continued volunteer at the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer, assisting in fundraising activities and helping with background work to ensure grants are provided to researchers in search of a cure.
As a new addition to the King County Medical Society as an intern, Connor hopes to further meet the needs of those in the community by assisting this group achieve their vision of success in healthcare.
SARAH BARBEE
Intern
Sarah's Bio
Sarah Barbee is an incoming Junior at the University of Portland pursuing a degree in Biology and Spanish-Language and would like to later attend Physician Assistant school. Sarah’s interest in science and healthcare grew within her first two years of college when she had the opportunity to learn about racism in science as well as healthcare inequities amongst POC. Also, through her engagement in her university’s Spanish-Culture club, Mesa Redonda, and semester abroad in Spain, Sarah has had opportunities to engage in diverse dialogues. These conversations have helped launch her passion for improving the patterns of the overarching structures of the public healthcare system as a future healthcare provider.
Sarah recognizes the power of grassroots community to enact change, and she is extremely passionate about the type of intersectionality between social and health justice advocacy King County Medical Society supports in their community. Sarah believes there is an urgent need for new legislature and anti-racism training in order to reform the public healthcare system in the United States and she is looking forward to working with KCMS to achieve health justice for POC.
RAE LAKSHMAN
Intern
Rae's Bio
Rae Lakshman is an intern at King County Medical Society, where she is researching racial inequity in healthcare specifically in King County.
Rae grew up in the Seattle area and has been a mutual aid organizer in King County for almost a year. She is also an honors student at Northeastern University, Boston, where she is in the process of earning a BS in Behavioral Neuroscience and Philosophy, and a minor in Political Science. Rae has volunteered with homelessness alleviation and racial inequity in King County for the last three years. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Rae has had first hand experience with health care issues in the area through her mutual aid work, and during the Black Lives Matter protests, she was part of a team of street medics and conflict de-escalators that provided for the protestors and the houseless. All of her experiences growing up in King County as well as being an active organizer during this global pandemic and the protests have contributed to her passion to strengthen accessibility to healthcare in the area.
During her internship, Rae aims to learn more about healthcare practices that promote racial inequity so that she can advocate for the needs of the diverse range of communities in the King County area. She is excited for the opportunity to help KCMS have a voice in policy development and changes within the practice.
ROHAN RAMAN
Intern
Rohan's Bio
Rohan Raman is a high school intern for King County Medical Society. He first got involved as a volunteer at one of KCMS’s public health events, which sparked an interest in creating positive change in King County healthcare.
His work as a volunteer for North Helpline Food Bank, a soup kitchen cook and a tutor for Students Helping Students has exposed him to the various communities and people that populate the Seattle area. He is also involved in his school community as a Middle School debate coach and student ambassador. Currently, he is preparing to enter his senior year at University Prep.
He is excited to contribute to KCMS in a multitude of ways and provide valuable assistance to the KCMS team.
In his free time, Rohan enjoys hiking, spending time with family and reading.
DORI BUTTLEMAN
Intern
Dori's Bio
Dori is a rising senior at Ballard High School and a lifelong Seattleite. She has developed an interest in healthcare, medicine and advocacy through her community volunteer service. Dori is looking forward to making a difference in her community during her internship with King County Medical Society. She hopes to attend a small college after graduating and intends to major in pre-med.
ISHA KORDE
Intern
Isha's Bio
Isha is an upcoming senior at the University of Oregon studying Biology with minors in Environmental Science and Global Health. She grew up in Sammamish, Washington and spent much of her high school years volunteering in Seattle with organizations like Amrita Seattle and API Chaya. Isha’s first glimpse into public health was through her internship at the Veteran’s Affairs Hospital in 2015, where she interacted with doctors and patients before appointments.
During her time at the University of Oregon, Isha has worked in the McGuire Lab on campus as a researcher observing microbial systems in vineyard soil samples. This past November she presented her lab’s research and the national SACNAS (Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science) conference in Hawaii and later became the president of her local SACNAS chapter.
Throughout the pandemic Isha has been participating in mutual aid work by donating time and resources to organizations throughout King County. She volunteered at Shelterhouse in Capitol Hill (previously known as CHOP/CHAZ) as well as Teen Feed in the soup kitchens to provide food for the large unhoused population in Seattle. These experiences allowed her to observe firsthand the racial disparities within unhoused populations. She hopes that her experience with the King County Medical Society will teach her how to bridge the gap between racial injustice and public health.
SALLY DORER
Intern
Other Staff:
- Accounting: Janice Piper
- Legal: Will Crowley, JD
- Website: Anne Gerdes
- IT: Troy Brown