King County Medical Society’s Staff
NANCY L BELCHER, PhD, MPA
CEO
Nancy's Bio
Nancy L. Belcher is a veteran of the scientific and nonprofit business world. As the CEO of King County Medical Society for the past 3-years, Nancy has developed engagement opportunities and support networks for physicians and their staff. Leveraging the Society’s 133-year history of partnering with physicians, patients, and legislators, Nancy is proactively identifying collaborations and improving the Society’s ability to improve healthcare for all.
Nancy started her career as an undergraduate at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Fred Hutch) which motivated her to continue to pursue a life of science. Completing her Ph.D. in Biochemistry at Drexel University, and her doctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wistar Institute, Nancy received a full academic scholarship from the American Heart Association. She also enjoyed working in the ICU at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia throughout graduate school.
Returning to Fred Hutch for her postdoctoral research in genetics and molecular biology, Nancy continued on as an oncology research scientist and was also a professor of Biology at Seattle Pacific University. After many years at the bench (and chalkboard), the confounding politics surrounding how science and healthcare decisions were made motivated Nancy to return to school. In an effort to identify ways to impact policy and have scientist’s voices heard at the policy tables. Nancy 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 SR 520 wetland mitigation efforts for the Arboretum Foundation, and settling a $35 million mitigation package, was empowering. Nancy was called back to Fred Hutch to focus on advancing scientific research and healthcare from ‘the other side of the bench’ as the Corporate Relations Director. Currently, Nancy is completing another degree at Stanford University in the area of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Nancy has enjoyed nearly every step of her circuitous career path. A firm believer that varied experiences, gained over time, have equipped her to anticipate those strategic moments that help to advance healthcare, science, and the practice of medicine. The ultimate goal is to provide improved healthcare for all and to represent the members of KCMS with the insights that only come from working as colleagues in healthcare.
Nancy enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Dr. Chris Belcher, their five sons, and one daughter-in-law (!).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Staff:
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Accounting: Janice Piper
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Legal: Will Crowley, JD
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Website: Anne Gerdes
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IT: Troy Brown