Meet Our Staff
The talented team of professionals dedicated to improving maternal and child health in urban communities.
Our Team
The CityMatCH team is composed of a talented and highly motivated group of professionals whose diverse educational and occupational backgrounds create a unique blend of skill sets and expertise.
Our staff leverage their broad knowledge and experience to benefit CityMatCH's member organizations and mission, and frequently organize as well as participate in national meetings, conferences, and collaboratives which strengthen the capacity of public health leaders nationwide.
Leadership Team
Chad Abresch, PhD
Executive Director
(he/him/his)
Chad has been with CityMatCH since 2002 and was appointed Executive Director in 2010. Under his leadership, the organization has received the Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Director's Award and the American Public Health Association's Martha May Eliot Award for Effective Practice.
He completed his PhD in public administration with research focused on collaborative governance. Chad also serves as Assistant Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Child Health Policy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Denise Pecha, LCSW
Deputy Executive Director
(she/her/hers)
Prior to her current role, Denise served as CityMatCH's Director of Programs for nearly a decade, providing direction and oversight to the education and training programs. She brings a strong background in children's welfare, having previously served as the Director of Children's Services at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska.
Denise is a gubernatorial appointee to the Nebraska Child Abuse Prevention Fund Board and a licensed mental health practitioner with expertise in program development and talent management.
Program Staff
Carol Gilbert, PhD, MS
Assistant Professor
(she/her/hers)
Carol has been with CityMatCH since 2004 and specializes in helping local MCH practitioners make data useful for their communities. She holds a Masters in Applied Mathematical Statistics and a PhD in Medical Sciences.
Her work focuses on data sources, methods, and training needs for local communities working to reduce health disparities.
Regan Johnson, MPH
Women's Health Manager
(she/her/hers)
Regan leads the Well Woman, Well Communities project and co-leads the portfolio of work addressing perinatal HIV transmission. She also oversees the Women First reception at the annual CityMatCH conference.
She joined the organization in 2014 as a graduate assistant, leading the reconvening of the Select Panel on Preconception Care.
Janet Rogers
Office Administrator
(she/her/hers)
Janet joined the CityMatCH team in 1999, serving as the Office Administrator since 2002. She ensures the smooth day-to-day functioning of the office, providing administrative leadership for the organization.
She assists with the administration and development of budgets for federal grants and maintains financial records to enable CityMatCH to be accountable stewards of resources.
Lauren Garcia, MPH
Public Health Project Coordinator
(she/her/ella)
Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Film from Vassar College and her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from Emory University.
She has experience in various clinical, research, non-profit, and activism roles, with expertise in program planning, development, research, and advocacy, particularly in sexual and reproductive health and justice.
Caitlin Ray
Grants Writer & Administrative Coordinator
(she/her/hers)
Caitlin joined CityMatCH in 2022. She has a BA in English and Theatre from Hamline University, an MA in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and is currently a PhD Candidate in Rhetoric and Composition at the University of Louisville.
Her dissertation focuses on the rhetoric of rare diseases in healthcare settings and advocacy work, and she previously taught college-level writing classes and worked with health sciences graduate students.
Ashleigh Sutphen, MPH
Public Health Project Coordinator
(she/her/hers)
Ashleigh serves as a Public Health Project Coordinator and assists with the pHIV Taskforce, focusing on eliminating perinatal HIV transmission. She first joined CityMatCH in 2019 as a Graduate Project Assistant.
She earned her MPH in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and coordinates multiple training programs, including the MCH Epidemiology Training Course.
Join Our Team
Interested in working with us to improve maternal and child health in urban communities? Check our current openings and opportunities.
View Career OpportunitiesGet in Touch
Have questions about our team or organization? Contact us for more information.
Our Team Values
Equity
We are committed to addressing health inequity and injustice in communities, ensuring that all women, children, and families can achieve their full potential regardless of background or circumstance.
Collaboration
We believe in the power of bringing together diverse perspectives, organizations, and stakeholders to create meaningful and sustainable improvements in maternal and child health.
Excellence
We strive for excellence in all that we do, from program development and implementation to training and technical assistance, always seeking to provide the highest quality support to our members and partners.
Our Location
Contact Information
CityMatCH
University of Nebraska Medical Center
982170 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-2170