Join us for a Lunch & Learn focused on strengthening asthma care in the school setting. In “Asthma Care in Schools: Policy, Practice, and the Role of the School Nurse,” Rachael Morkunas, Program Director at the Respiratory Health Association, will share insights on current policies, best practices, and the critical role school nurses play in supporting students with asthma. Facilitated by Gloria Barrera, this session will explore strategies to improve care coordination, promote adherence to asthma action plans, and create healthier school environments that help students breathe easier and succeed in the classroom.

Rachael Morkunas, MPH, is an experienced public health professional and lifelong asthmatic committed to advancing health equity and improving access to care. With over eight years of experience in program planning, implementation, and evaluation, her work focuses on breaking down barriers to good health—especially in the areas of chronic disease management and healthy lifestyle behaviors.

Rachael currently serves as Program Director at Respiratory Health Association, where she leads the Chronic Disease Team and oversees a wide range of lung health initiatives, including asthma, COPD, tobacco cessation, radon awareness, and lung cancer programming. She works to improve asthma outcomes for students and families across Chicago through education, systems-level strategies, and partnerships between schools and healthcare providers. Her lived experience with asthma fuels her passion for creating community-based solutions and building meaningful collaborations that address the root causes of health disparities.

Join us for a Lunch & Learn designed specifically for nurses who support students with asthma. In “Coordinating Asthma Care Within the School Setting,” Gloria Barrera will discuss practical strategies for managing asthma in the school environment, strengthening communication among healthcare providers, families, and school staff, and ensuring students have safe access to medications and action plans during the school day. Participants will gain tools to improve care coordination, reduce asthma-related emergencies, and help students stay healthy, active, and ready to learn

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN currently works as a certified school nurse at a public high school outside of Chicago, and as visiting professor of nursing at UIC. She is committed to being a lifelong learner and continues her efforts in improving child health outcomes in our most vulnerable populations through her current practice, advocacy, and teaching.

Barrera was the first Latina President of Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) and served during the pandemic. She’s engaged with ANA-Illinois by serving on the Executive Board as Secretary. Gloria was appointed to the IDPH Diversity in Health Care Professions Task Force as well as the Governor’s Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s School Safety Committee. Barrera has demonstrated her deep commitment to helping others through her volunteerism and community service with various non-profit organizations where she shares her expertise and serves as a leader. She is a Fellow of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE), a Climate Health Organizing (CHEEA) Fellow and Co-Founder of Nurse Heroes for Zero (NHFZ). Barrera is considered a subject matter expert in school nursing, environmental advocacy and health equity, and public health. Barrera is invested in mentoring the next generation of nurse leaders and is Co-Founder of the Society of Latinx Nurses. She’s been recognized for her leadership and service by several organizations, both locally and nationally. Barrera was recognized as 40 Under Forty by ANA-Illinois in its second year, named 40 Under Forty in Public Health by the de Beaumont Foundation and Nurse Influencer of the year by ANA-Illinois in 2023.

Join us for a vital discussion on the future of asthma care, innovation, and advocacy. This event will bring together experts, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to explore urgent actions needed to improve asthma outcomes and advance health equity.

Meet the Keynote Speakers

Dr. Sharmilee Nyenhuis

Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine

University of Chicago

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Dr. Michael Kelleher

Senior Director 

Meridian YouthCare

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 Breakout Sessions 

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Join us for CAC's Spring 2026 Lunch & Learn series! These days, schedules seem to be more packed than ever; but learning more about asthma management doesn't have to take hours. Each month, February through May at 12:00PM, we'll be hosting a 30-minute, informal Zoom group with an expert in the field of asthma to educate and answer questions around asthma and issues that can affect those living with it.

Lunch and Learn is free and open to all, and designed to be valuable for everyone, from experienced healthcare workers to community members looking to improve their ability to care for themselves and their loved ones.

This event is FREE to attend for all!
The Lunch & Learn Series will be hosted on Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Upon registering, you'll receive the Zoom access details in your confirmation email. Feel free to join us on the platform of your choice—we look forward to seeing you there!

Dr. Kelsie Alvarez, DO holds a B.A. in Preprofessional Studies from the University of Notre Dame and received her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is double board-certified.   Dr. Alvarez's career has been defined by a commitment to health equity, innovation, and collaborative team-building.  As the Medical Director for Mobile Care Chicago, she strives to address systemic health disparities and provide accessible, high quality asthma and allergy care to patients of all backgrounds. She also has a passion for medical education and currently serves as the co-director for the Doctoring and Clinical Skills course at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. 

Facilitator: Marc Rubin

Join us for a dynamic networking event designed to refresh your asthma knowledge, explore best practices, and share strategies to strengthen community engagement. This is a great opportunity to connect—or reconnect—with fellow community health professionals dedicated to improving asthma outcomes.

This is also an opportunity to come together and support our communities by packing resources that will be distributed throughout the city. If you or your organization would be interested in getting bags for your partners please contact Rachelle Paul-Brutus at execdirector@chicagoasthma.org

Presenter

Martha Baca-Ryan 

Sinai Medical Group

Martha Baca-Ryan is an Ambulatory Case Manager with Sinai Medical Group in Chicago, with extensive experience working with health plans and across multiple healthcare systems, including Medicare and Medicaid populations. She specializes in care coordination, utilization management, and helping patients navigate complex healthcare systems to improve access and outcomes.

Martha works closely with providers, care teams, and community health workers to address barriers to care, connect patients to needed services, and support overall population health. She brings a strong understanding of how health plan policies impact patient care and access to medications.

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