Board of Directors

CWHC’s Board of Directors is charged with furthering our mission, securing philanthropic support for our work, and being an ambassador for us in the communities that we serve and beyond.

Lisette Arzuaga

Lisette Arzuaga (she/they) is a native Chicagoan with roots on the Northwest side of the city, where her family settled after migrating from Puerto Rico in the 1970s. Most recently she has worked with community-based nonprofits building collective power through grassroots fundraising and resource development. She loves crossword puzzles and lavender oat milk lattes.

Riya Desai

Riya Desai (she/her) hails from metro-Detroit (Go Blue!) She is a B.S. / Master of Health Administration graduate of Cornell University, where she studied at the intersection of public policy and economics with a sharp focus on the U.S. healthcare system. Her background with payors, providers, nonprofits and in consulting have bolstered her skillset to improve quality, cost and accessibility for all. Following her lifelong passion for providing equitable healthcare - especially for womxn - Riya has experience leading social justice organizations and supporting healthcare organizations in uplifting their communities.

Hannah Garrett

Hannah Garrett, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, AOCNP (she/hers) has a background as an oncology nurse practitioner and currently works as a clinical content training manager for the oncology division of a clinical genetic testing company. She is passionate about improving collaborative relationships between patients, caregivers, clinicians and health-related systems with a shared-decision-making approach and removing barriers to access.

Akanksha Graves

Akanksha (she/her) has extensive experience in marketing and communications leadership roles across multiple industries, including healthcare. As a visionary strategic advisor and innovation agent, she has successfully ideated and implemented large-scale projects, initiatives, and new technologies at some of the world’s top companies. 

Passionate about social justice and equality, particularly for marginalized communities, Akanksha is committed to improving healthcare access, education, equity, and empowerment for current and future generations. 

She holds a degree in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Suzette Guzman

Having attended Scripps College, a women's college, Suzette's (she/her) passion for women's health and
preventative medicine was ignited. Her journey continued at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, where she delved into medical studies, worked as a research assistant, and provided compassionate care at various free clinics. Suzette's equity-driven mindset and commitment to community health have significantly impacted marginalized communities, aligning with her dedication to creating meaningful change in healthcare.

KT Hawbaker

Originally from rural Iowa, KT (they/them) is a storyteller and recovering journalist, now the Communications Manager at Builders Vision. An organizer and artist at heart, KT uses stories to support Builders Vision's mission and build community within the team. Their career blends social justice and creativity. KT made history as the Chicago Tribune’s first openly genderqueer Arts & Entertainment Writer and later became the Marketing Manager at Emerald City Theatre, serving all of Chicago's 50 wards. At the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, KT's strategic communications helped pass several bills protecting survivors' rights.  In their spare time, KT enjoys baking, making zines, dreaming up tattoos, and drawing comics—though their two energetic toddlers keep them on their toes!