Leadership
Melissa Paige, CPhT
Melissa's unwavering passion for the well-being of patients fuels her relentless pursuit of breaking down access barriers and advocating for the highest quality of care.Her life's work revolves around making health care more accessible and compassionate for all, leaving an indelible mark on the industry she serves.
As a recognized expert in patient access programs and navigation, prolific public speaker and educator, Melissa applies her unique set of medical related knowledge, diverse pharmaceutical expertise, and leadership skills to oversee and coordinate process improvement projects that enhance business models and redesign workflows for improved efficiencies. Her passion for the patient drives her to break down access barriers and seek avenues for the highest quality care.
Lacey Varnon, ADN, PACS, BCPA
Lacey is an enthusiastic Biologic Coordinator and currently serves as Director of Biologics in the Allergy and Immunology field. She specializes in medication access with a direct focus on the buy and bill process.
By combining her years of clinical and administrative experience, Lacey uses a relatable approach to assist both physician’s and their staff in developing their biologic processes. Her passion is focused on ensuring that other Care Coordinators have the tools and knowledge to better understand their roles and the value they bring to their practices.
Lacey’s love for biologics is credited largely in part to her network of colleagues and their support, leadership, and overall excitement to the given cause. She strives to bring that same level of enthusiasm and encouragement to others.
Amber Eppard, PACS
Amber has experience in the field, as a Field Reimbursement Manager for a major pharmaceutical manufacturer and in the office, formerly as a Medication Authorization and Procurement Coordinator for a large health system. Amber brings her knowledge of administrative and operational oversight, for authorizations and procurement processes, through the medical benefit, pharmacy benefit, and patient assistance programs. Amber is well versed in obtaining authorizations for all infusion medications, specialty clinic injectable medications, and self-administered medications.
Amber’s complex knowledge of the health care industry allows her to work collaboratively within the health system to develop and implement performance, quality, and patient safety initiatives in order to drive business and operational process improvements.
Jordan Johnson MSHA, imPACT
Jordan is a leading expert on innovative data and operations disruption/application in the healthcare space. He has created software and provided strategies to ensure Oncology providers and practices remain viable and patients have access to care. His work and insight have been used to educate and provide value to those navigating the shifting healthcare landscape led by transparency, optimization, and data. His education and experience are both clinical and administrative allowing him to bridge the gaps from data to costing to outcomes to value in a streamlined and effective approach. As a Board Member, he will provide insight and ideas to help ensure the vision and impact of NAMAPA to further empower healthcare advocates for patient medication education and access.
Elizabeth Johnson LPN, CPC, PACS, BCPA
Elizabeth is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with a rich background in patient care and holds multiple certifications: Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification, Prior Authorization Certified Specialist (PACS), and Board Certified Patient Advocate (BCPA). These exemplify her knowledge of some of the most integral parts of medication access and the healthcare spectrum. Combining this knowledge with her love of training, Elizabeth has been able to successfully and consistently educate facilities and physician practices on various methods of acquisition for injectable and infused biologics and biosimilar medications, all while maintaining the patient and their access to treatment as the highest priority.
Jerilyn Arneson PharmD, BCOP
Jerilyn began her career as an Air Force Pharmacist, is a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist, a Revenue Integrity Pharmacist and has worked in healthcare for over 22 years. As the Manager of multiple Infusion Center Pharmacies, she noticed patients with cancer and chronic diseases skipping treatments due to costs that were bankrupting them. In response, she initiated a Medication Assistance Program that started with one and eventually expanded to 10 infusion centers. She’s trained multiple medication assistance coordinators to be tenacious and fight until their patients receive access to the treatment they need.
Jerilyn is also a trained Medicare Benefits Counselor and expanded her free drug and copay/foundation assistance program into a Financial Navigation Program. She works with Medicare patients using initial enrollment, plan changes, Medicare Savings Programs, Low Income Subsidy (LIS)/Extra Help, and Medicaid to decrease out of pocket expenses. She enjoys educating patient advocates and helping them understand Medicare to further assist their patients.
Jordan McCain
Jordan has worked in healthcare administration for over 12 years in a variety of specialties including Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Allergy. She became interested in medication access and has devoted her time to becoming a subject matter expert on specialty medications, especially for buy and bill. In 2019, Jordan's experience allowed her to assist with software development for a successful Prior Authorization platform. Combining her knowledge of buy and bill and her love of education, she has developed training procedures on best practice standards and taught practices across the US. Jordan believes that the best form of patient advocacy begins with strong staff development and has brought that to the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy where she serves as a Board Member. When she is not working hard to improve access for patients, Jordan loves DIY projects, her Boston terrier Ollie, and cooking.
Nabeel Farooqui, MD
Dr. Farooqui is a Board Certified Adult and Pediatric Allergist and Clinical Immunologist. He completed his fellowship training at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where he later served as an Assistant Professor. After completing his academic endeavors, Dr. Farooqui shifted his primary focus to clinical patient care. He joined Allergy Partners in 2015 and now serves on the organization’s Board of Directors. Dr. Farooqui has been a principal investigator on research grants, published numerous journal articles, and regularly speaks at local and national conferences. He also serves as a speaker and consultant for several pharmaceutical companies, helping in clinical drug development and market access. Dr. Farooqui’s clinical interests include severe asthma, sinus and polyp disease, food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, and immunologic disorders.
Sarah Carpenter
Sarah is a Partner in the Washington, D.C. office of the law firm of Smith Currie. Sarah practices in the areas of construction law and government contracts with a focus on litigation in state and federal courts. Sarah is an alumni of the University of Florida who enjoys trips back to her hometown – Destin, Florida – to visit the beach as well as her friends and family.