top of page
v1 USHLA logos_revised-07 (1).png

About

The US Health Literacy Association (USHLA) is a grassroots organization driven by health literacy experts, community leaders, and everyday people —not lobbyists, politicians, or people with competing special interests — to help give people across the nation the power to make informed health decisions.

IMG_0595.jpg

USHLA

Organizational Structure

The structure of the U.S. Health Literacy Association, includes its Board of Directors, Regional Coordinators, and Task Force Chairs, and of course, it's members—all working together to guide, represent, and advance the organization’s mission nationwide.

v1 USHLA logos_revised-09.png
USHLA Organizational Tree_Simple.png

USHLA

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors for the U.S. Health Literacy Association provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight to ensure the organization remains mission-driven and accountable.

Board members guide key initiatives, support member-led efforts, and help shape the direction of national health literacy work. Through collaborative decision-making and thoughtful stewardship, the Board advances USHLA’s vision of equitable, clear, and accessible health communication for all. The Board of Directors is made up of the following positions:
 

  • President
    Leads the Board in guiding USHLA’s mission, strategy, and operations with vision and accountability
     

  • President-Elect
    Supports strategic planning and prepares to lead the Board in advancing USHLA’s mission
     

  • Secretary
    Maintains official records, ensures transparency, and supports clear organizational communication
     

  • Treasurer
    Oversees budgeting and financial stewardship to ensure the health and sustainability of USHLA
     

  • Directors
    Contributes to governance, supports strategic priorities, and represents member interests on the Board
     

KK_Headshot2.jpg

President

Karen Komondor

Karen Komondor is a nationally recognized leader and expert in health literacy. As the founder and president of Health Literacy 360 LLC, she delivers transformative keynotes, training, and consulting services aimed at enhancing healthcare communication and practices. She is a registered nurse who has dedicated her career to advocating for patients’ and her family’s healthcare needs.


Karen worked for many years in trauma critical care before transitioning to staff and patient education. She directed the Health Literacy Institute at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, for over two decades, where she played a pivotal role in institutionalizing health literacy practices across the continuum of patient care.


Karen served as chair of Healthy Cleveland’s health literacy task force, co-founded and served as past president of Ohio Health Literacy Partners, chaired the National Council to Improve Patient Safety through Health Literacy, and is co-founder and president of the United States Health Literacy Association. Her work continues to push the boundaries of health literacy initiatives.

KK_Headshot2.jpg

President-elect

Teresa Wagner

Dr. Wagner is a registered and licensed dietitian with a doctorate in public health. She’s certified in Public Health, Patient Safety, Lifestyle Medicine, Health Coaching, and a certified Community Health Worker (CHW) Instructor. She is an associate professor in the College of Public Health and College of Nursing at University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Wagner is the Director of the UNTHSC State Certified Community Health Worker Training Center. Her research focuses on alleviating health disparities in underserved communities through health literacy. She’s a sought-after presenter and mentor who’s passionate about certifying community health workers as conduits to health literacy. As a result of her work, she has received multiple awards and accolades. Most recently, she received the 2024 Texas Distinguished Dietitian Award and a 2024 Global Service Award from the International Health Literacy Association. When not working, Teresa enjoys traveling, destination hiking, and spending time with friends, family, and her daughters. Her favorite pastime is walking at various parks with her Yorkie, Cappy.

KK_Headshot2.jpg

Treasurer

Catina O'Leary

Catina O’Leary, PhD, MSW is President and CEO at Health Literacy Media (HLM), a non-profit health literacy focused communications company based in St. Louis and working around the world. Over the last 25 years, she has focused on leading health research, health education development, and the implementation and evaluation of health interventions across populations internationally. Before joining HLM in 2012, Dr. O’Leary was Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in the Departments of Psychiatry and the Program in Occupational Therapy.


Dr. O’Leary is a member of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable on Health Literacy. She serves on the Board at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital. She also serves as Secretariat for the International Health Literacy Association (IHLA).

KK_Headshot2.jpg

Director

Silas Buchanan

Silas Buchanan is the Founder and CEO of OurHealthyCommunity, a social impact consulting firm. Silas is an experienced underserved community engagement strategist, dedicated to building equitable partnerships and crafting web-based ecosystems that solve for known, outreach and engagement failure points. He recently launched OurHealthyCommunity.com in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, to equitably connect and collaborate with trusted faith and community-based organizations.


Silas previously co-developed AMECHealth.org as the official health information-sharing channel for the AME Church, the largest mainline, historically Black Denomination in the world (2000 congregations/2 million members).


Silas has informed the health equity strategy of various healthcare payer, provider, government, life science, pharmaceutical, and academic stakeholders across the United States.


Silas has contributed thought leadership to the National Academies of Medicine, Milken Institute, FasterCures Workgroup on DEI in Clinical Trials, the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI), Morehouse School of Medicine, HIMSS, Duke-Margolis Health Policy Center, Accenture, American Telemedicine Association, Digital Medicine Society, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, and the Kraft Precision Medicine Accelerator at Harvard Business School, among many others.

KK_Headshot2.jpg

Secretary

Monique Hill

Monique Hill, MSW, the Founder and Primary Consultant of Health Equity and Literacy Partnership (HELP) Solutions Consulting Firm, established this venture in September 2022, following a distinguished academic career at the renowned Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). With over 15 years of experience in the field of health literacy, Ms. Hill has been instrumental in program development and implementation in various South Carolina communities.


HELP Solutions partners with health organizations to develop collective partnerships with community organizations, provides technical and program assistance to community organizations seeking to scale health programming, builds and executes small—to large-scale training seminars and health conferences, and helps health organizations improve patient outcomes through health equity and literacy strategies.


Previously, Monique served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Academic Affairs Faculty and as the Program Manager for Hands-on Health SC at MUSC. She also held the position of Health Literacy and Partnership Engagement Advisor for the NNLM Region 2. In all these roles, she brought her extensive experience in social work and policy to the forefront, developing community-based programs, engaging the community, and advocating for the elimination of disparities linked to social and racial injustices. For Ms. Hill, this work is not just a profession, but a personal commitment to making a difference, amplifying the voices of the unheard and underserved, and fighting for equity.


Ms. Hill earned her Bachelor of Science degree in social work from Benedict College and her Master of Social Work from Florida State University School of Social Work, with a concentration in social policy and administration. She has also completed advanced public health training from the University of Maryland-College Park and Tufts University.

KK_Headshot2.jpg

Director

Greg O'Neill

As Director of Patient & Family Health Education, Greg leads the strategic plan for patient education and health literacy initiatives at ChristianaCare. After moving on from direct patient care as a trauma/surgical ICU nurse, Greg has established a team of Nursing Professional Development Specialists who champion health literacy best practices systemwide and support all manner of patient education initiatives and vendor relationships. He is also the chair of the Health Literacy Council of Delaware and the chair of the Board of Directors for Literacy Delaware. Greg has been with ChristianaCare for 15 years and received his MSN as a CNS from the University of Delaware.

KK_Headshot2.jpg

Director

Christopher Trudeau

As a law professor and plain-language advocate, Chris Trudeau has dedicated his professional life to making difficult information easy to understand for people from all walks of life. Trudeau’s research focuses on gathering empirical data that helps determine best practices for clearly explaining difficult health and legal topics. Trudeau is an Associate Professor at the University of Detroit Mercy Law School. He is a self-described “health-literacy lawyer,” who is the first lawyer to be appointed to the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s Roundtable of Health Literacy. Trudeau also has extensive experience working with clinical trials regulations. He has served on the FDA’s Risk Communication Advisory Committee and served as the Director of Regulatory Knowledge & Support at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

USHLA

Regional Coordinators

Regional Coordinators collaborate with the USHLA Board of Directors by submitting activity proposals and summaries for guidance and approval—helping ensure local efforts align with and advance the organization’s mission.

The Regional Coordinators for the U.S. Health Literacy Association serve as a liaison between the association and members within their region, fostering communication, engagement and collaboration. This role involves coordinating regional initiatives, supporting members in advancing health literacy efforts, and sharing resources and opportunities to strengthen local impact. The coordinator ensures alignment with the association’s mission while building a connected and active regional network. The regions, that align with the US Department of Health and Human Services, include:
 

  • Region 1
    C    onnecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
     

  • Region 2
    New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
     

  • Region 3
    Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
     

  • Region 4
    Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
     

  • Region 5
    Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
     

  • Region 6
    Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
     

  • Region 7
    Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
     

  • Region 8
    Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
     

  • Region 9
    American Samoa, Arizona, California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands
     

  • Region 10
    Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
     

USHLA

Task Force Chairs

Regional Coordinators collaborate with the USHLA Board of Directors by submitting activity proposals and summaries for guidance and approval—helping ensure work contributes meaningfully to the organizational national mission.

​Task Force Chairs for the U.S. Health Literacy Association lead member-driven efforts focused on key priority areas such as policy, research, communications, and more. They foster collaboration within their task force, guide strategic initiatives, and facilitate knowledge-sharing among members. This role involves coordinating projects, submitting proposals and summaries to the Board, and ensuring alignment with the association’s mission—driving progress on national goals through focused, issue-based leadership, in the following areas:
 

  • Advocacy and Public Awareness
    The Advocacy and Public Awareness Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association leads initiatives to raise awareness about health literacy and advocate for its importance in communities and public discourse. This role involves monitoring policy changes, drafting position statements, organizing advocacy campaigns, engaging stakeholders, and mobilizing members to amplify the association’s message and priorities. The chair provides strategic direction to the task force, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while driving impactful advocacy and outreach efforts. 
     

  • Policy and Legislation
    The Policy and Legislation Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association leads efforts to analyze, advocate for, and influence policies and legislation that advance health literacy. This role involves monitoring legislative developments, collaborating with stakeholders to craft policy recommendations, and mobilizing members to support advocacy initiatives. The chair ensures the task force’s work aligns with the association’s strategic goals, providing leadership to drive meaningful policy change.
     

  • Communications and Marketing
    The Communications and Marketing Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association leads the development and implementation of strategies to promote the organization's mission, initiatives, and events. This role involves overseeing the creation of engaging content, managing communication channels, and fostering partnerships to amplify the association’s reach and impact. The chair collaborates with task force members to ensure consistent messaging and alignment with organizational goals while providing guidance and support to execute marketing campaigns.
     

  • Partnerships
    The Partnerships Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association fosters strategic collaborations with organizations, institutions, and stakeholders, including government agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations to advance shared health literacy goals. This role involves identifying partnership opportunities, developing mutually beneficial initiatives, and maintaining strong relationships to enhance the association's reach and impact. The chair provides leadership to the task force, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and promoting innovative, collaborative solutions.
     

  • Membership and Recruitment
    The Membership and Recruitment Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association oversees strategies to attract, engage, and retain members, ensuring a strong and diverse membership base. This role involves developing recruitment initiatives, fostering member engagement, developing member benefits, collaborating with stakeholders to enhance the value of membership, and maintaining member databases The chair provides leadership to the task force, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and promoting a welcoming and inclusive member experience. 
     

  • Sponsorship and Fundraising
    The Sponsorship and Fundraising Task Force Chair for the U.S. Health Literacy Association leads efforts to ensure financial sustainability by developing fundraising strategies. This role involves coordinating initiatives to secure funding through grants, donations, and sponsorships while ensuring transparent financial management. The chair provides strategic leadership to the task force, aligning financial goals with the association’s mission and fostering long-term organizational growth. 
     

bottom of page