1. Who We Are
  2. Staff

Staff

Hrant Jamgochian, J.D., LL.M

Chief Executive Officer

Formerly the Director of Health Policy for the United Way Worldwide, Hrant has extensive expertise in formulating and advancing effective health care policies at the national and state levels. Hrant previously served as Director of Congressional and State Relations for the American Pharmacists Association and as Director of Field and State Operations for the American Psychological Association, where he spearheaded a number of successful national advocacy initiatives and grassroots campaigns. He also previously worked at the Armenian Assembly of America, where he led the organization’s membership, grassroots and public relations activities. 

Hrant received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Catholic University Columbus School of Law as well as his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Global Health Law from the Georgetown University Law Center.  He looks forward to applying his extensive public policy experience to help elevate the voices of dialysis patients with policy makers.

 

Jackson Williams

Director of Government Affairs

Jackson Williams came to DPC after a three-year stint at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the last year of which was spent in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Previously he was a health services researcher in the AARP Public Policy Institute and a lobbyist on health policy issues for three non-profit associations. In his spare time he has conducted research focusing on the intersection between medical liability and payment incentives in contributing to utilization, analyzing cost drivers and cost containment proposals, and the effects of regional subcultures on health care phenomena.

He is a graduate of the University of Illinois (B.A.), Loyola University of Chicago (J.D.), and Governors State University (M.P.A.). He has taught courses in political science and law at the University of Illinois at Chicago, IIT-Kent College of Law, and Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg.

 

Kathi Niccum, Ed.D.

Director of Education

Kathi comes to DPC with experience in developing patient-centered resources and providing educational experiences for kidney patients and dialysis staff. In her previous position as the Director of Patient Services at The Renal Network, she introduced patient empowerment programs, patient leadership positions and patient-centered care models. She developed and conducted training programs for patients and staff, including The Patient Whisperer, a patient/staff communication program which was presented around the country. In addition, she developed peer support training programs and health care team model agreements as well as collaborated with other organizations on home dialysis issues and pediatric resources. She also worked with patients and staff to resolve grievances and to address issues of involuntary discharge and barriers to placement. Her doctoral dissertation at Vanderbilt University was on The Effects of Instructional Strategies on Memory Retention in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients.

Dr. Niccum also teaches Gerontology college courses in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She also has been the Human Services Department Chair of Ivy Tech Community College, a Behavioral Clinician in the Child Development Center of Riley Children’s Hospital, and has provided child and family counseling.   

Hillary Roberts

Grassroots & Communications Manager

Hillary oversees and executes the strategy for the DPC Education Center's numerous communications channels. Having served patients and healthcare professionals prior to starting at DPC, she worked as the Communications and Publications Manager for the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association. There she partnered with volunteer leaders, advocated for clinical team care, and managed an assortment of communications channels.

Her educational background is in communications and technology, having received her Master’s degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and her Bachelor’s at Elon University.

 

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