Moderators & Panelists

Chad Abresch, PhD, along with a host of great colleagues, holds a vision for a better future and is working to make that vision a reality. Dr. Abresch serves as chair of the Department of Health Promotion at UNMC’s College of Public Health, where he also is an associate professor. He is a graduate faculty member for the University of Nebraska.

The Department of Health Promotion is dedicated to addressing and improving health for all populations and partnering with communities to realize an end to inequitable health outcomes. The work and research conduct within the department emphasizes the importance of relationships, working together with community members, patients, health professionals, educators, policy-makers, and more to improve populational health outcomes.

With over eight years dedicated to maternal and infant health and a passion in perinatal bereavement, Amanda is at the Douglas County Health Department, focusing on reducing infant mortality rates. Her role as the Fetal Infant Mortality Case Review Coordinator involves abstracting records, family interviews, bereavement support, and presenting a de-identified case to a community oriented, multidisciplinary team to uncover systemic issues that can be turned into actionable recommendations to overall reduce infant mortality rates and decrease disparities. 

Dr. Sydnie Carraher serves as the Executive Director of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPQIC), a nonprofit that advances evidence-based, equitable healthcare for Nebraska mothers and newborns. She partners with birthing facilities, community and state organizations, payors, legislators, and national partners to develop and evaluate quality improvement initiatives that enhance perinatal outcomes.

Dr. Carraher also works as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at CHI Health St Elizabeth in Lincoln and holds positions on the Nebraska Maternal Mortality Review Committee, ALIGN Maternal Child Health Committee, and Nebraska Maternal Health Task Force.

She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and Doctorate in Nursing Practice from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where her research focused on reducing maternal disparities. 

Haleigh Eschliman is the Home Visitation Supervisor for the Healthy Families program at Two Rivers Public Health Department, where she has provided leadership and direction for over two years. In this role, she oversees the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based home visiting services designed to strengthen family wellbeing and support positive early childhood outcomes.

Drawing from a background in education, Haleigh brings a strong understanding of child development and family engagement to her work. She leads a dedicated team of home visitors who partner with families to build nurturing relationships and connect them with community resources that foster growth and resilience. Haleigh’s leadership ensures that services are delivered with fidelity to the Healthy Families America model and aligned with the department’s broader goals of improving maternal, infant, and family health across the region.

Haleigh is deeply committed to empowering families to reach their fullest potential through education, prevention, and connection. Her work reflects a passion for building resilient communities where every child has the opportunity to thrive from the very start. 

Cydney Gaines is a full spectrum doula from Omaha, Nebraska. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas and a Master’s degree in Sport Studies from the University of Iowa. Prior to becoming a doula, Cydney worked in higher education for nearly 10 years. Cydney completed her first doula training in January 2020 and shortly after, certified and became a full spectrum doula serving clients in birth centers, home births, and in hospitals. She relocated back to Omaha in the summer of 2020; Cydney quickly found her passion for community-based birth work and childbirth education. In an effort to provide more comprehensive care, Cydney also trained in pregnancy and infant loss and became a certified breastfeeding educator. In addition to being a doula, Cydney serves as the Assistant Director of Malone Maternal Wellness and serves as a Doula Mentor, helping up and coming doulas build robust, sustainable businesses and developing their knowledge and passion to become skilled doulas. As Cydney continues to grow her personal doula practice, she aims to travel and provide doula support across the country and around the world, teach childbirth education and provide comprehensive, culturally tailored breastfeeding and lactation support. 

Celeste Illian leads the Office of Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health. In her role, she oversees Nebraska’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee, Child Death Review Team, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, and serves as the State Systems Development Initiative Director on the Title V leadership team. Celeste holds a master’s in public health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in epidemiology and a bachelor’s from the University of Iowa in global health. 

Jamin Johnson serves as the Division Chief of Public Health Strategy, Innovation, and Planning, and as the Health Equity Advisor for the Douglas County Health Department and the Douglas County Board of Health. He holds a doctorate in Public Health Education and a master’s degree in Community Health Education. In his role, Jamin leads initiatives in maternal and child health, strategic planning, workforce development, communications, performance management, and quality improvement.

As Principal Investigator on the CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant for Douglas County, Jamin drives efforts to strengthen and modernize the local public health system. His career has been dedicated to promoting health equity, particularly in Maternal and Child Health, where he has led initiatives addressing child health disparities, infant and maternal loss, and improving support for children and youth with special health care needs.

Most importantly, Jamin is a proud father of two teenage boys and can often be found cheering them on at their sporting events. 

Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Health Director

Nebraska Head Start Collaboration Office, Director

Dr. Maskin is a New York native who first developed an interest in medicine through the study of anthropology with a minor in Culture, Health and Science at Smith College in Massachusetts.  She is a medical graduate of the Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons.  She trained in Pediatrics at Montefiore Children’s Hospital in the Bronx for her intern year and finished her residency training in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Maskin has been practicing at Children’s Nebraska since early 2012 and became a board-certified Pediatric Hospitalist in 2022.  Dr. Maskin served as the Medical Director for Inpatient Medical-Surgical Services for 9 years and is now the Medical Director for Clinical Effectiveness, leading a section of the Children’s Quality and Patient Safety team.  She is an engaged pediatrician advocate in the Omaha community and is completing her Masters in Health Promotion at the UNMC College of Public Health this fall with a focus on reducing sleep-related infant deaths in Douglas County. 

Dr. Alisha Mor is a board-certified Family Physician practicing in Blair, Nebraska, where she provides full-scope family medicine, including obstetrics and pediatrics. She is also board-certified in Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine, offering compassionate care and guidance to breastfeeding dyads throughout their journey and beyond.

Dr. Mor serves on the Leadership Committee of the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition, where she advocates for maternal and child health across the state. She is deeply passionate about supporting families through all stages of life—helping parents and children thrive together. Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Mor enjoys life as a proud mom of three 

Todd A. Pankratz, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with over 25 years of experience dedicated to advancing women’s health care in Nebraska. A senior partner at Obstetricians and Gynecologists, P.C. in Hastings since 1998, Dr. Pankratz previously practiced in Iowa City after completing his OB/GYN residency at Truman Medical Center/St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, where he served as Administrative Chief Resident. He earned his medical degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine and a B.A. with distinction in Psychobiology from Hastings College.

Dr. Pankratz has held numerous leadership roles in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, currently serving as District VI Treasurer and having twice chaired Nebraska’s section. He is a founding board member and medical director of Reproductive Health Collaborative Nebraska, overseeing the state’s Title X services, and contributes to statewide maternal health efforts through the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative.

At Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital, Dr. Pankratz has served in multiple leadership capacities, including Medical Staff President (2020–2022). His long-standing service to the Nebraska Medical Association includes terms as President and extensive legislative committee involvement.

An active community member, Dr. Pankratz sits on the board of Five Points Bank, mentors pre-med students, and has supported numerous civic organizations. His career is distinguished by numerous awards, including the AMA Foundation Leadership Award and Alpha Omega Alpha induction.

Dr. Pankratz is committed to access to health care in rural Nebraska, maternity and primary care deserts, and advancing equitable reproductive health services across Nebraska.

Dr. Rauner is the President of Partnership for a Healthy Nebraska. He earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy at Creighton University, a medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a master’s degree in public health at Johns Hopkins University, studying how to systematically improve the health of Nebraskans. Dr. Rauner’s past health system and policy experience includes past roles as the Chief Medical Officer of OneHealth Nebraska Accountable Care Organization and serving as the past president of the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians. He also currently serves on the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education, the advisory board for the Center for Professionalism and Value in Healthcare, and previously served on the board of directors of the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations.  

Karina is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a passion for supporting families through every stage of the perinatal journey. She lives in Lincoln, NE.  Her work includes community outreach, home visiting, and serving as a breastfeeding educator, childbirth educator, and both birth and postpartum doula. She believes in evidence-based care, but always through a deeply holistic lens—centering the birthing person's voice and needs above all else. Patient-driven care is at the heart of what I do, and I’m committed to creating spaces where moms feel seen, heard, and empowered. When she's not working with families, you’ll find her getting creative with arts and crafts, dancing around the kitchen, or whipping up something delicious along with her 3 kids.

Jessica Seberger is the Maternal and Child Health program manager at the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services. Ms. Seberger’s current work projects of note include coordinating the Title V Action Plan and increasing children and young people’s access to and use of health services throughout Nebraska. Ms. Seberger is a Public Health Association of Nebraska (PHAN) board member and the outgoing Affiliate Representative for the Governing Council for PHAN. Outside of work, she enjoys following her children around to sports and playdates, reading, and birding. 

Sarah Swenson is an assistant professor in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Children’s Nebraska. Her work combines advocacy, quality improvement, and research to enhance opportunities for wellbeing for families impacted by neonatal intensive care. Her previous work in the history of science and medicine, which focused on the social and political factors that influenced biological theories of social behavior in the twentieth century, provides her an in-depth historical understanding of the complex interplay between science, medicine, and policy and their impact on health outcomes. With this understanding, she led quality improvement initiatives at the University of Minnesota and Children’s Minnesota during her neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship to implement standardized, longitudinal perinatal mental health screening for parents of infants hospitalized in neonatal intensive care units. Her work brought attention to the needs of non-gestational parents and increased local resources for parents and infants with prolonged NICU stays through the development of an infant mental health program. Her current policy focus seeks to expand coverage for mental health visits in the postpartum year to mitigate financial concerns that limit access to treatment.

Sixpence, Assistant Vice President Early Childhood

Margaret Woeppel has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare. She currently serves as the Chief Nursing and Informatics Officer for the Nebraska Hospital Association, where she leads statewide initiatives to advance quality, patient safety, and data-driven performance across Nebraska’s hospitals and rural health clinics.

For the past two decades, Margaret has worked closely with healthcare teams throughout the state to strengthen care coordination, reduce disparities, and improve outcomes for patients — including mothers and newborns. Her work focuses on helping hospitals leverage data and statewide resources to drive improvement across the patient lifespan.

She holds a Master of Science in Nursing and a post-master’s certificate, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE). She also co-authored the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) policy papers “The Impact of Swing Beds” (2016) and “Palliative Care: Policy Brief” (2018).