Melissa Bart-Plange is a dedicated advocate for rare disease healthcare, inspired by her personal journey as a parent to a child with a rare disease. Her experience navigating the challenges of the healthcare system has fueled her involvement with the Nevada Rare Disease Advisory Council (RDAC), where she works to improve care and access for families like hers.

Professionally, Melissa is a highly skilled procurement and contracts specialist, currently serving as the Financial Contracts Specialist Lead at Everi Holding Inc. With over 13 years of experience, she excels in managing financial contracts, negotiations, and requisitions, collaborating across departments to ensure compliance and streamline processes. Melissa is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Management at Western Governors University and holds a CompTIA Project+ certification.

Kim Anderson is a dedicated healthcare leader and a passionate advocate for Nevada’s rare disease and palliative care communities. As a member of the Nevada Rare Disease Advisory Council (NV-RDAC) and the state’s Palliative Care Council, Kim leverages her extensive experience in healthcare to improve the quality of life for individuals and families facing serious and complex health conditions.

In her role as Director of New Business Development at Infinity Hospice Care, Kim has successfully expanded the organization’s footprint, including the implementation of services in Nye County, Nevada. She oversees palliative care programs in three competitive markets, developing key metrics, monitoring systems, and building strong relationships with healthcare providers and community leaders. Kim is known for her innovative approaches to both marketing and clinical management, helping to grow market share while maintaining a focus on patient care.

Kim’s leadership in recruiting, mentoring, program management, and budget planning has strengthened the palliative care landscape in Nevada, and her work with NV-RDAC continues to push forward policies that benefit the rare disease community.

Kim’s ongoing dedication to both palliative and rare disease care reflects her commitment to making a lasting impact on Nevada’s healthcare system.

Pamela White’s journey as an Ambassador for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) advocacy stems from her role as the mother of two adult children living with SCD. Having navigated every challenge and success throughout their lives, Pam has firsthand experience with the complexities of raising children with SCD. She is grateful for the support of her husband of 30 years, who has been with her every step of the way as they cared for their 43-year-old daughter and 23-year-old son.

A Las Vegas resident for over 40 years, Pam has been actively involved in the community, raising awareness and promoting education about SCD through several organizations, including the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation (NVCCF) and Cure 4 The Kids Foundation. While working with NVCCF, Pam organized several “firsts” in Las Vegas, including the inaugural SCD symposium in 2011, SCD Walk-A-Thons from 2011 to 2013, and spearheading SCD representation in the Martin Luther King Parade in 2013.

After retiring from 34 years of service with the State of Nevada, Pam received a renewed call to action in 2019 when she founded the nonprofit BTG – Adult Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of Nevada. The foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassemia, and related blood disorders by providing access to medical, educational, and social resources throughout Nevada.

Pam’s organization offers a variety of programs, including monthly support group meetings, the “It’s Time” transition program for youth ages 13-25, and specialized support groups for adults, caregivers, and men-only meetups. BTG also hosts four major events annually to raise awareness and educate the Las Vegas community about SCD.

Pam’s vision is for families affected by SCD to live limitless lives, looking beyond the pain and pursuing their dreams despite the challenges. Her advocacy has also extended to legislative efforts, as she worked with Senator Neal on Nevada’s first Sickle Cell bill, AB254, which focuses on surveillance and improving access to FDA-approved medications for Sickle Cell patients. The bill was signed into law by Governor Sisolak in 2019.

Pam’s lifelong dedication to the SCD community continues to make a meaningful impact on those affected by the disease across Nevada.

Dr. Gupta was born and raised in India and completed his medical school at Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India. He served his Pediatrics residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago from 2015 to 2018. He then relocated to Houston, Texas to complete his Hematology/Oncology fellowship at the University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center from 2018 to 2021.

Dr. Gupta enjoys research and feels it is essential to Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. He dove into basic research along with clinical projects during his fellowship. He worked on Viroimmunotherapy in pediatric brain tumors (DIPG), where he was awarded a grant and ‘Early Career Award’ this year by the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO).

Dr. Verena Samara is a neuromuscular specialist with expertise in EMG/nerve conduction studies with Carson Tahoe Medical Group in Carson City, NV. She is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).

Since 90 % of neuromuscular conditions are considered to be rare diseases based on a recent NIH publication, Dr. Samara is helping take care of patients with rare diseases every day. She is striving to be an advocate for patients with rare disease for the population of Nevada and for her individual patients on a daily basis. 

Dr. Samara earned her medical degree in 2008 from Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. She went on to pursue a residency in neurology at the University of Regensburg in Regensburg, Germany before moving to the US in 2010 to pursue a research sabbatical. After 3 years of basic science research on spinal cord injury at the University of California, San Diego she returned to being a clinician and pursued a second residency in neurology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where she graduated in 2017. She then completed a fellowship, specializing in neuromuscular conditions at Stanford University. She has been in practice since 2018. 

Brigette Cole

Brigette brings more than 13 years of experience in healthcare, provider outreach, community outreach, nonprofits, cancer navigation, and patient advocacy. Brigette is a two-time breast cancer survivor and has learned first-hand the importance of the work that NNCCF does.
Brigette has a strong passion for cancer patient advocacy. This started when she was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 28. Throughout her treatment, she felt alone and overwhelmed. Those feelings of isolation are something she didn’t want anyone else to experience, and that is where her journey and life-long passion for advocacy work began. 
Brigette has been working with local non-profits for the past 13 years and absolutely loves what she does.

A few insights into Brigette include:

What I think is amazing:
I love to find the magic in life, those little moments of complete awe.

Something quirky about me:
I love to dance and often find myself in my pajamas rocking out in my living room. I think I have some pretty sweet dance moves – when no one is looking.

My role model:
My grandfather, he is no longer with us but lives on in everything I do. What I admire most about him is he lived his life to the fullest and always stayed curious. He never assumed and always took the time to sit down, talk, laugh, and tell stories.

My favorite quote:
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. –Helen Keller