Leadership Team
Co-Lead
Lisa Kane Low, PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN
Dr. Lisa Kane Low is a Co-Lead for the Region 9 PQC and Lead on the Mom+ Centric Models of Care & Support workgroup. Lisa is a Certified Nurse Midwife at the University of Michigan and is faculty in the School of Nursing, Women’s and Gender Studies Department, and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Lisa has spent her career seeking ways to promote optimal experiences and health outcomes for birthing families. She believes that the RPQC model is one way to assure that all stakeholders are part of the vision and that all families are the center of our mission to improve maternity care experiences and outcomes. Lisa believes that birth equity and social justice are vital to making maternity care services better. For fun, Lisa enjoys listening and dancing to live jam band music, especially her son’s band Pajamas.
Co-Lead
Kamilah Davis-Wilson, MHA
Kamilah Davis Wilson is a Co-Lead for the Region 9 PQC and Lead on the Home Visiting workgroup. Kamilah is the Clinical Research Project Manager in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan Medicine. Kamilah is passionate about mental health and maternal and infant health. Kamilah identifies as a mother of four strong willed black sons and comes to Region 9 with the perspective of a mom and a professional who is ready to learn, advocate, and work together to enhance the health of moms, babies, and families in our region. For fun, Kamilah enjoys all things physical activity, cooking, planning projects and events, and spending time with family.
Fiduciary Lead
Julie Tumbrello, MA
Julie Tumbarello was one of the founding leads and is currently the Fiduciary Chair for the Region 9 PQC and Lead for the Trauma-Informed Care workgroup. Julie is currently an Administrative Manager in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Michigan Medicine overseeing research and special projects. Julie believes that a healthy society starts with supporting healthy families, especially those who raise the next generation. Her favorite part about being in the Collaborative is providing a space and organizations that brings people from all different areas together to build a strong, multidisciplinary, community-based group which can address health from every direction. Julie is an Active Dream teacher and offers monthly dream groups, private sessions, and workshops to help people wake up to all the magic and guidance life has to offer.
Project Manager
Helen Allen, MSW
Helen Allen is the project manager for the Region 9 PQC. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and has been working full-time with the Collaborative since August 2020. The Region 9 PQC’s focus on community engagement and building authentic relationships align with Helen’s personal and professional values. She strongly believes that working collaboratively is the only way to achieve a more equitable future. Her favorite part of working for the Collaborative is having the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of passionate people. She believes that the energy, ideas, and perspectives each person brings to the table is amazing and truly advances the work. For fun, Helen enjoys DIY projects and gardening.
Administrative Specialist
Avonlea Rickerson, MPH
Avonlea Rickerson is the administrative specialist for the Region 9 PQC. She received her Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan in 2020 and her bachelor’s degree from Howard University in 2017. She has worked in various maternal child health roles throughout Southeast Michigan including Henry Ford Health and Black Mothers’ Breastfeeding Association. She pursued public health to encourage and empower women/birthing people to be more knowledgeable and proactive in their choices in pursuit of health. She strongly believes that through collaboration we can achieve equitable health outcomes for all. She is eager to be a proactive resource for birthing people and their families, and strives to advance maternal care for all. For fun, Avonlea enjoys traveling across the world with her loved ones, trying new foods, and going to the gym.
Workgroup Leads
Truama-Informed Care
Deb Lefever Rhizal, CNM
Deb Lefever Rhizal is Lead of the Trauma-Informed Care workgroup. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife at the University of Michigan. Trauma-Informed Care at its root is respectful, empowering care. She believes the the principles are important for every patient, and absolutely essential for patients who have experienced trauma. Deb enjoys both directly caring for patients one on one and also working to create the environments and policies that allow providers to do that best. Deb joined the trauma-informed care workgroup because she believes that models of care and the psychosocial aspects of care have huge impacts, and was excited to apply quality improvement activities in this realm. For fun, Deb enjoys kayaking, gardening with her children, and collecting wild plants for food or supplements.
Home Visiting
Robin Jacob, PhD
Robin Jacob is a Co-Lead for the Home Visiting workgroup. She is an associate research professor for the Institute for Social Research and is the faculty Co-Director of the Youth Policy Lab. Robin cares deeply about using research to inform policy and practice and wants to improve the home visiting experience for families in Michigan. Her passion for this work stems from her passion to give new families and infants a strong start in life in order to ensure a positive future for the state of Michigan. Her favorite part about working in Region 9 is meeting so many people who care deeply about improving the lives of families. For fun, Robin enjoys running.
Home Visiting
Holly Naylor, MPA
Holly Naylor is a Co-Lead for the Home Visiting workgroup. She is the Director of Family PRevention and Education at LACASA, a nonprofit agency that support survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Holly received her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of South Florida and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University. She is also a facilitator for the Stewards of Children child sexual abuse prevention workship and is a Michigan ACEs Community Champion, bringing information on neuroscience, epigenetics, ACEs, and resilience to her community. For fun, Holly loves to hike, backpack, travel, read, and garden.
Mom+ Centric Models of Care and Support
Melisa Scott, CNM
Melisa is the Lead for the Mom+ Centric Models of Care and Support workgroup. She is a Certified Nurse Midwife at the University of Michigan. She has a strong belief in a person’s ability to birth and has a passion for providing safe, loving, and high-quality care for birthing families.