BOARD MEMBERS & STAFF

Chief Medical Officer

Co-Founder, Board Chair

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

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Board Member

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Clare Dougherty has worked at the intersection of public policy, communications, and mission-driven leadership for the last 25 years, focusing on the health and well-being of women and children. Prior to joining the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, Clare spent over 15 years at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), working to promote, enhance, and protect the organization’s global brand reputation, while building stakeholder and donor support for its mission to end AIDS in children, youth, and families.

During her tenure at EGPAF, Clare also held senior positions in Public Policy & Advocacy and the Office of the President, advancing major legislative priorities and driving Board engagement. Clare has served as director of International Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and as deputy chief of staff on Capitol Hill. She holds a master’s degree in Urban Affairs and Planning from Hunter College and a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Boston University.

A recovering New Yorker, Clare is a longtime Washington, D.C. resident, along with her husband and two sons. She has been an avid supporter and volunteer in her local schools and loves taking long walks on Capitol Hill; attending Washington Nationals games; and keeping up with her active, baseball-obsessed family.

DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND PROGRAMMING

Julia Lichtman Kepniss, a DC native and recovering lawyer, spent the last 14 years as an entrepreneur, starting and running businesses in the area. Before and during law school, Julia worked in various non-profits, primarily with underserved communities, in operations, direct service, legal services and policy. After catching an entrepreneurial bug at the Georgetown University Law Center, Julia founded a high-end, customer-focused bridal shop called Hitched. Over 10 years, Hitched grew from an idea into a multi-million dollar, Georgetown-based company with 15 employees, winning local and national accolades for it's fresh, experience-centered vibe. After selling Hitched four years ago, Julia founded FONBOOTH, a fixture for public restrooms to hold cell phones. This user-experience product can be found in universities, hotels, restaurants, convention centers and stadiums.

Ultimately wanting to return to her mission-focused roots, Julia is thrilled be expanding the reach of Brem's life-saving message and working to increase coverage of diagnostic testing for DC area women in need. 

Julia is a lucky mom of two energetic, funny kiddos (6 & 10). She loves her walkable neighborhood, family movie nights, Maryland crabs and binge-worthy detective series.

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Juliana Cochnar has been committed to fundraising and supporting the breast cancer community for 20 years. After 18 years residing in San Francisco, she moved to Washington, DC in 2016 to learn more about breast cancer advocacy, policy, research and science, and to work for a national organization. Juliana joined the Brem Foundation team in September 2018 and is proud to work for an organization that leads with compassion, builds bridges, and values transparency.

After her mother’s breast cancer diagnosis in 2002, she was inspired to start Beats for Boobs®, a 100% volunteer-driven event based in San Francisco. Since its inception in 2003, Beats for Boobs has distributed over $330,000 to selected breast cancer organization that promote prevention and offer direct services. Her efforts with Beats for Boobs, led her to transition her career into the non-profit sector.

She has served as Team Coordinator and Recruitment Specialist at Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, then moved to splitting her time in development between Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) and its collaborative partner, AIDS Emergency Fund, and fundraised to provide quick and compassionate financial assistance for the under-served. She transitioned full-time to BCEF and later was promoted to Development Director, where she served until her move to the East Coast.

Juliana received her undergraduate degree in English from Elon University in North Carolina and her Masters of Non-Profit Administration from the University of San Francisco’s School of Management. She stays involved as a volunteer for various breast cancer organizations across the county.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Natalie has been in mission-driven work for the last ten years. Originally from the Washington, DC area, she graduated from Sweet Briar College in rural VA in 2013 with a BA in Business Management.

Prior to joining Brem Foundation in 2019, Natalie followed her passion for serving others and completed an extended service with the Peace Corps as a Community Economic Development volunteer in Senegal, where she worked with the local community to develop income-generating activities and trained women’s groups in financial literacy.

Following her Peace Corps service, Natalie worked with a social enterprise bringing solar technology to rural West Africa, leading a pilot program for solar home systems and TV kits in Senegal and Mali. She was also a mentor to high school graduates completing a fellowship gap year program through a non-profit, Global Citizen year, providing support and facilitating workshops for the fellows.

At Brem Foundation, Natalie is the Director of Operations, keeping the organizational wheels running and taking care of all the administrative needs for Brem. But most importantly, she enjoys being a part of a small team of strong and ambitious women, and getting the message out about the importance of early detection to make a difference in women’s lives.

OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE

Jessica Horwitch has worked in the nonprofit industry for nearly four years. While pursuing a Bachelor's degree in English, she found grant writing a fulfilling challenge that unites her zeal for writing and passion for giving back to her community. She has written numerous awarded grants and has worked at a variety of nonprofits in underserved communities across the country. Her positions have included development, operations, and community engagement roles.

Jessica's work in programming and community outreach for a Communities for Immunity awardee and her grant writing for Thresholds has catapulted her advocacy for equitable access to medical care and education. She's excited to be working at Brem Foundation, supporting a team and organization whose focus on early detection highlights the importance of not only early diagnosis but also champions the importance of equitable access to medical care and education.

PART-TIME CONSULTANT

Oyindamola Shoola is a writer and Co-founder of Sprinng, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting African writers. As a polymath, she pursued a diverse academic background to match her interests, including an Associate Degree in Psychology from Bronx Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Behavior and Change from New York University. She recently completed a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing - Poetry at the American University. 

Oyin worked in the education industry for over six years in college success advising and career coaching roles while interning at top book publishing companies. Using her storytelling skills, she has helped students secure over a million dollars in scholarships and gain admission to several top academic programs. 

2025 DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Rida Mahmood is a junior at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, majoring in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology on the pre-med track. She is working towards a career in medicine, with a particular focus on neurology and surgery. Rida is dedicated to leveraging her scientific background to improve patient care and make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Rida works as a medical scribe at UMD Dermatology, where she supports healthcare providers in delivering efficient, high-quality care. Prior to this, she gained valuable experience working at Mercy Medical Center in the OB/GYN department, where her passion for preventative care and advocacy for women's health was ignited. This experience deepened her commitment to advancing healthcare access and promoting wellness for women.

In addition to her work in the healthcare field, Rida volunteers as a Blood Donor Ambassador with the American Red Cross, where she helps educate and encourage community members to donate blood, furthering her mission to support public health.

Rida is excited to join Brem and collaborate with their team to take the next steps in preventative care for women, continuing to build on her passion for healthcare advocacy and wellness.

2024 DEVELOPMENT INTERN

Isabel Pavlonnis is a junior undergraduate student at Georgetown University majoring in English with a double minor in Chemistry and Italian Studies. Isabel is working towards a career in healthcare policy, committed to advocating for equitable access to healthcare services.

Outside of her coursework, Isabel serves as a volunteer tutor for Hatch Tutoring, an organization which provides free, virtual tutoring for under-resourced students in grades K-12 across the United States. She is also the 2024-2025 VP of Events of the Georgetown University branch of The Women’s Network—a national collegiate organization dedicated to increasing access to pre-professional resources and support for undergraduate women. Additionally, Isabel acts as the president of the Panhellenic Board at Georgetown University, where she is using her platform to both engage in continuous, impactful philanthropic endeavors and bolster a supportive, inclusive atmosphere for undergraduate women on campus.

Isabel is enthusiastic about Brem’s dedication to equitable, personalized care, and she is excited to continue to advocate for healthcare accessibility.

2024 & 2025 GENERAL SUPPORT INTERN

Aya Laassel is a junior undergraduate student at American University majoring in Psychology with a double minor in Neuroscience and Spanish. Aya is an aspiring pre-medicine student, working towards applying to medical school with a focus on psychiatry and mental health after graduation. She is interested in promoting mental health transparency and understanding through an inclusive, multicultural lens. 

Outside of AU, Aya is working to bolster her pre-medical experiences through new experiences and volunteer work. She is in progress to begin volunteering at MedStar George Washington Hospital as a General Volunteer. She is also a volunteer at OneTent Health - an organization focused on AIDS/HIV screenings and treatment in the DC area. Aya is a member of the Psi Chi Honor Society, a chapter for the internationally recognized honor society, at American University.

Aya will be completing her Spanish minor while studying abroad in Madrid next semester. She has been accepted into the AU Madrid Iberian Experience Program. She is thrilled to gain new experiences both professionally and socially in a new country, while furthering her Spanish speaking ability.

Aya is excited to join Brem’s team, dedicated towards inclusive approach to accessing and learning about breast cancer care.