About Us

Loren Anthes is a Principal at Health Management Associates, a leading independent national research and consulting firm specializing in publicly funded healthcare. In this role, he leverages extensive experience in healthcare policy, managed care, and value-based contracting to provide strategic advice and support to healthcare organizations, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Loren has worked extensively with both legislative and executive branches of local, state, and federal governments and is a lecturer at Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine where he specializes in quality improvement and health systems science. Loren holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Ohio University, a Health Care Master of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University, and is a Certified Six Sigma Greenbelt.

Nick Bernard is the Associate Treasurer for The MetroHealth System and has been with the organization since 2014. Among other treasury duties his responsibilities include monitoring and managing liquidity through the System’s bank and investment accounts, contributing to and executing the long-term capital market strategy and acting as chair of the internal capital preparedness committee. He received his Master’s in Business Administration from Cleveland State University and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Majoring in Finance, from the University of Dayton.

Karen K. Butler  serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc. (NEON), a nonprofit community health center network. Established in 1967, NEON is one of the oldest Federally Qualified Health Center systems in the country. Karen previously served as the Director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health. She also has the unique distinction of serving as the Commissioner of Health for the City of Cleveland under the leadership of two Cleveland Mayors. Karen served as an adjunct instructor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She has presented frequently at local and national conferences and has traveled to the White House to present before the Domestic Policy Council. Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine recognized Karen as a Notable Woman in Health Care and The Ohio State University honored her as The Champion of Public Health. Karen earned an Executive MBA from the Case Weatherhead School of Management; a Master’s degree in Community Health Planning Administration from the University of Cincinnati; a Bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University; and a Certificate of Non-Profit Organizations from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences.

Carol Kaschube,  retired from her role as Member Relations and Business Manager in August 2022 and remains a consultant with BHP. She played an integral role in member relations, community outreach and planning, business operations, and execution of Better Health initiatives. She managed both large and small events including Learning Collaboratives, webinars and other community-wide events and meetings. She has been a member of the executive team since the organizations launch in 2007. Carol serves in the elected position of Board Secretary for Better Health Partnership's Board of Directors. Her vast experience in office management and finance ensured excellence in all facets of day-to-day operations.

Shawn Lyden recently retired as the Chief Strategy Officer of Akron Children’s, where he served in a variety of executive leadership roles for over 16 years. Akron Children’s experienced tremendous growth during Shawn’s tenure and now serves 33 counties in eastern Ohio with a population of one million children. He previously practiced health law for over 23 years, including 10 years at a national law firm based in Chicago. Shawn has been involved in a variety of community organizations and trade associations during his career. He earned his B.A. in economics from Denison University and law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

Dr. Wymyslo is the past Senior Medical Advisor of the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) and past Director of the Ohio Department of Health. Dr. Wymyslo has worked over 40 years as a practicing family physician, educator, practice organizer and healthcare leader and is active statewide and nationally in efforts to integrate public health and primary care to improve population health. Dr. Wymyslo has served on the Better Health Board from 2011-2023.   In his role at OACHC, he worked with leadership and member practice sites across Ohio to improve quality of care, control costs, enhance health centers’ workforce, and expand the Patient-Centered Medical Home care model. He has been recognized for his contributions to healthcare and the community by the American Medical Association, Ohio State Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians and Ohio Academy of Family Physicians.