Melissa is a Gallaudet-trained psychologist and clinical researcher who strives to provide accessible behavioral healthcare to members of the U.S. Deaf community. She founded DeafYES at UMass Chan Medical School in 2014, where she has continually provided outpatient therapy and conducted research on Deaf mental health.

Corey Axelrod, MBA, is the founder and CEO of 2axend, a Deaf-owned strategic consulting and training firm working with organizations to provide user-centric experiences to Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Prior to founding 2axend, Axelrod served in several business development roles for Communication Service for the Deaf, as well as principal and digital marketing consultant for Synergetic Business Solutions, digital marketing coordinator for Purple Communications and director of marketing and business development for Hager Productions. Axelrod earned his master of business administration (MBA) with a concentration in marketing and sales management and his bachelor of science in business administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Valoree Boyer is currently a staff medical interpreter / interpreter coordinator for Bronson Healthcare in Southwest Michigan. Valoree holds RID’s NIC certification with a Medical/Mental Health and DeafBlind endorsement through the state of Michigan. Valoree began her interpreting career as a full time educational interpreter, then transitioned into freelance and travel interpreting work. Also prior to becoming a healthcare interpreter, she spent several years as an agency director. Community advocacy and patient access rights are at the forefront of Valoree’s professional passions. This is evident in her work with Bronson’s Patient Advisory Council and staff education initiatives. Valoree also serves on the board of directors for the Michigan Coalition for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind People and is the camp director of Camp Chris Williams, a summer camp for Deaf Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind youth. When she is not working or serving on boards, Valoree enjoys being mom to a busy teenager and spending time at the many lakes in Michigan where she has been a lifelong resident.

Vonessa Costa is Operations Manager for Interpretation and Translation at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Previously, she served as Sr. Director of Quality and Member Engagement for the Health Care Interpreter Network, a collaborative of health systems sharing interpreter resources. Prior to that, Vonessa was Director of Multicultural Affairs and Patient Services at Cambridge Health Alliance, recognized as Massachusetts’ top hospital for Health Equity by the Lown Institute (2021). Earlier, she led the Cross Cultural Communication Institute at CCCS, Inc., specializing in interpreter training and provider education in language access. A CoreCHI-P™ credentialed interpreter with Portuguese proficiency, and CCHI Commissioner since 2020, Vonessa has also held leadership roles in IMIA, ATIF, and FOCIS. She has co-authored articles on improving care for minority language patients in leading journals and received the 2019 Tony Windsor Award for advocacy in medical interpreting. Vonessa is a graduate of the America’s Essential Hospitals Fellows Program.

Malvina Gregory is the Director of Interpreter & Cross-Cultural Services at MaineHealth. She is an award-winning advocate for language access and immigrants’ rights, with more than two decades of experience in cross-cultural work and language access. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the Boston University Medical and Legal Interpretation programs. She was at the forefront of the establishment of standards and training for spoken language medical and legal interpreters in the state of Maine, including the development the Southern Maine Community College Medical Interpreting Program and the Maine State Courts’ interpreting program. In 2003 she won the Maine People’s Alliance Rising Tide community organizing award for her work around immigrants’ rights and healthcare reform. In September 2023 she received the 2023 Special Commendation Award from the State of Maine Commission for Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, an award given to an individual, agency or business whose activities in and with the Deaf Community deserves recognition.

Rhys is a hard of hearing speech-language pathologist who lives at the intersection of many communities. Rhys’s work focuses on reducing access barriers for individuals and communities and working toward communication equity for all, and he’s thrilled to be part of the DeafYES team.

Dr. Jaime Wilson is a Deaf prescribing medical psychologist and boardcertified neuropsychologist practicing across Washington State and beyond. With hospital privileges and collaborations with physicians, forensic experts, and allied professionals, he provides extensive neuropsychological insights for global care. He’s a recognized leader in inclusive practice, having served as Past President of the Association of Medical Professionals with Hearing Loss (AMPHL). He currently contributes to the Diversity Council of the Society of Prescribing Psychology and chairs the Diversity Committee at the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology. Dr. Wilson is the author of two heartfelt, empowering books:  Preserving the Etchings of the Mind offers an easy-to-read, hopeful guide to protecting the aging brain and safeguarding memory, especially in the context of hearing loss. With over 50 five-star reviews, it’s become a trusted resource for families and clinicians alike: https://amzn.to/3LHl8su  His newly released Bridge of Time: Caregivers & Care Receivers with Hearing Loss in Alzheimer’s & Dementia is a tender roadmap for navigating memory loss and hearing loss with compassion—available now: https://amzn.to/414duQO Born with a profound hearing loss, Dr. Wilson grew up using bilateral hearing aids and primarily communicated using spoken language, although he is also fluent in American Sign Language. He resides in Olympia, WA, with his equally Deaf wife (an RN), their three children, and their spirited King Charles Spaniel, Pepper Jack. Discover more about his work, connect online, or explore his books at www.WilsonClinical.com or via your favorite social media channels: https://linktr.ee/dr_wilson

Dr. Ashley R. Walker is a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and an advocate. Dr. Walker holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Xavier University of Louisiana and a Bachelors of Science in Biotechnology from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has been a pharmacist for 9 years with experience in retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, home infusion pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. In addition to being a pharmacist, Dr. Walker brought to life a new dream when she established her business Med Max Consulting, LLC. Under this business, Dr. Walker can advocate for members of the deaf and hard of hearing community as well as offer medication counseling services to help this unique community maximize and optimize their medication therapy.