The SmartRise Health consulting team brings expertise from hospitals, global health, technology, and education.
Our expertise spans care management, value-based care and contracting, electronic medical record implementation, international health programs, and the design of quality improvement and culture & inclusion programs.
MEET THE TEAM
Vanessa Guzman — President & CEO
Vanessa is the founder and President & CEO of SmartRise Health, combining systems engineering expertise with a focus on quality improvement and health equity. She has led large-scale initiatives that improve outcomes, optimize operations, and build leadership capacity across healthcare organizations.
Ruth Harmon — Vice President,
Strategy & Operations
Ruth leads strategy and operations at SmartRise Health, helping organizations implement technology and process solutions that enhance care delivery, interoperability, and population health outcomes. She has extensive experience managing complex projects at leading medical centers.
CONSULTANTS & PARTNERS
Charlotte Safran
Charlotte Safran is a Family & Community Engagement Leader at the Vermont Department of Health where she leads strategic initiatives, advancing statewide efforts to strengthen access, prevention, and whole‑person care. She brings experience in rural health delivery, cross‑sector partnership development, and data‑driven program design. Her work focuses on scalable solutions that improve care coordination and drive measurable impact for Vermont communities.
Jasmaine McClain
Jasmaine McClain, PhD is the Executive Director of the Health Equity Alliance at The Health Management Academy, where she leads national efforts to accelerate equitable care across leading health systems. A scientist and implementation expert, she previously advanced quality improvement and equity initiatives as a Senior Manager in Avalere Health’s Center for Healthcare Transformation. Jasmaine is a trusted voice on embedding equity into operations, frequently sharing insights through national forums, podcasts, and U.S. News Live.
Manasi A. Tirodkar
Manasi A. Tirodkar, PhD, MS (Principal) is a consultant with expertise in health services research, quality measurement, practice transformation, and qualitative research methods. She has over 15 years of experience as a project lead for federal contract and grant-funded projects, life science client quality strategy projects, and consensus-building among diverse stakeholders. She works collaboratively with clients to deliver projects on-time, on-budget and with high client satisfaction.
Sonia Frazier
Sonia Frazier, MPH, CPHQ is a seasoned healthcare quality and accreditation expert with more than two decades of experience supporting organizations through NCQA Accreditation, Certification, and Health Equity Accreditation. A longtime NCQA Surveyor and former senior accreditation leader, she is widely recognized for her expertise in multicultural healthcare and equity-focused performance improvement, helping health plans and systems strengthen quality, compliance, and care for diverse populations.
Maris Harmon
A health outcomes educator; at NCQA, she leads trainings on inclusive data collection, especially around Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI), helping care teams build trust and cultural humility. Her work bridges curriculum design, workforce strategy, and trauma-informed engagement to support more affirming, person-centered care environments.
Dr. Sybil Hodgson
Regional Medical Director for Montefiore Medical Group’s neighborhood practices and Assistant Professor in Family and Social Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. A National Health Service Corps scholar and family medicine physician, Dr. Hodgson oversees clinical quality across five Bronx-based practices. She brings a trauma-informed, community-rooted lens to primary care, with expertise in diabetes, hypertension, and culturally responsive care. Her leadership reflects a commitment to equity, mentorship, and neighborhood-based healing.
Abner Mason
Abner Mason is Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at GroundGame.Health and the founder of SameSky Health, a cultural experience company improving engagement for Medicare and Medicaid members. A nationally recognized health equity leader, he brings decades of experience reducing barriers to care for underserved communities, informed by his earlier service as Chief Policy Advisor in Massachusetts and his contributions to national advisory bodies focused on equitable, community‑centered health solutions.
Dr. Tina Loarte Rodriguez
Director of Equity and Public Health Workforce Partnerships at the Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce and author of Latina Nursing: A Personal Account of a Journey in Progress. A nurse leader, educator, and storyteller, Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez uplifts the voices of Latina nurses and champions culturally responsive care. Her work bridges public health, workforce development, and narrative healing—advancing equity through both systems change and personal testimony.
Moojan Rezvan
Moojan Rezvan is a medical interpreter, systems advocate, and former Supervisor of Interpreter Services at Providence Mission Hospital, where she led 60 dual‑role interpreters advancing linguistically appropriate care for patients with limited English proficiency. A 2023 Health Equity Fellow, she improved sepsis outcomes through culturally tailored interventions that reduced length of stay and readmissions. An immigrant and equity‑driven leader, she brings lived experience, data fluency, and deep empathy to redesign efforts that strengthen trust and patient‑centered care.
Rachel Harrington
Senior Research Scientist and Assistant Vice President for Health Equity at NCQA. Leads the Equity in HEDIS program and national efforts to measure and improve health equity through data transparency and performance evaluation. Holds a Ph.D. in pharmacy systems, outcomes, and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Dr. Bryan Buckley
VP of Health Equity Initiatives at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and a national voice in advancing equitable, high-quality care. A public health strategist and systems thinker, Buckley leads cross-sector collaborations to embed equity into value-based care, data transparency, and community partnerships. He’s a board member of the American Public Health Association and co-host of the A Health Podyssey podcast, amplifying voices at the intersection of policy, equity, and innovation.
Dr. Lou Hart
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of Health Equity at Yale New Haven Health System. A pediatric hospitalist and systems thinker, Dr. Hart leads equity-driven redesign across quality, safety, and patient experience. With a background in financial economics, philosophy, and public health, he champions data-informed strategies to eliminate institutional bias and structural inequities in care. His work blends clinical empathy with bold advocacy for a more just, human-centered healthcare system.
Liany Arroyo
Director of the Connecticut Urban Opportunity Collaborative at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Former COO of Charter Oak Health Center and Hartford’s Health & Human Services Director during COVID-19. MPH from Columbia, MBA candidate at Yale SOM. Equity-driven leader in urban health transformation.
Vanessa Sena
Vanessa Sena is the CEO of CenaHealth and a leading innovator in Food‑as‑Medicine, building Nutritech solutions that blend bioscience, culinary expertise, and culturally grounded nutrition. A minority‑ and woman‑owned business leader, she connects chefs, farmers, and health experts to deliver nutritious, community‑focused meals. Vanessa’s work drives measurable ROI for health systems and health plans--improving engagement, reducing avoidable utilization, and strengthening outcomes through personalized nutrition, medically tailored meals, integrated directly into care.
Dawn H. Johnson
Dawn H. Johnson is President & CEO of DHJ Services, a specialized health management consulting firm, advancing strategy, equity, and policy across public and private sectors. A Master’s‑prepared Registered Nurse with dual degrees in Nursing and Business Administration she blends deep clinical insight with strategic acumen. With more than three decades of experience, including 14 years in federal service at the Veterans Affairs and CMS, Dawn is a nationally respected expert in health reform, care management, policy development, and equity. Her firm’s designation to provide technical assistance to California’s Tribal, Indian Health Services, and rural providers for CalAIM reflects her leadership in federal waiver and rural health reform.
Ron Wyatt
Dr. Ronald Wyatt is an accomplished consultant, internist, and recognized expert in patient safety, process improvement, and health equity. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and is the founder and President of Achieving Health Equity, LLC. Dr. Wyatt collaborates with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) on developing health equity measures. He also co-chairs the American Telemedicine Association’s Disparities Committee.
Connect with Our Leadership Team
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