Felicitie Daftuar, MBA - Founder

Felicitie is Founder and Executive Director of the Lipedema Foundation, a US not-for-profit founded in 2015 that has awarded $12m to 58 clinical, translational and basic science projects. Felicitie is the past President of a Lipedema patient support group, the Fat Disorders Research Society (FDRS, www.fatdisorders.org) from 2013-2015, and drove its resurrection. She launched its YouTube channel with over 1.2m video views, its extensive mail list and Facebook pages, and helped establish annual conferences.

She received her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth Graduate School of Business in 2009. Prior to getting her MBA, she worked as a software engineer and large project / program manager including a short-term assignment in Krakow, Poland. Her undergraduate degree is a BS in Computer Science from the University of Arizona in 2000.

Felicitie had Lipedema symptoms occur at 4 weeks postpartum after her second child was born and has successfully managed the Lipedema symptoms through only nutritious eating, exercise, caffeine and natural hormonal fluctuations. She credits nutritious eating, Pilates, and her three girls with keeping the Lipedema fatigue in check.

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Jonathan Kartt - Chief Executive Officer

Jonathan is Chief Executive Officer of the Lipedema Foundation. He brings to the role nearly two decades of leadership and cross-functional experience in philanthropy and the social sector, and a background advising life sciences companies, nonprofits, and foundations on strategy, operations, and management.

Jonathan brings a passion for engaging with patients and the scientific community to grow our understanding of Lipedema, increase awareness, and create possibilities for new diagnostics and treatments.

Before joining the Foundation in 2021, Jonathan led basic biomedical research, chronic pain, and civic engagement programs at the Rita Allen Foundation, a private foundation working at the intersection of science and civic engagement. Previously, at Strategic Decisions Group and the Bridgespan Group, he worked to advise leading organizations as a strategy consultant in the life sciences and social sectors. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Magnum Photography Foundation, and studied at Dartmouth College and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna, Italy and Washington, D.C.

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Ashok Srinivasan - Chief Science Officer

Ashok is the Chief Science Officer of the Lipedema Foundation. He brings to the role over three decades of research, operations, and executive experience in academic, federal, 501(c)(3) non-profit, and for-profit environments, with a deep commitment to human disease research. An innovative, patient-oriented scientist, Ashok has an extensive history of leadership in basic science, translational/pre-clinical research, and early-phase clinical trials.

Before joining the Foundation in 2023, Ashok was the Chief Scientific Officer of the Autism Impact Fund, a venture capital fund targeting autism, neurodevelopmental disorders, mental health, and associated complex chronic conditions. At AIF, Ashok developed the scientific rationale for the investment thesis. He provided scientific due diligence and expert advisory, leading to investment in eleven companies across biotech, therapeutic intervention, and digital, tech-enabled services.

Educated at the University of Madras, India, and the University of Cambridge, England, Ashok holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, a staff scientist at the NIH, and held faculty positions at the University of Pittsburgh. As the Translational Research Scientist for NSABP Foundation/NRG Pittsburgh, Ashok served as a molecular genetics/genomics expert in developing scientific rationales for 10+ clinical trials supporting therapeutic advancements for breast and colorectal cancer. His technical expertise extends across molecular biology, genetics, virology, genomics, genome sequencing, and computational analyses applied to model organisms and humans.

At the Lipedema Foundation, Ashok seeks to translate notions of precision medicine from oncology, where it is most advanced, to lipedema, which currently lacks biomarkers, model systems, and a unifying framework that would provide a point of entry for research aimed at scientific understanding that might lead to effective therapeutics.

Ashok is a scientific advisor to AIF, non-profit foundations, and an accelerator. He also serves on the Board of Directors of AIF portfolio companies.

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Erin Clark - Project Manager

Erin is the Project Manager for Lipedema Foundation. She was born, raised and currently lives  in Chicago and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Political Science from Illinois State University. She previously worked for a bootstrapped financial technology startup where she helped to build operations, processes, and culture from scratch, and is excited to bring those skills and experiences to help the Lipedema Foundation advance its mission. 

A lifelong learner and chronic disease patient, Erin is thrilled to join the philanthropy and women’s health research fields. Outside of work, Erin loves to travel, volunteer, and watch her 2.5 year old son experience the world. 

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Kasi Grosvenor, MBA - Project Manager

Kasi is a Project Manager at the Lipedema Foundation, bringing over more than two decades of expertise in Project Management, Communications, and Human Resources from a successful career with a Fortune 500 FinTech company. She earned her MBA in Business Administration from Capella University.  

As a patient living with Lipedema and Hereditary Alpha Tryptasemia (HaT), Kasi is passionate about amplifying the patient's voice to raise awareness about Lipedema and its overlap with comorbid conditions. Her lived experience in navigating her own health challenges fuels her commitment to advocacy, research, and outreach to other patients and medical professionals. Residing in Mechanicsville, Virginia, Kasi enjoys gardening, cooking, and visiting the Outer Banks with her husband and two daughters.

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Laura Harmacek, PhD - Program Officer for Scientific Programs

Dr. Laura Harmacek is the Program Officer for Scientific Programs. She comes to the Lipedema Foundation with over 15 years of molecular biology experience and 9 years project management experience. She is passionate about scientific communication and skilled at scientific collaborations. Laura is excited about disease research and bringing her collaborative nature to the Lipedema Foundation. Her experiences range from biomarker discovery to clinical trials management. She earned her PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and continued to National Jewish Health researching climate, epigenetics, and the interaction with the immune system.

She resides in Colorado and enjoys opera and spending time with her family.

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Stacey Heil, MS, MBA - Associate Director, Biobanking and Accrual

Stacey Heil is the Associate Director of Biobanking and Accrual at the Lipedema Foundation, bringing extensive expertise in biorepository management and operations. Stacey has successfully advanced a variety of biorepository programs, combining her in-depth scientific knowledge with a strategic understanding of the biobanking business. Stacey holds both a Master of Science in Biotechnology Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland, equipping her with a unique skill set to drive innovation in the biobanking field.

Outside of her professional achievements, Stacey is a passionate volunteer in animal rescue and works to support efforts that promote positive change in the world. Known for her enthusiastic attitude, she fosters an environment of collaboration and continuous improvement, inspiring those around her to strive for excellence.

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Kiara Hines - Administrative Assistant

Kiara Hines is the administrative assistant at The Lipedema Foundation. Originally from North Carolina, Kiara moved to New York City in 2021 for a change of pace. She has worked in healthcare administration for the past 5 years, formally working in the mental health sector. Kiara is deeply passionate about all things physical and mental health. 

Kiara has a Bachelors in Fine Arts from East Carolina University. When not at the office you can find Kiara eating yummy foods, belly-laughing with friends, and living in an abundance of gratitude for this beautiful life she has been blessed with.

Courtney Mascio, OT/L, CLT - Professional Education Manager

Courtney Mascio is the Professional Education Manager for the Lipedema Foundation. After receiving her B.S. in Exercise Science from Appalachian State University in 2010, she went on to receive her M.S. in Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in 2014. Shortly after graduating from OT school, Courtney completed the required course to become a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Since then, she has been passionate about serving the Lipedema community through advancing advocacy and creating better awareness surrounding the disease.

Courtney currently lives in North Carolina and enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her basset hounds, cooking new recipes, and getting back up to Boone for ASU football games. 

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Elena Samouhos - Program Associate

Elena Samouhos is the Program Associate for the Lipedema Foundation and currently runs the Patient Registry. She received her Master of Business Accounting from Pace University. Subsequently, she gained a decade of experience in public and private accounting in the financial sector in New York. This allowed her to finely tune her skills for detailed work and find meaning in numbers. With strong connections to the Lipedema community, Elena deeply cares about each patient's experience. She leverages her analytical skills to contribute to the advancement of Lipedema research.  Elena, known as a “jack of all trades” among her friends and colleagues, never hesitates to dive deep into any project.

Outside of the Foundation, Elena pursues many passions including travel, substitute teaching in her local public school system, fitness, baking, and actively enriching her four children’s lives. 

Jaime Soderberg - Operations Manager

Jaime is the Office Manager for the Lipedema Foundation. Before joining the LF team in 2021, Jaime's professional experiences include working in Healthcare in a high volume Emergency Department and Higher Education in both Disability Services and Institutional Advancement.

Jaime received her B.A. in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. In 2002, she initiated the first thyroid cancer support group in the State of Connecticut. Also living with Lipedema, Jaime is passionate about health issues and responsible awareness.

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