Meet The Hello Nurze Team
Introducing the Hello Nurze Board of Directors
Our board is a team that deeply understands the challenges families face without sufficient nursing support. We believe empowering families and nurses through connection can change everything! Meet our team members!
Kathryn Knight - Co-Founder, Executive Director & Medical Mom
Outside of running Hello Nurze, Kathryn is the primary caregiver for her medically complex toddler—the inspiration for Hello Nurze. Prior to becoming a medical mom, Kathryn ran marketing campaigns at companies including Sephora, Vogue, and Coach in NYC and San Francisco.
Kathryn now lives in northern Colorado with her husband and two amazing daughters
Gary Knight - Co-Founder & Medical Dad
Gary is a Product Marketing Lead at a tech company, where he's focused on technology solutions to help small businesses succeed. As a father of a medically complex daughter, he's passionate to bring that same mindset to medical families in dire need of help.
Gary is an avid golfer, skier, and coffee aficionado. He lives in northern Colorado with Kathryn and their two children.
Dr. Brian Jordan, M.D., Ph.D. - Board Member & NICU Doctor
Dr. Jordan is a board certified General Pediatrics and Neonatology doctor working in the NICU at Oregon Health & Science University. He is also the Director of the Advanced Neonatal Mechanical Ventilation program and his areas of expertise include neonatal lung function testing and severe BPD ventilator strategies.
When he’s not in the hospital, Dr. Jordan enjoys spending time traveling with his wife and three children, perfecting recipes in the kitchen, playing guitar, and recording covers of his favorite songs in his home studio.
Marissa Avalos, R.N. - Board Member & Pediatric Home Health Nurse
Marissa Avalos is a Registered Nurse with six years of experience specializing in pediatric home health care. She is passionate about providing compassionate, high-quality care to children and their families, ensuring they receive the best support in the comfort of their homes.
Outside of work, Marissa enjoys quality time with her family and her energetic husky. She stays active through tennis and biking and loves exploring new travel destinations.
Bryan Ashley - Board Member
Bryan is a seasoned software engineer with over a decade of experience in the software and tech space including roles at Weebly, Square and, OpenAI. Bryan brings an incredible technical expertise to the Board and is excited to help create tools that help families find the care they need.
Bryan lives in San Francisco with his wife and two young kids. In his spare time, Bryan enjoys golfing and exploring the city’s parks with his family.
Sarah Bell - Board Member & Medical Mom
Sarah is a dedicated wife and mother of two children, and the primary caregiver to her child with medical complexities. She holds a master’s degree in psychology and has worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist, and skills coach for adults with disabilities.
Sarah is a passionate advocate for advancing understanding, access, and support for individuals with medical and special needs and their families. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and working on DIY projects.
Interested in joining the team?
Want to join us? Email hello@hellonurze.com to learn more about Volunteer and Board Member opportunities.
Introducing the Hello Nurze Advisory Board
The Hello Nurze Advisory Board exists to provide strategic insight, professional knowledge, and community reach to enhance our impact. We are so grateful to have their expertise, advocacy, and thought partnership to help guide our programming, partnerships, and sustainability. Meet our incredible advisory team!
Dr. Kristina E. Malik, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Medical Director of KidStreet at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She specializes in the care of children with medical complexity, leads multidisciplinary neurogenetic clinics, and researches preventive care and implementation science to strengthen the medical home.
Dr. Carolyn C. Foster, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Attending Physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. She directs the Health@Home Initiative at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, with research focused on improving access to home- and community-based care for children with medical complexity.
Dr. Zeena Johar, PhD, MBA
Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Frist Cressey Ventures and Co-Founder of Imagine Pediatrics. A healthcare entrepreneur and former Yale World Fellow, she has led ventures in the U.S. and India focused on value-based pediatric care, women’s health, and technology-driven primary care for underserved communities.