Meet our Board of Directors
Jill Cichowicz,
President
Jill founded “2 End The Stigma,” to help individuals struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and to fulfill her desire to erase the stigma and educate others on the disease of addiction. Her commitment to this purpose began as a way to honor her twin brother and create a legacy for his name after he died from an accidental overdose in February 2017.
Her participation on the national Purdue Pharma Ad Hoc Victim's Committee is instrumental in helping those affected to move on from the devastation of losing a loved one to a disease that could have been prevented.
Omar
Abubaker
Dr. A. Omar Abubaker earned his DMD, PhD in Head and Neck Anatomy from the School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. He also completed his residency training and a fellowship in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Presbyterian University Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He Joined the Faculty at VCU School of Dentistry and School of Medicine, VCU medical Center 1991 and has been the Chairman since 2002
Dr. Abubaker has become active in education in the area of addiction, the opioid epidemic and pain management since 2017. In 2015, he earned a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies from the International Program in Addiction Studies, which is jointly based in Virginia Commonwealth University, The University of Adelaide, Australia and Kings College London, England.
Eric
Morris
Eric is a nine-year veteran of the US Army where he served as a Paratrooper. Originally from Harlem, New York, Eric moved to Chesterfield in high school and has remained a resident of Chesterfield since that time.
Eric was honorably discharged from the US Army as a Staff Sergeant and has a bachelor’s degree in Project Management. He brings his leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to community service to his work on raising awareness about substance use disorder. Eric currently resides in Midlothian with his wife, April, their three children Lilianna, Eric, and Seraphina, and their two dogs.
Jaime
Puerta
Jaime Puerta is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Puerta & Associates, Inc.; a small Interpreting business that specializes in furnishing Certified Interpreters to Attorneys, Doctors, and Courts working within the Workman’s Compensation field in the State of California. He resides in Santa Clarita, California, with his wife Claudia. Jaime is also the President of V.O.I.D., "Victims Of Illicit Drugs", a California 501C non-profit dedicated to educating parents and children about the dangers of illicit drug use, and also about the dangers that abound on social media platforms. Jaime also sits on the Advisory Board of A.C.C.O. "The Alliance To Counter Crime Online". Jaime became involved in the fight against Fentanyl when his only son Daniel passed away due to Fentanyl Poisoning on April 6, 2020.
Jaime is an avid Harley Davidson enthusiast and rides his motorcycles whenever time permits him to do so.
Anne Moss
Rogers,
Secretary
Anne Moss Rogers is an emotionally naked® TEDx storyteller, 2019 YWCA Pat Asch Fellow for social justice, NAMI Virginia board member, and author of the award-winning book, Diary of a Broken Mind. Despite her family’s best efforts, her 20-year-old son Charles died by suicide on June 5, 2015, after many years of struggle with anxiety, depression, and ultimately addiction. Anne Moss chronicled her family’s tragedy in a newspaper article that went viral and her blog, Emotionally Naked, has been read over a million times.
After learning that one of her articles saved a young woman’s life, Anne Moss sold her digital marketing business and followed her purpose of motivational speaking on the subjects of suicide, substance misuse, coping strategies, and grief. Originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a graduate of the UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in Journalism, she currently lives in Richmond, VA with her husband, Randy. Her surviving son, Richard, works in LA as a screenwriter and filmmaker.
Amanda
White,
Treasurer
Amanda (Mandy) is an analyst at San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) in San Diego, CA where she has held several finance related positions since joining the company in 2011.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA, and a Masters of Business Administration from Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.
Join Us in our fight 2 End the Stigma of Substance Use Disorder
Shrina
Desai
Shrina Desai is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist practicing in the Richmond area.
After graduating college, she decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a physician and attended medical school. She was instantly drawn to the mental health field and has a passion to help others, especially youth. She completed her psychiatry residency and fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Treatment Center for Children. She then stayed in the Richmond area to work in an outpatient practice where she works closely with young adults, children, and their families.
Edward E.
Neiger
Edward E. Neiger is the managing partner of ASK LLP, a national law firm focusing on mass torts and bankruptcy. With an impressive roster of case involvement to his name including Enron, Lehman Brothers, GM, and representing thousands of victims of Boy Scout sexual abuse and over 60,000 victims of Purdue Pharma, Edward has devoted his career to standing up against powerful people and taking an aggressive stance to fight and recover money for victims.
He is passionate about helping children and those suffering from addiction. He is a co-founder of Rides To Recovery, and is also committed to giving back to the community: assisting victims of domestic violence, providing pro bono services to low-income tenants in eviction proceedings, and helping Holocaust survivors recover monetary damages from the German government, including his own grandfather.
Edward is a Brooklyn native and a first-generation college graduate, earning a JD from Fordham University School of Law and an undergraduate degree in finance from Touro College. He lives in New York with his wife and two daughters.
Libbie Roberts
Libbie Roberts is in long term recovery from SUD/OUD. She lived her life in active addiction for over twenty years. At age eleven, her family physician prescribed her narcotic pain relievers to deal with repeat sports injuries. Before she was a teenager she was addicted to narcotics. This addiction grew over the course of time and expanded to include crack cocaine, benzodiazepines, alcohol and heroin. She was a victim of physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse throughout the course of her life. On April 14th of 2018 she tried to die by suicide and when that failed, she checked into rehab.
Recovery has given her more than she ever imagined possible. She was eventually able to mend relationships with her family and build strong connections with them. Currently Libbie works as a Recovery Specialist with Project Recover and uses her free time to advocate for education and resources for people still suffering with SUD.
Sarah
Scarbrough
Dr. Sarah Scarbrough is the founder and director of REAL LIFE, a nonprofit focused on helping individuals overcome barriers to successful community integration post incarceration. Her vision was born out of her work in the Richmond City Justice Center where, prior to founding REAL LIFE, she worked for more than a decade. Her innovative approach and effective solutions has garnered international attention and her work at REAL LIFE continues to expand on that success.
Most recently, Sarah was named a “Hometown Hero” by Allen, Allen, Allen, & Allen and in 2018, she was one of the People of the Year honorees from the Richmond Times Dispatch. She was awarded the Edward Peoples Award for Social Justice from Virginia Commonwealth University, and was named one of the Top 40 under 40 in Richmond, VA. She received her Ph.D. and Master’s from Virginia Commonwealth University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. When not working, Sarah stays busy with her three young children and husband.
Kaylyn
Wood
Kaylyn has spent 6 years working in drug prevention organizations, including the Young Marines and the Drug Enforcement Administration. She led a national drug prevention education program with the Young Marines. During the summer of 2018, she also had the honor of interning at the Executive Office of the President, Office of National Drug Control Policy where she assisted with organizing strategic priorities as well as advancing drug policy internationally and domestically. Recently, she has worked locally in Richmond with Operation Engage, a local, data-driven approach to drug prevention committed to reducing the impact of drugs as well as violence in a community. After her work in Richmond, she still finds ways to keep people connected and engaged in this area.
Kaylyn also serves in the United States Army Reserves as an Engineer Soldier. In her free time, she is an avid runner who has completed multiple marathons in Washington, D.C. She also enjoys spending her time with her husband, daughters, dogs, and Mickey Mouse.