Leah Root
Owner, RevSight

  • Leah is Founder & CEO of RevSight. She has spent her career growing revenue for brands by building strong partnerships through in-depth research and analysis paired with deep relationships and insights.

    Leah’s roles within ad agencies & media companies inform a unique approach to help brands build powerful relationships that drive their business goals.

    Leah’s expertise in strategic planning, marketing, digital media, communications, experiential, and sales have made her a trusted advisor to multiple Fortune 500 companies.

    Her career includes several leadership positions working with and for publishing brands and blue-chip companies including Time, People, Fortune, Procter & Gamble, Delta, US ARMY, State Farm, Walmart, Union Pacific, SC Johnson, Microsoft, and United.

    Leah is very active in her community and has been on the Wicker Park Committee board for 12 years, serving 2 years as President. She was honored as a Leader in 1st Ward Chicago by the Alderman and has led many community events & initiatives.

    “I’ve dealt with health issues for myself and immediate family that have left me utterly dismayed with our current system. It’s complicated, confusing and there are contradictions everywhere you turn. Being a mother, wife, and caregiver for parents, I’ve long thought that there needs to be a ‘healthcare quarterback’ that can help you navigate the complicated web of health and wellness. There is nothing more valuable & precious than your health and I feel passionate that there needs to be a better way to help empower people to live their most fulfilling life. I’m inspired that Healthspan Navigators will chart a new course and bring confidence and clarity to help people live their best lives longer!”

Brian Root
VP, Vertical Bridge

  • Brian Root is Vice President at Vertical Bridge, the largest private owner of wireless infrastructure in the U.S. He leads sales & leasing and oversees emerging technologies. Mr. Root has 30 years of experience leading sales, business development, operations, and consulting across a broad list of high growth companies. He has been involved with 6 start-up organizations representing over $1 billion in value created. Mr. Root holds a degree in Finance from Ball State University.

    “I helped start HealthSpan Navigators for two reasons. First, I have a personal connection, as a caregiver over the past 30 years for my mother who struggles with multiple sclerosis. Many times our family has been overwhelmed and unsure we were making the best choices. We found no trusted advisors and felt alone in this journey. Secondly, lead by CEO, Cheri McEssy, we are committed and empowered to hiring the best, most trusted professionals dedicated to servicing a select group of members, There is nothing like this in the marketplace and we can make a difference one member at a time.”

Steven DeAngeles MD
Owner, Concierge Home Integrative Care; Medical Director, Transformational Medicine

  • Dr. Steven J. DeAngeles has been in private practice since 1993. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University in 1992 and then served as Chief Medical resident for the 1992–1993 academic year. Following his chief residency year, he held a major teaching position at Northwestern as Associate Firm Chief from 1993–1998. He has won numerous teaching awards, including the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

    After building one of the largest traditional practices in the city of Chicago, he transitioned into a concierge model. Dr. DeAngeles was a pioneer in the concierge concept, and in fact was the first physician at Northwestern and in Illinois to transition to this model in the early 2000s. Throughout the years, he has always provided 20-30% of his patient care for free for those unable to afford care. Additionally, prior to the hospitalist system, he volunteered weekly to take patients admitted through the Emergency Room who had no insurance coverage on a pro bono basis.

    Dr. DeAngeles continues to teach at Northwestern and has previously held teaching positions at Rush Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab).

    Dr. DeAngeles in the cofounder of CHIC, which is a premier home care agency in Chicago. He is also the founder/owner of Innovative Technology Advisors and currently holds five USA patents; four of which are in the renewable energy sector.

    His interests include environmental issues, healthcare and education. Dr. DeAngeles is married, has three daughters and four grandchildren.

Dr. Janet Krejci PhD, RN, NEA
Emeritus Dean and Professor

  • Dr. Janet Wessel Krejci recently retired from Marquette University College of Nursing, where she served as Dean and Professor, now emeritus. She is currently serving as a consultant for different universities related to higher education. From 2009 through December 2016, she served at Illinois State University first as Dean of the Mennonite College of Nursing and then as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Illinois State University, now emeritus. From 1988 through 2009 Janet served at Marquette University College of Nursing including, Associate Dean, Graduate Option Coordinator, Honors Advisor and several faculty roles. She was selected as an American Council on Education Leadership Fellowship in 2007, where she spent the academic year hosted by Arizona State University. She was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Executive Fellow for the 2008-2011cohort. She served as Chair of the Advocate BroMenn Governing Council, the chair of the Illinois Association of Colleges of Nursing and was appointed by the Governor of Illinois to the Advisory Board for the Illinois Center for Nursing from 2012-2016.

    Locally, Dr. Krejci serves on the Community Board for Advocate Aurora Health Care, the Telehealth Accelerator Advisory Board at Marquette University and the Advocate Aurora Research Institute Board. Janet has served as faculty on several different Leadership Development Fellowships including the Center for Nursing Leadership, University of South Carolina and the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders Fellowship program. She is married to Stephen and has two sons, Kevin and John, as well as four grandchildren.

    “Navigating the health care system has never been more difficult, nor more important. I am thrilled with the potential of Healthspan Navigators, because every person interacting with the healthcare system will benefit from having the wisdom of those who can help identify the right questions to ask, interpret tests, understand the impact of different medications, procedures and treatments, which will all lead to the best decisions for each individual. The complexity of the health care system with all the different specialists, and emerging modalities means there is more hope on the horizon, if one can find help coordinating and navigating this landscape to find the right individualized path.”