Jen Lau holds a Masters in Public Health at Western Governors University, and a Bachelor's in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. With over two decades of experience in Business Management and Human Resources, she has worked across various sectors, including Higher Education, Banking, Healthcare, and IT.   In 2011, Jen welcomed her eldest son, who was later diagnosed with biliary atresia. At just nine months old, he received a life-saving liver transplant from a living donor. Jen discovered her calling in advocating for pediatric liver disease and transplantation. She has held leadership roles in several transplant organizations, including the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT) and the Starzl Network. Jen was a member of the OPTN Board of Directors and Expeditious Task Force. In January 2022, she co-founded BARE Inc. Jen is a Research Project Manager in Transplant Surgery at NYU Langone Health, and resides in the western suburbs of Chicago, IL, with her husband and their two children.

Maria Bell holds a B.A. from Florida State University and an M.A. in Theoretical Linguistics from the University of Iowa. As a former linguist for the United States government, Maria's work and research supported defense, federal law enforcement, and intelligence community efforts across a broad spectrum of operations for multiple federal agencies. Since stepping away from this field, Maria has devoted her time to home education and research in classical methods of learning and instruction, which have been featured in online and print publications and podcasts. In 2021, Maria and her husband Ryan welcomed their fourth child. He was diagnosed with biliary atresia soon after birth, and at 22 months old, he received a life-saving liver transplant through living donation from an anonymous donor. Maria became active in advocacy work for pediatric liver disease in the months leading to her son's transplant and continues this work today. She brings this experience and her background in research and liaising to BARE to support strategy and policy initiatives and living donor awareness and education. Maria resides in the Washington, DC metro area with her husband and their four children.

Sara Clark, an accomplished nurse with over a decade of experience in the nursing field, achieved a significant milestone in her educational journey by graduating from Tarleton State University, located in Stephenville, Texas, in 2010. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, a foundation that has supported her diverse and impactful career in healthcare. Recently, Sara has embarked on a new professional path, assuming the role of a Pediatric Transplant Coordinator. This transition not only marks a significant career development but also holds deep personal significance for her. Sara's dedication and enthusiasm for her new role are deeply rooted in her personal life experiences, particularly as her daughter, Ashton, who was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia, successfully underwent a liver transplant in May 2021. This profound personal connection to her daughter's medical journey has fueled Sara's passion and commitment to her role, where she leverages her extensive nursing expertise to make a meaningful difference in the lives of pediatric transplant patients and their families.

Katie Sclafani currently serves as the dedicated social worker for the Pediatric Hepatology & Liver Transplant team at NYU Langone in Manhattan, providing vital psychosocial support to children and families throughout their medical journey. Katie earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College and began her career at Boston Children’s Hospital as part of the Emergency Psychiatry Service, where she honed her skills in crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. Since then, she has broadened her clinical experience across multiple medical specialties in New York City hospitals, including adult internal medicine, general surgery, critical care cardiology, and LVAD/Heart Transplant. Certified as a Clinical Transplant Social Worker and in Palliative and End-of-Life Care, Katie combines her specialized skills with a heartfelt commitment to advocacy. She strives to meet the unique psychosocial needs of each patient and family, ensuring they feel heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way. When she’s not working, Katie enjoys life in NYC with her husband, Drew, and their beloved dog, Cooper.

Jordan Sarbaugh brings over a decade of business experience to our organization, having held leadership positions in the logistics/supply chain and real estate/property management industries. She excels in implementing operational best practices, maintaining key performance metrics, and ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations. Jordan's expertise extends to project management, business process optimization, and employee development. After her son was diagnosed with biliary atresia and underwent a liver transplant at the age of nine months, Jordan channeled her passion for advocacy. For the past five years, she has actively contributed to various transplant organizations, including the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation (SPLIT). In January 2022, Jordan co-founded BARE Inc. Jordan and her family reside in Denver, CO.

Amanda Janowick, a graduate in Broadcast Journalism from DePaul University, Chicago, IL, boasts an extensive background in video production, encompassing post-production, booking, research, coordination, scheduling, and field/studio work. Her journey took an unexpected turn when her son, Will, was born with biliary atresia, leading to the Kasai procedure and a recent liver transplant from his living donor father. Both are now recovering well at home. Amanda's commitment to her community is evident through her volunteer work, including a successful local school district fundraiser where she established partnerships with local organizations. Amanda and her husband reside in the western suburbs of Chicago, IL, with their two sons.

Natalie Clayshulte is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a background in play therapy and family counseling. She has been focused on raising her two sons since becoming a mother in 2015. When her youngest son was diagnosed with biliary atresia shortly after his birth in 2018, her world shifted toward advocacy. She is passionate about working to increase awareness, improve early diagnosis, and support families navigating liver disease and organ donation. Natalie lives in Colorado with her husband and two sons, where they spend as much time as possible hiking, mountain biking, and soaking up the outdoors. She loves photographing her boys, preserving the joy of their childhood while also sharing the journey of living with pediatric liver disease. Natalie is honored to volunteer with BARE where she can combine her passion for connection and storytelling in support of its mission to advance education, advocacy, and resources for families impacted by biliary atresia.

Kate Mullen, holding a Master's in Social Work from New York University, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Registered Drama Therapist. Kate offers individual counseling to children, adolescents, and adults in community mental health. In the summer, she directs Triple Threat Theater Camp, an art-intensive program that brings Broadway and film professionals together with young performers. ​ In 2016, Kate's son, Finn, was diagnosed with biliary atresia and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. At just eight months old, he received a life-saving liver transplant from a living donor. Kate's passion lies in advocating for organ transplant accessibility, especially utilizing live donors. She aims to shed light on post-transplant living, emphasizing the profound gift it represents and the associated challenges. Kate resides in Windham, NH, with her husband John, son Finn, and their puppy, Ned.

Daniel Owen graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Bioengineering and is currently a medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Between his undergraduate studies and medical school, Daniel briefly worked as a professional sound engineer and held various roles in live theatre, television, and events. In medical school, Daniel is actively involved in adult liver transplant and pediatric critical care research. He also volunteers in a Middle School Healthcare Careers Program and an elementary school tutoring and enrichment program. Additionally, Daniel serves on the medical school admissions committee and the student committee on medical education. Daniel’s personal journey with biliary atresia, having undergone the Kasai procedure in July 2000 and continuing to live with his native liver, has profoundly shaped his career aspirations. Inspired by the care and support he received from doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, child life specialists, and the BA community, Daniel is dedicated to giving back and advocating for others affected by biliary atresia.

Kayla is a certified transplant and pediatric nurse with a BSN from Galen College. She has worked and volunteered in both hospital settings and within the community for a decade. In recent years, she has worked as a bedside nurse and transplant liaison at Children’s Hospital Colorado, specializing in the care of pediatric liver transplant patients. Her time spent working with these patients, their families, and the multidisciplinary healthcare teams dedicated to pediatric liver disease has had a profound impact on her. This exposure led her to become a non-directed living liver donor, further deepening her personal and professional commitment to this cause. She is now a transplant nurse at the University of Colorado Hospital, where she works with adult transplant patients and living donors. Kayla aims to utilize her passion and experience to drive meaningful change for children and families affected by biliary atresia through collaboration, research, education, and advocacy.