Leadership team

Julie Stankiewicz is the Founder and President of CARE for People with Chronic and Invisible Illnesses. 

Julie earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Wesleyan University, where she achieved the distinction of Phi Beta Kappa, High Honors in the Department of Psychology, and the Walkley Prize for Outstanding Original Research. Julie then earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at the University of Hartford. She has achieved credits toward a second Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, and plans to continue her education in the future. Julie was at the very top of her class in both of her graduate school programs, as well as her undergraduate program. Julie also recently completed a Certificate in Lifestyle and Wellness at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where she learned evidence-based approaches for self-care in regards to nutrition and nutritional supplementation, exercise, sleep, environment, emotional health, and spiritual practices.

As a result of her academic background in psychology, Julie has experience in both research and clinical work. Since the time she formally studied clinical psychology, she has continually been learning about the pursuit of health from functional and integrative perspectives.

Prior to founding CARE, Julie worked as an advocate for animal welfare and environmental conservation for over a decade, where she contributed to and benefited multiple prominent non-profit organizations. Julie served as a Humane Policy Volunteer Leader for the Humane Society of the United States, where she promoted local and federal legislation to protect animal welfare. Julie was a featured speaker on a variety of animal welfare issues and published numerous articles and editorials related to animal welfare and environmental conservation. Directly prior to her work in legislative advocacy, Julie provided hands-on animal care, managed adoptions for companion animals, and directed and created content for a major educational project regarding the harmful effects of large-scale animal agriculture. Julie has an ongoing passion for helping animals and the environment, and believes that human health is inextricably linked to the well-being of all creatures and the Earth.

For many years, Julie has personally experienced chronic and invisible illnesses as well as the prejudices from others that often accompany such conditions. In founding CARE for People with Chronic and Invisible Illnesses, Julie intends to use her advocacy and research skills, as well as her knowledge of nutrition, holistic health, and psychology, to make life better for people with chronic and invisible illnesses.

Dr. Mansi completed her Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree, summa cum laude, at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. She practices as a functional and holistic medicine practitioner, specializing in chronic disease, mental health, and autoimmune diseases. Dr. Mansi wholeheartedly believes in finding the root cause of disease instead of treating the symptoms. She helps her clients discover the body’s innate capacity to heal, using the wisdom of ancient practices of medicine, combined with modern-day research and technology. Her treatment model is personalized to treat the whole person - the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual realms of the body.  Modalities she uses include: energy healing, botanical medicine, dietary supplementation, clinical nutrition, breath work, hydrotherapy, dance/movement therapy, and lifestyle modifications. 

Dr. Mansi is also a certified YogaBody breath coach, energy healer, nutrition therapist, and professional classical Indian dancer. She loves experimenting in the kitchen, motivational writing, and getting lost in nature’s meditations. 

Dr. Mansi was inspired to get involved with CARE because of her own experience in navigating invisible, rare, and chronic illnesses since her childhood. It wasn’t until she went to medical school and advocated for herself that she finally got the correct diagnoses and was able to treat herself using naturopathic medicine. She understands how challenging and frustrating it is for the medical community to constantly say “you’re fine,” when the body says otherwise. She also recognizes the impact of chronic illness on family and friends, and how this can be an added challenge. 

What Dr. Mansi brings to CARE is her holistic medical expertise, mind-body therapeutics, and her passion to offer support and advocate for those suffering from chronic and invisible illnesses. She envisions CARE to be a platform for education, community, and healing - bringing light and hope to those suffering in the dark.

 Lauren is a seasoned leader in employee experience and a lifelong advocate for health equity, driven by both personal experience and professional purpose. With over 15 years in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, she designs strategies that bring humanity into the workplace—elevating engagement, well-being, inclusion, and culture.

Currently, Lauren leads the employee engagement strategy for a top oncology company, shaping how 18,000+ employees across 25 countries connect to their work, their teams, and their mission. She partners closely with senior leaders to translate insights into action, helping them foster environments where people feel seen, supported, and inspired.

Lauren holds a Master’s degree in social-organizational psychology from Columbia University, where she deepened her expertise in organizational behavior, leadership, and culture transformation.

Her passion is rooted in lived experience—navigating a life-threatening illness as a child, advocating for her mother through breast cancer, and witnessing how systems often fail the most vulnerable. That’s why she does this work: to empower both the people delivering care and the people receiving it.

As a board member of CARE, Lauren combines her deep expertise with a personal mission: to amplify voices too often unheard and build systems that truly see and support everyone.

Kerry holds two Master's degrees in Human Nutrition and Integrated Health. She is the Founding Partner of a private clinical nutrition and  lifestyle medicine practice based in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  Kerry's care paradigm leverages the principles of personalized lifestyle  medicine and integrative health, ensuring comprehensive whole-person-centered support. Kerry strives to provide compassionate, non-judgmental care that empowers individuals to take control of their health journey. 

Kerry holds several licenses, certifications, and memberships that enrich her practice. She is a  Connecticut State Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, New York State Certified Dietitian Nutritionist, and a Florida Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist.  Additionally, Kerry is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) and a Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine  (DipACLM). She is an active member of several professional organizations such as the Society of Integrative Oncology, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the American Institute of Stress. She holds her RYT-200  certification and completed the training to become a Board Certified Hypnotherapist.

Kerry believes that empathetic listening is crucial when working with individuals with chronic and invisible illnesses, as it fosters trust and understanding between the healthcare provider and the patient, leading to better therapeutic outcomes. Empathetic listening validates the patient's feelings, empowering them to actively participate in their healthcare journey and  promoting a sense of partnership and collaboration in managing their  illness. Kerry believes gentle nutrition can be a powerful tool in supporting individuals with chronic and invisible illnesses by focusing on nourishing the body with nutrient-dense foods while considering their unique health needs and restrictions.  

Dr. Kathleen Cannon is a naturopathic physician. She graduated from the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, a rigorous four-year in-residence naturopathic medical school. Dr. Cannon currently practices in Darien, CT and via telemedicine. She provides support for people experiencing a range of health concerns, especially autoimmune and chronic conditions as well as thyroid and metabolic conditions. 

Dr. Cannon believes deeply in the innate ability to heal within all of us and strives to empower others with tools to improve their health and well-being. She has provided lectures for various groups and community organizations over the years on a variety of topics, including therapeutic nutrition, homeopathy, healthy aging and more. She regularly shares wellness content on social media, her website, and her newsletter.

During medical school, Dr. Cannon worked in various medical clinic settings with patients. In addition to the school's naturopathic clinic, she worked at community clinics in the greater Bridgeport area providing free medical care to patients, including an HIV/AIDS clinic and an addiction recovery facility. Dr. Cannon also worked at the Center of Excellence in Generative Medicine, where she was both taught and trained by Dr. Peter D’Adamo. She also served as a post-graduate resident and teaching assistant at the Center of Excellence. Dr. Cannon has completed several advanced trainings, including studies in Biotherapeutic Drainage and cranio-sacral therapy, the New England School of Homeopathy, and the Essentials of Acute and Chronic Prescribing intensive course in Montreal.

Prior to naturopathic medical school, Dr. Cannon completed pre-medical post-baccalaureate studies at Hunter College of the City University of New York. She holds a certification in health coaching from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and is Reiki Level II certified. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Connecticut College, majoring in English and philosophy, and completed the Business Bridge Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

You can find Dr. Cannon’s website here: DrKathleenCannon.com.