Who We Are

Our Staff

William McKendree

William McKendree, Director

For over 25 years, Bill McKendree has worked to realize a simple notion: That every individual, regardless of their circumstances, can access all of the care they need to live a healthy and productive life.

Since its creation, Bill has been the director of the Pennsylvania Healthcare Benefit Solutions Program. Prior to his work at PHBSP, he was program manager for the Allegheny County APPRISE office – Pennsylvania’s Health Insurance Assistance Program. And before running Allegheny County APPRISE, Bill was director of the Western Pennsylvania Center for Aging Services, helping thousands of Pennsylvania’s seniors access medical, legal, and social services.

In addition to his work at PHBSP, Bill teaches at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy and is preceptor for the School’s Experiential Learning Program. He also teaches classes on health law and health care policy at Penn State University, La Roche University, and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Donna Wolfson

Donna Wolfson is a retired employee benefits paralegal, with nearly 30 years of experience working with retirement benefit plans and welfare benefit plans. A graduate of Penn State University and Duquesne University, she earned the professional designation of Qualified Plan Administrator from the American Association of Pension Professionals and Actuaries.

Donna is co-founder of the Western PA Kidney Support Groups, a non-profit support organization for individuals with kidney disease, dialysis patients, kidney and pancreas transplant recipients, and those waiting for a transplant. The Western PA Kidney Support Groups has worked closely with Bill McKendree and PHBSP since 2013, assisting those patients who are eligible for Medicare and/or Medicaid due to End-Stage Renal Disease.

David McDonald

Dave McDonald’s main claim to fame is that he was a teacher and coach at North Allegheny High School for 38 years before retiring in 2006. While at North Allegheny he served as the English Department’s Chairperson for several years, overseeing his department’s curriculum and instruction. He was also a long-time officer in the teachers’ union and served on the union’s contract negotiating teams.

He currently is president of North Allegheny Retired, a 300+ member organization that provides social and educational activities for its members. After being trained by Dr. McKendree in 2008, Dave runs several Medicare workshop seminars each year for retired and current North Allegheny employees and has assisted Dr. McKendree in a number of community outreach sessions.

Marilyn Howe

Marilyn is a Professor Emeritus at Penn West Clarion University. Prior to her professorship, she was a partner with a management consulting firm that focused on organizational topics for middle managers and CEOs. She is the author and co-author of several publications and has presented at numerous local, regional, and national conferences.

Marilyn’s current interest is the issues that affect older adults. She recently published, Ageism and Age Discrimination in Healthcare and co-authored Age Discrimination. She brings to PHBSP her scholarship and research expertise and appreciates the opportunity to be part of an organization whose primary role is the pursuit of helping others navigate our healthcare system.

Kaitlin Kerr-Heidenreich

Kaitlin is a disabled artist and advocate. She holds degrees in English Literature, Nursing, and Nursing Leadership and is a nurse educator for disability awareness. She is also a published poet and on her better days, Kaitlin focuses on running a theatre company with her husband. Much of her work grows out of the reality of living with a rare chronic pain disorder and the goal of finding meaning in art, advocacy, and connection with others. Kaitlin serves with several organizations working toward equitable healthcare and disability justice, such as the Faith Above My Ability, The United Way’s #IWantToWork Campaign, and the Pennsylvania Health Action Network (PHAN). She also volunteers for PAAR (Pittsburgh Action Against Rape) as a sexual assault counselor.

Jonathan Heidenreich

A graduate from Point Park University, Jonathan is an actor, director, poet, and secondary school educator. He is the founder and Executive Director of Food for Groundlings, a Pittsburgh Shakespearean theatre company. He is an enthusiastic, passionate, and creative individual who is wholly invested in fostering the academic, social, and emotional development of mentees in any arena. Jonathan’s fervor for inspiring the potential of those around him is as unwavering as his capacity for constructing positive relationships and pathways of communication with students, colleagues, and collaborators.

Joy Cao

Joy Cao, Creative Director

Joy Cao is a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy with an interest in clinical work. In addition to being a full-time student, she works as a hospital intern, clinic provider, and PIER mentor, and she holds multiple leadership positions in student organizations such as Silver Scripts, Student College of Clinical Pharmacy (SCCP), and Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). Joy is also very passionate about artistic pursuits. She is a freelance photographer and is the creative director for PHBSP. She hopes to use her skills in digital production and design to increase patient access to healthcare insurance education and counseling services.

Our Interns

School of Pharmacy

University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy

PHBSP partners with the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Students are given the opportunity not only to learn about healthcare benefits in a traditional classroom setting but to apply their knowledge and understanding to actual client consultations. Throughout the school year, select students are invited to continue working with PHBSP via the School of Pharmacy Internship Program. Students work alongside Dr. McKendree, to create a database for informational podcasts and Zoom videos to educate the community on relevant healthcare topics.