officers
Mark Egelston - Interim Treasurer
Mark Egelston - Interim Treasurer
Mark Egelston - Interim Treasurer
Mark Egelston is a stroke survivor of 30 years.
He joined SSEEO in 2012 to help others navigate the stroke journey. He shares his story monthly to new stroke patients and families at local hospitals and stroke support groups.
He is a banker by day and he oversees and leads volunteer teams for SSEEO’s Stroke Survivor2Survivor (SS2S) telephone peer support program.
Christine Somberg - Secretary
Mark Egelston - Interim Treasurer
Mark Egelston - Interim Treasurer
Christine Somberg is an advanced practice registered nurse working as a Director of Operations and Professional Development at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
As part of her role, she oversees the Wood-Prince Stroke Program at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital which sponsors SSEEO and stroke survivorship initiatives
Christine Somberg is an advanced practice registered nurse working as a Director of Operations and Professional Development at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.
As part of her role, she oversees the Wood-Prince Stroke Program at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital which sponsors SSEEO and stroke survivorship initiatives. Christine has served as a nurse for over 30 years and is passionate about helping patients within the hospital and the community.
Christine has three grown daughters that are her pride and joy. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and biking with family when she is not working.
board
Jim Geminer
Christina Miller
Christina Miller
Jim has been a stroke survivor since 2011 and had open heart surgery in 2015. He joined SSEEO in 2016 leading the Stroke Survivor 2 Survivor (SS2S) telephone peer support calls at Advocate Sherman Hospital. Through his work with this program, he advocated and now leads the Sherman stroke support group. In 2018, Jim was named Volunteer of the Year for his work with stroke patients. He credits his wife and daughter with encouraging him to work hard during rehabilitation and become a volunteer after his stroke.
Prior to his stroke, he was very successful in marketing and sales. Jim walks daily for exercise and after 45
years, remains a member of his golf league..
Christina Miller
Christina Miller
Christina Miller
Christina is the proud daughter of a stroke survivor. In the summer of 2009, Christina’s father suffered two consecutive strokes while undergoing general anesthetic for an unrelated surgical procedure.
After returning to her full time job as an attorney, Christina saw an opportunity to assist other stroke survivors and caregivers in volunteering to give pro bono legal advice to Stroke Survivors Empowering Each Other (SSEEO) as it transitioned from a small grass-roots charity to a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
Christina moved to Seattle, where she resides with her husband and children. Together they enjoy running, hiking, wine tasting and seeking out great BBQ.
Charu Nagar, MD
Christina Miller
Charu Nagar, MD
Dr. Nagar earned her Medical degree from JSS Medical College, Mysore University in India in 1991. She completed residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago and her Neuromuscular fellowship at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Nagar is a Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation Neurologist who works primarily at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. She also serves in a teaching appointment for the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Nagar has been featured in the following articles “Relief for Patients with Neurological Problems” and “The Picture of Stroke Survival”.
staff
Christine Winiecki
Christine Winiecki
Christine Winiecki
Christine has been with SSEEO since 2007, first as a part-time Coordinator, in 2010 as Manager and then 2015 as Director. In this role, Christine is responsible for program development, volunteer management, fundraising, communications and support. Prior to working for SSEEO, Christine worked as the Health Initiatives Director for the American Heart Association. She collaborated with hospitals, health departments and other businesses to coordinate and implement community-wide strategies, programs and services. Her role also included assisting hospitals to become Primary Stroke Centers.
Laurie Illes
Christine Winiecki
Christine Winiecki
Laurie has been a part of SSEEO's accounting and finance function since 2010. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with a degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting.
Laurie has been actively working in the non-profit community for the last twenty years. Her prior experience includes social service agencies, theatre and condo/co-op associations.
Laurie is currently employed full-time with a public accounting firm in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Nicole Sullivan
Christine Winiecki
Nicole Sullivan
Nicole joined SSEEO in early 2020 when she redesigned the website. She is now the Communications Coordinator while also maintaining the website.
Nicole graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Computer Science and spent 15 years working in Corporate IT as a Project Manager.
She now stays home to care for her youngest son while also enjoying time with her other two children and husband.