Erin Guay, MA
Co-Executive Director
Erin Guay has been with PHLP since 2004. She is an expert on Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, coverage, and services for older adults as well as for adults with disabilities. During her tenure at PHLP, Erin has helped thousands of individuals overcome barriers to getting health care coverage and services through direct service and policy advocacy.
Erin has a Master's degree in Social Administration as well as a certificate in Health Administration and Policy from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and a Bachelor's degree from Gettysburg College.
Erin believes everyone has a right to quality healthcare. She feels fortunate to work with PHLP's clients and be part of PHLP's dedicated staff to help people get the coverage and care they need, improve understanding about the important programs our clients rely on, and advocate for systemic improvements.
Danna Casserly
Co-Executive Director
Danna Casserly has advocated for health care access for lower-income consumers since she began her legal career as a Staff Attorney with PHLP in 2013. Her work has focused on representing children with disabilities in Medicaid appeals involving denials of home health services, and advancing systemic advocacy efforts to improve access to home health services for children with disabilities.
Danna serves on the Board of Directors for AccessMatters, a sexual and reproductive rights organization based in Philadelphia. She earned a J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science and Public and Community Service Studies from Providence College. During law school, she interned in the Public Benefits Unit at Community Legal Services (CLS). She also served as a Research Assistant to Professor MaryBeth Musumeci and worked as a certified legal intern in Villanova Law School's Civil Justice Clinic, where she represented low income clients in a range of civil disputes including public benefits, family law, and civil asset forfeiture. Danna is a recipient of the Walter Lucas Public Interest Fellowship and the Deirdre L. Bailey Leadership Scholarship.
Caroline Rivera
Project Administrator
Caroline Rivera began her career at Philadelphia Legal Assistance (PLA) as a Family Law paralegal. She also worked on PLA's Development and Communications team doing community outreach to connect Philadelphians to legal resources. Caroline is from Philadelphia and graduated from Temple University, where she studied English and Criminal Justice. She is passionate about social justice issues and ensuring people have basic human rights, especially healthcare.
Kyle Fisher
Managing Attorney
Kyle Fisher supervises PHLP’s legal staff and advocates for policy change as legal counsel to Medicaid consumers in public meetings with state officials. Kyle is a former Skadden Fellow and law clerk to the Honorable Joseph Farnan, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. He is a graduate of Haverford College, the University of Exeter, and the University of Michigan Law School.
Kyle believes that healthcare should be distributed according to medical need and not skewed by the pervading influence of wealth.
Amy E. Lowenstein
Director of Policy
Amy Lowenstein works to improve and strengthen Medicaid coverage and services for Pennsylvanians through policy analysis, systems advocacy, and direct representation. Additionally, Amy provides training and support to community-based organizations throughout the state through in-person trainings, webinars, and written health policy updates.
Prior to joining PHLP, Amy practiced law for fourteen years in New York, where she represented health care consumers and people with disabilities through policy advocacy, litigation, and direct services. Amy received her J.D. from Columbia Law School and her B.A. in history from Wesleyan University.
Jessica Osler
Director of Intake
Jessica Osler is the Director of Intake at PHLP. Prior to this role, Jessica served as an Intake Paralegal based in PHLP's Philadelphia office.
Before joining PHLP, she worked as a paralegal at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, helping individuals with serious disabilities qualify for and keep Supplemental Security Income benefits. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Long Island University.
Jessica has Myasthenia Gravis which is a rare neuromuscular disease. As someone with an “invisible disability” she understands the struggles to be seen by the healthcare system and the challenges of navigating it; she believes that everyone has a right to high quality health care.
Katy McKee
Supervising Attorney
Katy McKee is a Supervising Attorney in PHLP’s Pittsburgh office. Prior to coming to PHLP, Katy worked for Neighborhood Legal Services, working with seniors and people with disabilities. She is a past recipient of the ACBA YLD Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, the ACBF Lorraine M. Bittner Public Interest Attorney Award, the ACBF Law Student Pro Bono Award, and the PBF Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award. Katy is a graduate of the College of Wooster and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Katy believes that access to health care is a human right, and wants to ensure that PHLP’s clients are able to access the health care services and supports they need to live their lives to the fullest.
Marissa LaWall
Supervising Attorney
Ms. Lawall received her J.D. from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and minor in psychology from Cedar Crest College. Ms. LaWall is a former PHLP intern, and externed in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Health Care Section. Prior to law school, Ms. LaWall was a legal assistant in a Social Security Disability law office. She received the Monroe E. Trout Legal Medicine Award for Excellence in 2018 and was recognized as a Dickinson Law Miller Center Distinguished Advocate during law school. Ms. LaWall is also among the first to be honored with the Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo Recent Alumna Award from Dickinson Law, an award presented annually to honor a recent graduate who represents exceptional dedication to her job, is a pioneer in her field, and who promotes the encouragement of women in the legal field.
Marissa serves on the Board of Directors for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, an organization dedicated to eliminating domestic and intimate partner abuse in the Lehigh Valley through survivor empowerment, and community education and engagement.
Marissa has dedicated her legal career to public interest work and is committed to giving a legal a voice to individuals who may not otherwise have an opportunity to be heard.
Pamela Silver
Supervising Attorney
Pamela Putnam Silver is a Supervising Attorney at PHLP, based in the Philadelphia office. She began her tenure at PHLP as an Independence Foundation Fellow. Ms. Putnam Silver's work focuses on improving access to Medicaid services for seniors and people with disabilities impacted by Community HealthChoices, Pennsylvania’s managed long-term services and supports program.
Prior to joining to PHLP as a Fellow, Ms. Putnam Silver completed internships with PHLP, the Legal Clinic for the Disabled and Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, where she assisted clients with a wide range of legal issues, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) appeals, Medicaid access, child custody, and landlord-tenant disputes.
She received her J.D. magna cum laude from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and her B.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania.
James "Jake" Lee
Staff Attorney
Jake Lee is a staff attorney in PHLP’s Pittsburgh office. Prior to coming to PHLP, Jake worked for several years at the Juvenile Court Project, representing low-income individuals in the Pittsburgh Area working to reunify families, through Dependency Court. Prior to his work at the Juvenile Court Project, Jake was the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Carol Hanna in Indiana County.
Jake is one of the first recipients of the Gismondi Fellowship Legal Services Award and was published in the Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law & Policy, detailing Pittsburgh’s complex history with coal. He is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Jake believes strongly in advocating for victim rights, especially concerning ongoing health needs and believes that all people, regardless of income level or ability, should have access to stellar physical and mental healthcare.
Megan “Meggie” McCarthy-White
Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow
Meggie is an Independence Foundation Public Interest Law Fellow based in PHLP's Philadelphia office. Her fellowship project focuses on improving access to services for individuals in Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) program and empowering individuals to represent themselves in CHC appeals.
Meggie received her J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and her B.A. and MPA from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to interning with PHLP, Meggie completed internships with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Office of General Counsel and the EEOC Hearings Unit. She was a certified legal intern in Villanova’s Health Law Clinic and president of the Villanova Health Law Society. At Villanova, she received awards for excellence in legal writing, family law, and pro bono service. She was the first Villanova law student to win Epstein Becker Green’s national health law writing competition for her paper, “Access to Courts as Access to Care: Children’s Medicaid Under 42 U.S.C. Section 1983.” Before her legal career, Meggie worked in health policy, advocacy, and government.
Meggie believes all individuals deserve the right to a happy, healthy life regardless of income or resources.
Janice Meinert, MSW
Paralegal
Janice Meinert is a Paralegal in PHLP's Pittsburgh office. She is a master’s level social worker and has been with PHLP since 2000. Janice's expertise focuses on access to behavioral health services for PHLP’s clients. She has authored The Many Doors to Consumer Empowerment and How to Obtain Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol Services in Pennsylvania.
Janice is honored to be a part of the dedicated and compassionate PHLP team and is an avid supporter of quality and accessible health care for all.
Catharine Arranz
Paralegal
Catharine Arranz is a graduate of Gettysburg College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Globalization Studies. Prior to working at PHLP she was a program coordinator and Outreach Navigator for Alianzas de Phoenixville. Additionally, Catharine was the Program Coordinator for the Adams County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and a Legal Orientation Program intern at CAIR Coalition in Washington D.C.
Catharine values a systemically just and equitable healthcare system that works to provide adequate care to every single individual because healthcare is a human right.
Anniyah Shelton
Paralegal
Anniyah Shelton is a paralegal in PHLP's Phildelphia office. She is a first-generation student and a member of the Education Opportunity Fund program. Anniyah graduated in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers-Camden, where she majored in Political Science with a minor in legal studies. Anniyah was in the Political Science honors program where she conducted research on the global impact of the Black Lives Matter movement. She wrote a 30-page a thesis on the movement utilizing social movement theory. In addition, Anniyah has published an article in the Eagleton Political Journal about the Black Lives Matter movement and its impact on COVID-19. Anniyah was a member of the Tri Alpha honor society for first-generation students. She completed the Pre-Legal Institute at Seton Hall Law School, an intensive five-week program on legal writing, legal analysis, oral advocacy, property law, criminal law, health law, and contracts.
Prior to joining PHLP, Anniyah worked as an Americorps VISTA volunteer at Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, where she was a Data Analyst and program coordinator. She helped train citizens on the criminal justice system and accompanied them to arraignments. She also held conversations with citizens about concerns they had with equity in the courts and discussed different reforms that would help courts become more equitable.
Anniyah is passionate about the law and the effects it has on citizens. She believes that everyone should have equal access to healthcare.
Jessica Lippert
Paralegal
Jessica Lippert is a paralegal based out of PHLP's Pittsburgh office. She has over 20 years of experience working with Medicare beneficiaries as a Regional Coordinator with PA MEDI, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Pennsylvania. Jessica has assisted thousands of beneficiaries with complex case resolution, navigating assistance programs as well as understanding plan options that include Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigaps, and Medicare Part D. In addition to working with Medicare beneficiaries, Jessica provided a variety of Medicare-focused training to Area Agency on Aging staff and volunteers as well as a variety of other community organizations. Jessica had experience with a multitude of other Aging Services Programs including Senior Centers, Senior Nutrition Programs, Senior Health and Wellness Programs, Home Delivered Meals, Senior Corps and Senior Community Service Employment Programs.
Jessica, a graduate of Penn State, is excited and honored to join the PHLP team. She believes that everyone should have access to affordable quality heath care regardless of age, income, or geographic location.
Miguel Strunk
Intake Paralegal
Miguel Strunk is an intake paralegal based in PHLP's Philadelphia office. A graduate of Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Miguel received his B.S. in Public Health with a minor in Psychology. Prior to joining PHLP, Miguel worked as a Mental Health Case Manager and Spanish translator aiding families in receiving mental health services under Medicaid. His passion for bettering Public Health has been galvanized through experiences in Global Health, Mental Health, and Maternal Health.
Miguel enjoys camping and hiking. Through his love of the outdoors, he has also become passionate about environmental justice and climate change. As a Public Health advocate, Miguel wants to fix the disparities within the healthcare system to protect underserved communities. He believes everyone has the right to life, liberty, and equitable health care.
Mark Anderson, President
Professor of Law, Temple University Beasley School of Law (Bio)
Sarah Rosenberg, Esq., Vice-President
Regional Compliance Officer, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (LinkedIn)
Michael Campbell, Esq.
Professor of Law, Director of the Interdisciplinary Health Law Clinic, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (Bio)
Abigail Green, Esq.
Cozen O’Connor (Bio | LinkedIn)
Ruth Landsman
Disability Advocate
Susan Michalik, Esq.
MidPenn Legal Services
