Allison Sesso became the President / CEO of Undue Medical Debt, also known as RIP Medical Debt, in January of 2020. Undue Medical Debt is a nonprofit, charitable institution that relieves medical debt across the U.S., providing financial, physical, and emotional relief to people saddled with medical debt. Undue has relieved $40,673,899,474 to date for over 27.26 million people.

Under Allison’s leadership, Undue Medical Debt has expanded its reach by working with a wide range of health care providers to purchase medical debt, working in partnership with states, counties, and cities on local medical debt relief initiatives, developing its capacity to highlight the impact of medical debt on families, and contributing effectively to the larger conversation around the root causes of medical debt. She has become a prominent voice on the topic of medical debt and is frequently interviewed by media outlets, including CBS Sunday Morning, NPR, the New York Times, and others.   

Prior to joining Undue Medical Debt, Allison served as the Executive Director of the Human Services Council of New York (HSC), an association of 170 nonprofits delivering 90% of human services in New York City.  

Under her leadership HSC pioneered the development of nationally recognized tools designed to illuminate risks associated with government contracts, including an RFP rater and government agency grading system. She led negotiations with New York City and State government on behalf of the sector and successfully pushed for over $500 million in investments to address the nonprofit fiscal crisis.  

During her tenure at HSC, Allison also led a commission of experts focused on social determinants of health and value-based-payment structures and published the report, Integrating Health and Human Services: a Blueprint for Partnership and Action, that examines the challenges of operationalizing relationships between health and human services providers. She also served on the New York State Department of Health’s Social Determinants and Community Based Organizations (CBO) Subcommittee helping to formulate recommendations around the integration of CBOs into Medicaid managed care.  

Allison’s work on behalf of the human services sector led City & State to recognize her as a top nonprofit leader in 2018 and 2019, one of the 25 most influential leaders in Manhattan in 2017, and one of New York City’s 100 “Most Responsible” in 2016. She again received the 100 “Most Responsible” award for the second time for her efforts at Undue Medical Debt. She has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2024 and selected for Time Magazine’s 2025 TIME100– an annual list of the most influential people in the world. Most recently she was named as an honoree on The NonProfit Times’ 2025 NPT Power and Influence Top 50 list. Under her leadership, in 2022, Undue Medical Debt received the NYC Imagine award for innovation.  

Ravneeta Consul is the Chief Operating Officer at Undue Medical Debt. She works closely with the senior leadership to provide the management and vision necessary to ensure that the company has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people systems in place to effectively grow the organization and to ensure financial strength and operating efficiency.

Prior to joining Undue Medical Debt, Ravneeta was Director at PwC for over sixteen years. She started work there as a consultant primarily focused on M&A consulting. She went on to hold different roles within the organization such as the lead Director for the Global Financial Services Innovation Center. Her last role was as the Operations Director for Products and Technology team. This group focused on developing products and technology to support the services that the firm delivered to the clients.

She has a BA in Psychology from Utkal University, BA in Psychology and Philosophy from Oxford University (attended as a Rhodes Scholar) and MBA from Yale University.

She is an avid reader, enjoys traveling and cooking comfort foods.

Michael Derbes is the General Counsel at Undue Medical Debt and is responsible for all legal matters pertaining to the organization. He advises the senior leadership on legal issues and negotiates on behalf of the organization in its dealings with hospitals and governments. Before his appointment as General Counsel, he worked at an internationally recognized law firm where he provided extensive pro bono services to Undue Medical Debt. He graduated with honors from Spring Hill College and obtained his law degree from Notre Dame Law School where he graduated magna cum laude. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing, and running.

Emily Dougherty is the Associate Vice President of Analytics at Undue Medical Debt. She drives the internal and external reporting processes, collaborating with teams across the organization to identify new areas for measurement, tracking, and improvement. She continually looks for ways to improve and expedite Undue’s processes for more efficient medical debt erasure. She is an experienced healthcare professional with previous roles in analytics & reporting, client management, market operations, and solutions & program design at both start-up healthcare companies and larger insurance providers, with a focus on the Medicare Advantage space. She earned her undergraduate degrees at Xavier University and her graduate degree in public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Baking, hiking, reading, cheering on her beloved (if not beleaguered) sports teams, and traveling keep her occupied when she’s not on a data deep-dive.  

Blanca Godoi is a dynamic Executive Assistant and Administrative Manager renowned for her passion for event planning and coordination and exceptional organizational and administrative skills. With over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she brings a unique blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and leadership to her role.

Throughout her career, Blanca has earned recognition for her adeptness in developing and implementing strategies to streamline operations, reduce costs, and optimize resources—all while maintaining the highest standards of service for donors and beneficiaries. Her commitment to organizational efficiency and productivity has consistently bolstered the success of programs and initiatives.

With an unwavering commitment to excellence, Blanca embodies resilience, determination, and adaptability in navigating new challenges. She looks forward to continuing her learning journey and contributing to the welfare and well-being of society as a whole.

Tristan Collar is a data professional with experience spanning academic research, state government and the nonprofit sector. His skills include helping teams leverage data to define meaningful metrics, measure success and make informed decisions. He enjoys collaborating across diverse departments within an organization to turn complex information into actionable insights. He received a B.A. in Psychology and an MBA from the University of New Mexico. Outside of work, you can find him immersed in a science fiction book, watching a horror film or diving into one of his many interests—always learning something new.

Michele Masucci is a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Healthcare group. She represents healthcare companies in their transactions and regulatory needs, with extensive experience in physician-hospital joint ventures, alternative delivery systems, value-based care, and mergers and acquisitions. Michele has a particular focus in dermatology, dental, ophthalmology, physical therapy, cardiology, radiology, pharmacy, digital health, and AI. She also served as chair of the firm’s Healthcare group from 2010 to 2016.

As a former in-house counsel at a major hospital system, Michele understands that healthcare is not simply another business but has a unique place in the well-being of our society. She brings a holistic perspective to advising healthcare providers and others in the industry on transactional and regulatory matters. She helps clients navigate the complexities of healthcare transactions, including state regulatory requirements, notice requirements, and antitrust issues. Michele’s expertise extends to guiding healthcare providers through the formation and implementation of new operational models, such as value-based contracting, ACOs, bundled payments, and medical homes.

Michele is known for her ability to identify transaction structures that minimize regulatory risks and address licensure, fraud, and abuse issues. Her comprehensive understanding of both state and federal regulatory environments allows her to provide strategic advice to clients involved in healthcare M&A, ensuring compliance and mitigating potential challenges.

Passionate about using her healthcare industry expertise to help those in need, Michele is a long-time board member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation, supporting initiatives that lift people out of poverty and empower women worldwide. Michele also serves on the board of The Eye-Bank for Sight Restoration, working to raise public awareness about the life-changing impact of eye donations. She hopes her dedication to community service and strategic insights will be instrumental in advancing Undue Medical Debt’s mission to abolish medical debt for millions of people across the country, and to educate about policy changes that could make medical debt a thing of the past in a reformed healthcare system.

Michele received her B.A. from Brown University and J.D. from the University of Virgina Law School.

Jose Penabad is an investment executive and co-founder with more than two decades of experience across credit markets, structured finance, and portfolio management. As Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of HCG Fund Management, he was instrumental in the sourcing, deployment, and management of approximately $6 billion in loan purchases spanning consumer, small business, and specialty lending while pioneering investment in a new class of private credit known today as digital finance. Over this span, he helped build successful loan programs while establishing strong relationships with leading fintech companies including Shopify, Square, LendingClub, Upstart, and Kabbage.

Jose also served as an operator and founder, helping lead the scaling of the firm from inception to a 22-person organization while overseeing investment sourcing, strategy, risk management, investment technology development, and management company finances and operations. His earlier career included roles at Morgan Stanley working on the debt restructuring of Telecom Argentina and the Argentine government following their 2001 defaults, private equity buyouts across healthcare and financial verticals at JP Morgan Partners (today known as CCMP Capital), senior financials analyst at SAB Capital where his research and recommendations contributed to the firm’s meaningful outperformance through the 2008–2009 financial crisis, and healthcare financial operations and venture capital investment at the University of North Carolina Healthcare/Rex.

Jose is driven by a belief that data, technology, and analytics can solve problems others have written off as too complex or intractable. That same conviction extends beyond markets: he is deeply motivated by the potential to use his financial and analytical background to create more equitable outcomes for those with fewer resources. It is that interest that drew him to Undue Medical Debt more than eight years ago, where he now serves as Vice Chairman and head of the Debt Abolishment Committee.

Jose graduated from the University of Miami with a BBA and double major in International Finance and Computer Information Systems, summa cum laude.

Dr. Oxiris Barbot is a physician, public health practitioner and innovative leader at the intersection of public health and healthcare delivery.  Her commitment to social justice is the common thread through her career in advocating for health equity, children’s well-being, and community health.  She is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Senior Fellow for Public Health and Social Justice at The JPB Foundation.

As Health Commissioner for New York City, Dr. Barbot was instrumental in directing the city’s response to the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic by taking science informed actions that flattened the transmission curve and addressed racial inequities.  Dr. Barbot made a priority of communicating with New Yorkers with candor and empathy, providing trustworthy information and a steady hand to lead the city through and out of its darkest days.   While Commissioner she was named to Crain’s New York Business Notable Women in Health Care and City and State New York Health Power 100 and Non-Profit Power 100.

Dr. Barbot was Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, from 2010 to 2014.  She started her medical career providing general pediatric care to poor and uninsured families in Washington DC.  Her career has been shaped and inspired by the dignity and courage of the many patients she’s cared for and communities she has served.

Barbot received her B.A. from Yale University and M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

As one of the founding partners of Major, Lindsey & Africa, Jon Lindsey built the firm into what is today the world’s leading and largest legal search and consulting firm, with offices in 29 cities around the globe and more than 200 consultants. He has repeatedly been included in Lawdragon’s “100 Leading Legal Consultants and Strategists“. Jon earned his law degree from Columbia Law School, where he was managing editor of the Columbia Law Review, and his B.A. with honors in government from Wesleyan University. After clerking for the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, he practiced with Debevoise & Plimpton, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, and as Counsel to New York City’s Planning Commission. Jon is currently on the board of the George Jackson Academy and previously served as a trustee of the Spence School. He is the co-author of the book Managing People in Today’s Law Firm (1995), has written and lectured widely, and has served on the board of editors for American Lawyer’s Law Firm Partnership & Benefits Report.

Elizabeth Marincola is Senior Advisor for Science Communications and Advocacy at the Science for Africa Foundation, which drives scientific research across Africa. Marincola is an international leader in non-profit management, open access publishing, science advocacy, communications, education and public engagement. She was CEO of the open access publisher PLOS, after serving as a long time PLOS board member. She launched AAS Open Research, an innovative scholarly publication. Marincola was President of the Society for Science & the Public, Publisher of Science News magazine, and Executive Director of the American Society for Cell Biology and the Coalition for Life Sciences. She served on the founding boards of PubMed Central and eLife, and on numerous US and EU advisory commissions on open science. She is currently on the board of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Humanitarian Health. She received her bachelors and MBA degrees from Stanford.

Ram Raju, MD, combines his executive leadership experience in health care with a deep commitment to achieving social equity to improve the health of communities in need.

As the former senior vice president and community health investment officer, he evaluated the needs of Northwell Health’s most vulnerable communities, and provided solutions for them by collaborating with community-based organizations. He’s responsible for promoting, sustaining and advancing an environment that supports equity and diversity, and helping the health system eliminate health disparities.

Prior to Northwell, Dr. Raju served as president and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals from January 2014-November 2016. NYC Health + Hospitals has 42,000 employees, 11 acute-care hospitals, five nursing homes, six diagnostic and treatment centers, more than 70 community-based health centers, a large home care agency and one of the region’s largest providers of government-sponsored health insurance, MetroPlus Health Plan.

Dr. Raju also served as CEO for the Cook County Health and Hospitals System in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest public health system, where he improved cash flow by more than $100 million and changed the system’s financial health during his tenure from 2011-2014.

His medical career began at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn and he later served as chief operating officer and medical director at NYC Health + Hospitals’ Coney Island Hospital. In 2006, Dr. Raju became the HHC chief medical officer, corporate chief operating officer and executive vice president. Under his leadership, HHC continued to improve quality, patient safety and health care data transparency.

Dr. Raju served as vice-chair of the Greater New York Hospital Association and currently sits on the boards of numerous city, state and national health care organizations, including the American Hospital Association, the New York Academy of Medicine and the Asian Health Care Leaders Association. Among his numerous awards and accolades, Dr. Raju was selected to Modern Healthcare’s “100 Most-Influential People in Healthcare.” Modern Healthcare also named him one of the “Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare” and one of the “50 Most-Influential Physician Executives in Healthcare.” In 2013, he was named a Business Leader of Color by Chicago United.

Dr. Raju earned a medical diploma and Master of Surgery from Madras Medical College in India. He underwent further training in England, where he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. He later received an MBA from the University of Tennessee and CPE from the American College of Physician Executives.

Dr. Raju currently teaches at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College.

Jeff is a co-founder of HealthCare.com and founder of Pivot Health (acquired by HealthCare.com in Feb. 2018). Following the acquisition, Jeff is President, Insurance Services for HealthCare.com and continues the leadership of the Pivot Health business.

He is a results-oriented leader who has built and grown companies from back-of-envelope ideas to multi-million dollar, profitable and scalable entities with a focus on health insurance and other consumer-centric business models. He is a serial entrepreneur who has started several businesses – four of which have been acquired by publicly traded companies.

Creative thinker who has been a presenter at dozens of national trade conventions. Active marathon runner and member of Seven Continents Club — one of only 200 or so individuals to run a marathon on all seven continents. Cancer survivor, charity activist and motivational speaker.

Previously, Jeff helped create and grow the fully-insured segment at The IHC Group (NYSE:IHC) from $0 to nearly $300 million in revenue in seven years. He led AMIC (NASDAQ:AMIC) to significant direct-to-consumer growth and national recognition.

For the past 25 years, Jonathan has helped launch half a dozen startups in the Seattle area, with companies like Jott, an early mobile speech recognition company that was acquired by Nuance. At Nuance, Jonathan led the research team responsible for building the language models for Apple’s first launch of Siri. Jonathan has also led engineering efforts in the areas of telephony, mobile communications, and call center technology. Most recently he was the vice president of engineering and architecture at Avalara where he led several product engineering teams including the core tax platform and tax content services for 3 years before and 4 years post Avalara’s successful IPO. https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiggs/