Why we exist, and who's building it.

Dr. Bernadette Gates is a healthcare strategy and operations leader with more than 20 years of experience improving access to care for people with complex medical and social needs. She currently serves as CalAIM Director for the San Francisco Health Network, where she leads cross-sector initiatives that integrate healthcare, behavioral health, housing, justice, and community-based services to improve outcomes for San Francisco's most vulnerable populations. Throughout her career, she has helped secure and manage more than $93 million in public funding, built partnerships across healthcare, housing and justice systems, and led initiatives that have expanded access to coordinated, patient-centered care.

Bernadette began her career as a neurologic physical therapist after earning her Master of Science in Physical Therapy from Boston University. She later completed her Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency through the University of Southern California and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Southern California. She became a Board-Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist, Lymphedema Certified, and provided direct patient care and management across acute care, skilled nursing facility, outpatient, and county jail systems for many years. Bernadette continues to be passionate about serving people living with complex medical conditions and disabilities.

In addition to her professional work, Bernadette leads fundraising events for Oligo Nation, helping raise more than $140,000 to accelerate research for oligodendroglioma, a rare brain cancer. She also previously volunteered as a yoga and mindfulness instructor in the San Francisco County Jails, bringing trauma-informed wellness practices to individuals experiencing incarceration.

Bernadette was inspired to join The Transcend Project because she believes that high-quality rehabilitation and wellness services should be accessible to everyone. She is passionate about creating pathways for people with complex medical conditions and disabilities to achieve their personal goals and improve their quality of life.

That belief became deeply personal when her brother was diagnosed with a brain tumor. As a care partner, she experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating a complex healthcare system and recognized how access to specialized expertise and coordinated care can profoundly impact outcomes. She is passionate about helping ensure others have the resources, guidance, and support they need to receive the highest quality care possible.

As a founding board member and Chair, Bernadette brings expertise in healthcare strategy, clinical operations, quality improvement, cross-sector collaboration, and care navigation, along with the lived experience of supporting a loved one through a life-changing diagnosis. She is committed to helping build sustainable systems that remove barriers to care and empower every individual to reach their fullest potential.

Frances brings 21 years of experience in the medical field to her role as Treasurer on the board of The Transcend Project, having built her career from the ground up, starting in insurance verification before advancing into medical billing, and later serving as an office manager before her current position as Team Lead Billing Specialist. She holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing additional coding credentials through the AAPC to deepen her technical expertise in medical billing and reimbursement.

Having spent over two decades navigating the insurance and billing systems that too often determine whether patients can access the care they need, she has seen firsthand how financial barriers keep people with neurologic conditions and disabilities from receiving life-changing rehabilitation and wellness services. She believes Northern Colorado needs The Transcend Project because no one should be denied specialized care simply because they cannot pay; a gap she has witnessed too many families fall into over her career.

The organization's mission, to provide rehabilitation, adaptive fitness, and wellness “because every body deserves to rise,” resonated with her deeply, affirming that dignity and access to care should never be conditional. As the Treasurer, she brings a rare combination of hands-on billing and insurance expertise, operational leadership, and financial strategy to ensure The Transcend Project can build a sustainable model that keeps its promise of care regardless of ability to pay.

Anna Lee received her Bachelor's Degree in Biology from University of California, San Diego in 2010 and her Masters in Kinesiology with emphasis in Exercise Physiology from San Francisco State University in 2016. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has over 10 years of experience as a fitness trainer and athletic coach. As a trainer, she gained experience working with people experiencing a wide range of neurological disorders. She also served as a coach for adaptive track and field for the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Through both of these roles, she learned just how critical exercise training is for this population and also how difficult it can be for them to access the higher level of care and expertise that they need to truly thrive.

AnnaLee has witnessed over and over individuals seeking her help as a fitness trainer because their health insurance provider found a reason to stop covering the therapy they needed. AnnaLee believes The Transcend Project will serve the needs of these individuals who need continued treatment and also provide continuity for their patients as they transition from a therapist to a trainer or full independence under the same roof.

As an athlete herself, Anna Lee has a profound appreciation for the benefit sports can have on every aspect of our health and well-being: physical, mental, emotional, and social. She believes the integration of adaptive sports into The Transcend Project will contribute to the health of the people it serves from every angle. When her husband, Andrew, began The Transcend Project, she was very excited to get involved and help make it a reality. The Transcend Project will not only give people access to the care they need to function at their best but also bring the community together in support of one another.

Megan's career has been built around two threads that turn out to be deeply connected: community building and holistic wellness. Over more than 15 years in the nonprofit sector, she's learned both the quirks and the real opportunities that come with this work: leading youth and adult programming with a focus on outdoor recreation, running peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, building relationships with volunteers, donors, and corporate partners, and shaping communications and marketing strategy across social media, web, email, and branding. Through all of it, one belief has only gotten stronger: people thrive inside networks built on purpose and belonging, not in isolation.

That belief is exactly why Megan is a founding board member of The Transcend Project. She sees Fort Collins and Northern Colorado at the edge of something rare: the chance to build an intentional hub where people living with, and touched by, complex neurological conditions and disabilities can access consistent, high-quality care and also just be whole people in a space designed with them in mind. As a mom of two young kids, she knows firsthand how much we all depend on community and connection to actually thrive, not just get by. She's especially energized about bringing together a wide range of participants and partners so that Fort Collins can become a more inclusive, more accessible place, and she's ready to help build it, one relationship at a time.

Leah Goodrich is a dedicated community partner with a heart for service. With over 23 years as an occupational therapist in the public sector, Leah's journey with The Transcend Project began with a shared belief: that every person deserves the opportunity to live their life to their fullest potential.

Professional background: Leah has held a master's degree in occupational therapy since 2003. She currently works for the Poudre School District. Her career has spanned roles in department committee leadership, student council staff sponsor, and as a part-time fitness instructor. Her ability to connect with others, lead with intention and creatively collaborate, have helped in forging community partnerships between the school district in which she works, and the community as a whole. She is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches weekly at Raintree Athletic Club.

Why she serves: Leah's passion for The Transcend Project stems from her own experiences working with students and families in the Fort Collins community and seeing firsthand some of the roadblocks to post-school success within the community. She knows the impact that dedicated nonprofits can have, and she's committed to ensuring The Transcend Project reaches even more individuals in need. Because of her roles within the school and community, and how much she values networking and connectivity with others, Leah brings a wide variety of unique outreach to her role as the board member community liaison for Transcend.

Personal touch: When she's not advocating for The Transcend Project, you can find Leah spending time with her two teenagers, exploring the beauty of Colorado, or curled up with a good book.

Leah welcomes conversations about how we can better serve our community. Reach out to her at lgoodrich@psdschools.org to connect.

Taylor is currently in her final undergraduate year majoring in Exercise Science at Colorado Mesa University, where she plans to continue her studies in the doctoral physical therapy program. As the youngest member of the board, she brings a fresh, dynamic perspective to the team and leads the development of social media content designed to engage audience members and foster community connection.

“I believe Northern Colorado deeply needs The Transcend Project because far too many people lack adequate access to healthcare,” Taylor shares. “Our organization believes quality healthcare should be accessible to everyone at a reasonable cost. Beyond that, every person deserves to feel their best and receive compassionate, high-quality care from a collaborative holistic team. This mission is special to me because our entire team is genuinely dedicated to the purpose behind the project. Joining Transcend has been an incredible opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals while helping build a team, develop a mission, and create something truly meaningful for our community.”