Meet Our Team
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Founder, President
ALEXA CHRONISTER
Alexa founded Fight Like A Warrior after creating the Cards For Warriors program in 2016. With the goal of creating a community of empowerment and improving the lives of those with chronic health conditions, she developed Fight Like A Warrior as a way to cope with her own health challenges, while giving back to others. She is currently studying public policy and social entrepreneurship, with a focus in health policy and public health. After graduation, Alexa hopes to pursue a career in health policy. When not working, Alexa loves to travel, write, and listen to music!
Contact: alexachr.fightlikawarrior@gmail.com
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Cards For Warriors Director, Advocacy Team Contributor
SARA COHEN
Sara began writing for Cards for Warriors shortly after its formation and has remained involved through the program's growth and development into Fight Like a Warrior. Sara's battle with her own chronic illnesses has opened her eyes to the misunderstanding and underrepresentation of the patient voice in the healthcare industry. From the depths of her illnesses, Sara found her passion and is currently studying for her masters degree in occupational therapy, and working as a research assistant in a program dedicated to training health profession students in the science and art of complex case management. On weekends, Sara can be found at the barn, where she recently began to share her love of horses and with patients in a therapeutic horseback riding program!
Contact: saracoh.fightlikeawarrior@gmail.com
Director of Advocacy
JAELIN PALMER
Jaelin has had CRPS and Trigeminal Neuralgia for nearly 10 years and as a result, has truly come to appreciate the online chronic illness community. Her own experiences, along with her public policy degree and experience in government, is what made her the perfect fit for Fight Like A Warrior's Advocacy Team! When Jaelin is not working for FLAW, you can find her reading a good book, crafting/painting, working on her Instagram account (@jaelinpalmer) or belting to Broadway show tunes with her sister. Feel free to reach out to her anytime if she can help!
Contact: jaelinpal.fightlikeawarrior@gmail.com
Director of Communications
CIENNA DITRI
Cienna joined the Fight Like a Warrior team as the communications manager. She has been a warrior since birth, but received her first diagnosis at age 5. Her doctors knew something more was wrong, which started the medical journey that has led to her being diagnosed with a variety of chronic illnesses including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, migraines, central hypoventilation syndrome, hypokalemic periodic paralysis, and mast cell activation syndrome. Cienna loves sharing her daily life with chronic illnesses and service dogs on social media (@chronicallypersevering) and passionately advocates for these topics and rare diseases nationally. When Cienna is not busy working on social media, she enjoys training service dogs, playing saxophone, traveling, surfing, running her book club (chronically bookish), fashion, and spending time with friends.
Podcast Producer
JAELIN TAYLOR
Jaelin was diagnosed with Chronic Tic Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Major Depression, OSFED, PTSD, and Psoriasis, all before graduating from high school, but none of that stopped her from pursuing a college education and graduating with honors. Using her degrees in Communication Studies and Cinema and Television Arts, Jaelin’s personal goal is to create a variety of inclusive content with relatable characters for everyone on all media platforms. When she’s not working on the Fight Like A Warrior Podcast, you can find Jaelin working on original screenplays, hanging out at Disneyland, and having fun with her sorority sisters.
Ambassador Program Manager
COURTNEY PEST
Courtney has been a warrior ever since she was young. From battling asthma, anaphylactic allergies, and eczema, she went on to fight (and beat!) leukemia as a young teenager. With incredible strength and dedication, she graduated high school on time and pursued post-secondary school, earning 2 degrees, a diploma, and a post-grad certificate! Courtney was then faced with another huge challenge when she was diagnosed with life-altering chronic illnesses that rendered her physically disabled. Courtney's passion to help other warriors and her courage in her own battle has made her an excellent fit to recruit and work with our Fight Like a Warrior Ambassadors! In her spare time, you can find her chronicling her journey on Instagram (@chronically_courtney), trying out the newest makeup looks, and playing the piano or ukulele!
Blog Management
SHANNAN O'HARA-LEVI
Shannan has been a Warrior since age 3 after being diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. She has battled JIA, RA and other related chronic illness for over 30 years. She has a Master’s degree in Social Work and is an active and passionate volunteer and advocate for autoimmune diseases and chronic illnesses both in her community and nationally. She has walked the halls of Capitol Hill countless times and continues to fight for those with Chronic Illness both on a National and State level. Shannan is also a certified yoga instructor and a graduate of the Yoga for Arthritis teacher training program in which she hopes to bring accessible yoga to those with chronic pain and arthritis in her community. In her free time, Shannan enjoys traveling with her husband, reading and getting all the snuggles from her 3 fur-babies. Follow Shannan's journey @ShannieOHL