Staff
UDNF Team
Michele Herndon | she/her
Interim Director of Operations
Michele Herndon, DNP, RN, is the Interim Director of Operations for the UDNF. For the past two decades, she has served as a pediatric nurse, leader, and manager in an academic hospital setting. Michele is also the mother to Mitchell who enrolled in the UDN in 2017 after five years of symptoms. After genetic sequencing and a model organism study using fruit flies, his gene mutation was identified by the UDN. Mitchell died in 2019 from the ultra-rare disease that was ultimately named after him, Mitchell Syndrome. Michele and her family started the Mitchell & Friends Foundation to support families and raise both awareness and money for research into Mitchell Syndrome. Michele lives in St. Louis, MO and recently completed her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Carrie Borrello | she/her
Fundraising and Administrative Coordinator
Carrie Borrello brings a unique blend of experience as an educator, advocate, and
caregiver to her role as Fundraising and Administrative Coordinator at the Undiagnosed
Diseases Network Foundation (UDNF). For over two decades, Carrie served as a
teacher in public schools and as the owner and operator of her own preschool, fostering
a passion for education, community building, and compassionate leadership.
Carrie’s dedication to advocacy stems from her personal experience as a caregiver for
her son, who has been on an eight-year diagnostic journey due to an undiagnosed
demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. This experience has equipped her
with a deep understanding of the complexities and emotional challenges faced by
families navigating rare and undiagnosed conditions, inspiring her commitment to
fostering support, education, and resources for those in need.
At UDNF, Carrie combines her professional expertise and personal passion to build
meaningful relationships with donors and the community, promote awareness, and
advance the foundation’s mission to make diagnosis, research, and treatment
accessible to all. Her work is driven by the belief that connection, empathy, and shared
purpose can empower change and bring hope to families living with undiagnosed and
ultra-rare diseases.
Christin Siscoe | she/her
Patient Navigator
Christin Siscoe, MSN, RN, CPN, a Patient Navigator with the UDNF, has 18 years of nursing experience as a pediatric nurse, educator, and administrator. She has obtained numerous national certifications and awards for her compassionate care, innovative leadership style, and profound advocacy work. Christin also participates in healthcare mission trips to Bonao in the Dominican Republic where she provides free ENT surgeries yearly. She currently resides in Rayville, Louisiana with her sons, Ayden and Cooper, and niece Elaina. Cooper is a UDN patient and attended the DUKE site, where he was given a partial diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis. Cooper and Christin still await his rare autoimmune/autoinflammatory diagnosis. Through Christin’s involvement with the UDN as a PEER Member, she dreamed of the day she could combine her advocacy work and nursing experience into a full-time job. With her recent move to a rural area in Louisiana, she is passionate about making sure all participants are well-served equitably.
Dana Sayer | she/her
Patient Navigator
Meet Dana, your dedicated Patient Navigator at UDNF. With nearly a decade of experience in Law Enforcement, Dana has seamlessly transitioned her passion for serving the community into the healthcare realm. Over the past few years, she has devoted herself to guiding patients through the intricate healthcare system, ensuring a smooth journey throughout their continuum of care. Fluent in Spanish, Dana brings empathy and understanding to her role, ensuring all patients feel heard and supported. Drawing from a deeply personal commitment, Dana has played a pivotal role in helping a dear friend navigate through her own undiagnosed disease over the past decade. This firsthand experience fuels Dana's empathy and understanding, making her not just a navigator but a compassionate advocate for those seeking answers. With Dana by your side, you're not just navigating; you're empowered.
Jennifer Tousseau | she/her
Patient Navigator
Jennifer Tousseau, a UDNF Patient Navigator, has over 10 years of experience as a patient advocate, managing initiatives that help support and improve rare disease patients' diagnostic journeys. Along with guiding patients to gain access to healthcare resources, she has co-authored medical literature and educational resources, supported the organization of major medical conferences, and represented patients in influential medical working groups. Her advocacy work started with her son's diagnosis of a rare autoinflammatory disease at the age of two, which led her to join the Autoinflammatory Alliance Board of Directors. As a patient navigator for the UDNF, she is committed to helping guide, support, and empower undiagnosed and rare disease patients and their families and caregivers facing complex medical challenges.