Meet our staff

Dr. Karen is inspired to be a voice for the voiceless. As a warrior in this battle, she realized how we can feel like we do not have a voice and that no one is listening. It can be quite traumatic!

Several years ago, Dr. Karen made the decision not to return to private practice. She began putting the ideas of an organization on her vision board.

In 2011, Dr. Karen said, “I want to encourage others to fight for their lives and to never give up.” During this time, Dr. Karen didn’t even know if she would be alive the next day, let alone if she would be able to live up to this declaration. However, she had a dream and visualized this dream every single day. She knew that it would be EPIC!

Today, that dream has come into manifestation! Dr. Karen is thrilled and excited to be a voice for those who feel that they do not have a voice! She was once told that visualization is ten times more powerful than willpower! She always had the will to start a nonprofit! The VISION, though, is the reason why she finally gave birth to The EPIC Foundation! She always says that she started The EPIC Foundation “with just a laptop and a dream!”

Dr. Karen is the Executive Producer on the Cushing’s documentary film series: “Battleground Stories: The Indomitable Fight of Cushing’s Warriors”. She felt inspired to use her skills to give back to the community that has given so much to her. She believes in the power of connectedness and is proud to be an advocate! Dr. Karen also has a series of educational videos on YouTube both on her personal channel here: http://www.youtube.com/drnkarenthames and on the foundation’s YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSctRmcwpIf-ohwS8dLiycw?view_as=subscriber

Dr. Karen has also used her platform to increase awareness of Cushing’s disease and to encourage others with her story. She felt fortunate to interview f or CUTV News Radio with Doug Llewelyn (from the People’s Court and Co-Creator of Judge Judy) for their empowered women’s series.

This is the link to the first interview: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/closeupradio/2019/10/23/cutv-news-radio-spotlights-dr-n-karen-thames-psyd-of-the-epic-foundation

This is Dr. Karen’s second interview with Doug Llewelyn: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/closeupradio/2019/12/11/cutv-news-radio-welcomes-back-dr-n-karen-thames-psyd-of-the-epic-foundation

Additionally, Dr. Karen has been named an influencer and recognized by various prestigious organizations. Her Alma mater, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, honored Dr. Karen for her continued advocacy of chronic illness warriors and caregivers in this article: https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/for-our-wellness/from-private-practice-to-advocate-for-the-chronically-ill/

Dr. Karen was acknowledged, by the International Association of Women (IAW) and by their spokesperson Star Jones, as an influencer, which was a high honor: http://business.dailytimesleader.com/dailytimesleader/news/read/38821781/international-association-of-women-recognizes-dr-n-karen-thames-as-a

Dr. Karen is immensely grateful for every opportunity to achieve her vision of helping chronic illness warriors and their loved ones.

Dr. Karen can be reached via e mail at drkarenthames@epictogether.org or phone at 888-862-5554 Ext. 700 Toll Free

Mary Pidgeon is our Director of Advocacy.  She resides in Skaneateles, New York with their youngest daughter, Julianna, who suffers from a host of chronic illnesses.

Mary has been employed in the healthcare care sector for over 30 years. She has many years of experience in leadership roles at local hospitals, Home Care and large health insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and National Government Services, a sub-contractor for CMS. During her tenure, she has honed her skills in all of the non-clinical areas of healthcare. She understands the complex issues patients experience from finding the right doctor to obtaining insurance authorizations and dissecting a bill for services performed. She has expertise mentoring employees, managing large teams and building policies and procedures to ensure operational expectations are satisfied. 

Mary has personal experience as a patient advocate and shares our mission to help those with chronic illness. Since her youngest daughter was a child she has been fighting to understand various symptoms she exhibited. At 6 years old, her daughter Julianna had extreme neck pain that was dismissed as stress. By 6th grade, she had chronic stomach pain and nausea. Fast forward to today, they are challenged with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Hashimotos, MALS and more. Mary’s personal experience with her daughter has opened her heart to knowing that she wants to serve others that battle the healthcare system because of chronic illness. Being part of The EPIC Foundation will give her the platform to do exactly that. 

In her free time, Mary loves to spend time with her family and travel wherever they are. She is an avid Baker and loves to be outdoors. She has faith in God and knows her journey is to serve others and to share joy.

We are so thankful that Mary is a member of our team!

Mary Pidgeon can be reached via e mail at marypidgeon@epictogether.org or phone at 888-862-5554 Ext. 705 Toll Free

Together, We are EPIC!

Lauren completed her Bachelor of Science in Public Health at Northern Illinois University with an emphasis In health promotion and minor in Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences. At NIU, she was the President of NIU Forensics: Speech and debate and advocated at tournaments across the nation about pressing public health topics including chronic pain. As The EPIC Foundation’s fundraising liaison, Lauren will be utilizing her skills from the Public Health curriculum as well as her communication and writing skills to earn funding for EPIC.

Aside from her role as fundraising liaison, she works in Provider Services at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. She also works with the Community Outreach department of Advocate Christ Medical Center in partnership with March4Meg: Step up to Stop Melanoma.

As a chronic pain sufferer, Lauren stumbled upon the EPIC Foundation and our mission stuck with her. She wanted to be part of an organization that focused on empowerment to a community that (from her personal experiences) may sometimes be dismissed or lost in the shuffle. Lauren is looking forward to working with the EPIC Foundation and learning more about herself and others through this journey.

The EPIC Foundation is extremely proud to have Lauren as our Fundraising Liaison! Lauren can be reached via e-mail at lauren@epictogether.org or phone at 888-862-5554 Ext. 724 Toll Free

Together, we are EPIC!

Please learn more about our team member who earned her angel wings here.

Brittany Wisowaty was an intern with The EPIC Foundation as a Junior and Senior at Maine South High School in Park Ridge, IL. At the age of 12, she was diagnosed with several invisible chronic illnesses and was put in intensive treatment. Today Brittany is an advocate for teens and children with chronic illnesses. She not only works with The EPIC Foundation but has her own charity “Brittany’s Blankets” in which she sews blankets and personally delivers gifts to terminally and chronically ill children all over Illinois.

Brittany’s life, although difficult, has never gotten in the way of her goals and aspirations. While in high school, she was voted class sophomore president as well as the student of the month on several occasions. She is deeply committed to becoming a social worker and looks forward to earning first her bachelors and then receiving her MSW. She hopes to one day own an Equine Therapy Treatment facility for adolescents with debilitating mental illnesses. After successfully completing her internship with EPIC in May 2020, Brittany was promoted to a Youth Advocate with the foundation.

Brittany can be reached via email at brittany@epictogether.org or by phone at (888) 862-5554 Ext. 704. Together we are EPIC!

Courtney Thames graduated college this past May (2025) from Augustana College as a Neuroscience and Biology Major. She intends to attend graduate school as her next step. Courtney was a former intern for The EPIC Foundation during her Junior and Senior years at Maine West High School. After graduating high school, Courtney remained an advocate for the organization. Although she does not know firsthand what it’s like to deal with a chronic illness, she has witnessed her mother fight through chronic illnesses, such as Cushing’s and Addison’s disease. This helps her understand some of the struggles of living with these illnesses.

Courtney also understands many of the challenges of being a loved one of a chronically ill patient. She uses this experience to help others who are facing similar obstacles. Due to her experiences of being a child of a chronic illness warrior; Courtney reasoned that surely there were other kids just like her going through similar things and asking that same question: Is there someone out there just like me?

When Courtney found out that she could connect with and help people just like herself through The EPIC foundation, it was obvious to her that she had to join.

Along with volunteering for The EPIC Foundation, Courtney expresses her love of vocal performance by singing with The Augustana Choir, a world-renowned choir that has toured internationally. She also loves watching movies, listening to music and spending time with her family during school breaks.

Courtney can be reached via email at courtney@epictogether.org or by phone at (888) 862-5554 Ext. 717. Together we are EPIC!