Our Team
Victoria Marie Reese
FOUNDER & CEO
Victoria Marie Reese is a renowned expert in patient engagement and advocacy within the healthcare industry. With a stellar reputation as an award-winning entrepreneur, founder, and public speaker, Victoria has made significant contributions to revolutionizing the role of patients in the decision-making process.
Since her own diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 2012, Victoria has tirelessly worked to amplify the patient voice and challenge the existing norms in healthcare. Her deep understanding of the patient experience and her relentless drive to create positive change have earned her widespread recognition and respect.
A proven Community Builder, Victoria is the Founder and CEO of We Are ILL, a 501(c)3 patient advocacy organization with a vision to redefine what "sick" looks like for Black women living with multiple sclerosis.
Victoria's expertise extends across multiple sectors and a diverse range of stakeholders providing invaluable insights and guidance that have helped these organizations navigate patient engagement strategies and improve patient-centered approaches.
As a trusted consultant, she provides expert guidance on patient involvement in publications and research projects. By championing patient involvement in publications, Victoria has played a pivotal role in reshaping how information is presented and shared in the medical community.
As a sought-after public speaker, Victoria captivates audiences with her compelling presentations that shed light on the importance of patient engagement and empowerment. Her thought-provoking talks inspire healthcare professionals, researchers, and decision-makers to reevaluate their practices and embrace patient-centered models of care, further solidifying her position as a leading authority in patient engagement. Her transformative contributions continue to shape the healthcare landscape, empowering patients and reshaping the industry as a whole.
With her unparalleled expertise, dynamic speaking abilities, and unwavering commitment to patient empowerment, Victoria Marie Reese is undeniably an influential figure in the field of patient engagement and advocacy. Her insights and guidance are indispensable for anyone striving to create meaningful change and improve patient outcomes in the healthcare ecosystem.
As a Black woman living with MS, she shows up for her community, aiming to bring more representation to research, advocacy, and education surrounding the chronic disease.
Ashley Ratcliff lundy
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Ashley M. Ratcliff is a business owner, bestselling author, communications professional, invisible illness advocate, and speaker who lives to tell stories in myriad formats.
Ashley joined We Are ILL in May 2022, and has since launched her enamel pin business, Poppy + Monarch. The company offers wearable flair for the chronically chill and their cherished ones, sparking confidence and conversation so you can be your whole self in style.
She began her career in print journalism after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied sociology and professional writing with an editing emphasis. Ashley previously spent nearly six years at Snap Inc., which has brought Snapchat, Spectacles and Pixy to the world.
Ashley co-authored a collection of short stories titled Stories 4 Women, focusing on the beauty and diversity of the woman’s experience. The book earned an honorable mention in the Hollywood Book Festival.
Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in March 2018 ignited Ashley’s passion for supporting and uplifting Black women living with MS and other chronic illnesses. Noticing the dearth of representation of Black women and the lack of information for newly diagnosed patients, Ashley wrote Jesus Year, a self-help memoir that caters to both segments of MS patients.
Publishing Jesus Year — her first solo book — during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of Ashley’s proudest achievements. The book became a bestseller on Amazon in April 2021, and she released the audiobook version, which she narrated, in December 2021 on the anniversary of the print release.