Meet the Taasa Team

Clinical Staff

Meet the amazing team at the Taasa Buvunya Clinic.

They work tirelessly every day to provide much needed medical care to mothers, children, and all who enter their doors.

Richard Ntwasi

Head of Operations
Iryn Mwesigwa

Midwife

US Staff

Dr. Theodore Hausler D.O.

Chief of Medicine
Tom Lawton

Vice President
Vito Capuano, MBA

Founder & President
Nikhil Dixit

Treasurer
Cole Gendels

Chief of Fundraising
Caitie Parmelee

Chief of Staff
Rohan Dixit

Vice Treasurer
Brett Plugis

Director of Digital Marketing

Richard Ntwasi

Head of Operations

Ntwasi Richard received a certificate in Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing from Kampala International University, Western Campus and a diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health from International Health Sciences University in Kampala. Before Joining the Taasa team in 2019, Richard spent time volunteering at the Engeye Health Clinic in Ddegeya, Uganda, where he did everything from assisting laboratory technicians to working as a Clinical interpreter for visiting US medical teams. He is very excited to bring his passion for community health to the Mabira Forest Region. Richard loves to be happy and believes his life’s purpose is to make others feel that way as well. “Life is good when I am happy, but it is best when I see others are happy because of me. When a patient comes crying but leaves smiling– that is my happiness!” Away from the clinic, Richard loves to play football (soccer), travel, and visit friends.

Iryn Mwesigwa

Midwife

Irene started her career working at the Biva Maternity Health Clinic Rubaga Road from 2013-2017. She then earned her diploma in midwifery from Fort Portal International Nursing School in November 2017. She joined us at Taasa in 2018. What Irene loves most about her job is being able to help mothers through all stages of pregnancy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. She knew immediately after shadowing her midwife aunt deliver her first baby that bringing life into this world was what she was meant to do.

Dr. Theodore Hausler D.O.

Chief of Medicine

Theodore “Ted” Hausler is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology, and West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. He has traveled extensively, learning medical Spanish in Ecuador, and volunteering in many parts of Africa, South America and Asia. After completing medical school in 2012, Dr. Ted decided to use his knowledge and spent the year volunteering in medical facilities in Africa and South America. Dr. Ted completed his residency in Family Practice at Albany Medical Center in 2016. While in residency he went on a medical trip to Uganda where he worked with Henry. Dr. Ted and Henry stayed in touch and when Henry asked for help starting his own clinic he was more than willing. Together, they teamed up with Vito and the rest of the passionate Taasa team to make it a reality. Dr. Ted works at a family medicine office in Latham, NY with his wife and father. His passion is to travel and provide medical care to the underserved.

Tom Lawton

Vice President

Tom is a law student at the University of Chicago. He graduated from Union College with a BA in Political Science and Classics, and a minor in Economics, in 2017. As Vice-President, Tom is responsible for the internal operations and security of Taasa Health Inc. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordinating with attorneys for the successful incorporation and registration of Taasa Health Inc. as a 501(c)(3) organization, maintaining proper insurance coverage for Taasa Health Inc., and overseeing day to day operations and funding projects of Taasa Health Inc.

Vito Capuano, MBA

Founder & President

Vito started his work in Uganda after being selected as a Minerva Fellow by Union College to travel to the Engeye Health Clinic. Vito worked with Henry while assisting the clinic with administrative duties, pharmacy duties, as well as business expansion for their female empowerment program producing artisan goods. Vito teamed up with Henry and Ted early in 2018 and founded Taasa Health Inc. to collect donations and oversee the development of the clinic. Vito intends to maximize its potential for delivering services in communities that need them most; both in Uganda and throughout the developing world.

Nikhil Dixit

Treasurer

Nikhil works in investor relations at a technology company in San Francisco. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2016 with a BS in Economics, Concentrating in Finance, and minored in History. Nikhil joined the board of Taasa in December 2018 to help serve as an advocate for bringing healthcare and education to the developing world.

Cole Gendels

Chief of Fundraising

Cole is currently a real estate advisor in New York City. He graduated from Union College in 2018 with a BA in Economics. Cole began helping Taasa with fundraising/marketing efforts in 2018 due to his passion for helping those in need. Cole hopes that in the future, Taasa will treat over 15,000 patients. Cole has been an instrumental asset in planning and executing our first two events and looks forward to many more successful events.

Caitie Parmelee

Chief of Staff

Caitie works in higher education administration in Boston. She has a BA in journalism from the University of Connecticut and an MS in Global Studies and International Relations from Northeastern University. Caitie joined the Taasa board in June 2024 after traveling to the Kalungu clinic as part of a volunteer group. She is excited to contribute to the development of the clinic and the expansion of services to the community.

Rohan Dixit

Vice Treasurer

Rohan works at a startup in Boston. He graduated from Boston College in 2020 with a BS in Management with concentrations in Finance and Entrepreneurship. After graduating, Rohan worked in investment banking in New York for three years. Rohan joined the board of Taasa in July 2024 after visiting the clinic in Kibisi in June 2024. Rohan is passionate about improving access to healthcare and education in under-resourced areas.

Brett Plugis

Director of Digital Marketing

Brett brings a over a decade of experience in brand strategy, digital marketing, and internet technologies to the Taasa team.

As a fully remote worker, surfing aficionado, and travel enthusiast, Brett has seen the need for improved healthcare and education throughout the developing world firsthand. When longtime friend and Taasa Founder Vito asked him to help with the organization’s digital strategy, website, and donation platform, Brett was excited to lend his expertise to further Taasa’s mission. Brett has continued to support Taasa’s digital needs –rebranding, switching donation platforms, and ongoing website management and updates – since 2018.