Meet the Team
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Ed is an emergency department nurse, global volunteer, and founder of Ed-Ventures in Missions (EVM). Born in the Peruvian Amazon and once experiencing homelessness, Ed’s early life fuels his deep commitment to uplifting others.
With more than 15 years of nursing experience in rural clinics and level 1 trauma centers, he currently serves as a regional bedside ED nurse for BJC Healthcare. His background in agency nursing, leadership, and charge roles strengthens the medical and humanitarian work EVM carries out.
Ed holds degrees in Nursing and General Studies from Southeast Missouri State University, as well as an associate degree from Shawnee Community College. His service journey began at age 12 with Amazon Promise and has since taken him to Mexico, Liberia, Haiti, the Amazon, and numerous local community initiatives.
He founded EVM to connect people through shared humanity and leads with values rooted in adventure, empathy, generosity, kindness, respect, and resilience.
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Jenn McLaughlin brings a strong mix of business leadership, financial stewardship, and medical experience to her role as Treasurer of Ed-Ventures in Missions. As the owner of Taylor’s Tins, she manages operations and works closely with a CPA to ensure financial integrity—skills she now uses to support EVM’s mission.
Jenn holds a BSN from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and an MSN from the University of South Alabama, where she trained as a Family Nurse Practitioner. With over 15 years in emergency medicine, she brings clinical expertise, sound judgment, and compassion to every project.
After stepping away from clinical work in 2023, Jenn sought a meaningful way to stay connected to healthcare and service. A life-changing 2022 mission trip to remote communities in the Peruvian Amazon reignited her passion for global outreach and aligned deeply with her core values of adventure, empathy, generosity, kindness, respect, and resiliency.
Known for her conservative, accountability-focused financial approach, Jenn prioritizes honest communication, thoughtful planning, and long-term stability. She is a collaborative and dependable member of the EVM leadership team.
Outside of EVM, Jenn is a wife, mom to Henry and Max, and an avid traveler with a goal of visiting every country—36 down so far. She loves exploring new cultures, sampling adventurous foods, and spending time on her lively mini farm of cows, donkeys, goats, chickens, and more.
Jenn is committed to helping EVM expand its global reach while inspiring others to serve with purpose and heart.
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Aaron Dunn is a registered nurse with over a decade of experience and a career that has taken him across the country. A 2014 graduate of Rend Lake College’s nursing program, he brings strong clinical skills and a compassionate approach to his work. Originally from Miami and raised in Wisconsin and Illinois, he graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 2011.
Driven by a love of travel, adventure, and service, Aaron is committed to personal growth and to helping communities in need. His involvement with Ed-Ventures in Missions reflects his desire to live with empathy, purpose, and humanity.
Based in the St. Louis area, Aaron enjoys staying active, exploring new places, and spending time with his wife and their pets. Known for his warm, outgoing personality, he keeps a home that’s always open to friends, family, and neighbors.
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Dr. Jesal Amin brings a blend of high-acuity emergency medicine experience and community-focused care to his role as Vice President and Medical Director of Ed-Ventures in Missions. A graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine, he completed his Emergency Medicine residency at UMKC, honing strong skills in rapid assessment and critical decision-making.
He has worked in both community and academic medical centers nationwide and previously served as an Assistant Professor at St. Luke’s in Houston, teaching residents and medical students through Baylor College of Medicine. His passion for global health has taken him on mission trips to Thailand and Peru, where he’s provided care in resource-limited settings.
Drawn to EVM by the chance to serve in the Peruvian Amazon, Dr. Amin focuses on preparing and supporting clinical teams to deliver safe, compassionate, and effective care. His vision is to help EVM build trusted, sustainable partnerships that expand healthcare access both locally and internationally.
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Rebecca brings a lifelong dedication to service, community empowerment, and mission-driven work to Ed-Ventures in Missions. Her passion began in high school during church-led trips to the Appalachian region and Honduras—experiences that shaped her belief in compassionate, culturally respectful outreach. She also volunteered with organizations supporting vulnerable populations, including United Cerebral Palsy in St. Louis.
In college, Rebecca continued her commitment to youth and community development through the Boys & Girls Club, later stepping into the role of After-School Program Coordinator. There, she gained a deeper understanding of the challenges children and families face and the importance of creating safe, supportive environments.
She went on to build her career in the nonprofit sector as Development Director for the Institute for Family Medicine and La Clínica, a healthcare clinic serving immigrant and refugee families in St. Louis. This work affirmed her conviction that mission-focused efforts—both local and global—can restore dignity, improve health outcomes, and create lasting change for generations.
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From a young age, Steve Heath felt called to support people carrying emotional and spiritual wounds. Raised in a small Catholic school, he embraced reflection, compassion, and the works of mercy—values that shaped his lifelong purpose to walk with others through pain toward healing.
Steve studied psychology and social work, earning a Master’s in Social Work before beginning his career in rehabilitation counseling. He soon found deeper fulfillment in mental health, spending three years in a Rural Health Clinic and 17 years in acute psychiatric care at a state mental hospital. His work there grounded him in humility, resilience, and a profound understanding of human struggle.
After burnout set in, a restorative trip to the Amazon helped him recenter. Though he briefly retired, he returned to private practice working with federal parolees, continuing his commitment to those facing significant challenges.
Now in a more intentional stage of retirement, Steve brings his wisdom, empathy, and clinical insight to Ed-Ventures in Missions—supporting volunteers and the communities they serve. With a quiet, steady presence, he remains dedicated to helping others find peace, strength, and clarity when they need it most.
