Our Staff at BrightStar Care® Fairfax

Founders of BrightStar Care of Fairfax, Reston, McLean, Arlington, and Alexandria, Virginia.

Alan graduated from the University of Washington Medical School in 1979 and completed his Family Medicine residency in 1983 at the University of California Davis program in Modesto, California. A year later, he completed a Song-Brown Fellowship, and then finished coursework in Family Therapy in 1989. Alan has practiced medicine in California, Kenya, Mexico and, since 1992, in Vienna, Virginia. He is an Associate Clinical Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Department of Family Practice, and recently became a graduate of Leadership Fairfax. Alan is also the founder of DocTalker Family Medicine and Doctor Inc. 

Karen joined BrightStar in 2017 and is responsible for ensuring you receive the scheduled care you request from a caregiver who has the right skills and is a match for your family. She is often your first point of contact for scheduling- she will send you your weekly schedules and work with you to make any adjustments that are needed. Karen supervises all the BrightStar caregivers directly.

Brittany is our nurse who introduces clients to new caregivers or nurses at your home. She stays to ensure any new caregiver is trained and oriented to your specific needs.

Karen Thompson was born and raised in Leesburg and chose to raise her family here as well. Her background in Nursing and Emergency Communications helped her cultivate a passion for helping others and equipped her with the tools and information to help our clients find ways to remain safe and live independently in their homes.   I enjoy networking and expanding my knowledge of available resources. I love meeting new people, listening to their stories, and being able to provide them with the knowledge, care, and tools they need for themselves or their loved ones. 
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” - William Shakespeare 

Rachel is a key member of the clinical team and works with caregivers and nurses in the field and at your home to oversee and direct the skilled care that is provided. 

Before joining BrightStar Care of Fairfax in January of 2023, I worked as a certified nurse's aide for four years in a variety of nursing homes and hospital settings. I graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. I recently graduated with my Master's Degree in Nursing Education from Purdue University. Other than working, I also enjoy reading and traveling.

I decided the tremendous growth in the home care field was a real opportunity to learn and do well by doing good. I have been with BrightStar Care of Fairfax for three years.  As the Skilled Manager, I get a flexible schedule and a first-hand view of how a home care business meets the needs of the community. In this role I work with insurance companies and help ensure that the over 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each year get the opportunity to age in place safely, and stay in their home for as long as they would like.

I have been with BrightStar Care of Fairfax since it opened in 2012.  As the HR manager, I handle all new caregiver orientations.  I have the privilege of speaking with people daily to evaluate their needs and expectations.  I love my job because I get to interact with clients and their families to ensure the highest standard of care.

Jill will likely reach out to you to ensure you overall needs and concerns are met. She conducts touchpoint calls to both clients and caregivers each week.

I have been with BrightStar Care of Fairfax since spring of 2020. Working for a home care agency I see firsthand how important the caregiver/client relationship can be. They become companions, friends and members of the family.  I love what I do because I get the pleasure of sharing these stories with our Fairfax community. linkedin.com/in/donna-braun-8a995718

I believe we all have gifts and talents in specific areas and it’s important to recognize those strengths.  I can tell that the part I play, while not directly working with clients, makes a difference.  The more I understand about our clients and caregivers, the better I am at my job!  I enjoy being able to handle billing issues for our clients and, hopefully, giving them one less thing to worry about.  I understand the frustration of dealing with insurance carriers, long term care policies, and financial issues in general.  If I can help make certain that our billing is done accurately and invoices are being sent to insurance companies correctly, that’s more time they can spend focusing on themselves or their loved ones.  I have been with BrightStar Care of Fairfax since 2019 and I truly love what I do.