Who we are

The Center for Faith and Rare Disease (CFRD) exists to support individuals and families impacted by rare diseases and special conditions with the hope of Jesus Christ.

We equip and encourage families, strengthen churches and ministry leaders, and connect with rare disease communities to help people navigate the challenges of rare disease with faith, compassion, and practical support.

We are a diverse team of pastors, counselors, teachers, healthcare professionals, business leaders, creatives, and others who share a passion for the Gospel and for serving those affected by rare disease and special conditions.

We believe God works through both medicine and His Word. We see medical knowledge and innovation as gifts of God's common grace, while believing that Scripture provides the foundation for caring for the whole person—both body and soul.

We are ordinary people seeking to do extraordinary things for others, bringing our gifts, experiences, and faith together to serve a community that is often overlooked and deeply in need of hope.

  • Founder and President of the Board

    Ross is the Founder and President of CFRD, The Center for Faith and Rare Disease, based in Panama City Beach, FL. With over 25 years of leadership in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, Ross brings a wealth of experience in driving transformational growth and fostering patient-centered solutions. His career includes spearheading national teams at Alexion/AstraZeneca and Genentech, where he launched innovative therapies in rare oncology and neurovascular medicine. At CFRD, Ross is dedicated to addressing the unmet needs of families affected by rare diseases, leveraging his strategic acumen and passion for community impact to build a Christ-centered, mission-driven nonprofit. A triathlon enthusiast and hobby farmer, Ross also finds purpose in connecting individuals with nature and fostering resilience. Ross and his wife, Tammy, are both pursuing their Biblical Counseling certifications through ACBC.

  • Secretary & Board Member

    Dr. Hugh McCoy is the secretary of The Center for Faith and Rare Disease, and ACBC certified staff counselor for New Vision Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Hugh is an ordained minister and senior certified chaplain. His past experience includes positions in higher education, business, and ministry. Hugh served as the chief operating officer for a Christian university and education pastor of an Atlanta area Baptist church, where teaching, counseling, discipleship, and administration were integral functions of his ministries. He spent 18 years in human resources and industrial relations where he managed employee benefits, safety, company/union relations, and represented the corporation on the National Board of Governors for the Pulp and Paper Industry. He has degrees in secondary education and a doctorate in ministry with an emphasis in counseling and mentorship. Hugh and Peggy have been married 41 years and have two children and five grandchildren. Hugh has lived in greater Nashville for 11 years and has served the community as an educator, crisis counselor, and emergency disaster volunteer. He is a classically trained pianist and enjoys reading, travel, physical fitness, and being a safe place for men in ministry by using Scripture to breathe life into their work/life balance. Hugh is committed to the vision and mission of CFRD to impact individuals and families with rare diseases and disabilities.

  • Treasurer & Board Member

    Jack Winkle is the Lead Pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Valley, based in Santa Clarita, California.   Jack spent 43 years in medical device and biotech sales and marketing, and combines his personal and clinical experience with biblical, pastoral teaching to bring encouragement and spiritual growth to typical families, and those with Special Needs. Jack and his wife, Julie, have traveled the Special Needs road for 25 years; their younger son, Noah, has moderate/severe autism. Their passion and commitment to help those with disabling conditions is a daily, 24-hour endeavor of love. 

    Recently, Jack accepted an invitation with Far Reaching Ministries - an internationally respected group of pastors, teachers, and military-trained individuals - to teach, minister, and provide support for pastors, chaplains, and their families. FRM is currently in 39 of the most dangerous places in the world. After completing his initial 2-week FRM mission in Ukraine, he and Julie will be serving on another 2-week trip this fall in Uganda and South Sudan. He is excited to serve with CFRD to help those families and individuals with rare diseases and conditions. 

  • Rare Disease Patient and Family Director

    Cindy has dedicated more than 23 years to healthcare education and currently serves as the American Heart Association® Training Center Coordinator for a major academic healthcare system in Nashville, TN. In this role, she leads large-scale educational programs, collaborates across multidisciplinary healthcare teams, and supports the resuscitation training and development of hundreds of healthcare professionals.

    Beyond her professional career, Cindy is passionate about serving families navigating disability and rare genetic conditions. Her advocacy is deeply personal and rooted in her experiences as a mother to her daughters, Sophie and Ellie. Through Ellie's journey with a rare genetic condition involving a triplication of the ZEB2 gene, Cindy has gained firsthand insight into the challenges families face and it has strengthened her desire to help families feel seen, connected, and equipped with hope.

    Cindy and her husband, Chad, have been married for 24 years and call Murfreesboro, TN, home. She is actively involved in her church, where she and Chad lead a small group for parents of children with special needs and participates in international mission work in the Dominican Republic.

    Cindy brings to the CFRD Board a heart for family-centered care and a deep commitment to ensuring that families affected by rare diseases feel seen, supported, and connected to the body of Christ.