President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
(The Mass League)

President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (the Mass League), which represents 50 health centers, serving over one million patients out of over 300 practice sites. He was named: one of the Boston Business Journal’s Power 50 Movement Makers of 2024, 2023 and 2022; one of Boston’s Most Influential Men of Color by GetKonnected!; one of Boston Magazine’s 150 Most Influential Bostonians in 2024 and 2023; and a Bostonian of the Year in 2021 (along with his member health centers) by The Boston Globe and Boston Magazine.

Deputy Chief of the Rhode Island Department of Health's Center for EMS

Megan Umbriano is the Deputy Chief of the Rhode Island Department of Health's Center for EMS. She has served in this position since February 2023, managing multiple responsibilities, including grants management for the Center. Megan has 19 years of experience working in the fire/EMS field, starting as a Junior Firefighter at the North Scituate Fire Department when she was just 15 years old. Megan's love for EMS has blossomed over years of service to her town and working in the private EMS sector. Starting with an EMT license, she advanced through ranks to EMT-Cardiac and Lieutenant, now serving as her fire department's first female President.

DPP Specialist with the RIDOH Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health Program.

Katlynn Kisla is a Registered Dietitian and the DPP Specialist at the Rhode Island Department of Health. She collaborates with Erica in the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health Program to coordinate Ready for Health, the state’s National Diabetes Prevention Program. With over 10 years of experience in nutrition services, public health, and program development, she combines clinical expertise with community-driven solutions to enhance diabetes prevention efforts.

Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Dr. Uebelacker is a Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She is also Director of Research at Butler Hospital and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Her research interests center on developing and testing interventions to improve mental and physical health in people with depression, chronic pain, medical conditions such as HIV, and opioid use disorder. Specifically, she has developed and tested yoga interventions, interventions to promote physical activity, and behavioral health interventions integrated into medical settings.

Prevention Supervisor Care Ocean State (ACOS)

Raynald Joseph began working for AIDS Care Ocean State (ACOS) in 2004. He began as an outreach volunteer, and through his years he has moved through all the positions in the Prevention Unit (Outreach Worker, Prevention Worker, and Prevention Specialist/Outreach Coordinator) and now is the Prevention Supervisor. He currently manages all of the prevention programs within ACOS including the Street Outreach program, HIV and HCV testing, and Rhode Island’s Syringe Services Access & Drug User Health Program, ENCORE. Raynald is deeply passionate about the community he lives and works in. Working and serving in the community that he has grown up in has allowed Raynald to give back in numerous ways; 1. He is able to provide education and services to a much needed population, in a manner that is well received. 2. He is able to empower the community by hiring and working with people that reflect and come from the community we serve.

Director of Community Health at Project Weber/RENEW,

Arlo Narva is the Director of Community Health at Project Weber/RENEW, where they oversee the implementation of clinical services, health programming, and research. Arlo also serves as the community co-chair of the Substance Exposed Newborn working group of the Governors Overdose Taskforce. They are a social worker, harm reductionists, and full-spectrum doulas. Prior to their role at Project Weber/RENEW, they led a Title V-funded Doula program at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health that serves pregnant and postpartum people who use drugs. They also worked at Prevention Point, Philadelphia's largest harm reduction organization, which serves over 40,000 people a year, as an HIV/HCV tester and case manager. Perinatal substance use, and community public health in harm reduction settings are their areas of interest and expertise.

Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Brown University School of Public Health

Alison Tovar is an Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences in the Brown University School of Public Health. Originally from Bogotá, Colombia, Dr. Tovar received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Northeastern University in 2001, a master’s in public health from Tufts University School of Medicine in 2005, and her Ph.D. from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy in 2009. Dr. Tovar was a faculty in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at The University of Rhode Island from 2012-2021 and joined the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences at the Brown School of Public Health in 2022. She is also the interim director for the Center for Health Promotion and Health at the Brown School of Public Health and co-director for the Community Engagement and Outreach Core for Advance RI-CTR. Dr. Tovar’s research focuses on understanding factors that shape eating behaviors early in life among historically marginalized populations, developing community-based interventions among these populations and evaluating policies that promote healthy eating

Community Engagement Specialist at Advance RI- CTR

Hilda Castillo is the Community Engagement Specialist at Advance RI- CTR and is an energetic people person and a passionate advocate for the community. Hilda has over 30 years of experience working with the community through research projects at the Brown University School of Public Health and within community organizations across Rhode Island. Hilda's work at Brown includes study subject & site recruitment, study retention, being a liaison with community providers, implementing & monitoring of telephone interviews, as well as data collection and data entry. Hilda is committed to the community, and serves as a guide, opens doors, and gives hope to its members.  

Manager Community Health Network at the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Erica Hanson is the Community Health Network Manager at the Rhode Island Department of Health.  She brings over 20 years of community health experience to RIDOH as the former Community Impact Director at the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.  Erica supports the work of the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management in the Diabetes and Cardiovascular Health Program, and coordinates and promotes a variety of no-cost evidence-based lifestyle change programs available to Rhode Islanders.

Chief Health Equity Officer for Care New England and as a Medical Director for Integra’s Medicaid Accountable Entity program & Co-Lead of the Advance RI-CTR Community Engagement & Outreach Core (CEO)

A graduate of Brown Medical School, Dr. Diaz completed his residency and fellowship training in General Internal Medicine at Rhode Island Hospital and a Master of Public Health also at Brown University. Since 2001 he has worked as a primary care physician in Pawtucket, RI and previously served as the Chief of Medicine at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. He currently serves as the Chief Health Equity Officer for Care New England and as a Medical Director for Integra’s Medicaid Accountable Entity program. At The Warren Alpert Medical School, he is an Associate Dean for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs in the Office of Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion where he works with medical school and health system colleagues on community engagement and pathway programs to increase exposure and access to healthcare careers for high school and undergraduate students. His research interests focus on healthcare quality and barriers to cancer screening. Dr. Diaz is a Co-Lead of the Advance RI-CTR Community Engagement & Outreach Core (CEO) and directs the operations and activities of the Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN).

Chief of the Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB at the Rhode Island Department of Health.

Tom is the Chief of the Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, and TB at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Tom was previously the STD Director at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Executive Director of AIDS Project Rhode Island. Tom has an undergraduate degree from Vassar College and a Masters in Public Health from the State University of New York at Albany.

Chief Clinical Officer for the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island (CTC-RI)

Dr. Nelly Burdette is a visionary leader and innovator in integrated behavioral health, with over 15 years of experience driving transformative change in healthcare. With a Doctorate in Health Psychology  and advanced training in Primary Care Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Burdette has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between mental and physical health care for underserved populations with an equity lens. Dr. Burdette has designed and implemented groundbreaking integrated care programs across federally qualified health centers, community mental health agencies, specialty clinics, and the Veteran’s Administration. Her expertise extends to training and mentoring healthcare professionals nationwide, equipping them to deliver evidence-based care within the context of a psychologically safe team. 

Mobile Integrated Health Project Coordinator and EMS State Data Manager at the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Emergency Medical Services

Marta Kryschuk began her EMS career in 2018, quickly advancing to the position of EMS Lieutenant, a role she still holds while continuing to work as a Paramedic. Along with a range of EMS certifications and licenses, Marta is certified in ACLS, PALS, HandTevy, TECC, and as a Stop the Bleed Instructor. Her passion for EMS extends to teaching EMT and Advanced EMT-Cardiac classes, where she is dedicated to helping students become exceptional healthcare providers.

Associate Director of Community Infrastructure at ONE Neighborhood Builders

Dominique Resendes (she/her) is the Associate Director of Community Infrastructure at ONE Neighborhood Builders, the backbone entity for Central Providence Opportunities: A Health Equity Zone. Dominique has been working in community health since 2017, previously serving as the 02907 Health Equity Zone Program Manager at West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation. Dominique is passionate about addressing health inequity and working with the community to support neighborhoods that are thriving and resilient.

Dominique is an alumna of Salem State University, where she was a double major in Political Science and Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. She also completed the Core Certificate Program through the Institute for Nonprofit Practice in 2020. Dominique is a Massachusetts native, but currently lives in Providence with her partner and house plants.

Director of Community Engagement for the COBRE on Opioids and Overdose

Michelle McKenzie (she/her) is a harm reductionist, a person in recovery and has been involved in harm reduction research for more than 25 years. She is the Director of Community Engagement for the COBRE on Opioids and Overdose. She co-founded PONI, Preventing Overdose and Naloxone Intervention in 2006, which provides IM naloxone and other harm reduction supplies to community-based organizations in Rhode Island. She is a long-standing member of the Governor's Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force and co-chair of the Rescue Working Group of the task force.

Overdose Prevention Program Director at Project Weber/RENEW (PWR) and Co-Director of nation’s first state sanctioned Overdose Prevention Center

Dennis A. Bailer is a person in long term recovery from substance use disorder. He is the Overdose Prevention Program Director at Project Weber/RENEW (PWR) and Co-Director of nation’s first state sanctioned Overdose Prevention Center. PWR is Rhode Island’s largest Peer Based Harm Reduction and Recovery support organization, leading harm reduction efforts in Rhode Island. Dennis has been with the organization for 10 years. As a Peer Recovery Specialist, Certified Community Health Worker, R.I. State Certified HIV/HepC Test Counselor, and a Naloxone/Narcan Train the Trainer Specialist. Dennis can utilize his lived experience and knowledge to connect with and advocate for members of our community whose voices often go unheard. Dennis is also founding Co-chair of the Racial Equity Working Group which is one of nine working groups advising Governor McKee’s Overdose Prevention and Treatment Task Force. He has also been appointed to sit on numerous committees including the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health and Rhode Island’s Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee.

Director of Community Outreach and Overdose Prevention at Community Care Alliance

Christa Thomas-Sowers is the Director of Community Outreach and Overdose Prevention at Community Care Alliance. In December of 2018, Christa was integral to the launch of our Opioid Center of Excellence. This was followed up by creating the Safe Haven Drop-in Center in February 2021, serving homeless, co-occurring folks with active substance use and mental health challenges. She has been a leader Statewide in terms of rolling out harm reduction efforts, working closely with community partners, growing the team to address the increasing need in our community. To date, over 2,000 individuals have been served by Christa and her staff using a trauma-informed and person-centered approach.