Meet The Team

Dr. Larry Warner is a public health strategist and executive leader who bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world implementation. Dr. Warner is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Health Services, Policy and Practice in the Center for Health Promotion and Health Equity at the Brown University School of Public Health, where he brings a robust practice-based perspective to the study of health disparities, structural inequity, and social determinants of health. Concurrently, he is the Founder and Managing Principal of Warner ILS (Impact, Leadership, Strategy), a consultancy launched in 2026 that provides precision guidance to organizations navigating complex public health and policy landscapes.

Dr. Warner’s work is defined by a commitment to operationalizing health equity. His expertise lies in translating public health data into actionable strategies for policymakers, philanthropy, and community organizations. His scholarly contributions focus on the practical application of public health frameworks to dismantle structural barriers to opportunity. He is a frequent speaker and presenter at national, regional, and local forums, addressing topics such as health equity, the social determinants of health, and the role of anchor institutions in community wellbeing.

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Prior to establishing his consultancy, Dr. Warner served as the Chief Impact and Equity Officer at United Way of Rhode Island, where he led transformative initiatives to advance racial equity through community investments and direct services. His career spans significant leadership roles in the non-profit and public sectors, informing his approach to organizational and systems change, and strategy alignment. He currently serves as President of the Rhode Island Public Health Association and Chair of the Governor’s Council on Behavioral Health.

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Dr. Warner earned a DrPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with a concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice. He also holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Society from Brown University.

Dr. Larkin is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in General Pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics. He received his medical degree from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed his undergraduate degree at Boston College.

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Dr. Larkin previously served as the Medical Director of Inpatient Infectious Diseases Consultation Services at Rhode Island Hospital. He has also served as the Co-Director of the Pediatric HIV Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the Medical Director of the Infectious Disease Clinic at Rhode Island Hospital. Dr. Larkin has authored many abstracts, chapters, and works in peer-reviewed journals and publications and has been recognized with multiple awards and honors. They include the 2022 Steven M. Opal Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2015 Beckwith Family Award for Outstanding Teaching, both from Brown University’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

Congressman Gabe Amo represents Rhode Island’s First Congressional District, bringing a career of public service at both the state and federal levels. In the Biden White House, he served as Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, acting as the principal liaison to mayors and local elected officials. In this role, he connected state and local leaders with federal resources through landmark legislation such as the American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, and coordinated responses to national crises including gun violence, extreme weather, and public health emergencies.

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Before joining the Biden administration, Congressman Amo was Director of Public Engagement and Community Affairs for former Governor Gina Raimondo, serving as the principal advisor to Rhode Island’s cities and towns, business, labor, advocacy, and faith communities. Earlier, he served in President Barack Obama’s Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, liaising with governors and state officials.

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A native of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Congressman Amo is the son of West African immigrants—his mother from Liberia and his father from Ghana—and was raised in a working-class family. He graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in Political Science from Wheaton College, where he served as Student Government President and was named a Truman Scholar. He later received a Marshall Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford.

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Congressman Amo is committed to representing the diverse communities of Rhode Island’s First District and advancing priorities such as strengthening retirement security, ending gun violence, combating climate change, protecting reproductive freedom, and supporting economic opportunities for working families.

Alison Croke has served as the President and CEO of Wood River Health since 2018, a federally qualified health center with locations in Hope Valley and Westerly Rhode Island. In this role, she provides leadership, direction and administration of all aspects of activity of the health center to ensure compliance with established objectives, mission and the realization of quality and economical healthcare services. Previously she was the Vice President of Medicare-Medicaid Integration at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island. In this role she had responsibility for Neighborhood’s managed Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) product, and Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) duals demonstration product. Prior to Neighborhood she was with Xerox State Healthcare, working with the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS/Medicaid) for approximately 10 years. In this capacity she worked with senior Medicaid agency staff to create new managed care programs for Medicaid clients.

Prior to joining EOHHS, Alison worked as a Senior Project Manager at Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, from 2002-2005 and at the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) in Princeton, New Jersey (1998-2002) on several Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded national programs focused on developing health care delivery systems for vulnerable populations.

A native Rhode Islander, Alison is active in her community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Jonnycake Center for Hope. She is also an adjunct professor at Rhode Island College in the School of Business Administration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Vermont, and a Master of Health Administration from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University. She resides in South Kingstown with her husband, 3 dogs and 2 cats.

James Rajotte serves as the Director of Strategy and Innovation at the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), where he leads government-wide strategies for homelessness prevention, Olmstead planning, and systems transformation, with a focus on equity and performance management. He has been recognized nationally and locally, including being named to the 40 Under 40 in Public Health by the De Beaumont Foundation and 40 Under 40 in Rhode Island by the Providence Business News.

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Previously, James served as Assistant Director of Health at the Rhode Island Department of Health, leading COVID-19 outbreak investigations and automating response systems. He also served as Chief of the Center for Health Promotion, overseeing programs addressing substance use, violence, youth mental health, and the state’s youth vaping response.

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James was Deputy Director for Rhode Island’s State Innovation Model (SIM), focusing on population health improvement, integrated planning, and performance management. Since joining RIDOH in 2008, he has held multiple leadership roles, including Incident Commander during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and subject-matter expert for CDC public health preparedness initiatives.

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He holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Leadership from Roger Williams University. James also teaches in graduate nursing and healthcare administration programs at Rhode Island College, serves as Board President for Amenity Aid, and provides leadership coaching and youth empowerment. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, cycling, cooking, and playing board games with family.

Olutosin “Tosin” Ojugbele MD MPH is the medical director of the divisions of community health and equity and environmental health at the Rhode Island Department of Health. She is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University and practices primary care in the community.

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Prior to joining the Rhode Island Department of Health, she served as the director of the Fostering Health Clinic at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Dr. Ojugbele completed her medical degree as well as an MPH in community health science at SUNY Downstate, pediatric residency at Northwell Health/Cohen Children’s Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship in primary care research at Dartmouth Hitchcock.

Senator Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton), a 1979 graduate of Notre Dame Catholic High School, went on to earn a B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Bridgeport in 1983 and a Masters in Computer Science from Brown University in 1989.

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Senator DiPalma is currently involved with the Middletown School Facilities Core Committee; the Rhode Island Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Advisory Committee; the Aquidneck Land Trust; the Sakonnet Preservation Society; the United States Navy League; the Physics First Advisory Board; the St. Philomena School Board of Trustees; the Rhode Island Science and Engineering Fair; the Rhode Island Space Grant consortium; the UMASS Dartmouth Computer and Electrical/Computer Engineering Advisory Committee and serves as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Lucy's Church.

Senator DiPalma served on the Middletown Town Council from 2004-2008 when he was elected to the Rhode Island Senate. He also serves on the Middletown Democratic Town Committee.

Bari Freeman is the founder of Bike Newport. She founded the organization in 2011, motivated by the belief that safer streets and multi-modal transportation are essential to thriving, connected communities.

With a background in nonprofit leadership, communications, and community organizing, she brings a collaborative approach to addressing complex transportation challenges.

Through the combined efforts of advocates, planners, engineers, educators, local leaders, and funders, Bari has helped make biking and walking safe, connected, accessible, and celebrated across Aquidneck Island—creating a model for the rest of Rhode Island and beyond.

Colleen Daley Ndoye is the co-founding Executive Director of Project Weber/RENEW (PWR), with more than 20 years of experience leading community-based initiatives focused on harm reduction, homelessness, and health equity. She oversees a team of 40 and leads strategic planning, fundraising, partnerships, research collaborations, and statewide advocacy efforts. For over 18 years, PWR has improved health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness and substance use in Rhode Island. The organization serves more than 7,000 individuals annually - 99.9% of whom are very low income and approximately 80% currently experiencing homelessness - through peer-led outreach, drop-in centers, overdose prevention services, basic needs, and low-barrier behavioral health and medical care. PWR also operates the nation’s first state-sanctioned Overdose Prevention Center in Providence.​

Elijah " Eli" Pajo (he/they) is the Resource Navigator at the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact under United Way RI and the Membership Officer at Malaya Massachusetts. Prior to working with ANI, he served as an employment counselor for immigrants and refugees at JVS Boston and Dorcas International Institute of RI.

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With a background in grassroots community organizing and direct service, Eli is passionate about coalition building and strengthening support systems for nonprofits and their staff. He earned a BA in Sociology with minors in English and Migration Studies from Simmons University and values stubborn resilience, resource reallocation, information accessibility, cultural humility, and empathy.

​Robin Xiong (she/hers) is a Rhode Island native with over ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, ranging from board service, frontline and direct service in the youth education and mental health spaces, to fund development and operations. As the program and communications manager of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact at the United Way of Rhode Island, she works on addressing barriers nonprofit face in building capacity and executing their missions.

Eliza Lawson is a healthy communities and communications strategist passionate about using public space to strengthen places and connect people. At Bike Newport, she co-leads the feasibility study to improve bike and pedestrian access over the Pell and Verrazzano Bridges and supports the organization’s communications and storytelling efforts.

Previously, Eliza led the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Healthy Eating and Active Living program, focusing on food and recreation access, active transportation, and wellness policies for schools and childcare settings.

Hazel Hastings is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Professional (LCDP) in Rhode Island and a Master Certified Addiction Professional (MCAP) in Florida. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Services Administration. Born in Orlando, Hazel moved to Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 1½ years ago to serve as Program Director for the Medical Mobile Unit at CODAC Behavioral Healthcare, where she currently provides clinical care services. She has also been an active participant in the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) committee since its inception.

Hazel is an educator, clinician, harm reductionist, and activist. Drawing on 30 years of lived experience, her goal is to educate participants on the unique aspects of racial trauma. Understanding these dynamics provides critical insight into the delivery of substance use disorder treatment services for people of color, opening pathways to healing. As a catalyst for change, she believes the therapeutic relationship must be rooted in liberation, shifting the focus from trauma-informed care to humanity-informed care—the foundation for true healing.

Nadia Tsado, MPH, is a public health data professional working at the intersection of healthcare analytics and health equity. She serves as a Data & Reporting Manager at the Brown University, Advance RI-CTR and supports with the Faith Impact Coalition, an initiative of the American Health Association which works to mobilize faith communities as trusted messengers and vehicles for health information and prevention.

Rev. Albert Whitaker, MA, MPH currently serves as Community Impact Director for the American Heart Association in Rhode Island and Southern New England. He is a dedicated advocate for underserved and marginalized communities, working to advance health equity by addressing social determinants of health and strengthening clinical and community linkages.

Albert holds master’s degrees in Urban Ministry and Public Health, with a research focus on the intersection of religion, spirituality, health outcomes, and structural racism. He serves as co-chair of the Rhode Island Commission on Health Advocacy and Equity (CHAE).

A committed global citizen, Albert is a former Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, where he deepened his commitment to community empowerment and Spanish fluency. He is also the pastor of St. Mark Congregational Church within the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ and has served on the National Peace Corps Association Board of Directors, chairing the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Albert continues to serve on local boards, coalitions, and advisory groups, contributing his expertise to initiatives that promote healthier communities throughout the region.

Rachel Ferrara, MSW, is an accomplished social work professional with a robust human service, program management, and public health background. Currently serving as the Human Services Division Director for the City of Providence, Rachel provides strategic oversight for programs focused on prevention, behavioral health supports, and the social determinants of health while managing staff, budgets, and grant opportunities.

Before coming to the City of Providence, Ms. Ferrara held leadership roles in the non-profit sector at organizations focused on domestic violence, disability, behavioral health, substance use, and peer-based services. Ms. Ferrara is working toward her Doctor of Social Work degree from the University of California, focusing on social innovation and leadership

RDr. Soumyadeep ("Deep") Mukherjee is an Associate Professor of Public Health, Health Promotion, Health Sciences, and Nursing. His backgrounds include medicine and public health (with a focus on epidemiology). His research interests include health disparities, mental and behavioral health, health implications of traumatic experiences, climate change and health, school safety and gun-violence prevention, etc. He serves in the BoD of RIPHA and is the affiliate representative to the APHA. One of his roles is serving as liaison between RIPHA and the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Deep is also the immediate past chair of the APHA’s Ethics section.

Jennifer is a Principal Public Health Epidemiologist at RIDOH and the Evaluator for the Health Equity Zone (HEZ) Initiative. Her research and evaluation experience spans various disciplines in medicine, epidemiology, and social sciences. Jennifer has a MPH from Brown University (Epidemiology), and is currently a PhD candidate in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) at the University of Rhode Island. In her role at RIDOH, she works to demonstrate the impact of the HEZ model and framework by evaluating changing trends in health outcomes, social determinants of health, and healthcare spending across Rhode Island communities. She designs and implements HEZ evaluation in alignment with its community-led, place-based vision of health equity. Jennifer also leads the development of the publicly available “MyNeighborhood” Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) data mapping project at RIDOH, which provides community level data on social and environmental factors affecting health outcomes. She is proud to be part of the innovative State efforts to address health equity, minimize disparities, and promote health and well-being for all Rhode Islanders.

Liza Birch is a transportation planner, policy analyst, project manager, researcher, community organizer, and communications professional, skilled at building the human infrastructure needed to transform physical infrastructure. Over the past 13 years, she has advanced active and public transit systems through roles in grassroots advocacy, private consulting, and federal policymaking.

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Liza currently serves as Senior Planner at Neighborways Design, consultant at Bike Newport, and founder and Board President of the Providence Streets Coalition. She is passionate about creating safe, equitable, and sustainable mobility, and thrives on turning her stubborn optimism into actionable solutions for the future of transportation.

​Yvette Flores is a dedicated parent advocate for children and families affected by congenital heart disease (CHD). She is the proud mother of her son, Wilson Jr., who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Originally from Pawtucket and now residing in North Providence with her husband, Wilson, Yvette is passionate about giving back to her community and advocating for increased resources, awareness, and support for families navigating congenital heart conditions. Through her advocacy, she hopes to contribute to ongoing conversations that improve maternal and child health care and strengthen support systems for families across Rhode Island.​

​Emily A. Freedman is the Director of the City of Providence’s Department of Housing & Human Services, where she leads initiatives to advance housing affordability, community development, and integrated social services. Since 2016, she has expanded local access to federal resources, launched innovative social service pilots, and developed programs targeting the root causes of housing and economic instability. A recognized expert in HUD grant administration and affordable housing finance, Ms. Freedman holds both a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Maine and has contributed to policy and program innovation across New England. She is the immediate past Region 1 Board Chair of the National Community Development Association, immediate past Chair-at-Large for the Rhode Island Continuum of Care, a member of the Executive Steering Committee for the RI Alliance for Healthy Housing, and represents the City on the RI Special House Legislative Commission on Housing Affordability.

Jesus Ayala is a passionate Public Health Practitioner who understands Health Equity from a lens of resilience and civic responsibility. He is currently the coordinator of the newborn screening long-term follow-up program at the Rhode Island Department of Health. He has a master’s degree in public health and a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Puerto Rico. His professional career began as a scientific researcher, working in cancer biology, gene expression in preterm birth, and immigrant health.

After completing his graduate studies, Jesus has participated in community health programs ranging from Community-Based Participatory Research to Sexual Health in Latino MSM, Child Asthma, and teenage sleep hygiene. More recently, he also joined the Equity Committee of the American Public Health Association, where he coordinates nationwide forums on equity and Public Health. As a hurricane survivor and first-generation migrant, he sees equity as a healing pathway to address the unmet needs of a growing segment of the population. When he is not volunteering, he enjoys reading, lo-fi music, and being an uncle.

Emily Eisenstein, MPH has served as Program Manager of the Newborn Screening Program at the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) since January 2019 and has been with RIDOH since 2009. During her tenure, she has held various roles and managed multiple grants within the Center for Perinatal and Early Childhood Health.

Emily is trained in both the Model for Improvement and the Lean Methods of continuous quality improvement. Since 2019, she has also co-led the Early Childhood Parent/Caregiver Advisory Council, contributing her expertise to programs that support early childhood health and family engagement.

​Jennifer Etue, LICSW serves as the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Open Door Health, Rhode Island’s first and only LGBTQ+ community health clinic, where she leads the clinic’s efforts to embed behavioral health services into primary and sexual health care. With deep commitment to holistic, whole-person care and a focus on supporting LGBTQ+ and diverse communities, Jennifer prioritizes accessible, collaborative approaches that reduce stigma and meet patients’ mental health needs alongside their physical health needs. Their work centers on bringing behavioral health into the heart of clinical practice to improve wellness, resilience, and equity across care settings. Jennifer holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Albany and, prior to working at Open Door Health, was the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health at Providence Community Health Center.

EC. Paula Lewis-de los Angeles, MD, PhD is a triple board-certified pediatrician and is an assistant professor of pediatrics on the clinician-educator track at the Alpert Medical School at Brown University. She currently practices as a general pediatrician in primary care and as an attending pediatrician at the Healthy Eating Active Living Through Hasbro (HEALTH) clinic. Dr. Lewis-de los Angeles graduated from the Brown Triple Board Residency, a combined program in Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Prior to that, she completed her combined MD, PhD at Northwestern University and her undergraduate studies at Stanford University.

Swanette Salazar is a trilingual Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) and Lead CCHW for the First Connections Program at Family Service of Rhode Island, supporting prenatal women and families with children under three years old.

She previously served as Rhode Island’s first CHW Ambassador with the National Association of Community Health Workers and as a Lead Consultant for the Rhode to Equity Initiative, advancing CHW leadership and strengthening clinical-community partnerships.

Her work has been recognized by the Governor of Rhode Island and with the 2024 Elizabeth Burke Bryant Hero Award. A contributor to Integrating Community Health Workers in Rhode Island (NEJM), Swanette continues to mentor CHWs and promote equity through collaboration, advocacy, and systems change.

Giorgi Segama is a dedicated parent advocate and member of the Rhode Island Department of Health Parent & Guardian Advisory Panel, where she currently serves as Secretary. Her advocacy journey began in October 2022 when her daughter was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect shortly after birth through newborn screening. Thanks to early detection, Giorgi and her husband, Anthony, were able to quickly access life-saving care and critical support for their child.

This experience inspired Giorgi’s strong commitment to public health and family advocacy. Through her role on the advisory panel, she works alongside families and health leaders to ensure that parent perspectives help inform policies, programs, and practices that impact maternal and child health.

Michaela Maynard, MPH, NP is a Nurse Practitioner and the Senior Director of Clinical Operations at Open Door Health, where she oversees day-to-day clinical care and helps ensure high-quality, affirming services for patients. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Yale University. Michaela provides direct primary care, with a focus on comprehensive sexual health, HIV prevention and treatment, and primary care for sexual and gender minorities. She has participated in NIH-funded research projects and community health programs aimed at improving STI and HIV testing, prevention, and treatment services, and contributes to efforts that integrate clinical care with public health outreach and research.

Deirdre O’Donnell, MPH, is a passionate public health professional and educator with over a decade of experience in the field. Deirdre is the Manager for Rhode Island Department of Health’s Violence and Injury Prevention Program (RIDOH VIPP), where she manages a robust portfolio of state contracts and federal grants in topic areas including rape prevention and education, reducing maternal violence and mortality, suicide prevention, falls prevention, traumatic brain injury, and state injury prevention including motor vehicle/traffic safety and water safety.

Holding a master’s degree in public health from Boston University, she has demonstrated a track record of translating social and behavioral health research and data into strategies and interventions that improve population health and well-being. She has worked across various public health and prevention topics including suicide, domestic and sexual violence, tobacco control, sexual health education, HIV, nutrition, substance use and overdose prevention, and program evaluation and management. Deirdre is also an adjunct professor at Rhode Island College, teaching courses across multiple programs and departments including Health & Physical Education. Her greatest passion, by far, is serving all Rhode Islanders through innovative and data-driven public health education and programming.

Tamar Wolfson, BA is a Programs and Research Coordinator at the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. She supports clinical and community research and programs that advance public health initiatives, focusing on equitable access to care and the prevention of infectious diseases, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Her work focuses on accessibility of behavioral health services within primary care and addresses critical community needs, such as food access, nutrition security, and sexual health, while promoting affirming and equitable care through evidence‑based, integrated approaches. She holds a BA in Sociology from Vassar College.

​Yelena Malyuta, MPH is the Chief Programs and Research Officer at the Rhode Island Public Health Institute, a nonprofit focused on improving community health and reducing health disparities that owns and operates Open Door Health. In her role, she oversees programs, research, grants, and data infrastructure for the organization. She has led large-scale needs assessments, managed NIH-funded grants, and integrated clinical practice with translational research and service learning. She currently oversees all data collection, management and infrastructure at RIPHI as well as several statewide evaluation efforts funded by SAMHSA and other organizations. Yelena has contributed to research, policy development, and implementation of evidence-based interventions, with a focus on advancing health equity and supporting vulnerable populations. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Massachusetts Amherst Medical School. .

Libertad Flores was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to Mexican parents and the childhood recipient of safety net health care. She earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Spanish, after which she worked in health care market research while completing a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University.

Dr. Flores is a 2023 graduate of the Rhode Island Foundation Equity Leadership Initiative, a 2024 Brown University Advocates for Social Change and Equity Fellow, and a past Commissioner for the Rhode Island Department of Health Commission on Health Access and Equity. She has authored and presented her work on patient experience and disparities in health care.

Dr. Flores is an alumna and Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and practices at the Providence Community Health Centers and Women and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island.

Joanna O’Brien (née Frageorgia) is a Senior Public Health Promotion Specialist at the Rhode Island Department of Health, leading communications efforts for the Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Grant. She previously taught English and Music, and more recently worked as Senior Outreach Specialist at AAA Northeast, developing and presenting safety programs across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. Joanna holds a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University and an M.A. in Health Communication from Bryant University. She has served on multiple nonprofit boards and statewide coalitions, including SafeKids Rhode Island, where she is currently Treasurer, and brings expertise in public health, communication, education, and community engagement to promote the safety and well-being of Rhode Islanders.

Audrey Zhang is an undergraduate at Brown University pursuing studies in public health and health and human biology. She aspires to become a physician who can provide both physically and culturally competent care, with an emphasis on primary intervention.

Her current focuses include efforts aimed at improving HIV and opioid prescription management for marginalized

populations through patient-centered approaches

Fatu Ndiaye is the Lead Researcher and Author for the Commission for Health Advocacy & Equity (CHAE). She is also the Maternal Health Program Manager at the WATCH Coalition, an anti-racist community development organization based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Fatu has a lifelong commitment to the maternal health field. As an adolescent, she became a caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and diabetes while pregnant with her younger sister. Her role as a caregiver to her mother and her siblings sparked a passion for maternal and child health. She attended the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College, where she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant license. She went on to study Biology, Health Sciences, and Africana Studies at the University of Rhode Island, and she earned a dual Master of Public Health and Medical Sciences from Boston University. At The WATCH Coalition, Fatu conducted a research study to assess the parenting assets of mothers of color in Woonsocket and used those findings to design culturally relevant interventions to improve maternal health outcomes among Woonsocket mothers of color.

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Her academic and professional journeys have equipped her with a solid foundation in biomedical sciences and a deep understanding of community health dynamics. Fatu is passionate about translating scientific research into actionable public health strategies, and she is committed to advancing health equity through research and policy development. Outside the lab, Fatu engages in community outreach programs, aiming to bridge the gap between science and society.

Lydia Moriku is an MPH candidate in Epidemiology at Brown University School of Public Health, with a focus on infectious diseases, particularly HIV, and their intersection with structural and social determinants of health. Her work is driven by a commitment to advancing equity in health systems, particularly for marginalized and justice-involved populations.

With deep roots in Africa and a global outlook, she is dedicated to leveraging epidemiologic methods to prevent disease, shape policy, and improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities worldwide

Nwando Egbuche Ofokansi (she/they) is a social impact strategist and public health organizer with a commitment to social justice, community development, and youth development. She is a Project Officer with Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones Initiative. There, she provides technical assistance and strategy navigation to Health Equity Zones across the state to guide them in empowering their community members, determining local desires and strengths, and implementing strategies to address social determinants of health inequities.

She is also the Director of Civic Engagement at The WATCH Coalition, which addresses violence, racism, and discrimination in the city of Woonsocket, RI by building intergenerational leadership, engaging in political action, and providing community resources. Her background includes sexual health education, health coaching, HIV/AIDS prevention work in African immigrant communities, youth mentoring, racial equity consulting, and relationship violence prevention education. She holds a bachelor's degree from Boston College in Sociology, Philosophy, and African & African Diaspora Studies, a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership & Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania, a graduate certificate in Human Resources from the University of Rhode Island, and a Master of Social Justice & Community Organizing from Prescott College. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. Nwando uses intersectionality and critical-race theories to unravel the impact of culture, identity, and oppression on health outcomes.

​Carrie Chandonnait, RN, is the Program Manager for Rhode Island’s Pregnancy and Postpartum Death Review Committee (PPDRC) at the Rhode Island Department of Health. A registered nurse, she previously worked in labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery at Landmark Medical Center and with the anesthesia team at Women & Infants Hospital. In her role at RIDOH, Carrie supports multidisciplinary reviews to better understand pregnancy-associated deaths and identify opportunities to improve maternal health outcomes across the state. She is also a member of Rhode Island’s Child Death Review Team and serves on a subcommittee focused on diversity and equity in the review process. Carrie is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Bryant University with a concentration in Innovative Healthcare Leadership

Neha Nabar is an undergraduate student at Brown University in the Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME), pursuing a double concentration in Health and Human Biology and Medical Anthropology. She is greatly interested in addressing global health challenges by promoting health equity and access through community-based approaches.

Passionate about scientific communication, design and illustration, and language learning, Neha seeks to integrate these interests into an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare. Outside of academics, she enjoys exploring the visual arts, going on nature walks, listening to podcasts, and trying new cuisines with friends and family.

Jocelyn Antonio is the Director of Program Implementation and Policy at the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University School of Public Health. She also serves as a Commissioner on Rhode Island’s Commission for Health Advocacy & Equity (CHAE). With a Bachelor of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology from Duke University and a Master of Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health (with concentrations in Health Policy and Law, and Global Health), Jocelyn brings a robust academic foundation to her work.

Her diverse experience spans database development, project coordination and implementation, and community organizing and advocacy. Jocelyn's research interests are centered on addressing health disparities and inequities, particularly in maternal and child health outcomes, maternal depression prevention and screening, child maltreatment, community-delivered interventions, and food security. She has contributed to research projects at numerous institutions including Brown University, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, RTI International, UNC Chapel Hill Carolina Survey Research Lab, and Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy. Jocelyn has made meaningful contributions to the American Public Health Association (APHA) as a Nutrition and Food Policy Fellow. Furthermore, she served as a Steering Committee member for Farm to Institution New England where she supported organization and implementation efforts for the annual meeting.

As a bilingual Mexican-American woman, Jocelyn is deeply committed to advancing evidence-informed policymaking through a health equity lens. Her passion lies in reducing health inequities and disparities for populations that have been systemically marginalized. She has also been actively involved in various political campaigns in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, further demonstrating her dedication to impactful change.