Health Equity Practice Mentors

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  • Dr. Lakin Shelpman is a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner who provides evidence-based, comprehensive care across the lifespan. She evaluates and treats the full spectrum of mental health conditions within a trauma-informed, patient-centered approach. Lakin earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing with specialization in Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing Practice. She was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Beta Iota Chapter) in 2025 for her leadership and academic excellence.
    Through her doctoral work, she developed and evaluated an evidence-based program to promote resilience and reduce stress among caregivers affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in a rural community setting.
    Her research and scientific interests include rural behavioral health; caregiver resilience and stress reduction for families affected by ACEs; trauma-informed and family-centered interventions; health equity and patient/family advocacy; and evidence-based practice translation (Iowa Model), measurement-based care, and outcomes assessment.

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  • Lauren Garcia, MPH (she/her/ella) serves as CityMatCH‘s Director of Sexual & Reproductive Health and Academic Development in Omaha, NE. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology & Film from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY and her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health – Sexual & Reproductive Health from Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

    Prior to joining the team at CityMatCH, Lauren served in a variety of clinical, research, non-profit, and activism roles. She has experience in teaching, program planning, development, research, and advocacy. Lauren is passionate about sexual and reproductive health/justice – including abortion access, and decreasing barriers to care.

    In her spare time, Lauren enjoys traveling, creating scicomm content, scrapbooking, and spending time with her family Miguel and Karina, dogs, Parker, Keanu, and Coco, and cat, Lord Lasagna.

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  • Haleigh Kampman, MPH, is a public health researcher and health equity advocate working at a safety-net hospital to help clinicians and researchers implement practical, evidence-based solutions that improve care for underserved patient populations. Her research examines social determinants of health such as food insecurity and housing instability, mental health, substance use, and electronic health tools that improve patient care. She brings expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods supporting initiatives like tobacco cessation and systems change for mental health promotion. Her work is dedicated to advancing equitable, patient-centered healthcare.

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  • Dr. Salwa Mekled is an Associate Professor in the restorative department at Kornberg School of Dental Medicine, Temple University. Dr. Mekled received her dental degree from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Dr. Mekled had one year of general practice residency, and one year of orofacial pain residency at the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry. She has a Master of Public Administration at TTU. Dr. Mekled has many publications in Peer reviewed journals. Dr. Mekled has been a presenter and a speaker at many national and international conferences. Dr. Mekled is member of American Dental Educator Association. Dr. Mekled is a fellow American College of Dentists.

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  • DeLawnia Comer-HaGans was most recently the Director of Research and Education in the Office of Health Equity at Dell Medical School. Dr. Comer-HaGans has 16 years of experience in health disparities, health equity, community engagement, and intervention development particularly as it relates to serving underserved and marginalized populations.

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  • Dr. Harit Agroia is an adjunct professor and senior public health manager with 15+ years of experience in higher education and health program planning, administration and evaluation. Her research and scientific interests include: epidemiology of infectious diseases; food and nutrition sciences; and application of theoretical models to evaluate behavior change interventions. Dr. Agroia holds a Doctorate and Masters in Public Health from Loma Linda University’s School of Public Health and is a certified Master Health Education Specialist. Dr. Agroia is committed to advancing healthcare access and equity among underserved and marginalized populations and works to ensure that public health programs are not only designed and evaluated to bridge equity gaps but that research is done in close collaboration with community members and agencies providing direct services to ensure findings are relevant and representative of true population needs.

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  • I have significant experience in health equity practice. My work in public health has spanned various roles, including project management, strategic planning, health policy and direct community engagement, with a focus on reducing health disparities in underserved populations. I have worked on donor and government-sponsored projects across various health intervention areas. My research interests are health services research, financing, Maternal and child health, adolescent, sexual & reproductive health, gender, health policy, heath equity and vulnerable population.

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  • Dr. Sana Kausar Habiya is a licensed physician from India and currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health from Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) (USA) with an expected graduation in December 2025. She earned her Bachelor’s in Medicine and Bachelor’s in Surgery degree from Indian Institute of Medical Science and Research, Jalna (India) with an affiliation to Maharashtra University of Health Sciences. She has an extensive medical background with over 3 years of working experience in hospital settings.

    She currently works as a graduate research assistant at the NEIU Centre of Health Department and has organised and conducted research at the college level to improve the health and well-being of the students. She has excellent leadership skills and she is also actively involved in many leadership roles. She is the founder and president of Public Health Professionals and co-founder and president of SPARK (Student Pursuing Action Research and Knowledge), both student-led organisations at NEIU. She is also an APHA Campus Liaison. She was recently appointed as Communication Co-Lead for the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC), European Sleep Research Society (ESRS).

    Sana’s research interests are health inequities, more specifically in neurodiverse populations. Her work revolves around critical topics such as the quality of sleep, the effectiveness of the Pomodoro Technique in virtual study halls, and substance use among college students. Her long-term goal is to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience or Health Sciences to continue her research in sleep and neurodiversity, with the aim of advancing interventions that improve health outcomes and overall quality of life.

    Sana is a member of many associations, such as Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA), American Public Health Association (APHA), SACNAS, World Sleep Society, European Sleep Research Society (ESRS), American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), Sleep Research Society (SRS)

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  • Dr. Taha Rasul is a dermatology resident physician at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital with a focus on health equity, skin cancer prevention, and innovative models of care delivery. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida and earned his medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Rasul has led research on nonmelanoma skin cancer, hidradenitis suppurativa, and mobile dermatology clinics, with an emphasis on underserved and low-income populations. He also volunteers at free clinics, providing dermatologic care to uninsured patients, and mentors students in health equity research. His long-term goal is to bridge gaps in dermatologic care through a combination of clinical practice, research, and community outreach.

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  • Atticus Wolfe, Ph.D., MPH (he/him) is an assistant professor of public health at Agnes Scott College in Georgia, USA. Atticus obtained his Master's in Public Health Administration & Policy from the University of Minnesota and earned a graduate certificate in gender studies and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of South Carolina. His research investigates the intersection of socio-cultural identity, institutional environments, and health policy to inform health equity interventions and research. His recent projects investigate health and wellbeing among health care professionals and trainees, the influence of culture and education on LGBTQ+ patient experiences, and effective education strategies for undergraduate and graduate health trainees. He is a leader in multiple professional organizations, including the American Sociological Association, Society for the Study of Social Problems, and the American Psychological Association.

  • Rahbe Simmons, M.Ed., CPH is the Director of the Office for Public Health Advancement at Harris County Public Health in Houston, Texas, where he leads agency-wide strategy, training, and systems change efforts to advance optimal health and strengthen community-centered public health practice. He also serves as Community Outreach Chair for Houston Area Urban League Young Professionals and as a AAMC CHARGE Ambassador, contributing to national conversations on equity, leadership, and institutional accountability in health and medicine.

    Rahbe brings over a decade of experience across public health practice, education, and consulting, and is deeply committed to mentoring emerging leaders and advancing equitable, community-driven public health solutions.

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  • Dr. Jody Vogelzang, a nationally recognized speaker, researcher, registered dietitian, and health education specialist, is an expert in community health who has spent the last two decades teaching in higher education. Her passion for the human right to nutritious food has driven her teaching, research, and volunteer work. Vogelzang’s research explored nutrient diversity in corner stores, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of school lunch in Charter Schools, and food insecurity on college campuses.
    Vogelzang’s peers have formally recognized her for excellence in professional practice through the awarding of Excellence in Public Health Nutrition (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), Achievements in Public Health Nutrition (American Public Health Association), Outstanding Leadership (Society of Public Health Education), and the Medallion Award for dedication to the high standards of the nutrition and dietetics profession through active participation, leadership, and devotion to serving others in nutrition and dietetics (AND).
    She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Michigan State University, a Master of Science in Biomedical Science from Grand Valley State University, a Master of Arts in Biology from Miami University, and a Ph.D. in Health Services specializing in Community Health from Walden University. She regularly volunteers in food-related professional and community organizations locally, nationally, and internationally.
    Vogelzang is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition.

  • Athar Memon is a Ph.D. candidate in Health Communication and a Teaching Assistant at Ohio University, Athens. He is a medical doctor and public health professional with over nine years of interdisciplinary experience across clinical care, public health program implementation, and higher education. His experience includes approximately five years working in healthcare facilities as a medical doctor, nearly two years working in non-governmental organizations in clinical and project management roles, and more than three years of experience in teaching and academic research.

    He earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, Larkana, Pakistan, and his Master of Science in Public Health from the APPNA Institute of Public Health, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.

    Athar’s research interests include occupational health, chronic disease, mental health, digital health, and healthcare systems, as well as the application of psychological and health communication theoretical models to predict health behaviors and inform evidence-based behavior change interventions. His current doctoral research focuses on medication adherence among patients with chronic disease, integrating Communication Accommodation Theory, the Hierarchical Model of Medication Adherence, and the health education technique Teach-Back Method, along with trust in the medical profession and social determinants of health, to better understand patient–provider communication and adherence behaviors among rural Appalachian populations living with chronic diseases.

    He is committed to improving healthcare access and reducing disparities among underserved and marginalized populations, including transgender individuals, human trafficking survivors, and people with health limitations or disabilities, through research-driven evidence and community-engaged approaches. He is also dedicated to translating research findings into practice by advocating for stronger, more accessible healthcare systems through data-driven policy and communication strategies that improve patient outcomes.

    Athar is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Public Health Association (APHA), Ohio Public Health Association (OPHA), Eastern Communication Association (ECA), National Communication Association (NCA), International Communication Association (ICA) and the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA).

Health Equity Research Mentors

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  • Karla Williams is a 2024 graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine, where she earned a master’s degree in Justice-Involved Care. Since December 2024, she has been an active member of the AAMC CHARGE community, dedicated to serving deserving populations by helping to shape policies that promote equitable healthcare, fair wages, educational opportunities, and safe, affordable housing. As an AAMC peer reviewer for Academic Medicine and MedEdPORTAL, she provides insightful commentary on current topics in the medical field. Karla looks forward to collaborating with UAID and students to help improve the lives of underserved communities.

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  • Lisa Shook-Chiles, DHPE, MA, MCHES is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She also serves as the Administrative Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, where she is dedicated to advancing outcomes for children and adults living with sickle cell disease.

    Dr. Shook-Chiles’ research interests include health education, health disparities, health services research, health literacy, newborn screening, and the transition from pediatric to adult care. Her leadership extends to the Sickle Treatment and Outcomes Research in the Midwest (STORM) project, an eight-state regional learning network of pediatric and adult providers across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. She has been the PI of this initiative which has been federally funded through the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Demonstration Project since 2014.In addition, Dr. Shook-Chiles serves as the Director of Newborn Screening at Cincinnati Children’s- a role she has held for nearly two decades as the PI for the Ohio Department of Health’s Newborn Screening grant for the past 19 years.

    Through her work, Dr. Shook-Chiles continues to drive innovation in health services, promote equity in care delivery, and mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals.

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  • Aarti Upadhyay is an experienced policy strategist with expertise in programs at scale, research and advocacy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). She is committed to evidence-based policy research and equitable access to resources for vulnerable
    communities. She recently completed the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP) scholar at
    Brandeis University USA (August - May 2024)

  • Kinjal Nayak has held diverse leadership roles across academia, public health, and community initiatives. As Executive Editor of The National Library of Patient Rights & Advocacy, she leads and mentors a team of editors and contributors while overseeing strategic content development. She also served as Public Health Communication Co-Chair for the American Public Health Association, managing multi-channel initiatives and guiding social media teams to enhance public engagement. In academia, she acted as an Instructor and Teaching Assistant at Kent State University, mentoring students in epidemiology, biostatistics, and research methodology. Her leadership extends to large-scale community initiatives, including participating in the Guinness World Record Largest Dental Check-Up and representing the United States as an Intercontinental Youth Connect Ambassador, promoting global collaboration and youth empowerment. Additionally, she serves as a judge at the Ohio State Science Fair and has contributed as a peer reviewer for journals including the National McNair Research Journal, The Columbia University Journal of Global Health, Cureus, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, as well as an abstract and film reviewer for the American Public Health Association, reflecting her commitment to advancing science, mentoring emerging talent, and maintaining rigorous standards in research and public health.

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  • Edmond Kubi Appiah, BDS, MPH, is a dental surgeon and public health professional with a strong background in clinical research, epidemiology, and health equity. He earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery in Ghana and his Master of Public Health in the United States. His work focuses on oral-systemic health connections, health disparities, and the impact of environmental and social determinants on vulnerable populations. Edmond has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed research and has presented his work at national and international scientific forums. He is passionate about advancing interdisciplinary solutions that bridge oral health, public health, and equity to improve outcomes for underserved communities.

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  • Emerita Professor Lora E. Fleming CBE MD PhD MPH MSc FAAFP PFHEA is a co-founder of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health and Emerita Professor/Chair of oceans, epidemiology and human health at the University of Exeter Medical School and Emerita Professor at the University of Miami Schools of Medicine and Marine Sciences.

    She is a board certified occupational and environmental health physician and epidemiologist with over 30 years of experience and expertise in environment and occupational exposures and human health research and training.

    With various international collaborators, Professor Fleming is involved in research, training and other activities in the new interdisciplinary metadiscipline of oceans and human health.
    https://www.ecehh.org/person/prof-lora-fleming/

  • Amanda Weiskoff is a research development professional with a passion for health equity. She earned an MS in Bioinformatics from Rochester Institute of Technology and a PhD in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology from Cornell University before turning her efforts to translational and clinical research communications. Amanda is currently the Manager of Research Development at the Houston Methodist Academic Institute. In this role, she leads a team that enhances scientific communication and builds research capacity throughout the institute in a variety of biomedical research fields, many of which include health disparities and health equity studies.

  • Grace Nwachukwu is an environmental and public health scientist specializing in the intersections of climate, coastal ecosystems, and human health. She applies data-driven approaches, including GIS, remote sensing, and AI-powered spatial analysis, to explore environmental drivers of health outcomes, support equitable policy solutions, and inform community-level interventions. Her work generates actionable insights for environmental monitoring, disaster risk assessment, and conservation planning. Grace holds master’s degrees in Geographic Information Science, and in Environmental Science and Policy.

  • Oluwaseun Badru is a doctoral researcher at the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, United States. He has actively been involved in sexual and reproductive health, infectious disease research, and implementation science. Oluwaseun has led numerous research projects, presented his findings at notable conferences, and published his work in several leading public health journals.

  • Natasha L. Taylor, MHA, PMP, MPH Candidate, is a healthcare leader, public health practitioner, and policy-focused strategist with over 20 years of experience across clinical, community, and health systems settings. Her background spans hospital systems, long-term care, mental health, and population health, with a focus on trauma-informed care, health equity, and systems transformation.

    Natasha is the Founder and Executive Director of She Is Us United Inc., a trauma-informed public health organization advancing community-based healing, prevention, and health education, and the Founder of Taylord Healthcare Solutions LLC, a consulting firm specializing in compliance, health policy, and systems-level strategy.

    Her work centers on addressing disparities through community health needs assessments, culturally responsive programming, and policy-informed interventions. Natasha actively contributes to national health equity efforts through leadership roles in organizations such as the American Public Health Association (APHA), the NAACP Health Committee, and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

    As a Health Equity Practice and Research Mentor with UAID, she supports emerging public health leaders in developing community-based projects, advancing research, and translating data into sustainable, equitable solutions.

  • Janet Armitage, PhD, MBA, is Professor of Sociology and Director of Public Health Programs at St. Mary’s University. Her research focuses on compassion, wellbeing, and health at the individual, organizational, and institutional levels. She studies the development and application of active compassion in medical education and is exploring how organizational compassion can help alleviate workplace distress and suffering in its various forms. Her ongoing applied research also examines health inequities shaped by the social determinants of health, including their impact on diabetes management.

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*Also serves as a UAID Health Equity Research Mentor

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  • Dr. Antoine-Hardy has a proven track record of academic teaching and public health research. She has a multidisciplinary background, with a strong emphasis on employing community-based participatory research to address health inequities among marginalized communities, structural racism related to environmental & climate injustice, complementary and alternative medical modalities (specifically cannabidiol in seizure reduction), social determinants of health for disadvantaged, marginalized populations, and cancer and other adverse health outcomes related to air pollution.
    Dr. Antoine-Hardys’ research interests stems from problems nested inside historical events, characterized by racial and gender formations of economic inequality, unfair authoritarian political institutions, degradation of human rights, and institutional violence.
    Dr. Antoine-Hardy received a DrPH with a Community Health Behavior and Education concentration from Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. She received an MPH from Armstrong Atlantic University and an MBA in Global Management from American InterContinental University. Dr. Antoine-Hardy received CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing.
    Throughout her career, she has established a robust research portfolio consisting of 5 submitted grants as a co-investigator and contributor (in the capacity of evaluator and program director). Dr. Antoine-Hardy’s research career has been successfully funded by state and national agencies, including the Research Engagement Initiative of the Office of Sponsored Research at Dillard University, the Office of Sponsored Research at Georgia Southern University, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Association of County and City Health Officials, Brite Grant, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 
    Dr. Antoine-Hardy has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the ByWater Institute at Tulane University on research projects involving community-based participatory strategies to address climate change and environmental problems among vulnerable populations. This collaboration resulted in a successfully awarded grant in the amount of $2.5 million from the EPA to conduct a study on the Cumulative Health Impacts at the Intersection of Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Vulnerable Populations Lifestages: Community-Based Research for Solutions.
    Current Work
    Research:
    Teratogenic effects from pharmaceutical medications (AEDs) amongst pregnant women with epilepsy
    Cumulative Health Risk of Emissions of Air Pollutants Policies on Disenfranchised Communities Residing in Cancer Alley, LA
    Collaborations:
    Florida AmeriCorps to develop a Center for Community Engagement, Research, and Service Learning. The Center will utilize multidisciplinary methodologies and approaches to enhance public health response to various issues that threaten the health and quality of life among vulnerable populations.
    The Center will also house the Tally Engagement Health, which is an innovative program that engages universities, community organizations, and health care systems throughout Tallahassee to support widespread implementation of an evidence-based chronic disease management program. The program will expand access to health care services, enhance knowledge in chronic disease prevention and management to low-income populations in Leon County, and train DrPH and MPH students to become Community Health Workers.
    Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

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  • Daniel Pagán, MA, MPH has 10 years of experience as a research and evaluation professional. His work emphasizes the use of data and findings that improve programs and organizational strategies addressing inequities and systemic issues. He has worked with foundations, government agencies, city and county health departments, non-profits, and community-based organizations. Daniel’s evaluation work highlights opportunities for programs to address inequity through organizational strategy development, building monitoring and evaluation systems, leadership development, community development, and improving access to services that support optimal health and well-being. Daniel is currently employed as a Lead of Evaluation Methodology and Analytics with NACCHO, the National Association of City and County Health Organizations. In this position he manages several projects aimed at addressing roots of inequities, vaccination disparities, strengthening rural health infrastructure, and building health equity infrastructure into both big and small health departments across the nation. Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

Prior Mentors

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  • Bharat Narang is a Clinical Research Manager within the Immigrant Health & Cancer Disparities Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY. He leads and manages a team of research staff in the execution of federally and foundation-funded behavioral health change, psychosocial, and/or quality of life research interventions (protocol write-up, implementation and management, and close out and publication) with medically underserved and hard-to-reach populations to reduce health disparities. Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

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  • Katie Logan began leading the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts’s Communications Team in October 2024. She joined RHHD in summer 2023 as the Grants and Communications Specialist before transitioning to this role.


    The Communications Team helps RHHD staff reach a variety of audiences as effectively as possible. Comms supports writing, design, social media messaging, media relations, web development, and grant writing needs across both districts.


    Katie was born and raised in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. She holds a BA in English from Columbia University and an MA and PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Texas at Austin. Before coming to RHHD, she spent seven
    years as a faculty member in VCU’s Department of Focused Inquiry, which leads small critical thinking seminars for first- and second-year college students. Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

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  • Dr. Seth H. Frisbie is a professor emeritus of analytical chemistry with over 35 years of experience in public health. He earned his B.S. from the University of Massachusetts and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Cornell University. He is the principal or coauthor of numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in scientific books, and government and United Nations reports. His team has worked on drinking water and public health in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe. In Bangladesh, they made the first national-scale maps of arsenic, manganese, lead, nickel, and chromium-affected drinking water. Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

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  • MPH graduate with extensive experience in public health research, both domestically and internationally, focusing on infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases. Skilled in health equity analysis, data interpretation, and community engagement, with a strong commitment to addressing disparities and improving health outcomes across diverse populations. Served as a UAID Health Equity 2024-2025

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  • Karla Williams is a 2024 graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine, where she earned a master’s degree in Justice-Involved Care. Since December 2024, she has been an active member of the AAMC CHARGE community, dedicated to serving deserving populations by helping to shape policies that promote equitable healthcare, fair wages, educational opportunities, and safe, affordable housing. As an AAMC peer reviewer for Academic Medicine and MedEdPORTAL, she provides insightful commentary on current topics in the medical field. Karla looks forward to collaborating with UAID and students to help improve the lives of underserved communities.