Our Team

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Our Team

A dynamic team of mission-driven healthcare research, education and policy experts focused on serving the underserved.

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April Joy Damian, PhD, MSc, CHPM, PMP

Chief Scientific Officer and Director

April Joy Damian, PhD, MSc, CHPM, PMP

Chief Scientific Officer and Director

Dr. April Joy Damian is an epidemiologist, health services researcher, and classically trained public health professional with expertise in health equity, social determinants of health, psychiatric epidemiology, and mixed methods. She currently serves as the Vice President and Director of the Weitzman Institute, a research, education, and policy center dedicated to quality improvement and primary care transformation, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations. Dr. Damian concurrently serves as a Senior Scholar for Health Equity at AcademyHealth, and holds faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Wesleyan University. She provides thought leadership on numerous national committees, including as an appointed Member of the National Academies Board on Children, Youth, and Families, Forum for Children's Well-Being, Member of the Committee on Advocacy and Public Policy (CAPP) and Membership Committee at AcademyHealth, and inaugural Vice-Chair of the Health Equity/Patient Reported Outcomes/Community Engagement Committee of NIH's RECOVER initiative. Dr. Damian previously served as the Director of Quality Innovation at the National Quality Forum (NQF), where she spearheaded the expansion of NQF’s portfolio on social determinants of health quality measures, and co-led the NQF Measure Incubator®, an innovative effort that facilitates efficient measure development and testing through collaboration and partnership, and addresses important aspects of care for which quality measures are underdeveloped or non-existent.

Dr. Damian completed her PhD in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Masters in Medical Sciences at Harvard Medical School. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelors of Arts in Ethnic Studies, Highest Honors. She has received numerous recognitions in honor of her role as a social change agent, including the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded Community Well-Being Warrior Award, and an honorarium from the University of Delaware.

Margaret Flinter, PhD, APRN

Founder Emeritus, Senior Investigator, Senior Faculty

Margaret Flinter, PhD, APRN

Founder Emeritus, Senior Investigator, Senior Faculty

Dr. Margaret Flinter is the Senior Vice President and Clinical Director of the Community Health Center, Inc. A family nurse practitioner since 1980, she has held progressive roles in the organization as both clinician and executive leader as it transformed from a storefront clinic to one of the country’s largest FQHCs. In 2005, she founded CHCI’s Weitzman Center as the research and development arm of CHCI, now the Weitzman Institute, and serves as a Senior Faculty of the Institute. Margaret also served as the national co-director of the RWJ Foundation’s LEAP project, which studied exemplar primary care practices across the country. She also serves as the PI and co-Director of the National Technical Training and Assistance Project on Clinical Workforce Development. Margaret has led the national development of a model of post-graduate residency training programs for new nurse practitioners committed to practice careers as primary care providers, particularly in safety net settings and established and chairs the Board of the National Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Consortium. She is the co-host of a weekly radio show, “Conversations on Health Care”, which connects people with issues of health policy, reform, and innovation, and speaks widely on topics related to primary care transformation.

Margaret received her BSN from the University of Connecticut, her MSN from Yale University, and her PhD at the University of Connecticut. She is a fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Margaret is a former National Health Service Corps and RWJ Executive Nurse Fellow.

Karen Ashley, EdD

Director of Education

Karen Ashley, EdD

Director of Education

As Director of Education for the Weitzman Institute, Dr. Ashley is responsible for providing leadership and supporting the growth and development of the Weitzman Institute’s diverse educational programs. Dr. Ashley has focused her career on adult education in health and health care, whether in academic or non-profit settings. Her areas of expertise include curriculum design and development, accreditation, faculty development, instructional design, and evaluation. Prior to joining CHC, Dr. Ashley was the Associate Director of Education at The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice at Dartmouth College, where she oversaw its MPH, MS, and PhD programs. While at Dartmouth, Dr. Ashley was also the Principal Investigator for a CDC/PEPFAR project in partnership with Boston University’s School of Public Health, and Muhimbili University’s School of Public Health (in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) to redesign Muhimbili’s public health curriculum and offer faculty development seminars. The goal of this nine-year project was to increase the number of public health workers in the field to address HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.

Prior to joining Dartmouth, Karen served as Director of Education for the Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care, providing continuing education for hospice and end-of-life care providers and volunteers for hospice agencies across North and South Carolina. Before that, she worked with the Northeast Tennessee Area Health Education Center through East Tennessee State University, coordinating continuing education for medical and other health care professionals in 13 counties in Tennessee. Karen completed her EdD in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix, MEd in Health Education from the University of Tennessee, and BS in Health and Sport Science from Wake Forest University.

Mandy Lamb, MA

Director of Strategic Operations

Mandy Lamb, MA

Director of Strategic Operations

As the Director of Strategic Operations, Mandy is responsible for stakeholder engagement and capacity building for the Institute. She oversees various operational aspects of the Institute to ensure efficient and effective functioning across all three arms of the Institute (research, education and policy), in addition to the Institute’s work with other Moses Weitzman Health System affiliates. Mandy plays a critical role in driving organizational growth and advancing the mission of the Institute. She leads the approach and strategy for developing, maintaining and expanding key relationships that are mission-aligned and financially support the Institute’s priorities. As part of her role, she oversees the faculty appointment and recruitment process for the Institute. Since 2021, Mandy has also served as the project lead for the Institute’s collaboration with the LEGO Group to bring to scale the national Prescription for Play program.

Mandy joined the Weitzman Institute’s Education Department in 2017, where she was responsible for overseeing the expansion and implementation of Weitzman’s Project ECHO® program. Project ECHO is a disruptive and innovative tele-mentoring program developed at the University of New Mexico, and successfully replicated by the Weitzman Institute, with the goal of reducing disparities in access to specialty care for patients in medically underserved regions. Along with overseeing the implementation of Weitzman ECHO programs, Mandy also led multiple large education and telehealth initiatives. Mandy initially joined the Community Health Center in 2015 as the Executive Assistant to the CEO and Senior Vice President and Clinical Director, where she supported special initiatives of the executive office and was responsible for managing the Board of Directors for CHC and its affiliates.

Prior to joining the Moses Weitzman Health System, Mandy was a Research Associate for the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she developed and reported on public opinion polls on various domestic and international health topics, including attitudes on immunizations, infectious disease prevention, and health policy. Mandy obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Saint Michael’s College, and her Masters of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. While completing her studies at UMass Amherst, Mandy taught courses and conducted research on health policy and public opinion.

Cassandra Okechukwu, ScD, MSN, MPH

Director of Research

Cassandra Okechukwu, ScD, MSN, MPH

Director of Research

Dr. Cassandra Okechukwu is the Director of Research at the Weitzman Institute. A nurse and social epidemiologist, she has devoted more than twenty years to turning rigorous science into practical tools that strengthen care delivery and improve health and economic outcomes for historically underserved populations. Her connection to community health centers began in 1998, when as a student nurse in Baltimore she first saw how they could combine clinical care with social care to transform lives. That experience continues to shape her vision for research that is community-driven and actionable.

Cassandra’s career spans academia, government consulting, and the private sector. She served as Vice President of Health Equity Research at UnitedHealth Group, leading enterprise-wide research on AI/ML governance and care redesign. At MITRE Health, she was Principal and Senior Advisor on Social Determinants of Health, serving as scientific lead on federally funded projects that produced technology tools now used by HRSA and CMS.

As faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, she conducted observational and experimental research on workplaces as social determinants of health, and co-directed the Harvard/Dana Farber Cancer Center Cancer Prevention Fellowship, and was one of the principal investigators on the Work, Family, and Health Network Study, and Harvard Center for Work, Health, and Wellbeing. She continues to serve as Adjunct Associate Professor at Harvard.

Her honors include the BEYA Award for Research Leadership, the Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Work-Family Research Excellence, the APHA James Zimmer New Investigator Award, and Best Paper at the IESE VI International Conference on Work and Family. Cassandra earned her Doctor of Science in Social Epidemiology from Harvard, Master’s degrees in Public Health and Nursing from Johns Hopkins, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship as a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar at UCSF and UC Berkeley.

Ariel Porto, MPH

Assistant Director of Education Operations

Ariel Porto, MPH

Assistant Director of Education Operations

Ariel Porto is the Assistant Director of Education Operations at the Weitzman Institute where her work focuses on the conceptualization and development of virtual continuing education initiatives such as Project ECHO, webinars, on-demand modules, and learning collaboratives for health care professionals. Across a robust historical and current portfolio of projects, Ariel leads programs that apply one or more of these modalities regionally and across the country to solve for major health disparities in topic areas such as substance use disorder, psychiatric conditions, diabetes, and women’s health. Ariel has nearly a decade of experience in this field, including hands-on as a Program Coordinator, serving as the Program Manager to train and supervise an operations team of Program Specialists during a period of rapid growth, and program oversight as the Senior Program Manager for Education. In her current role, Ariel is integral to the funding, design, and development of new programs, leads stakeholder relationships with a variety partners from federal and nonprofit agencies and health plans, provides collaborative and compassionate leadership and mentorship to a diverse and skilled Education team, and co-leads the Weitzman Institute’s Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education (CEU) activities. Ariel promotes resilient collaborations between research and education program implementation staff, ensuring that the Weitzman Institute’s findings and best practices are disseminated nationally through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, often through the lens of implementation science. Prior to this position, Ariel managed the support department for an elder law website and taught English to children in Japan, developing diverse technology and communication skills that lend to the dynamic perspective she brings to leadership. She earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and completed a dual Bachelor's Degree in Communications and English Literature at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island.

Arjee Restar, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Arjee Restar, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Arjee Restar (she/her) is a social epidemiologist and applies mixed-method approaches to evidence-based research to drive effectiveness and impact. She embraces data- and theory-informed research methodologies to advance knowledge and improve quality end-user experience. Dr. Restar is committed to fostering bidirectional, intersectoral collaborations, and has worked on projects that span across areas of behavioral health, health equity, health policy, product development and intervention, evaluation study design, and data inclusivity. Dr. Restar has consulted as a research and evaluation expert for several partnerships, including the World Health Organization, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Veteran Health Administration. Dr. Restar attained her PhD and MPH in Behavioral Sciences and Epidemiology from Brown and Columbia.

Becca Tavernier, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Becca Tavernier, PhD

Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Becca Tavernier is a licensed clinical health psychologist with over 12 years of experience developing and implementing treatment approaches to improve maternal and child health. She is a Senior Research Scientist at the Weitzman Institute where her program of research incorporates mixed methods and centers social determinants of health. Her work focuses on identifying and addressing health disparities, engaging community, and implementing novel treatment approaches. She is the principal investigator of the Prescription for Play program—a nationally-implemented play-promotion intervention delivered during standard 18- to 36-month well-child checks—and has served as co-investigator and key personnel on numerous federally and privately funded initiatives to improve the health and health care of birthing people and their children. Dr. Tavernier also holds specialty certification in perinatal mental health and is the sole owner of a private practice where she works with clients experiencing perinatal mental health concerns and fertility challenges. Dr. Tavernier completed her BS in psychology and BA in philosophy at the University of Washington, and her joint PhD in clinical and biological health psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She went on to complete her clinical residency at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and her postdoctoral fellowship training in epidemiology and translational science at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Tavernier maintains an appointment as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth campus where she aids in the education and training of future medical providers.

She has worked as both a researcher and clinician and has specialty certification in perinatal mental health.

Katrina Yamazaki, PhD

Principal Investigator, All of Us Research Program / Senior Research Scientist

Katrina Yamazaki, PhD

Principal Investigator, All of Us Research Program / Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Katrina Yamazaki is the Principal Investigator for the All of Us Research Program and Senior Research Scientist at Weitzman Institute. Dr. Katrina Yamazaki received her Ph.D. from UC San Diego where she used x-ray imaging and biochemical techniques to study the mechanisms by which abnormal wall motion leads to an upregulation of inflammation in the heart. Dr. Yamazaki was a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Cal State LA where she ran a cardiovascular metabolism research lab and taught multiple courses related to human anatomy, physiology and pathology. She also served as program coordinator and director for the California State University Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation undergraduate program and Bridge to Doctorate program for graduate students, which prepared students facing socioeconomic, educational and financial barriers for STEM graduate programs and/or the STEM workforce. Dr. Yamazaki brings her experience in research, mentoring, program oversight and working with a diverse community to her role at Weitzman Institute.

Humyra Ali, MPH, CHES

Education Program Specialist

Humyra Ali, MPH, CHES

Education Program Specialist

Humyra Ali is an Education Program Specialist for the Weitzman Institute. With a deep commitment to health equity, she aims to address policy and educational barriers affecting underserved communities. Her research interests include reproductive health, food as medicine, and social determinants of health. Before joining the Weitzman Institute, Humyra served as an Outreach Services Educator for Northwell Health primarily working with the Wellness on Wheels Program, where she created and facilitated curriculum to tackle food insecurity and encourage healthy eating among pediatric populations. Humyra was also a founding member of the New York Birth Control Access Project's Associate Board, working to advance reproductive health access and rights across New York State through community-based education and grassroots advocacy. Humyra is certified as a Health Education Specialist and holds a Master's degree in Public Health and a Bachelor's degree in Health Science from Hofstra University.

Shelby Anderson-Badbade, MA

Senior Program Manager

Shelby Anderson-Badbade, MA

Senior Program Manager

Shelby Anderson-Badbade is a Senior Program Manager for the Weitzman Institute where she primarily oversees the activities of the Prescription for Play program, which embeds learning through play into pediatric well-child visits through provider education and free play kits in partnership with the LEGO® group and foundation. Along with her team, she is currently leading a multi-site study across the US to evaluate the process and outcome measures of Prescription for Play as well as lead the team’s implementation of the program in all 50 states and 2 territories. In addition to Prescription for Play, Shelby’s other work centers her interest in pediatric populations, migrants populations, qualitative research, and patient-centered research. Prior to joining Weitzman in September of 2021, her previous research has centered on vulnerable populations with a particular interest in the health and rights of children, migrants, and refugees. Shelby received her MA in Anthropology from Georgia State University where she collaborated with a leading local refugee organization to conduct an ethnographic program evaluation focused on their after-school program for refugee youth. In addition to her masters, she has received training in children’s human rights, participatory-action research, and migrant rights. Shelby believes research and data should be used to empower and center the needs of the vulnerable and disempowered. She hopes her research and evaluation work at Weitzman will help in developing more person-centered research and innovations locally and beyond. Outside of work, Shelby can be found trying new recipes, hiking local trails, or planning her next travel adventure.

Meaghan Angers

Program Specialist

Meaghan Angers

Program Specialist

Meaghan Angers is the Program Specialist of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP) on Clinical Workforce Development at Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)/Weitzman Institute. In this role, she supports the activities providing free technical assistance (T/TA) nationally to health centers in the key areas of training the next generation and transforming teams and expanding to emerging issues, such as COVID response T/TA and soon- to-launch HIV prevention T/TA. These activities include outreach to the nation’s federally qualified health centers to enroll them in the activities of the NTTAP, supporting expert faculty in the development of curriculum, materials and nation presentation, and provides technical assistance to enrollees in accessing distance-learning technologies used in the project. Meaghan is responsible for coordinating the NTTAP efforts around evaluation and data analysis.

Coralie Arango

Education Program Specialist

Coralie Arango

Education Program Specialist

Coralie Arango is a dedicated professional with a background in psychology, holding a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Bridgeport. Currently serving as the Education Specialist at Moses Weitzman Health System in Meriden, CT, Coralie oversees administrative operations, providing technical assistance to program staff, ensuring quality assurance, and developing educational presentations and curriculum. With a proven track record in healthcare, Coralie has honed skills in customer service, data entry, and program coordination. Previous roles include Operations Coordinator at the Meriden branch of Community Health Center, where multitasking and maintaining a high standard of care were paramount. With a rich history of providing support to individuals with mental and physical disabilities, Coralie Arango is not only proficient in English and Spanish but also brings a compassionate approach to every role, fostering independence and well-being within diverse communities.

Arlina Beltran

Research Coordinator

Arlina Beltran

Research Coordinator

As Program Manager for Education, Dr. Bommarito is responsible for the management of a number of education activities for health professionals at the Weitzman Institute. Her areas of expertise include maternal and reproductive health, continuing education for the health care team, institutional and programmatic accreditation, and qualitative and quantitative research. Prior to joining the Weitzman Institute, Dr. Bommarito held a variety of positions in education, accreditation, and research, including Accreditation and Direct Education Manager at the Minnesota Medical Association, Accreditation Coordinator at the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council, and Research Scientist at the University of Minnesota, Department of Family Social Science. She earned her PhD in Sociology from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and BA in Health Science from Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

Rachael Bommarito, PhD

Program Manager, Education

Rachael Bommarito, PhD

Program Manager, Education

Anthony DiMartino, MA

Project Manager

Anthony DiMartino, MA

Project Manager

Anthony DiMartino, MA, is an experienced Project Manager for the Weitzman Institute where they oversee implementation of the Heal Our Youth program and day-to-day program management of Key Populations ECHO. At the Weitzman Institute, Anthony is passionate about developing education initiatives that help to address health inequities faced by underrepresented populations and is proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community in their role. As a certified educator, Anthony brings their instructional expertise and extensive background in secondary education to all the work they do. Anthony also co-leads the E3 (Expanding Equity in Education) Committee and the Weitzman Wednesdays meeting series. They are a proud graduate of Quinnipiac University, where they obtained their Bachelor of Arts in English and Master of Arts in Teaching. In their free time, Anthony enjoys creative writing, video games, and taking care of their handsome cat, Jace.

Alejandra Duran-Bova

Program Manager

Alejandra Duran-Bova

Program Manager

Alejandra graduated with a Bachelors of Education and Languages from the Libre University in Colombia. She has devoted the past five years to a successful career in healthcare. Beginning as a Patient Services Associate (PSA) at CHCI, and then transitioned to the role of Research Coordinator for the All of Us Research Program. Her commitment to advancing healthcare excellence led Alejandra to assume the position of Quality Assurance and Training Lead. In this role, she played an essential part in maintaining and enhancing operational standards while overseeing training initiatives. Currently serving as a Program Manager, Alejandra continues to bring her expertise to the forefront, coordinating comprehensive healthcare programs with precision and strategic insight.

Bianca Flowers, MPH

Project Manager, NTTAP

Bianca Flowers, MPH

Project Manager, NTTAP

Bianca Flowers is the Project Manager for the National Training and Technical Assistance Partner (NTTAP) on Clinical Workforce Development at Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC)/Weitzman Institute supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). In this role, she oversees the program’s implementation and operations, in addition to developing innovations to the program. She is responsible for carrying out tasks related to conducting, coordinating, and supporting the growth and development of NTTAP activities. This includes project objectives, vision, success criteria and measurement, budget, scope, developing an implementation plan, and project management throughout the project. This also includes documentation of these processes, communication with internal CHCI/Weitzman, and external partners nationally. Most recently, Bianca served as the Health Educator and Special Projects Coordinator at Suwannee River Area Health Education Center (SRAHEC) in Alachua, Florida where she supported the center’s Federal AHEC Scholars Program focused on interprofessional learning for health professions students. Bianca graduated from Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in 2016 with her Bachelor’s in Public Health, and she also has a background in higher education and student affairs from working as a SCSU Wellness Center Graduate Intern while pursuing her Master’s of Public Health. One year after graduating in 2019, Bianca successfully passed the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC), Inc.’s competency-based examination and became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®).

Kissairy Guareno Pena

Participant Experience Lead

Kissairy Guareno Pena

Participant Experience Lead

Shannon Hanson, MSW

Program Manager, Education

Shannon Hanson, MSW

Program Manager, Education

Shannon Hanson is a Program Manager for Education at the Weitzman Institute where she manages the lifecycle of multiple continuing education activities. Shannon has been with the Moses/Weitzman Health System since 2013 when she started as an Outreach and Eligibility Associate with Community Health Center Inc.’s (CHCI) Access to Care team. In this role, she assisted CHCI patients with enrolling in state and private health insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act in the nation’s first national open enrollment. She then worked as a Program Manager with CHC’s School Based Health Services from 2015-2021, overseeing a team of Coordinators and Medical Assistants and working with licensed providers to bring medical, dental, and behavioral health services to children in schools throughout Connecticut. She then went on to work as an Operations Manager with CHCI, overseeing operations of two of CHCI’s primary care facilities in CT. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Fairfield University in CT, and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Connecticut with a concentration in Community Organization and substantive focus in International Issues in Social Work.

Lynsey G. Huppe, MHA

Project Manager

Lynsey G. Huppe, MHA

Project Manager

Lynsey G. Huppe is a Project Manager for the Research and Evaluation team at Weitzman Institute. She has a passion for health equality, with a specific focus on social determinates of health.

She has been with the organization since 2019 and previously, worked as an Education Program Specialist, focusing on Project ECHO. Within the Project ECHO team, Lynsey managed several ECHOs including Complex Integrated Pediatrics and Advanced Primary Care. Lynsey started as the Department Coordinator of the Weitzman Institute and Executive Assistant to Community Health Center, Inc.’s President and CEO Mark Masselli.

She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a dual degree in History and Human Rights, and has her Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Cincinnati.

Outside of her time at the Weitzman Institute, Lynsey enjoys time with her dog, reading, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Julia Karlin, MS

Junior Project Manager

Julia Karlin, MS

Junior Project Manager

Julia Karlin is a Junior Program Manger for the Weitzman Institute on the Prescription for Play program, which embeds learning through play into pediatric well-child visits through provider education and free play kits in partnership with the LEGO® group and foundation. In this role Julia works to spread the model of Prescription for Play and educate pediatric providers on the importance of play for early childhood development. Julia is passionate about health, health equity, and social justice. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Diversity and Social Justice at East Carolina University, Julia went on to receive her Masters in Integrative Health and Wellness from Creighton University’s School of Medicine. Julia is proud to be a part of the Weitzman Institute and contribute to the important work conducted by the organization.
With the UT Health Brownsville Regional Campus she served as the project manager for the UT Health Mobile Clinic Community Health Worker/Navigator program which provided basic health services to rural areas of Cameron County. She is very proud of leading a needs assessment for the mobile clinic that enhanced and expanded its impact by providing locally-based patient navigators to support screening of BMI, hypertension and to deliver health education presentations and support. She also worked closely with community health workers/promotoras de salud in the implementation of culturally relevant health presentations across Cameron County as part of various health initiatives including the Tu Salud Si Cuenta Health campaign, Salud y Vida Diabetes Prevention Program, and general presentations related to nutrition, physical activity, and colorectal cancer prevention.

Tonantzin grew up dividing her time between the border towns of Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros Mexico. She is very proud of her bicultural upbringing which allowed her to see first-hand how social, cultural, economic and political factors affect the health of border residents. Tonantzin is a graduate of UT Brownsville where she double majored in Psychology and History. She has a Master of Science in Psychology from UT San Antonio. Tonantzin is bilingual in English and Spanish, and is proficient in French.

MacKenzie Koester, MPH

Research and Evaluation Program Manager

MacKenzie Koester, MPH

Research and Evaluation Program Manager

MacKenzie is a Kansas native, and an alumni of the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she obtained her Master of Public Health degree. She previously worked for the University of Kansas, Department of Physical Activity and Weight Management, where she was a Research Coordinator, and Children’s Mercy Kansas City, where she was as a Research Assistant for the Weighing In program. MacKenzie has primarily worked with special and vulnerable populations including adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, and caregivers of AD patients. MacKenzie will be working as a Research and Evaluation Program Manager for CHC. In her spare time, MacKenzie enjoys spending time with her partner, playing with her pet cats and dogs, working on her parent’s farm and ranch, and cheering on the Jayhawks and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jessica McCann, MPH

Senior Health Policy Analyst

Jessica McCann, MPH

Senior Health Policy Analyst

Jessica McCann, MPH, CPH Senior Health Policy Analyst Jessica joined the Weitzman Institute as Senior Health Policy Analyst in 2023. She received her Master of Public Health degree from Oregon Health and Science University, where her work focused on improving health care for underserved and vulnerable populations. She previously earned a master’s degree in geography from Temple University, and strives to incorporate place into her public health work. In previous positions with the Robert Graham Center and HealthLandscape, both within the American Academy of Family Physicians, Jessica gained experience in health policy and research, data analysis, geographic information systems/health geography, and federally-funded health centers. Her research interests include behavioral health, community health centers, climate health and environmental justice, and health equity. She enjoys traveling, hiking, and lots of coffee.

Email:[email protected]

Lorena Morgan

Program Specialist

Lorena Morgan

Program Specialist

Lorena Morgan Program Specialist Lorena Morgan is an Education Program Specialist for the Weitzman Institute, where they work closely with the Weitzman ECHO team and help manage aspects of the Weitzman Education Platform and Joint Accreditation status. Lorena graduated Summa Cum Laude from Central Michigan University (CMU) in 2023 with a B.S. in Public Health Education and Spanish. They were also a member of the CMU Honors Program and a leader in their university's chapter of Eta Sigma Gamma, a health education honorary. Lorena is passionate about remedying chronic health inequities in minority populations and is particularly interested in interventions that address Type II Diabetes. They are also dedicated to social justice issues regarding underrepresented individuals, such as the LGBTQ+ community and other minority groups. In their free time, they enjoy cooking, buying and caring for their houseplants, and spending time with their beautiful Siamese cat, Goju.

Maximillian Morris, MPH

Research and Evaluation Associate

Maximillian Morris, MPH

Research and Evaluation Associate

Maximillian Morris, MSPH Research and Evaluation Associate Max is a research and evaluation associate within Weitzman education. He plans and assists with the evaluation for various Weitzman ECHOs, as well as monitoring other Weitzman research projects. He has a B.A in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Science in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg school of Public Health. He has a passion for travel, the beach, and all things sweet!

Rosie Motz, MPH, MA, RDN

Senior Program Manager, Education

Rosie Motz, MPH, MA, RDN

Senior Program Manager, Education

Rosie Motz is a Senior Program Manager at the Weitzman Institute, where she oversees project milestones and deliverables, designs new programs, leads and mentors a team, and manages successful stakeholder partnerships for educational interventions designed for health care professionals. In 2020, Rosie joined the Weitzman Institute, where she managed and implemented educational interventions in her capacity as a Program Specialist. Following, she was a Program Manager for two years where she oversaw every aspect of educational projects’ life cycles. Rosie has more than ten years of expertise in the field of public health and is also a registered dietitian nutritionist. Her dedication to her work with marginalized and underserved populations stems from her conviction that every person deserves full and equitable access to healthcare and food as a human right. Rosie earned a Master of Public Health degree in Behavioral, Social, Community Health and a Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from Indiana University Bloomington. She also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics and Bachelor of Arts in Human Rights Studies from the University of Dayton. Her research, during her dual MPH-MA, investigated food insecurity and the food system of the indigenous Peruvian Quechua population, where she spent over 6 months in Peru learning the Quechua language and culture, conducting her research, and working at a local health nonprofit. In her role before joining the Weitzman Institute, she worked as a community dietitian with disadvantaged populations in Chicago including recently resettled refugees, people experiencing housing insecurity, and people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. In her spare time, Rosie enjoys playing in her garden, adventuring outdoors, and experimenting in her kitchen.

Thelma Nanbigne

Participant Experience Lead

Thelma Nanbigne

Participant Experience Lead

Since joining the All of Us Research Program as a Research Coordinator in September 2021, Thelma has advanced to her current role as a Participant Experience Lead. In this position, she collaborates closely with the Research Coordinators and oversees outreach, engagement, and enrollment initiatives across the various CHCI sites and within the community.

Claire Newby, MPH

Program Manager

Claire Newby, MPH

Program Manager

Claire Newby joined the Weitzman Institute as a Program Specialist in June 2022, and was promoted to the role of Program Manager in September 2023. In this role, Claire works with the Prescription for Play program, a collaboration with The Lego Group to address the mental health needs of young children. Claire graduated summa cum laude from DePaul University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences in 2020, and went on to receive a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Minnesota in 2022. Prior to joining the team at Weitzman, Claire has experience working in public health and healthcare in a multitude of capacities, including roles such as a collegiate peer health educator, mental health advocate for adults with severe and persistent mental illness, an Autism services paraprofessional for preschool and school aged children, and a services coordinator for students in recovery from substance use disorders. Claire’s interests lie in health equity and access, and she is proud to use her role as a Program Manager to reduce health disparities, improve mental health in children, and encourage best practices among providers.

Jason Neenos, MEd

Instructional Design Specialist

Jason Neenos, MEd

Instructional Design Specialist

Jason Neenos is an Instructional Designer for the Weitzman Education team. Previously Jason was an Instructional Designer for higher education working with faculty on course development and technology training. Prior to that he was a K12 teacher teaching History, Government, and English. He has a Master of Education in Educational Technology from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education, also from Arizona State University.

Paige Petit

Participant Experience Coordinator

Paige Petit

Participant Experience Coordinator

Paige Petit is a Participant Experience Coordinator with the All of Us research program. Paige graduated from the College of The Holy Cross in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. They combined their interests of food justice and service work through two years of service with the AmeriCorps program, FoodCorps. They served at two elementary schools in Middletown and built a strong connection to their service community. When the pandemic struck, they stepped up to become the Farmers Market Manager for the city. They spent the next several years working at elementary schools, specializing in social emotional learning and literacy instruction and eventually gaining their elementary teaching certification. Paige joined the All of Us research program as a team member in November 2023 and has gained their NHA certification in phlebotomy to benefit the program. Paige is the communications lead for the team and works with the Participant Experience Lead to foster external partnerships with community organizations. Additionally, they do outreach at CHC sites, assist participants in their enrollment journey, and give presentations to community partners to promote the program. Outside of Moses-Weitzman Health System, Paige coaches preschool soccer, and enjoys painting, dancing, mutual aid, bird-watching, keeping house plants and LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Colleen Phillips

Instructional Design Specialist

Colleen Phillips

Instructional Design Specialist

Colleen is an Instructional Design Specialist for the Weitzman Education team. Colleen works to continually improve our education programs and develop engaging synchronous and asynchronous content to support our mission. Previously, Colleen worked in higher education where she assisted faculty with the development of online courses for undergraduate and graduate programs. She also has experience creating synchronous and asynchronous training curricula and instructional materials in secondary school and corporate settings. Colleen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Villanova University, a Master of Education degree in Mathematics Education from Rutgers University – New Brunswick, and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology degree from Saint Joseph’s University of PA.

May Oo, MPH

Senior Research/Evaluation Associate

May Oo, MPH

Senior Research/Evaluation Associate

May Oo is a Senior Research/Evaluation Associate at the Weitzman Institute, where she supports the Prescription for Play program, coordinated by The LEGO Foundation, to promote play for pediatric patients aged 18 to 36 months. She also contributes to various research projects at the Institute, focusing on data analysis, manuscript development, and grant writing. May is currently pursuing a Doctor of Health Informatics (DHI) with a specialization in Health Data Analytics at Rutgers University. She holds a Master of Science in Business Analytics from Quinnipiac University, a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Dental Medicine, Yangon.

Prior to joining the Weitzman Institute, May worked as a Research Assistant in the Division of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, where she conducted a study aimed at improving performance and reducing musculoskeletal injury risks among active-duty firefighters. Additionally, she served as a Program Assistant for the Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative Program, addressing community needs and developing strategies to raise awareness about underage drinking and substance abuse. May has presented her work at conferences and contributed to peer-reviewed journal articles. She brings extensive expertise in quantitative research, program evaluation, and strategic program planning.

Abigail Quansah, MHA, MBA

Junior Project Manager

Abigail Quansah, MHA, MBA

Junior Project Manager

Abby is a Junior Program Manager for Weitzman Institute where she primarily serves on the implementation team of the Prescription for Play program, a partnership with the LEGO Foundation to promote learning through play at pediatric primary care visits in clinics across the country. In this role, she provides insight to provider relations, program coordination and process improvement to support equitable health care opportunities to thrive in underserved communities. Prior to this role, she worked on the NIH All of Us Research Program also within Weitzman Institute as the Internal Program Specialist. She coordinated internal operational aspects of the AoU program and provided oversight and management of the Research Coordinators.

Before joining CHC and Weitzman in 2022, she was simultaneously working as a School Based Health Center Care Coordinator with Intercommunity Healthcare and as a Pharmacy Technician with CVS Pharmacy. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Business Administration from University of Hartford and her dual Masters of Health Administration/Masters of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She also has a passionate background in faith based philanthropic initiatives. Abby is a native of Connecticut, born and raised but loves to travel, plan/coordinate events, cook, bake, explore new adventures and spend quality time with her loved ones.

Sarah Roepe

Research Coordinator II

Sarah Roepe

Research Coordinator II

Sarah Roepe, BA Binghamton University, just joined the All of Us Research Program as a Research Coordinator II. In the past, she has worked in a clinical and health psychology program on many research studies. More recently, she worked at Yale Hospital as a Patient Care Associate during the COVID pandemic. Just prior to joining the All of Us Research program, she worked as an outpatient full time phlebotomist.

Peyton Rogers, MPH

Research and Evaluation Associate

Peyton Rogers, MPH

Research and Evaluation Associate

Peyton Rogers obtained her Master of Public Health in Behavioral Social and Health Education Sciences (BSHES) from Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of South Carolina. Before joining CHC, Peyton served as a Research Coordinator/Assistant in the Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. At UNC, she was responsible for managing and assisting a study focused on Black female adolescent experiences with reproductive health counseling in primary care. Peyton has also had the opportunity to serve as a research assistant at reproductive justice organizations: such as Sisterlove, Inc, and RISE (The Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast). She worked on studies that focused on improving reproductive health and equity of people in the U.S Southeast through research, education, policy, and community engagement. Peyton has contributed to conference presentations and peer-reviewed journal articles based on her work. She brings expertise in qualitative research, program evaluation, program planning, and community-centered and participatory research.

Luis Torres

Program Specialist

Luis Torres

Program Specialist

Luis Torres is the Program Specialist at the Weitzman Institute with the All of Us Research Program. Providing support primarily at the New London Community Health Center and various modified clinic sites. As a Research Coordinator, Luis helped facilitate new participants to enroll in the program and does physical measurements and blood draws as one of the Phlebotomists. Luis will be enrolling in an Undergrad Program with primary focus on Computer Science and Public Health administration as a minor focus. Prior to joining Weitzman, Luis was a Dental Assistant with the Community Health Center for ten years, with over 300 hours of externship working chairside with Dental professionals at CHCI. Luis obtained multiple certificates and important trainings with his tenure at CHCI and continues to use them as stepping stones to for helping AOURP moving forward.

Emma Warshauer, MPH

Education Program Specialist

Emma Warshauer, MPH

Education Program Specialist

Emma Warshauer is an Education Program Specialist for the Weitzman Institute. Emma graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication with minors in Biomolecular Science and Writing/Publishing in 2021. She is expected to graduate in the spring of 2024 from Sacred Heart University with a Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Community Outreach. Emma previously worked for Hartford Hospital in the neurotrauma/neurosurgery units as a surgical scheduler. Most recently, Emma has been working with the Fairfield CARES Community Coalition researching and analyzing data regarding LGBTQ+ substance misuse in Connecticut. Emma has always been passionate about health and the medical field. Some of her specific interests include mental health, LGBTQ+ health, and health equity. In her spare time, Emma enjoys reading, knitting, and “unplugged” nature walks.

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