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CUNY SPH is delighted to welcome Arielsela Holdbrook-Smith as the inaugural program officer for the new Health Equity & Literacy Program (HELP). Arielsela brings to this new role a wealth of experience in coordinating interdisciplinary health equity research, health education, multi-sectoral collaboration and community-centered program planning.
Her professional focus and background span the areas of addressing social disparities, narrative medicine, community healing and the integration of arts into public health. In her most recent position at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, she successfully coordinated well-being and health promotion programs as the Health Promotion Specialist. She holds an MPH in Community Health Science and Practice from New York University School of Global Public Health. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).
As HELP’s program officer, Arielsela will work within the collaborative community engagement, and health education programming of the Harlem Health Initiative (HHI), building upon the portfolio of health communication efforts launched over the past three years. Reporting to and working closely with HHI Director Deborah Levine, Arielsela will collaborate with other programs and projects at CUNY SPH, ensuring communication tools and materials harmonize with community information needs. As part of the HHI, the HELP team will continue to extend crucial support and partnership to community-based organizations, with an emphasis on Harlem and Upper Manhattan. Additionally, these efforts will create project-based community engagement opportunities for CUNY SPH students.
“Arielsela’s multidisciplinary background, commitment to community health education and devotion to health equity make her uniquely suited to drive HELP’s success,” says Levine. “She will serve as a key player in sustaining and strengthening our partner relationships to impact community health literacy.”
With two years of generous support from the Booth Ferris Foundation to the CUNY SPH Foundation, HELP’s projects will take a multifaceted approach, including promoting knowledge about the importance of routine vaccinations, raising awareness of preventable illnesses exacerbated by inequities and offering operational support and technical assistance to community-based organizations. CUNY SPH will continue to serve as a resource for health literacy promotion within Harlem and throughout the city.
“We are thrilled to have Arielsela join this signature initiative delivering on our mission of social justice and better health outcomes for all,” says Adam M. Doyno, CUNY SPH Foundation executive director and director of development. “Thanks to the vision of the Booth Ferris Foundation and our Foundation Board, CUNY SPH continues to lead in our city’s efforts to enhance health equity.”
