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Browse the host bios below to learn more about participating professionals, their backgrounds, areas of expertise, and networking advice. Use this page to identify the hosts you would most like to meet when selecting your sessions.
New host bios will be added as participants are confirmed, so check back regularly for updates.
Medical Education, Operations, and Evaluation Lead, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Pulwasha
Pulwasha Iftikhar is a physician and public health professional working at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she contributes to programs and initiatives focused on improving population health and addressing health disparities. Her work brings together clinical medicine, public health practice, and policy to support healthier communities and strengthen public health systems.
She earned her Master of Public Health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, building on her clinical background and further developing her expertise in population health, prevention, and health policy.
Pulwasha collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and community partners on public health programs, health education, disease prevention, and program implementation. Her professional interests include women’s health, preventive medicine, health equity, and community health, with a focus on improving access to quality healthcare for marginalized populations.
Her experience across clinical and governmental settings has provided her with a broad perspective on the connection between individual patient care and population-level health.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“My go-to icebreaker is asking an open-ended question about someone’s work or career journey, giving them an opportunity to share what they are passionate about.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t underestimate the value of staying connected. A thoughtful conversation today can lead to mentorship, collaboration, or an opportunity in the future.”
Connect with Pulwasha
LinkedIn: Pulwasha on LinkedIn
Executive Director, New York State Office of Mental Health
Industry: Government, Healthcare
About Kanika
Kanika Jefferies is the Executive Director of the New York State Office of Mental Health’s New York City Children’s Center (NYCCC), recently named a Top 25 Provider in mental health. With over a decade of leadership at NYCCC, she fosters a mission-driven, culturally responsive culture focused on delivering best-practice care across the hospital’s network.
Her extensive leadership background includes serving as Director of Quality Management at NYCCC, Director of Legal Compliance at Kingsboro Psychiatric Center, and a Legal Epidemiology Intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Passionate about public service, Kanika serves as an Advisory Board Member for the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs and volunteers with the CUNY Citizenship Now! Project.
Kanika holds a Juris Doctor from CUNY School of Law, a Master of Social Work from Fordham University, and a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College. She is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Learning what brought them to the moment.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Be yourself and you can never go wrong.”
Connect with Kanika
Kanika will share her contact information directly with attendees during their sessions and/or via email afterward.
Food Access Manager, Community Healthcare Network
Industry: Nonprofit
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Kevin
Kevin Danishefsky is a 2025 graduate of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, where he earned his MPH in Health Policy and Management. He currently serves as Food Access Manager at Community Healthcare Network (CHN).
In this role, Kevin oversees the CHN Food Pantry, which serves more than 350 clients each week. In addition to managing in-person food distribution, he has implemented a grocery delivery program that provides weekly groceries to more than 25 clients, expanding access to food assistance for the communities CHN serves.
Connect with Kevin
Email: Kdanishefsky@chnnyc.org
Director of HRTP: A Public Health Internship Program, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, MS in Health Communication for Social Change
About Gemily
Gemily F. Abadines Carew, MS (she/her), is the Director of HRTP: A Public Health Internship Program at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with over 19 years of experience in public health and workforce development.
As a teenager in the Philippines, Gem’s first venture into public service involved building a volunteer organization from an unlikely network: people who shared her love of art, anime, and cosplay. Through providing creative and recreational art therapy for underserved youth, participating in health promotion programs, and partnering with nonprofit organizations focused on housing for low-income communities, she developed a lasting passion for public health.
During her undergraduate studies at CUNY Hunter College, a professor encouraged her to apply for the NYC Health Department’s HRTP program. She secured an internship in summer 2009 and has now been with the agency for over 17 years. She credits HRTP with helping her build a career in public service.
Today, Gem oversees HRTP, one of the oldest and largest public health traineeships in the country. HRTP interns participate in a diverse range of experiential learning opportunities at the Health Department, united by their commitment to public health and serving fellow New Yorkers.
Beyond HRTP, Gem has served in various leadership roles, including helping lead the city’s vaccination response during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the agency’s equity initiatives, and authoring a special section on family separation for the agency’s report on the health of Asians and Pacific Islanders in NYC, inspired by her own immigrant experience.
Gem is passionate about public health, social justice, and art. She holds an undergraduate degree from CUNY Hunter College and a graduate degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Origin story of your name.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Authenticity is one of the best ways to connect with others.”
Connect with Gemily
Email: hrtp@health.nyc.gov
Executive Director of State and Local Public Health Initiatives, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Affiliated Faculty, CUNY Graduate Center
Industry: Academia, Government, Nonprofit
About Dr. Greene
Dr. Danielle Greene has dedicated her public health career to enacting change at the intersection of scholarship, practice, and policy. Her expertise lies in building bridges and breaking down silos within and across community, academia, government, and healthcare institutions. The underlying commonalities in her work are the social factors that impact under-resourced or underrepresented communities. Throughout her career, she has addressed a range of issues, including HIV/AIDS, home environmental toxins, opioids, aging, mental health, and sexual and reproductive justice, through a community and equity lens.
Currently, Dr. Greene is the Executive Director of State and Local Public Health Initiatives at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, where she also serves as Senior Advisor to the New York City Preparedness and Recovery Institute. She holds an appointment as Affiliated Faculty with the PhD Program in Social Welfare at the CUNY Graduate Center.
Before returning to academia, Dr. Greene served as Chief of Staff at the New York State Department of Health and was an integral part of New York State’s COVID-19 response. Previously, she held senior positions at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Center for Applied Public Health at Columbia University. She also held faculty appointments at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and as an adjunct at the NYU School of Global Health.
Outside of CUNY, Dr. Greene serves as a Governing Councilor for the American Public Health Association, a Community Advisory Board member for the CUNY School of Medicine’s NYCenter for Advancing Translational Research and Health, a member of the NYC Public Schools Institutional Review Board, and a scientific peer reviewer for several journals and conferences. In December 2025, outgoing Mayor Adams appointed Dr. Greene to the NYC Gender and Racial Equity Advisory Board.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Smile when meeting people. Don’t look for the most important person in the room; talk to anyone you can. You will be surprised at where that can lead you.”
Connect with Dr. Greene
LinkedIn: Dr. Greene on LinkedIn
Email: danielle.greene@sph.cuny.edu
Program Administrator, Jacobi Medical Center
Industry: Academia, Healthcare
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Community Health
About Zyair
Zyair Simpson is a public health practitioner with extensive experience in community health, specifically sexual health prevention. Zyair has a background in healthcare, fieldwork, community engagement and outreach, strategic programming, and grant management across both the nonprofit and private sectors.
She recently concluded her work on the CDC PS21-2102 grant as Program Manager for HIV Services and the T.E.S.T. Team Navigation Program in Jacobi Medical Center’s Emergency Department. In this role, she oversaw program coordination for HIV point-of-care testing and linkage to care in the adult emergency department, as well as the STI navigation program through VirtualExpressCare.
Additionally, Zyair serves as an Adjunct Lecturer at Lehman College in the Department of Health, Administration, Research and Technology (HeART).
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Get comfortable with small talk.”
Connect with Zyair
LinkedIn: Zyair on LinkedIn
Executive Director of Arts in Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals
Adjunct Faculty, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management
Industry: Healthcare
About Larissa
Larissa W. Trinder serves as Executive Director for Arts in Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals, where she leads one of the most ambitious arts-in-healthcare initiatives in the country. She oversees the stewardship, exhibition strategy, conservation, maintenance, acquisition, and curation of the health system’s collection of more than 8,000 works of art—the largest non-museum collection in New York City—with many pieces dating back to the 1930s. Installed throughout the system’s facilities, the collection advances evidence-based design principles that support patient experience, enhance trust, and improve workplace environments for staff.
In addition to overseeing the visual arts collection, Larissa directs the development and implementation of evidence-based arts and cultural programs integrated across the continuum of care. Her work positions Arts in Medicine as a strategic driver of health equity, patient outcomes, and workforce well-being. Arts in Medicine is central to a broader, systemwide strategy to address workforce burnout within the nation’s largest municipal health system.
Under her leadership, the program also advances a growing civic engagement strategy that identifies and activates community-based arts and cultural assets, connecting patients, families, and staff to meaningful creative experiences that reduce loneliness, strengthen social connection, and promote holistic health.
Larissa’s work extends to policy development at the intersection of arts, culture, and public systems. She has contributed to national and regional efforts, including participation on a Federal Reserve design team exploring city- and statewide pathways to integrate the arts into economic and community development models, recognizing their measurable impact on economic vitality and community well-being.
She is also adjunct faculty at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where she teaches a graduate elective on arts and health, preparing the next generation of public health leaders to integrate arts and culture into clinical practice and policy. Prior to joining NYC Health + Hospitals, Larissa served as Director of Principal Giving at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk, where she established the hospital’s Creative Arts Policy.
Larissa holds a master’s degree in Public Policy from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is a passionate advocate for the essential role of the arts and humanities as evidence-based interventions in healthcare systems—advancing patient health outcomes, strengthening staff engagement and retention, and empowering communities.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What is the most inspiring place you have ever visited?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Active listening.”
Connect with Larissa
LinkedIn: Larissa on LinkedIn
Email: trinderl@nychhc.org
Health and Safety Coordinator, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Industry: Government
About Robert
Robert Shells is the Health and Safety Coordinator for the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). He has extensive experience in occupational health and safety, with a particular focus on worker and facility safety. His professional background includes safety investigations, outreach, and program development.
Before joining DCAS, Robert served as the Lead Fatality Investigator for the New York State Department of Labor, where he investigated work-related injuries and fatalities among government employees.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Treat everyone with respect. You never know who that person is or who that person knows.”
Connect with Robert
Email: rshells@dcas.nyc.gov
Deputy Director of Grant Development, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Drushanie
Drushanie Sayroo, MPH, PMP, is a public health professional who finds the gaps in youth services and secures the funding to fill them. As Deputy Director of Grant Development at the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), she identifies unmet needs in city programming, pursues federal and state funding to address them, and project manages the grants her team wins.
Her work centers on youth homelessness and community support. She managed implementation of a $15 million HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, which established three rapid rehousing programs, a street outreach program, and an internship program for young people across New York City. She has also secured funding to sustain a fatherhood program at Rikers Island and to build a streamlined system for placing unhoused youth and young adults in DYCD’s Runaway and Homeless Youth shelter beds.
Before joining DYCD, Drushanie managed operations and logistics for a company coordinating saliva-based COVID-19 testing for employers, leading work on a large-scale testing project for MTA employees.
She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“I like to ask about what they enjoy doing outside of work.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Always ask for informational interviews.”
Connect with Drushanie
LinkedIn: Drushanie on LinkedIn
Email: DrushanieS@gmail.com
Associate Director of Quality & Safety, NYC Health + Hospitals
Industry: Healthcare
About Sudha
Sudha Sarode specializes in program management across various sectors, including nonprofit and government, within the public health field. She has contributed to the field for over 14 years. Currently, she manages multiple large-scale training programs in quality improvement, provides project management for the System-Wide Root Cause Analysis Committee, including corrective actions for adverse events, and supports data needs for the Office of Quality & Safety.
Sudha has worked in areas including patient and provider education, social determinants of health, and the Collaborative Care Model, integrating primary care and mental health. She especially enjoys building relationships, leading teams, and keeping things moving in an organized way. She highly encourages a coffee outing to celebrate “wins” with teams.
Sudha holds a Master of Science in Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is also pursuing a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“How did you get interested in the field you’re in?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t be afraid to schedule informational interviews, especially early on in your career, with people you meet at conferences, alumni events, and others.”
Connect with Sudha
Email: sudha.sarode4@gmail.com
Director of Programs, CUNY SPH Foundation
Industry: Nonprofit
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Community Health
About Lauren
Lauren Rauh is Director of Programs at the CUNY SPH Foundation, where she leads scholarship and fellowship administration, program development and evaluation, and strategic partnerships. Her work is organized around three goals: expanding professional development opportunities for public health students, especially those from backgrounds with limited access to professional networks, mentorship, and career coaching; removing financial barriers to their education and careers; and sustaining partnerships between the school and community-serving organizations.
Lauren holds an MPH from CUNY SPH and has co-authored peer-reviewed public health research. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young children.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Do your research before a networking opportunity. Having some knowledge of an individual’s company or role will allow you to ask more meaningful questions. You don’t need to be an expert, just show that you did your homework.”
Connect with Lauren
LinkedIn: Lauren on LinkedIn
Email: lauren.rauh@sph.cuny.edu
Senior Program Manager of Advocacy and Engagement Storytelling, Hepatitis B Foundation
Industry: Nonprofit
About Michelle
Michelle Liu, MPH, is a Senior Program Manager of Advocacy and Engagement at the Hepatitis B Foundation, where she leads initiatives focused on community engagement, health education, advocacy, and storytelling. She oversees the Foundation’s hepatitis B storytelling program, #justB, which creates opportunities for people affected by liver cancer, hepatitis B, and hepatitis delta to share their experiences and help inform public health efforts.
Michelle holds a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences from UTHealth Houston and a bachelor’s degree in Health and Society from The University of Texas at Austin. Her work and interests center on community health, health equity, patient and community engagement, and using storytelling and other community-informed approaches to strengthen public health.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“I like asking people what their ‘public health superpower’ would be if they could choose one. It’s a fun way to break the ice, and I’ve found that people’s answers often tell you a lot about what they’re passionate about and the kind of impact they want to have.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“The best networking advice I’ve heard is to stay curious and open-minded. Everyone comes from a different background and has their own experiences, perspectives, and way of seeing the world, and I think there’s always something to learn from that. I try to go into conversations without too many expectations and be genuinely interested in the person I’m talking to and the work they do. I especially enjoy learning about what people are passionate about and hearing about experiences that may be different from my own. You never know what a conversation might teach you or where it might lead!”
Connect with Michelle
LinkedIn: Michelle on LinkedIn
Email: michelle.liu@hepb.org
Program Manager, CCNY-MSK Partnership for Cancer Research, Research Education, and Community Outreach
Industry: Nonprofit
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Community Health
About Kelsey
Kelsey Schobert, MPH, is a public health professional with extensive experience in program management, clinical research, and community health initiatives. She currently serves as Program Manager for the City College of New York–Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Partnership, where she oversees administrative and financial operations supporting collaborative cancer research, research education, and community outreach.
Previously, Kelsey held positions at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she supported clinical research, health equity initiatives, and community-based public health programs.
Kelsey holds a Master of Public Health in Community Health and Social Sciences from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from William Paterson University.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Be a curious listener. People love talking about their passions and challenges. Ask open-ended questions and listen closely instead of thinking about what to say next.”
Connect with Kelsey
LinkedIn: Kelsey on LinkedIn
Email: kelseyschobert2@gmail.com
President and CEO, Health People Inc.
Industry: Nonprofit
About Dr. Salandy
Dr. Anthony Salandy is President and CEO of Health People, a South Bronx nonprofit advancing community health through peer leadership and community-based services. He brings more than 30 years of experience in public health, research, program evaluation, and organizational strategy, with a career spanning community organizations, academic medicine, and international health initiatives.
His previous leadership roles include Chief Program and Business Strategy Officer at the National Harm Reduction Coalition, Director of Research and Monitoring and Evaluation at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, and Research Faculty at the University of Delaware. His experience also includes international HIV/AIDS work with CDC and State Department PEPFAR programs.
At Health People, Dr. Salandy is guiding the organization’s expansion into reimbursable healthcare services while preserving its grassroots identity. Under his leadership, the organization secured New York State Medicaid authorization to administer chronic disease programming and significant funding to address changes to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
Dr. Salandy’s strengths lie in connecting strategic vision with practical implementation, developing partnerships, and using evidence to improve programs. Across his work, he champions the knowledge and leadership of community members as essential to effective care and lasting organizational strength.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Build relationships across organizations, professions, and backgrounds to discover novel ideas, strategies, and opportunities.”
Connect with Dr. Salandy
LinkedIn: Dr. Salandy on LinkedIn
Email: anthonysalandy@healthpeople.org
Senior Director of Primary Care Performance & Policy, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, DPH in Health Policy and Management
About Dr. Carmona
Jennifer Carmona, DrPH, MPH, brings over 20 years of experience in public health programming and policy, including planning and implementation, evaluation, capacity-building technical assistance (TA), and quality management and improvement (QM/QI).
Dr. Carmona led QM/QI activities for the HIV program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. She later directed quality management and TA services for the Ryan White Part A program at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department), working with more than 90 Part A programs—competitively funded with over $48 million—to assess program performance and provide capacity-building services.
Dr. Carmona also served as Project Director for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity cooperative agreement with the CDC, a multimillion-dollar award supporting infectious disease epidemiology, laboratory, and informatics services. She currently serves as Senior Director of Primary Care Performance and Policy for NYC REACH at the NYC Health Department, where she monitors and analyzes healthcare policy to inform technical assistance for primary care providers across New York City.
She earned her Doctor of Public Health from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. Dr. Carmona is a lifelong New Yorker and a devoted New York Mets fan.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What brings you here?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“What’s the worst that can happen?”
Connect with Dr. Carmona
LinkedIn: Dr. Carmona on LinkedIn
Email: jennifer.carmonadrph@gmail.com
Dashboards & Dissemination Manager, NYC Health + Hospitals
Industry: Healthcare
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Caroline
Caroline Sheehan works with data and people to improve safety-net healthcare and help people thrive. She began her career as a patient navigator and care manager at an FQHC network, working with patients to achieve their health goals.
After studying analytics alongside a concentration in Health Policy and Management at CUNY SPH, Caroline transitioned into the world of data. Now, at NYC Health + Hospitals, she creates dashboards, teaches end users how to use data, and manages other programming related to population health.
In the future, Caroline hopes to incorporate more health policy into her work. She always enjoys connecting with the CUNY SPH community to strengthen its network and share ideas and resources.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“How do you spend your time outside of work?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Your network is more valuable when you grow and maintain it before you need a new job!”
Connect with Caroline
LinkedIn: Caroline on LinkedIn
Email: cecsheehan@gmail.com
Director of Crisis Services, AHRC NYC
Industry: Nonprofit
About Barbara
Barbara Cajdler is an accomplished behavioral health leader, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and program administrator with more than 25 years of experience in mental health, crisis services, substance use treatment, developmental disabilities, and community-based behavioral health services.
Barbara currently serves as Director of Crisis Services and Supports at AHRC New York City, where she provides leadership for crisis and grant-funded programs supported by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Her work focuses on developing and overseeing innovative services for individuals with complex behavioral health and developmental needs.
Previously, Barbara managed two Article 31 mental health clinics and a First-Episode Clinic at Staten Island University Hospital. She also served in progressive leadership roles at St. Vincent’s Services, overseeing multiple NYS OASAS-licensed outpatient substance use treatment programs.
Throughout her career, Barbara has been recognized for her expertise in program development, clinical leadership, staff supervision, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and multidisciplinary collaboration. She is also a practicing psychotherapist and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults.
Barbara holds a Master of Social Work from New York University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Forensic Psychology from the University of Warsaw, Poland. She is a New York State LCSW-R and CASAC and is bilingual in Polish and English.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Build relationships, not a contact list.”
Connect with Barbara
Email: barbara.cajdler@ahrcnyc.org
Community Engagement Officer, CUNY SPH
Director, Harlem Health Initiative
Industry: Academia
About Deborah
Deborah A. Levine, LCSW, QCSW, ACSW, directs the Harlem Health Initiative (HHI) at CUNY SPH. With more than three decades of experience in public health and community engagement, she builds partnerships that respond to Harlem’s priorities and advance health equity. Her current work spans mental health, cannabis equity, community education, and workforce development, including the Cannabis NYC Career Training Program, which builds training and employment pathways in New York City’s cannabis sector. Her approach centers community voices in the design of programs and partnerships.
Throughout her career, Levine has helped community organizations, national nonprofits, and houses of worship strengthen health promotion, disease prevention, and risk reduction services for racial and ethnic minority communities. Before joining CUNY SPH, she held senior leadership roles at the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Love Heals, ACRIA, GMHC, and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement. She also served as community co-chair of New York Knows and chair of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Women’s Advisory Board.
Levine is a founding board member and national secretary of the National Black Women’s HIV/AIDS Network, Inc., and a board member of the Coalition on Positive Health Empowerment. She also serves on the NYC Health + Hospitals Community Advisory Board and its mental health subcommittee, as well as the New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s Cannabis Education Advisory Panel.
Levine is a coauthor, with Danielle Greene and Kamrun Nahar, of the open-access chapter Raising the Bar in Community Partnerships: Principles of Co-Design and Sustainability. The chapter draws on HHI’s work to demonstrate how shared decision-making and lasting partnerships can improve public health practice.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“My go-to icebreaker is usually, ‘Tell me a little about the work you’re doing and what you’re most excited about right now.’ I like to start by learning what matters to someone. It usually opens the door to a natural conversation and helps us quickly find where our work, interests, or networks might connect.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Listen and look at people when they are talking to you.”
Connect with Deborah
Email: Deborah.levine@sph.cuny.edu
Senior Project Manager, NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
About Emily
Emily Spokowski holds a BA in Environmental Science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and an MPH in Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences from CUNY SPH. She has built a diverse career in environmental compliance, with experience in EHS consulting for construction, commercial, and residential projects, auditing internal operations at the NYC Department of Environmental Protection, and managing environmental insurance claims.
Emily currently serves as a Senior Project Manager at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination, where she oversees the environmental review process for City-sponsored development projects to ensure compliance with City and State regulations.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What’s your favorite aspect of your job?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t just network with people more advanced in their careers, network with people at your own level as well!”
Connect with Emily
LinkedIn: Emily on LinkedIn
Email: emily.spokowski@gmail.com
Assistant Professor, CUNY SPH
Industry: Academia
About Dr. Oh
Dr. Sehyun Oh, an Assistant Professor at CUNY SPH, integrates her expertise in experimental biology and bioinformatics to drive her research endeavors. As a molecular biologist by training, she conducted research on DNA repair and telomere maintenance mechanisms during her doctoral and postdoctoral research.
Transitioning from bench scientist to bioinformatics scientist, Dr. Oh has developed a novel approach for efficient public database searches and transfer learning.
Currently, her pursuits involve creating a harmonized omics database to enhance the accessibility of machine learning tools. Her overarching career goal is to develop intuitive informatics infrastructure and user-friendly tools that effectively lower barriers across diverse disciplines and resources, ultimately facilitating collaborative and interdisciplinary research.
Connect with Dr. Oh
Dr. Oh will share her contact information directly with attendees during their sessions and/or via email afterward.
Assistant Professor, CUNY SPH
Industry: Academia
About Dr. Williams
Dr. Karmen Williams, DrPH, MBA, MSPH, MA, CPH, is an Assistant Professor in the Population Health Informatics program and the Department of Health Policy and Management at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy.
Dr. Williams is a public health informatics scholar and educator whose work focuses on population health informatics, responsible AI, reproductive health informatics, and technology equity for underserved populations. Her research and leadership emphasize community-centered innovation, including AI-supported student resource navigation, digital privacy in reproductive health technologies, and informatics solutions for justice-involved populations.
Dr. Williams also serves as Director of the American Medical Informatics Association’s For Your Informatics podcast, where she amplifies diverse voices and pathways into the health informatics field.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What brought you into your field? I love personal backstories.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Do not spend the entire event with people you know AND have a 20-second introduction ready (who you are + what you work on + what currently interests you).”
Connect with Dr. Williams
LinkedIn: Dr. Williams on LinkedIn
Email: Karmen.Williams@sph.cuny.edu
Senior Director of Client Engagement, Payer Sciences
Industry: For-profit
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
About Ephraim
Ephraim Tropp earned his MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from CUNY SPH, where he worked on the PARCS Study with Professor Terry Huang, enrolling New Yorkers in underserved communities to examine how park investments impact public health.
After graduating in 2018, Ephraim joined Alcimed, a life sciences consulting firm, before moving to Payer Sciences, a market access agency supporting pharmaceutical companies. In his current role, he develops client relationships, manages projects, and provides strategic recommendations to improve access to healthcare products.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Can you tell me about your role?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t be afraid to ask to network and make time to speak to someone to learn about their job and career path.”
Connect with Ephraim
LinkedIn: Ephraim on LinkedIn
Email: ephraim.tropp@gmail.com
Commander, U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
Industry: Government
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Commander Zee
Commander Jerry Zee has been an active duty officer of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps for more than 21 years. He has provided direct patient care for Native Americans and justice-involved persons and served as a subject matter expert for the Medicare Part D program.
Commander Zee also served as an IT program and management analyst for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and currently serves as an Emergency Management Specialist for the Administration for Children & Families.
He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Marketing & Management from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and his Master of Public Health from Hunter College School of Public Health, now known as CUNY SPH.
Connect with Commander Zee
LinkedIn: Commander Zee on LinkedIn
Email: Jerry.Zee@acf.hhs.gov
Assistant Vice President, Chubb Risk Consulting
Industry: For-profit
CUNY SPH Alum, MS in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
About Dean
Dean Ricken is a health and safety consulting professional passionate about understanding client challenges and developing practical solutions that support their needs. He enjoys helping organizations strengthen worker health and safety through customized approaches aligned with each client’s unique goals.
Dean’s style is collaborative, detail-oriented, and focused on delivering meaningful results that create value for both people and business outcomes.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What’s one thing you’re excited about in your work right now?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Focus on building genuine relationships.”
Connect with Dean
LinkedIn: Dean on LinkedIn
Email: dean.ricken1@gmail.com
Senior Director of Public Affairs & Marketing, Brave Health
Industry: Healthcare
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Health Policy and Management
About Ashley
Ashley Womble, MPH, is a nationally recognized leader in mental health communications and crisis response. Her work spans journalism, public affairs, and large-scale public health interventions—all centered on the belief that seeking help should be seen as a strength, not a weakness.
With a Master of Public Health and deep expertise in government relations, partnerships, and thought leadership, Ashley has been at the forefront of destigmatizing mental health and advancing help-seeking behavior for diverse audiences, from Gen Z to policymakers. At the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now 988), she redesigned the website as a public health resource and partnered with Facebook and Google to improve discoverability and develop online safety best practices.
She later led marketing at Crisis Text Line, securing major media coverage for the organization’s COVID response and launching a UK affiliate with The Royal Foundation. Ashley also served as the launch director for the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline under the Biden Administration.
Now, she leads marketing and public affairs at Brave Health, a mission-driven telehealth provider delivering therapy and psychiatry to individuals with Medicaid and Medicare. Ashley is also the author of Everything Is Going to Be OK, a guide for young adults living with mental illness.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What emoji sums up how you are feeling right now?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Everyone wants you to succeed because it is awkward to watch you fail.”
Connect with Ashley
LinkedIn: Ashley on LinkedIn
Email: awomble@gmail.com
Academic Liaison, NYS Department of Health’s Division of Public Health Infrastructure
Industry: Government
About Cali
Cali Riese Messner, MPH, is the Academic Liaison for the New York State Department of Health’s Division of Public Health Infrastructure, where she leads efforts to build partnerships with colleges, workforce programs, and high schools to promote career pathways into public health.
Cali has a background in community health and experience in cancer screening, case management, health insurance navigation, family home visiting, and workforce development. Prior to joining the Division of Public Health Infrastructure’s core team, she served as a Senior Fellow with the New York State Public Health Corps Fellowship Program.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rochester and a Master of Public Health degree from the University at Albany.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Asking them their favorite part of their job.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“I walk into a room excited to meet new people and learn from them. When I have imposter syndrome, I try to remember that other people feel the same way and are excited to meet me.”
Connect with Cali
Email: cali.messner@health.ny.gov
COO, The Mama Glow Foundation
Industry: Nonprofit, Healthcare
CUNY SPH Alum, MPH in Community Health
About Monique
After more than a decade living and working in the Middle East and Africa, where she gained hands-on experience in global and community health, Monique returned to pursue her MPH at CUNY SPH, graduating in May 2022. Shortly after graduating, she joined Mama Glow, a maternal health education platform, and now serves as the organization’s COO.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“What’s your favorite condiment?”
Connect with Monique
LinkedIn: Monique on LinkedIn
Email: monique@mamaglow.com
Managing Director, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute
Industry: Academia
Hunter College Alum, MPH in Public Health Nutrition
About Craig
Craig Willingham is the Managing Director of the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, where he oversees a diverse portfolio of food policy research.
Previously, he worked at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Center for Health Equity, where he developed and implemented strategies to make it easier for consumers to purchase healthier products at food retail locations across the city.
Craig has a diverse professional background that includes business management, secondary education, regional agriculture, and technical training.
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions.”
Connect with Craig
LinkedIn: Craig on LinkedIn
Email: craig.willingham@sph.cuny.edu
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Vital Care Services
Industry: For-profit, Healthcare
About Christopher
Christopher Gaur is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Vital Care Services, a family- and minority-owned telehealth technology and services company that he has operated with his brother, Dave, since 2012. He is also Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Formed&Found, a nonprofit pottery studio in Carmel, New York, which he founded alongside his wife and Lead Potter, Stephanie.
Christopher earned his BBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Pace University, where he helped create the Pace Perk Cafe in 2010, a late-night student-run eatery that continues to operate today. He later earned his Executive MBA from the Quantic School of Business and Technology.
In addition to his work as an entrepreneur, Christopher is an EMT-B and NASM Certified Personal Trainer who trains clients both in person and virtually. He lives in Mahopac with his wife, three children, and two rescue dogs. Outside of work, he enjoys serving at his church in Carmel, playing drums and bass guitar, running, and connecting with people in his community.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Asking what problems they’re passionate about solving.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Be interested, not interesting.”
Connect with Christopher
LinkedIn: Christopher on LinkedIn
Email: chrisgaur@gmail.com
Adjunct Assistant Professor, CUNY SPH
Industry: Academia
About Dr. Abdelwadoud
Dr. Moaz Abdelwadoud is a public health researcher, educator, and physician with over 15 years of experience spanning clinical medicine, health systems research, and global public health practice across the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and the United States.
He currently serves as Research Scientist and Senior Director of Training at the Center for Systems & Community Design at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, where he leads training initiatives and contributes to research advancing community-engaged and systems-based approaches to improving population health.
He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, where he teaches graduate courses in public health policy, organizational management, and comparative urban health systems and contributes to the relaunch of the school’s Doctor of Public Health program.
Additionally, Dr. Abdelwadoud serves as a Public Health Impact Mentor at Firefly Innovations, CUNY’s digital health startup accelerator, where he mentors early-stage digital health companies on strategy, growth, and health system integration.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Ask about their current job or studies.”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Just relax and get to know people.”
Connect with Dr. Abdelwadoud
LinkedIn: Dr. Abdelwadoud on LinkedIn
Email: moaz.abdelwadoud@sph.cuny.edu
Clinical Professor, CUNY SPH
Industry: Academia
About Dr. Palmedo
Chris Palmedo is a Clinical Professor at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy. His research and teaching focus on health communication, social marketing, health advocacy, and the development of trusted messaging campaigns.
Dr. Palmedo is Co-Founder of the CUNY SPH Master of Science (MS) degree program in Health Communication for Social Change. He joined CUNY following a 20+ year career in senior public affairs positions, where he designed and conducted communications programs aimed at improving health and health equity.
He is also the co-author of a college-level textbook on personal health, now in its second edition, with a focus on the upstream determinants of health.
What is your go-to icebreaker when meeting someone new professionally?
“Where are you originally from? Where were you born?”
What is the best piece of networking advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t burn any bridges.”
Connect with Dr. Palmedo
LinkedIn: Dr. Palmedo on LinkedIn
Email: chris.palmedo@sph.cuny.edu