Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Somava Saha, MD, MS

Founder and Executive Lead, Well-being and Equity in the World; Executive Lead, Well Being In the Nation Network (WIN)

Dr. Saha is a globally recognized change agent dedicated to improving health, well-being, and equity, through the development of thriving people, organizations, and communities. She serves as Founder and Executive Lead of Well-being and Equity in the World (WE in the World) and is the Executive Lead of Well Being In the Nation Network (WIN), bringing together people, organizations, and communities spanning the grassroots to the grasstops to advance intergenerational well-being and equity. Dr. Saha serves as faculty at Harvard Medical School, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and the Governance Institute. Previously, as Vice President at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, she founded the 100 Million Healthier Lives initiative, a global network reaching more than 500 million people to address boundary-spanning approaches across sectors to creating health, well-being, and equity. Dr. Saha currently serves as PI of the Communities RISE Together initiative, which brings ten national partners reaching Black, indigenous, Latinx, migrant, and low-income older adults across the nation, to build trust, and civic capacity and transform systems in the context of COVID. In the last two years, she has co-written or published reports with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the Surgeon General. Her work is used in over 80 universities across the nation. Dr. Saha worked as a primary care internist and pediatrician in the safety-net system for 15 years and as a global public health practitioner for over 25 years.

She received one of ten inaugural Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Young Leader Awards for her contribution to improving the nation’s health. In 2021 she was elected as a Leading Causes of Life Global Fellow.

Opening Keynote Speaker: Karriem S. Watson, DHS, MS, MPH

Chief Engagement Officer, All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health

Karriem Watson, DHSc, MS, MPH., is the chief engagement officer of the All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health. In this role, he leads the Division of Engagement and Outreach, overseeing the program’s efforts to foster relationships with participants, community partners, researchers, and providers across the United States. His focus is on engaging people and populations who have been left out of medical research in the past and inviting them to help drive new biomedical discoveries.  

Dr. Watson comes to All of Us from his role as associate executive director of the Mile Square Health Center, a group of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Chicago affiliated with the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. He also served as the associate director of community outreach and engagement for the University of Illinois Cancer Center and as a research assistant professor in the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Public Health. Beyond his work with UIC, he has served as co-lead of the All of Us Engagement Core at the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, cultivating positive relationships with the program’s participant ambassadors. 

Dr. Watson holds a Doctorate in Health Science (Global Health), a Master of Science in Basic Medical Research, and a Master’s in Public Health (Community Health Sciences). He has served as a principal investigator on multiple projects including those funded by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the All of Us Research Program. His expertise in community-academic partnerships is also supported in his role as board chair of the Community Campus Partnerships for Health. His contributions have earned him recognition by the Chicago Urban League, American Heart Association, LUNGevity Foundation, and others.

Closing Keynote Speaker: Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA

Director, Illinois Department of Public Health

Sameer Vohra, MD, JD, MA, was appointed as the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, effective August 1, 2022, by Governor JB Pritzker.

Dr. Vohra is a general pediatrician who holds degrees in law and public policy. He is a cross-disciplinary leader in state and national health policy formulation, and his recent focus has been on improving health outcomes in Central and Southern Illinois. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Vohra was the Founding Chair of the Department of Population Science and Policy, a practicing primary care pediatrician, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Public Health, Medical Humanities, and Law at the Southern Illinois University – School of Medicine (SIU-SOM) in Springfield, Illinois, where he also served the State of Illinois as the Interim Chair of the Children’s Mental Health Partnership.

A graduate of the University of Chicago, where he earned a Master of Arts in public policy, Dr. Vohra completed his medical residency in pediatrics at the University of Chicago. He holds a medical doctorate from SIU-SOM; a juris doctorate from SIU School of Law graduating first in his class; and a Bachelor of Arts in political science and science in human culture with honors from Northwestern University.

Dr. Vohra previously served on the Illinois State Board of Health, the Illinois Medicaid Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund Steering Committee as well as national committees for the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the American Medical Association, and on the Board of Trustees for the Illinois State Medical Society and Chicago Medical Society.

He has received numerous honors including a United States Fulbright Scholarship in 2009, an American Medical Association Foundation’s Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award in 2014 and was named an Edgar Fellow in 2016 as one of 40 emerging political and policy leaders in Illinois. In 2020, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar, chosen by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the Clinton Presidential Center, the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, and the LBJ Foundation.

Dr. Vohra resides in Springfield with his wife, Tasnim, and two children.

Gloria Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN
Certified School Nurse and Adjunct Professor of Nursing

Gloria E. Barrera, MSN, RN, PEL-CSN currently works as a certified school nurse at a public high school outside of Chicago, and as an adjunct professor of nursing at several universities, most notably at DePaul University, UIC, and her alma mater Saint Xavier University.

Ms. Barrera is the first Latina President of Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN). She’s engaged with ANA-Illinois by serving as an expert panel member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee during its inception. Gloria was appointed to the IDPH Diversity in Health Care Professions Task Force as well as the Governor’s Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s School Safety Committee. She is a vital member and holds a chair elect position within the American Public Health Association’s Nursing Section (APHA-PHN). She is an active representative of Hispanic nurses on the Nursing Coalition on Climate Change and Health, and a fellow of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE). She has gained interest in addressing environmental health issues and protecting public health from climate change. She’s been recognized for her leadership and community work by several organizations, both locally and nationally and most recently was named 40 Under Forty in Public Heath by de Beaumont Foundation.

Leticia Boughton Price, CHW, MSW
President, Illinois Community Health Workers Association

Leticia Boughton Price, CHW, MSW, is an empathetic, encouraging, and enlightening individual with over 30 years of working with youth and families. As the current President of the Illinois Community Health Workers Association (ILCHWA), formerly the Chicago CHW Local Network, Leticia is responsible for sustaining and growing the first CHW Association of Illinois. The ILCHWA seeks to unite CHWs, CHW groups/employers, stakeholders, and allies to create one voice and advocate for policies around CHW issues that promote growth and sustainability.

Leticia’s list of accomplishments includes building collaborative relationships and advocating for the statewide recognition of Community Health Workers in Illinois. She was recognized by Senator Richard Durbin as a force of nature, as he presented her with the first-ever Richard Durbin Community Health Worker of the Year Leadership award. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, skiing, camping, water aerobics, getting her “roll on” (roller skating), Netflix, and Amazon Fire TV Stick.

Jennifer Caldwell, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Northwestern University

Jennifer Caldwell is a “Population Genetic-SIS”, from Pine Bluff, Arkansas who advances & advocates for health equity through community engagement and population-based research. Dr. Caldwell is an American Heart Association Post-Doctoral Fellow at Northwestern University specializing in Cardiovascular Epidemiology by day, and CEO of African Bloodlines Incorporated (ABI) by night. ABI is a start-up genetics company and digital platform that merges science and activism to discover more about the genomic and cultural diversities in the African Diaspora. My purpose is to use genetics, legal, anthropological, and socio-cultural research to bridge healthcare gaps between providers and the communities they serve; and empower people to improve their health by creating relatable educational content. In addition to being a native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she received her MPH in Epidemiology. She obtained her Doctorate in Philosophy in Genetics and Human Genetics from Howard University. Visit ABI website at www.africanbloodlines.com.

Kenneth Campbell, DBe, MPH, MBA, MA
Executive Assistant to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health

Dr. Campbell is currently the Executive Assistant to the Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, and work on Statewide projects. Dr. Campbell is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and was employed by Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS), the third largest public health system in the nation, as the Health System Operations Analyst in Chicago, Illinois. He has a combined experience of almost 20 years in healthcare and public health. Dr. Campbell has led several interdisciplinary groups of healthcare professionals to resolve internal and external operational processes that has led to financial stability and process improvements throughout the system. One of his cardiology projects generated over several millions of new revenue streams. Dr. Campbell has been involved in strategic discussions relating to the improvement of large health system patient care and analysis of performance related to the multiple departments throughout the health system. As such, he has worked with executive leadership including the medical division leadership, operations, finance, medical records, registration and all administrative and clinical leaders to develop innovative programs to help transform the health system to a value-base system while serving one of the densest and most diverse patient populations in the country.

Patricia Canessa, MA, MBA, PhD
Chair of the Committee on Health Equity and Social Justice, American Public Health Association

Dr. Patricia Canessa is the Chair of the Committee on Health Equity and Social Justice at the American Public Health Association, addressing the impact of COVID-19 and racism as Public Health policy issues that directly impact health disparities outcomes within the national Public Health forum.

She brings over 40 years of Public Health expertise in various health issues, including mental health, adolescent health, development and challenges, HIV/Hepatitis/STDs, violence as a social determinant, tobacco-free communities’ programs, culturally-sound cancer education, and navigation models, and chronic disease management interventions. Dr. Canessa held an academic position at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and served as Field Director of the National Lupus Outreach and Clinical Trials Education Program, a partnership with Harvard Medical School and numerous African American institutions and communities in Boston and Chicago. She served on IDPH’s State Board of Health and currently chairs the Health Equity Rural Workgroup. Dr. Canessa teaches at the University of Illinois School of Public Health in Springfield. She has published numerous research and educational articles.

Felicia DavisFourte, MD
Medical Director of Midway Medical and two DUI Facilities

Dr. DavisFourte has worked in the Healthcare Industry for over 40 years. She is dedicated to service and giving back to the community through education, economic development, entrepreneurship and organizational collaboration.

As a Board Certified Anesthesiologist she is the Former Chair of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Critical Care Fellow & Former Chair of Ambulatory Anesthesiology at JHStroger of CC Hospital before her retirement. She was instrumental in opening one of the first SDS Departments in Illinois.

As a dedicated physician she is presently the Medical Director of Midway Medical and two DUI Facilities.

Dr. DavisFourte desires to continue being a servant leader. She serves as the KA HS-LSC Community Rep, Scholarship Committee Member in several organizations, J&J Associate, NMA Delegate, CCPA- Former Treasury, FOKA- Treasury & Secretary, AAPHP member, Links Incorporated Facet Chair, Active CMAC Member and Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

Dr. Davis Fourte is a Physician, Anesthesiologist and Addiction Specialist who is committed to her family, community, faith and helping others live a healthier life through education and empowerment.

Fredrick L. Echols, MD
Chief Executive Officer, Cure Violence Global

Dr. Fredrick L. Echols is the Chief Executive Officer for Cure Violence Global, and an accomplished physician and public health professional both in the public and private health sectors. Before starting his tenure with Cure Violence Global, he served as the Director of Health and Health Commissioner for the City of St. Louis. In these roles, Dr. Echols oversaw all public health regulations and departmental operations and led the City of St. Louis’ COVID-19 pandemic response. Prior to that, Dr. Echols served as director of Communicable Disease, Emergency Preparedness, Vector and Veterinary Programs for the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, overseeing daily operations, staff development and training, establishing of public-private partnerships, strategic planning, fiscal management of a multi-million-dollar budget and program development and implementation.

Dr. Echols also served as Chief of Communicable Diseases at the Illinois Department of Public Health and as a physician in the U.S. Navy, where he managed a staff of medical and ancillary personnel. He was also the principal investor for local and federally funded public health research initiatives.

Sodabeh Etminan, D.M.D., M.P.H.
Dental Director, Mile Square Health Center

Dr. Sodabeh Etminan is currently the Dental Director at the Mile Square Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center affiliated with the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Etminan’s philosophy of care embraces enhanced medical and dental integration for the most medically complex patients and increasing access to oral health services for vulnerable populations. She is committed to shaping and influencing the future of oral health, holding a faculty position at the University of Illinois College of Dentistry and serving on the National Advisory Committee for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). As a public health practitioner, Dr. Etminan leverages her front-line expertise to advocate for systemic change by participating on the Clinical Committee for the Illinois Primary Health Care Association, the Schweitzer Fellowship Advisory Board, and sits on the Illinois Department of Public Health Taskforce on Diversity in Healthcare Professions. She enjoys working on projects that address social issues to promote healthcare outcomes. Dr. Sodabeh Etminan completed her dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania and obtained her Master’s in Public Health and Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She completed her commitment as a NHSC Loan Repayor in the greater Chicago area and was selected as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow which she used to further her understanding of social determinants of health.

Cec Hardacker, MSN, RN, CNL
Director of Education, Howard Brown Health

Cec Hardacker, MSN, RN, CNL is the Director of Education at Howard Brown Health, an LGBTQ-centric community health center in Chicago, and an adjunct instructor at Rush University College of Nursing and regular lecturer at Rosalind Franklin Medical College. Originally hired as trainer of the HRSA-funded Nurses’ Health Education About LGBT Elders (HEALE) cultural competence curriculum, Cec has been instrumental in growing the department of education and developing curricula for multidisciplinary teams of health care professionals. Now part of the Center for Education, Research and Advocacy (ERA), Cec has developed broad evidence-based and community-informed curricula focused on LGBTQ health and best practices. Cec travels across the US to support teams seeking skills to improve the health and well-being of their LGBTQ patients and clients. In an effort to address the gaps in quality of care and disparities in health care across racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups, her commitment is to provide medical professionals with cross-cultural skills to comprehend and tools to communicate effectively with these diverse and marginalized populations. Cec has recently co-authored three chapters and co-edited a book on Transgender Health and Aging. Ces has published numerous papers on novel bladder health research in sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations.

Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, MPH
President, National Association of State Offices of Minority Health

Vivian Lasley-Bibbs currently serves as President of the National Association of State Offices of Minority Health (NASOMH). She is a nationally recognized subject matter expert and has lent her expertise at numerous state, local, and national conferences in the form of workshops, panels, and posters to address health disparities and inequities related to the social determinants of health and the root causes driving health disparities. Her expertise has allowed her to publish in peer-reviewed journals and sit on regional and national committees, state and local advisory boards, and workgroups. She is a member of the executive committee of the Health Equity Council (HEC) of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) and past board chair for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

Vivian Lasley-Bibbs holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Kentucky State University and a master’s degree in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. She is also a graduate of the Physician Assistant Program at the University of Kentucky’s College of Health Sciences. She has continued to expand her knowledge base by taking doctorate-level courses in Public Health with an Epidemiology concentration in the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky. Her professional affiliations include national, regional, and state public health organizations, as well as civic and community-based organizations.

RoxAnne LaVallie-Unabia, JD
Executive Director, American Indian Health Services of Chicago (AIHSC)

RoxAnne LaVallie-Unabia, JD is the Executive Director of American Indian Health Services of Chicago (AIHSC). Ms. LaVallie-Unabia is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians (Belcourt, ND). Ms. LaVallie-Unabia’s relationship with Chicago’s Urban Native community began during an Urban Studies Internship at the American Indian Center in 1986. She holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the federal government system. Under Ms. LaVallie-Unabia’s leadership, AIHSC has grown, and new programs developed. She has a wealth of experience in working with the focus populations and the federal government. Ms. LaVallie-Unabia is on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Urban Indian Health. She is appointed to the Victim Service’s Planning Committee of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, as well as a member of the City of Chicago Gender Based Violence task force. She served as a Congressional intern for former US Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND).

David Li
Social Impact & Policy Officer, Chinese American Service League (CASL)

David Li is a licensed social worker who serves as the Social Impact & Policy Officer at the Chinese American Service League (CASL), a community-based social services organization in Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. CASL has served immigrant and minority communities for over 40 years by offering high-quality programming in childcare, elder care, housing, financial assistance, benefits acquisition, career coaching, behavioral health care, and legal assistance. David’s role is to leverage data to better understand and respond to the unique needs impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities on a local, state, and national scale. This includes implementing and developing more targeted interventions to eliminate health disparities in these communities. He has worked in various industries, including behavioral health care, disability care, public policy research, higher education, and advocacy. David received his Master’s in Social Administration from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice (formerly School of Social Service Administration) and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Wheaton College. He currently lives in Oak Park with his wife, Caitlin, and their furry companion, Cookie.

Karen Mancera-Cuevas, DrPH, MS, MPH, CHES
Deputy Director of Health Promotion, Illinois Department of Public Health

Dr. Karen Mancera-Cuevas is the Deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Illinois Department of Public Health. Her professional background includes previously working in academic centers emphasizing clinical, public health, and community-based participatory research at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University. She has also worked in local non-profit and policy level settings. Programs developed under her leadership addressed chronic disease health disparities in diverse communities of color, specifically targeting women and children at the community-level. She has Master’s level degrees in Public Administration (MS) and Health Policy (MPH) from DePaul University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. Additionally, she earned her Doctorate of Public Health (DrPH) from Walden University and is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Dr. Mancera-Cuevas is Chair-Elect, Governing Councilor, Program Committee Member and Policy Reviewer for the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section of the American Public Health Association (APHA), a delegate to the Coalition for National Health Education Organizations (CNHEO), Associate Editor of Progress in Community Health Partnerships (PCHP) and Regional Committee Trustee for the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). 

Karona M. Mason, DPM, MA
Associate Professor, Surgery and Applied Biomechanics, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

Dr. Mason has over 10 years of teaching and administrative experience at Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. She is an Associate Professor in the department of Surgery and

Applied Biomechanics where she lectures in the Clinical Biomechanics course. She is the Associate Dean of Clinical Experiences where she teaches students in the Scholl Foot & Ankle Center and oversees all onsite clinical experiences including the colleges CME. Dr. Mason is Chair of the Admissions Committee and serves on many committees at the College and the University.

Dr. Mason holds a BA degree in Biology from Brown University, a MA degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University and a DPM degree from Temple College of Podiatric Medicine. She has served as a board member to the National Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. Mason is certified in forefoot surgery with the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Ziemowit Mazur, Ed.M., M.S., PA-C
Internal and Family Medicine Physician Assistant, Associate Professor, and Associate Director, Rosalind Franklin University

Dr. Mazur is an internal and family medicine physician assistant (PA), an Associate Professor, and Associate Director at the Rosalind Franklin University’s PA Program in North Chicago, Illinois. His teaching philosophy reflects a strong commitment to interprofessional education and practice, the incorporation of lifestyle medicine and health prevention measures, and a strong emphasis on patient and professional advocacy. He has authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals related to the best practices in PA education, speaks regularly at seminars nationally, has served as an author and reviewer for several medical textbooks. Dr. Mazur is a prior recipient of the prestigious Don Pederson Research Grant from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

Kimberly E. McCullough-Starks
Deputy Director for Community Engagement, Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services

An experienced executive with demonstrated ability for developing, influencing, and executing strategic decisions in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors while leading diverse professional teams overseeing various programmatic areas including legislative initiatives, policy development, regulatory reform, human resource management, budget, procurement, diversity inclusion programs, as well as general oversight of operations.

Deputy Director for Community Engagement for the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services, the largest health insurer in the state of Illinois ensuring that the most vulnerable citizens have access to affordable, high- quality care. HFS serves approximately 25 percent of the state’s population or over 3.1 million adults and children who qualify for Medicaid with an annual operating budget of $26 billion representing one third of the entire State of Illinois annual budget.

Charles E. McPherson, III, Pharm.D
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy

Charles E. McPherson, III, Pharm.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy (UIC COP). Dr. McPherson works as a Clinical Pharmacist at the University of Illinois Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997 and completed his Pharmacy Practice (PGY-1) residency at UIC College of Pharmacy in 1998. Dr. McPherson lectures within the College and is a clerkship preceptor for 4th year pharmacy students in the professional degree program. In 2012, Dr. McPherson completed the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic and Leadership Fellows program and was appointed Director of UIC Pharmacy Undergraduate Programs in 2016. In August 2021, Dr McPherson was appointed Assistant Dean of UIC Pharmacy Undergraduate Education. In this new role, Dr McPherson oversees the development and implementation of The College of Pharmacy’s newest degree plans – a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) and a combination BSPS/PharmD degree pathway which serves to shorten the time to achieving both degrees by one year. His interest areas include cardiology, infectious diseases, and healthcare disparities. He mentors undergraduate students who are pursuing careers in pharmacy.

Gabriella Mulder, MA
Training Specialist, Howard Brown Health Department of Education in the Center for Education, Research, and Advocacy

Gabriella Mulder (she/her) is a Training Specialist with Howard Brown Health’s Department of Education in the Center for Education, Research, and Advocacy. Gabi holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Sociology, and a master’s degree from DePaul University in Women’s and Gender Studies. Her master’s thesis focused on cultural discourses around fat queer bodies with regards to sexuality, gender identity, and gender expression. In her current role, Gabi provides and develops culturally humble, evidence based, interactive trainings on LGBTQ+ health, manages internship applications, and is part of the Midwest LGBTQ+ Health Symposium Planning Committee. She is passionate about gender and sexuality studies, LGBTQ+ health, and fat studies and is always excited to talk about it.

Debra D. Murray, PhD
Director of Education and Diversity Initiatives, Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC); Associate Professor, Molecular and Human Genetics Department and co-Director of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity, Baylor College of Medicine (BCM)

Debra D. Murray, PhD, a leader in diversity and inclusion, mentoring, and research education, is a 2021 recipient of the Norton Rose Fulbright Faculty Excellence Award in Educational Leadership. As a MPI, she recently was awarded the All of Us Evenings With Genetics Research Program from the NIH All of Us Research Program. Dr. Murray is Director of Education and Diversity Initiatives in the Human Genome Sequencing Center (HGSC), and an Associate Professor in the Molecular and Human Genetics Department and co-Director of the Office of Community Engagement and Diversity at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). In this role, she focuses on faculty training and increasing diversity in the medical genetics’ programs. She is a part of the Engagement, Communication, and Education (ECE) Team that provides community engagement research and activities for the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (IDDRC) and is co-PI on a PCORI “Building Capacity in Hispanic Serving Institutions for PCOR/CER focused on Mental Health Impacts of COVID-19″.

Kemba Noel-London, PhD, MAT, ATC, CES
Social Epidemiologist, Center for Minority Health Services, Illinois Department of Public Health

Dr.Kemba Noel-London is the Social Epidemiologist for the Center for Minority Health Services at the Illinois Department of Public Health. She is a health equity researcher with an interest in exploring the social determinants of health and policy level impacts on minority health. As a social epidemiologist she strives to support the work of the division by understanding the social characteristics that influence the pattern of disease and health, particularly that of COVID-19. She also uses spatial analysis to examine how geography, societal context, and public policy drive health disparities in minority communities. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Studies and a certificate in Geospatial Health from Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice (SLU). She also holds a Masters of Athletic Training from SLU and has experience working as the head of sports medicine for various national teams from Trinidad and Tobago and currently serves on the advisory board for local St. Louis High School health professions program.

Albert W. Pless Jr., MS
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Town of Andover, Massachusetts; Adjunct Professor, Tufts School of Medicine Online MPH program

Albert W. Pless, Jr, is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Town of Andover, Massachusetts. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Tufts School of Medicine Online MPH program and a guest lecturer at the Tufts School of Community Health. He has over 25 years of experience working in community-based programs in the Greater Boston area. He successfully directed nationally recognized Community Health Worker programs for Black and Latino men at the Boston Public Health Commission and Cambridge Public Health Department, and serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Men’s Health and Black Health Care Workers Caucus of the American Public Health Association (APHA) and Harvard Catalyst. Most recently, Mr. Pless transitioned from Public Health, where I worked for the past 20 years, to the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have committed my entire professional career to address health and racial inequities. Mr. Pless received his Master of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH.

Vidhya Prakash
Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Population Health and Chief Medical Officer, SIU Medicine

Dr. Vidhya Prakash serves as SIU Medicine’s Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Population Health and Chief Medical Officer. She is also a professor of clinical internal medicine and infectious diseases faculty. Dr. Prakash graduated from The Ohio State University with a BA in English. She received her MD degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She completed her internal medicine residency followed by infectious diseases fellowship at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC). After serving as an infectious diseases physician in the United States Air Force for ten years on active duty status, she retired from the military in 2014 and joined SIU School of Medicine. Dr. Prakash previously served as vice chair of clinical affairs and chair of the clinical competency committee in the department of internal medicine. She is founder and director of SIU Medicine’s Alliance for Women in Medicine and Science (AWIMS). Dr. Prakash serves as chair of the health and healthcare committee, Illinois Council on Women and Girls (ICWG) and as chair of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Diversity in Health Care Task Force.

Dr. Prakash lives in Springfield, Illinois with her husband, Dr. Eric Black, and their children, Eric Shiva and Ethan Prakash.

Mony Ruiz-Velasco, J.D, B.A.
Deputy Director, Equality Illinois

Mony Ruiz-Velasco is a human rights advocate, an attorney, and the Deputy Director at Equality Illinois where she works to advance a more equitable Illinois for all LGBTQ+ communities. For nearly three decades, Mony worked to advance immigrant justice combining organizing, advocacy, and legal efforts. Before joining Equality Illinois, Mony was the Associate Director for Network Power at Alianza Americas, a transnational human rights organization. She was also Executive Director of the West Suburban Action Project where she advocated for local and statewide policy change, provided legal services, and organized local communities for systemic change. Mony also worked at the National Immigrant Justice Center for nearly thirteen years, where she became the legal director. Mony has been advocating for LGBTQ+ families for decades. She has also provided legal counsel and representation to thousands of immigrants and their families focusing on women, LGBTQ immigrants, survivors of crimes, and other vulnerable populations. She advises and assists legislators and their staff regarding policy and legislation at the federal, state, and local levels. Her work includes the Violence Against Women Act, the Illinois Trust Act, RISE Act, VOICES Act, and previous efforts on immigration reform. She is currently on the board at National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) and the advisory board for Define American. She served as the Board President at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights and was on the board of Equality Illinois. She has a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas, and a B.A. in English from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi. Mony grew up in Mexico and South Texas. She is queer, lives with her wife, Denise, and is the proud mother of Christopher, Emma, and Liam.

Viminda Shafer, BA
Community Relations and Development Coordinator, The Project of Quad Cities

Viminda Shafer has been connected to the field of education for over 20 years. She spent the bulk of that time working with middle and high school students experiencing emotional and behavioral disorders as well as those with specific learning disabilities. In her current role as The Project of the Quad Cities’ community relations and development coordinator, Viminda’s passion for education and social justice work comes together and allows for her to meet with folks and share the important work TPQC is doing in the Quad Cities while pushing for equality and providing the community access to resources. Viminda is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and resides in a small country village in Illinois with her wife, Meghan, and their daughter, Zoey.

D. Javier Thompson
Data, Assessment, and Research Specialist, Office of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

Javier Thompson (They/Them/Theirs) joined the Office of Equity in January 2022, as the inaugural research, data, and assessment specialist. As a social worker, Javier brings extensive experience in supporting organizations’ high-visibility commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and parlaying skills from serving as a behavioral health clinician into building organizational capacity and developing best practices. As a Program and Project Administrator with over 9 years of experience directing large-scale projects, they have worked across healthcare, education, and social service agencies to deploy innovative technologies as well as upgrade and improve systems and policies.

Shaan K. Trotter, MSc, DrPH
Public Health Advisor, HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Mr. Shaan K. Trotter, MSc, DrPH(c) is a Public Health Administrator with expertise in disease prevention and control planning for highly dense areas. Shaan is an accomplished, strategic leader with a deep understanding of health equity and a heartfelt commitment to community health justice. His diverse background as an academic medicine executive, population health administrator, chronic disease advocate, and health policy expert gives him a unique perspective on how social risk factors impact the real lives of medically underserved and minority communities. Shaan serves as a Public Health Advisor with the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He has more than 11 years of non-profit board and public advisory experience, including recently serving in leadership for the ISBE School Health Advisory Committee; EverThrive Illinois; City of Chicago Mayor’s Advisory Committee – Human Relations; Washington Park Consortium; and IDPH Illinois Cancer Partnership. Before CMS, he was the Administrative Director, Cancer Control, and Director of the Office of Equity and Minority Health at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University/Northwestern Medicine. He drove strategies and led the implementation of the equity initiatives, including diverse participation in clinical research, delivery system reform, statewide cancer control, and public health policy. He received his B.A. in Social Psychology and African American Studies from Georgia State University, his M.Sc. in Public Service Management from DePaul University, a Graduate Certificate from Northwestern University, and is completing his Doctorate in Public Health at Tulane University. He completed Leadership Fellowships with Northwestern Medicine, Chicago Urban League/Booth IMPACT, and MD Anderson Intercultural Cancer Council.

Karriem S. Watson, DHS, MS, MPH
Chief Engagement Officer, All of Us Research Program, National Institutes of Health

Karriem Watson, D.H.Sc., M.S., M.P.H., is the chief engagement officer of the All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health. In this role, he leads the Division of Engagement and Outreach, overseeing the program’s efforts to foster relationships with participants, community partners, researchers, and providers across the United States. His focus is on engaging people and populations who have been left out of medical research in the past and inviting them to help drive new biomedical discoveries.  

Ann Perry Witmer, PhD, PE
Research Scientist and Lecturer, University of Illinois

Dr. Ann Perry-Witmer is a research scientist in the University of Illinois Applied Research Institute as well as a lecturer in the College of Engineering and College of ACES. She is the originator of the emerging discipline of Contextual Engineering, which uses the social sciences to more effectively apply technical solutions, particularly for societies outside the industrialized world, and recently published the first text on the topic. Her research and service work has brought her into close association with communities on five continents, investigating and applying engineering solutions to assist communities in obtaining safe drinking water supplies, address climate impacts, and protect rural livelihoods. In addition to her civil and agricultural engineering degrees from the University of Illinois, Dr. Witmer also holds degrees in journalism and art history from Boston University.

Juan F. Soto
Executive Director of Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, Gamaliel of Illinois, and Gamaliel Network’s Director of the Civil Rights for Immigrant Department

Juan F. Soto is the Executive Director of Pilsen Neighbors Community Council and Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, Gamaliel of Illinois, and Gamaliel Network’s Director of the Civil Rights for Immigrant Department. Juan is also a senior trainer for the Gamaliel Network and mentors and trains organizers at the local and national levels. He oversees Fiesta del Sol, the largest four-day Mexican cultural event that draws in over 1.3 million people annually. Fiesta Del Sol is the largest free family orientated, non-alcohol and tobacco-free festival in the U.S. Fiesta has been an economic engine that has supported the creation of entrepreneurship for many small business owners.

Jory Zhang, BA
Training Specialist, Howard Brown Health

Jory Zhang (he/him) is a queer and trans-identified Asian American with deep roots in Chicago. He has worked in healing justice for survivors of sexual violence and trauma since 2011 and currently serves as a Training Specialist for Howard Brown Health, focusing on trauma-informed care, Transgender and Gender-Diverse best practices, and reproductive justice. Jory believes in patient-centered and harm-reductive approaches to care and hopes to build restorative and transformative justice models into his practice in response to community needs and desires.

Mike Ziri
Director of Public Policy, Equality Illinois

Michael Ziri, a veteran in legislative affairs and a former Springfield elected official, is the Director of Public Policy at Equality Illinois. Mike spearheads an aggressive legislative agenda in Springfield, builds and strengthens relationships with officials and political leaders throughout the state and in Washington, D.C., and develops policy initiatives. He also staffs the election-related activities of the Equality Illinois Political Action Committee. Joining Equality Illinois in January 2015, Mike brought to the organization seven years of experience working for Illinois state government, capped by a position as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. His previous positions included legislative liaison for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, legislative analyst in Gov. Pat Quinn’s office, and legal assistant for the EPA. He also served two terms as Trustee of the Springfield Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority, making Mike the first openly gay elected official in Sangamon County. A native of Springfield, Mike earned his bachelor’s degree at Illinois College in Jacksonville and his master’s degree at the University of Illinois Springfield. He lives in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago.