Student Scholars and Fellows

Mr. Calaigian is in his fourth year at NYU College of Dentistry (NYUCD). He aims to leverage an MPH to improve oral health outcomes for patients with intellectual and physical disabilities, bridging the gap between dental care access and public health policy. He advocates for equitable healthcare, contributing to systemic changes that enhance accessibility and quality for all.

As a dental hygienist, Ms. Coughlan is passionate about community health education programs. Committed to service, she volunteers for public health initiatives such as Give Kids a Smile and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Through her MPH, she aims to develop public health programs that significantly improve oral health in underserved populations.

Ms. Cardona Foronda is a dental hygienist who enjoys providing community education on preventive oral hygiene through initiatives like Give Kids a Smile. She believes an MPH will equip her to deliver effective oral health education and guidance in underserved communities.

Dr. Fanelli is a pediatric dentist practicing in Westchester and NYC public schools. She prioritizes educating patients on how oral health affects systemic health. Through the MPH program, she seeks to mitigate access-to-care barriers and address low levels of oral health knowledge through community programming.

Dr. Goldstein is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Director of Pediatric Outreach and Prevention Programs at NYUCD. She is pursuing an MPH to expand and enhance her outreach programs and improve the public health training of her students to better serve underserved children.

Ms. Graboso-Saul has practiced as a licensed dental hygienist in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Her experience spans academia, public health dentistry, and research on culturally competent oral hygiene care. She aims to influence public health policies, engage in impactful research, and contribute to broader community health improvements.

Dr. Jacobs began her career as a dental assistant with organizations like VNS Health and New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. She plans to use her MPH to create policies and programs that enhance oral health literacy, particularly for pregnant individuals. She advocates for integrating oral health into primary healthcare services.

Dr. Juste is the dental director for the Department of Corrections in Albany, NY, and a clinical instructor at NYUCD. With an MPH, she aims to develop and implement community-based programs promoting oral health awareness, prevention, and access to care. She also seeks to contribute to policy development and inspire the next generation of healthcare providers.

Dr. Mohammed is a practicing dentist and the founder of EmpowerGirlsNOW, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young women in Ethiopia through education and mentorship. She plans to address oral health disparities and promote wellness in underserved communities.

As a National Health Service Corps Scholar, Dr. Moore practices at a federally qualified health center in Albany, NY. She is pursuing her MPH to enhance oral health access, engage communities in robust healthcare practices, and improve public health outcomes. She also plans to pursue a career in academia.

A dedicated public health professional, Tomisha Hicks brought a strong background in health policy analysis, community engagement, and fostering sustainable partnerships to her work with the Harlem Health Initiative. Committed to driving positive change in public health policy through impactful community initiatives, Hicks was integral in the launch of HHI’s key programs. As coordinator of HHI’s Cannabis Equity Collaborative, Tomisha’s work concentrated on the social and economic equity opportunities of NY’s Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act as a way to address the health inequities and disparities in marginalized communities that are a direct result of cannabis prohibition. She is the Administrative Manager, Labor and Employment Law at Cornell University IRL School.

Prea V. Khan is the current HHI Program Manager as well as the Social Media Manager for the CUNY SPH Communications team. Her initiative and innovation during her time as a Gil Addo Fellow allowed her to rise in the ranks. She spearheads HHI’s Public Health Webinar Series, Cannabis Corner webinar subseries, a Get-Out-the-Vote Campaign, and the Community Engagement Impact evaluation and monitoring projects. Her passion lies in improving equitable access to healthcare in historically underserved communities, addressing disparities in health literacy, and enhancing patient outcomes with a commitment to becoming a medical professional.

Xavier C. Gonzalez is from the Bronx and works at Mount Sinai West as a Secretary II for the radiology department. As a Harlem Health Communication Fellow, he worked with the Harlem Health Initiative to complete a literature review on the health effects of cannabis, draft a cannabis community manual to be used as a communication toolkit for CBOs, and assisted with the Get Out to Vote campaign for the 2024 election cycle. After completing his MPH, Mr. Gonzalez hopes to continue his studies by getting a Doctorate in Public Health, while continuing to pursue professional growth in hospital administration.

Nafissatou is dedicated to improving health literacy and making complex information accessible, breaking barriers through plain language. As a Fellow, she created health campaign materials for Harlem’s diverse communities, including presentations, glossaries, and reels, ensuring clarity and actionability. A migrant from Senegal, she understands the challenges of navigating healthcare systems and the impact of miscommunication on care. Her work includes diabetes education for migrants, addressing postpartum depression in Black women, and empowering pregnant Black women in New York to understand their health rights.

Mr. Mazariego’s dedication to public health springs from his fervor for statistical analysis and data, as well as a strong desire to give back to his community. As an immigrant from El Salvador, he has personally witnessed the challenges faced by the immigrant community across the United States, from inadequate healthcare to economic hardships during the Covid-19 pandemic. As a research assistant at the Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD), his work centered on unraveling the myriad factors impacting the health of vulnerable populations, particularly in Harlem. Now as a fellow at the CIRGH, Mr. Mazariego aspires to leverage his personal experiences and professional expertise to enact positive change in communities like his through research and evidence-based interventions.

Ms. Thomas was born and raised in Honduras and is of Garifuna heritage, moving to the US in 2013. As a newly arrived immigrant, Ms. Thomas experienced homelessness and poverty, all while pregnant. After obtaining her green card, she began working as a case manager for senior and disabled residents in the South Bronx and volunteers in hospice care and soup kitchens. Her goal is to work in health policy to address health and housing disparities, particularly within the senior community in NYC.

Ms. Cedeno currently works as the Culinary Nutrition Educator at SBH Health System’s Wellness Center and conducts culturally tailored cooking classes in English and Spanish, emphasizing nutrition and adaptable culinary skills. Through her work in food justice, Ms. Cedeno is determined to address the prevalent issues of diabetes and malnutrition within her community in the Bronx. Looking ahead, with a degree from CUNY SPH, she aspires to drive policy reform in nutrition, school food programs, food access, and culinary education.

Ms. Garcia’s professional and personal background has shaped her advocacy and commitment addressing health inequities in ethnically diverse, multicultural communities. Arriving in New York from the Dominican Republic as a child, Ms. Garcia became her mother’s patient advocate and resource navigator at a young age. In her current role as a Senior Quality Improvement Specialist, she develops and disseminates bilingual regional public health interventions to improve health outcomes for underserved populations. Ms. Garcia is currently pursuing a degree in Population Health Informatics to learn how to effectively integrate technology and data into equitable solutions that address the needs of vulnerable communities.

Ms. Hernandez has been a dedicated community outreach worker and service provider in the Bronx for nearly two decades. Currently, she works with the Bronx Bureau of Health, delivering Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support workshops to residents. Committed to addressing the acute health disparities she witnesses in the Bronx, Andrea has leveraged her skills as a bilingual patient advocate to mitigate health inequities in Latino and Hispanic populations. With her expertise and experience, Andrea aims to make a lasting impact on public health initiatives, particularly within the Bronx community.

Ms. Ignacio has been shaped by early experiences witnessing food access inequality in the Dominican Republic as a child, igniting her lifelong dedication to food justice. She has worked with organizations such as Swipe Out Hunger, POTS, Young Invincibles, and SingleStop and advocated for policy at both state and federal levels. As a Hunger Program Coordinator and Caseworker at NCJWNY, Ms. Ignacio’s work predominantly serves Black and Brown Latino/a communities. She is committed to achieving academic excellence in public health with a focus on community health and conducting research on the intersections of race, gender, and food access.