Meet the team
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Adverse Childhood Events (5)
Debbie DiazGranados
Debbie is an organizational psychologist and the Director of Evaluation for the VCU Wright Regional Center for Clinical and Translational Science. She focuses on the “science of science”—measuring how research initiatives create real-world impact.…
Angelique Peterson
Angelique is a MD/PhD candidate at VCU and participates in the International/Inner-city/Rural Preceptorship Program (I2CRP), which helps increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in rural, urban, and international underserved communities. She has…
Erinn Portnoy
Rosellen Roche
Rosellen is an anthropologist and academic physician who works and researches with families and communities who have undergone traumatic events. She seeks to build resilience and wellbeing within these communities.
Sunny Shin
Colorectal Cancer (8)
Nixon Arauz
Nixon is a social and behavioral scientist dedicated to reducing cancer disparities and advancing cancer prevention and control among men across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Amanda Baig
Amanda Baig, MPH is the Associate Director, State Partnerships in Virginia with the American Cancer Society dedicated to reducing cancer disparities, sharing evidence-based tools and resources and on-time messaging through stakeholder and community collaboration.
Tiffani Collins
Mindy Conklin
Melinda Conklin, MS. MEd, is the Founder and Executive Director of Hitting Cancer Below the Belt (HCB2). She and the HCB2 crew is dedicated to defeating colorectal cancer by providing access to timely screening…
Jennifer Fichthorn
Jenni is the project coordinator and evaluator for the COPE program. She helps organize and relate the state level impacts and supports Virginia Cooperative Extension personnel through Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice…
Mignonne Guy
Mignonne is a cancer prevention researcher dedicated to reducing barriers to care and improving outcomes for all Virginians, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Carrie Miller
Carrie is a cancer prevention researcher committed to reducing unnecessary suffering and preventing cancer deaths through effective prevention strategies, with a particular focus on promoting colorectal cancer screening and early detection.
Robert Noriega
Mr. Noriega has served two terms at the Cancer Action Coalition of Virginia’s Board of Directors (CACV) and was part of the group that wrote the Virginia Cancer Plans 2018-2022 and 2023-2027.
Community Data Translation Team (10)
Marquise Charlton
Munica Green
Munica Green, CPC, RH-CBS is a force in healthcare leadership and health equity transformation across Virginia. A strategic thinker and community champion, she serves on Va-AHEAD’s Community Data Translation Team, where she drives the…
Christopher Green
As a 25+ year resident of Richmond, Virginia and currently employed as an Organizer with the Legal Aid Justice Center of Petersburg, Virginia, my role as a Community Organizer in these cities allows me…
Leigh Guarinello
Leigh is a public health leader with two decades of experience in education, advocacy, community engagement, and improving access to care.
Amanda Henley
Amanda is a peer recovery specialist and community engagement coordinator for Virginia Tech
Kathy Hosig
Kathy is Director for the Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice & Research and Initiative Leader for Health and Well-being for Virginia Cooperative Extension. She is a faculty member in the Virginia Tech…
Charles Ivey
Charles Ivey retired after serving 30 years employed with ExxonMobil, 30 years of service as an active duty and reserve Naval Officer, and finally a Fairfax County Public Schools Math teacher. Charles brings a…
Emma Morgan
Emma Morgan is the President of Franklin Arms, dedicated to assisting seniors and the disabled community with everyday living by connecting them to vital resources and support services.
Brittany Powell
Brittany S. Powell is a public health professional and Program Manager at Virginia State University (VSU). Within the VSU Honors College, she leads initiatives such as the Troyals Medical Scholars program, preparing students for…
Lauryn Walker
Cultural Arts (5)
Terrance Anderson
Terrance is an impassioned creative activist that uses the arts to advocate for increased awareness of disparities in the nation’s healthcare system.
Melissa Bradner
Melissa Bradner is a family physician and medical educator for over 20 years who strives to incorporate the cultural arts in medical education.
Phoenecia Hill
Phoenecia “Neci” Hill is a native of Richmond, Virginia but currently a proud resident of Hopewell, Virginia. She has over 15 years of experience in the fields of non-profit management, city and state government,…
Akua Kouyate-Tate
As Vice President, Education, Akua oversees Wolf Trap’s education programs, including the nationally recognized Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Internship and Apprenticeship program, Children’s Theater-in-the-Woods and Grants for Performing Arts…
Sheila Ward
Mental Health (13)
Jackie Blackwell
Lisa Ellis
Roberto Franco
Roberto Franco is AgrAbility Virginia’s Program Coordinator, helping farmers with disabilities across the state to improve farm safety, wellness, and accessibility through education, outreach, and assistive technology solutions.
Jenn Gilbert
Jenn is a practicing clinical psychologist and educator dedicated to making trauma-informed mental health care accessible and effective for individuals, families, and communities across Virginia.
Amy Harden
Amy is a general pediatrician who is focused on building knowledge of mental health within primary care and connecting clinics to resources within VMAP to improve mental health care for our youth.
Heather Jones
Chimere Miles
Chimere Miles is a resident of the East End Community of Richmond and founding member of Engaging Richmond of the VCU Center on Society and Health when the group formed in 2011. Chimere is…
Reem Mohammed
Reem is passionate about empowering communities through health education, cultural connection, and compassion, using her experience in community engagement and training to help others thrive
Bergen Nelson
Bergen is a practicing pediatrician doing primary care and leading statewide programs to connect families from primary care to behavioral health services.
Sydney Padgett
Rachel Reynolds
Rachel is the Assistant Director of Operations for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program. She’s also the adoptive mom of a transgender genderfluid teenager.
Paige Riddle
Paige is a licensed clinical social worker focused on building capacity for community-based health education and services that improve access to trusted health information and behavior change strategies for Virginians.
Steven Woolf
Opioid Topic Team (16)
Marjorie
Marjorie is a certified addictions registered nurse working as the VCU Perinatal Addiction Program Coordinator working within a multidisciplinary team to provide reproductive health and substance use disorder services to patients.
Jackie Britz
Dr. Jacqueline Britz is family physician and Assistant Professor in the VCU Department of Family Medicine and Population Health. Dr. Britz serves as Co-Director of the Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network (ACORN) and leads…
Marshall Brooks
Marshall Brooks is an applied medical anthropologist specializing in the study of primary care and preventive medicine, substance use and behavioral health, implementation science, and community-engaged research.
Kelly Bulin
Kelly Hill Bulin is the Director of Program Development, Planning, and Prevention Services for the Eastern Shore Community Services Board in Virginia. With over 34 years in behavioral health, she has led groundbreaking initiatives…
Tyler Burton
Tyler is the OAA Toolkit Project Manager for the Wright Center. She works to support communities in Virginia as they respond to the opioid crisis and improve access to care. Her focus is on…
Ernest Charles
Ernest Charles is the Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist for the Comprehensive harm reduction program with Health Brigade where community engagement and service has been his top priority for the last 10 years.
Leah Gregory
Leah Gregory is the Wright Center Community & Collaboration Program Manager at VCU. She has the opportunity to work collaboratively with communities and researchers on different health topics to improve health outcomes across Virginia.
Gloria Ivey-Crowe
Dr Gloria Ivey-Crowe is the current Medical Supervisor of the City of Alexandria Opioid Treatment Program in Alexandria, Virginia. Over the past 25 years she has been a practicing OB/GYN in private practice, with…
Monica Melmer
Monica is a practicing addiction medicine physician committed to integrating compassionate clinical care with evidence-based treatments and education for substance use disorders.
F Moeller
Dr. F. Gerard Moeller received his MD from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, and prior to joining VCU, he was the Louis A. Faillace Professor and Director of the Center…
Gregory Peck
A devoted husband, father of five, and harm reduction advocate dedicated to helping others heal and grow.
Shannon Pursell
Shannon Pursell, Senior Director of the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaboration (VNPC) and Army veteran who served as a medic in Iraq and Afghanistan, brings extensive expertise in public health, maternal and infant health, substance…
Marie Shoen
Marie is a community engagement research associate using qualitative and human-centered design methods to understand and respond to public health challenges locally and globally.
Kirsten Sievers
Kirstin “Hope” Sievers, MPH, CHES is the Opioid Response Coordinator for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, where she leads collaborative efforts to strengthen prevention, treatment, and recovery systems. Guided by both professional expertise and…
DeShaunda Taylor
DaShaunda D. H. Taylor, PhD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology whose research focuses on maternal and child health and social epidemiology. She is dedicated to improving social conditions so that people can…
Deia Weatherman
Deia Weatherman is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and social work student dedicated to community healing, empowerment, and second chances.
Primary Care (10)
Beth Bortz
Beth is the President and CEO of the Virginia Center for Health Innovation, where she leads statewide efforts to advance data-driven health policy and accelerate payment and delivery system innovation.
David Gregory
Dave is a practicing family physician, who cares for his patients & families, serves his local community, directs primary care practices in Roanoke City, builds high quality primary care access throughout Virginia, through collaborative…
Lisa Homa
Lisa is a public health practitioner who focuses on evaluation of community-based health and food system programs.
Alison Huffstetler
Alison is a family physician and health researcher who focuses on the best ways to make primary care patient-focused, affordable, and accountable for the US population.
Alex Krist
Alex is a practicing family physician who works with communities and primary care practices across Virginia to make care more accessible and effective for people.
Caehla McGeady
Anna Riggan
Anna Riggan is the Acting Virginia Primary Care Office Director, maintaining health professional Shortage Designations and partnering with federal agencies HRSA and ASTHO to advocate for healthcare access for Virginia communities.
Sherrell Thompson
Sherrell is a Richmond native with over 15 years of experience serving low-income communities, connecting residents with resources, and creating pathways for growth. My work has centered on helping individuals and families access the…
Jacqueline Webb
Jacqueline is a practicing pediatric nurse practitioner providing primary healthcare for over 31 years to children, adolescents, and young adults at a rural FQHC.
Ben Webel
Ben is a research coordinator who works alongside researchers, practices, patients,and community members to meaningfully engage them in the research process and help them achieve their goals.
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