Dr. Joneigh S. Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP is the Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan and Chief Deputy Director for Health in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).

In these roles, she provides overall medical guidance for the State of Michigan as a cabinet member of the Governor, and oversees public health and aging programs, Medicaid, and behavioral health for MDHHS.

Prior to her role in the MDHHS, Dr. Khaldun was the Director and Health Officer for the Detroit Health Department, where she oversaw a robust community health assessment, established a comprehensive reproductive health network, and led Detroit’s response to the largest Hepatitis A outbreak in modern U.S. history.

Dr. Khaldun was the Baltimore City Health Department’s Chief Medical Officer, where she led their efforts to address the opioid epidemic. She has also held positions as the Director of the Center for Injury Prevention and Control at George Washington University, Founder and Director of the Fellowship in Health Policy in the University of Maryland Department of Emergency Medicine, and Fellow in the Obama administration’s Office of Health Reform in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

She currently serves on the National Advisory Board for the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation at the University of Michigan, on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit, and on the Health and Medicine Committee of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. She is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She practices emergency medicine part-time at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

Keesa V. Johnson is an integrative designer who works as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) manager at the University of Michigan Campus Farm. Keesa’s research at the farm is centered on food justice, cultural ecology, sustainability, equity and access.

Her work focuses on the intersection of design, innovation, and food justice. Before coming to the University of Michigan, she worked at Michigan State University as an Inclusive Learning Designer. Prior to that, she was Design Manager for the Center of Academic Innovations at the University of Michigan where she created immersive online courses and degree programs. She has also served as the board president for Northwest Initiative, helping to create healthy and equitable systems for food in Lansing.

• DEI Manager University of Michigan Campus Farm at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

• Farming Innovation within Urban Agriculture - UM Sustainable Food Systems Initiative

• African Futurist Greenhouse Lead Graduate Researcher - STAMPS School of Art and Design - Equity and Access in Food Systems

• Design Strategist and Researcher - STAMPS School of Art and Design - Equity and Access in Food Systems

Taryn Gal is the Executive Director at the Michigan Organization on Adolescent Sexual Health (MOASH). During her time at MOASH, she has worked alongside youth to break down the siloed approach to adolescent sexual health issues, in order to effectively address all that intersects with sexual and reproductive health among young people in Michigan.

Taryn supports programs for LGBTQIA+ youth and creates resources for youth to know their rights to access healthcare. She develops workshops for youth to learn about healthy vs. unhealthy relationships. Her favorite thing about her job is working with young people in MOASH’s youth advisory councils, who make sure that the organization's programs and resources are youth-friendly and accessible. Some of the projects Taryn supports at MOASH are programs for LGBTQIA+ youth (e.g., GSAs in schools).

Taryn has also worked as a sexuality educator, HIV test counselor, and research assistant in HIV-prevention curriculum development. Currently, she is a board member for GLSEN Southeast Michigan Chapter and is the co-chair of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Sexual Health Education Advisory Committee.

Ryan Chladny is a software development manager for MathWorks contributing to the Vehicle Dynamics Blockset and Powertrain Blockset products in Novi, Michigan.

Prior to joining MathWorks in 2013, Ryan was responsible for the hydraulic controls and power management of the world’s largest hybrid electric excavator at Caterpillar Global Mining in Milwaukee Wisconsin and contributed to a variety of mechatronic design and research projects while at ABB’s Corporate Research Center in Ladenburg, Germany.

Ryan received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta in 2007 in nonlinear control of electromagnetic variable valve actuators for cam-less engines.

• Senior Team Lead (Control Design Automation - Vehicle Dynamics Blockset), The Mathworks

Dr. Aziz is a board certified vascular surgeon who treats patients with arterial aneurysms, artery disease for stroke prevention, kidney failure, and other venous disorders, including varicose veins.

Dr. Aziz has clinical interests in vascular and endovascular surgery, thoracic outlet syndrome, abdominal and thoracoabdominal aneurysm disease, carotid, brachiocephalic and upper extremity arterial disease, aortic reconstruction of aortoiliac disease, peripheral and mesenteric occlusive/aneurysmal disease, hemodialysis access, and venous disease.

Dr. Aziz conducts medical research and he serves as a co-editor of a surgical textbook and has made numerous contributions to peer-reviewed publications and presentations. He is also bilingual, speaking both English and Dari.

• IHA Vascular & Endovascular Surgery

• Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital

Jameta Branch, MBA, is an Internal Audit Manager for KLA, a leading global technology company.

Her experience expands 20 years across three major industries. In her role, Jameta's primary responsibility is to identify and assess risk throughout key financial processes within the business. This work is important to Jameta, as it advocates for integrity and ethical responsibility in our financial reporting.

Christina Brandt, MBA, PMP is a Cyber Security Senior Project Manager for KLA, a leading global technology company.

Christina is an information technology leader with a passion for delivering real results and helping people reach their full potential. Her current responsibilities include managing the information technology budget, vendor, and project and relationship management.

During her 20 years of experience, Christy has provided expertise and presentations on effective project management, including test-driven and behavior driven development, business testing best practices, resource and cost estimation, the cost of quality and key metrics.