Population and Health Sciences Mentors

 Public health program evaluator with nearly a decade of experience in healthcare, nonprofit and higher education settings. 

 Anna Arthur, Ph.D., MPH, RDN, is an associate professor in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at KU Medical Center. She also serves as director of the doctorate program in medical nutrition science.

   Before joining KU in 2021, Arthur was an assistant professor and Sylvia D. Stroup Scholar of Nutrition and Cancer at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She earned her bachelor's degree in nutritional sciences from Michigan State University. Later, she received both her master's degree in public health and doctorate in nutritional sciences from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Arthur also completed a National Cancer Institute postdoctoral fellowship in cancer prevention and control at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

   Arthur directs the Nourish to Flourish Cancer Research Laboratory at KU Medical Center, where her research focuses on the role of diet in cancer outcomes, particularly among low-income and high nutritional risk patients. She applies methodologies from nutritional and behavioral sciences, as well as cancer and molecular epidemiology, to develop evidence-based dietary interventions aimed at improving survival, treatment tolerance and quality of life. She is a principal investigator of the NOURISH trial (R01 NR021468), a multi-site study evaluating a medically tailored groceries intervention to reduce malnutrition among food insecure hematologic patients undergoing transplant and cellular therapies. Her work informs clinical nutrition strategies to optimize oncology patient care and improve long-term health outcomes for adults with a history of cancer.

   In addition to her research, Arthur currently teaches graduate courses including ethics of clinical nutrition research, nutritional aspects of oncology, and health behavior counseling. She has also previously taught courses in nutritional epidemiology and nutrition assessment and therapy. She has mentored more than 55 trainees, ranging from high school students to postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have pursued competitive research, public health and clinical careers. She also serves on the board of editors of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the executive committee of the Oncology Nutrition Dietetics Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Arthur’s work is widely published in leading peer-reviewed journals and contributes to advancements in medical nutrition therapy for oncology care.

Arielle Markel Pagryzinski is the Program Manager at the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Hub at the Benaroya Research Institute. TrialNet is an international research network leading the way in type 1 diabetes prevention and treatment. In her role, Arielle supports efforts to advance groundbreaking research and connect participants to studies that make a lasting impact. She has a strong background in population health and employee wellness, including her time at Cigna, where she designed and managed programs to improve employee well-being. Arielle also co-led a countywide accreditation effort for a local public health department, overseeing a community needs assessment and health improvement plan that brought together partners from across the community. She is passionate about building collaborations that drive meaningful change in public health.

Epidemiologist and Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consultant with extensive experience in generating real-world evidence (RWE) across oncology, rheumatology, dermatology, respiratory disorders, and rare diseases using advanced statistical methods applied to claims, electronic health record (EHR), registries, and patient-reported data.

 Bhavna Sivanand is the founding Executive Director of the Center for Impact at UCLA Anderson School of Management. In this role, Bhavna is responsible for growing the Center’s vision and strategy, garnering financial resources, managing the Center’s evolving board, creating innovative programs and engaging with students, alumni, faculty and impact professionals in the community. The goal of the Center for Impact is to shift mindsets about the role of business in addressing the world's greatest challenges by integrating social impact and sustainability across the core curriculum, curating global projects to expose students to international challenges, and providing rigorous training for students committed to being change agents throughout their careers. Bhavna's interest in social innovation grew out of her background in public health and her experience establishing public-private partnerships to address chronic diseases through the social determinants of health. Prior to this role, Bhavna spent over 15 years in the field of public health, starting her career in international development in Ghana, and continuing her experience working across all three levels of the Canadian government to further national health goals. She holds an MPH from the University of Michigan and an MBA from UCLA Anderson. Her undergraduate degree in Biology and Psychology is from the University of Toronto.

I have over 18 years of experience leading EHS programs with a focus on manufacturing and laboratory research safety. My areas of expertise include hazard assessment, exposure monitoring, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, and environmental compliance. I recently joined Medtronic, the largest global medical device manufacturer. My current role is Principal EHS Specialist supporting the recently-acquired Dexter, MI, site, where we manufacture life-saving extracorporeal life support (ECLS) products. Prior to Medtronic, I held EHS-focused positions at the University of Michigan Department of Environment, Health & Safety and with NSF International, an Ann Arbor-based global public health and safety organization. I also have several years of experience conducting pharmaceutical and academic research. I am a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and I earned my MPH degree in Industrial Hygiene from the UM School of Public Health. Go Blue!

Retired public health physician with local and federal public health leadership experience. Academic interest in problem-based learning, management particularly bringing people together as an effective group, and improving the governmental public health system.

Specialties: Preventive medicine; leadership and management; problem-based learning; the public health system.

Dr. Darla Bishop is a public health leader passionate about health equity and community well-being. She serves as Director of Member Engagement for AmeriHealth Caritas DC, a Medicaid plan supporting over 120,000 members, where she leads initiatives to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

 With experience as a researcher and professor, Dr. Bishop develops evidence-based strategies and teaches topics like healthcare systems, financing, and social determinants of health. She’s also the author of How to Afford Everything and a personal finance educator helping others build wealth with clarity and confidence.

Degrees: DrPH (Health Policy), George Washington University; MPH & BA, University of Michigan.

 I have a strong interest in evaluation and understanding how to improve programming. I think data is extremely valuable for students to understand, especially when they do not necessarily have a technical background (like many in HBHE). I have learned data skills like tableau and similar platforms through taking advantage of the many programs the University has to offer. I would love to work with anyone interested in program evaluation, data visualization, surveys, interviewing, focus groups, and/or professional development.

 I am a Quality and Outreach Coordinator at the Michigan Obstetrics Initiative providing quality improvement support to Michigan birthing hospitals. I bring both clinical and quality improvement experience to OBI as a bedside nurse at Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital in the women’s health float pool and as Nurse Quality Manager at the Illinois Perinatal Quality Collaborative. I have worked on labor and delivery, postpartum and Neonatal Intensive Care units, and supported hospital teams across Illinois in the implementation of quality improvement initiatives focusing on promoting vaginal birth, antibiotic stewardship, safe sleep and equity. I hold a BSN from Villanova University and an MSN in Population Health and MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education from the University of Michigan.

Hannah Mesa, MPH, MPP is a project manager and community-based participatory researcher at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She has a Master’s in Public Health and Public Policy from the University of Michigan. Ms. Mesa is passionate about eliminating structural inequities and advocating for anti-racist frameworks in public health practice, research, and policy. She is also a bilingual, community-based doula/birth worker!

Hassan Azar is a distinguished healthcare innovator dedicated to transforming the healthcare landscape through high-value innovative solutions and reimagined employer-based healthcare programs. With extensive experience across various sectors of the healthcare ecosystem including employer health plans, hospital systems, health insurers, advocacy organizations, and digital health solutions—Hassan has consistently been at the forefront of healthcare delivery advancements.

Currently, Hassan is a leader at HGAN advising digital healthcare companies by offering his expertise in product design, commercial strategy, marketing, and operations. As an advisor and consultant, Hassan has been instrumental assisting numerous next-generation health solutions develop cutting-edge solutions that improve population health, reduce cost of care, and enhance the patient experience. Additionally, he serves as an Executive in Residence for Matter, a startup incubator, and advises the Employer Health Innovation Roundtable (EHIR), a coalition of large employers pursuing new and innovative health benefits solutions.

   Heather Auto is a public health professional with an MPH from the University of Michigan. She manages several Medication Assisted Treatment programs across New York City, overseeing federal and state grants and leading a team of staff and AmeriCorps members. With expertise in health data analysis, healthcare finance, and program evaluation, Heather develops evidence-based workflows, improves organizational efficiency, and advances community-centered harm reduction initiatives that positively impact population health.

Global health fundraising expert with experience primarily at the Johns Hopkins University (Center for Communication Programs, Jhpiego, and the Bloomberg School of Public Health or BSPH) to align donor interests with improved global health outcomes. Currently serving as the Director for Development at the School of International Service at American University in Washington, DC. Diverse fundraising experience emphasizing philanthropy, major gifts, family foundations, corporations and government awards, ranging from $20k-$120M. Senior Philanthropy Advisor at Catholic Relief Services, Director for New Programs at Jhpiego and Donor Engagement Associate Director at Johns Hopkins BSPH Gates Institute, securing over $750M in new awards and deepening relationships with donors to generate impact in over thirty countries in Asia and Africa. Expertise in donor engagement, writing, donor communication, prospect research, CRM planning, and deep fundraising collaboration in academic and NGO environments. Fulbright Scholar, USAID Fellow, WomenLift Fellow, and Master's from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Kate is the Deputy Director at the Honnold Foundation, where she develops and oversees the organization’s work to support grassroots organizations who are using solar energy to improve people’s lives and reduce environmental impact.

Kate has worked within philanthropic and nonprofit organizations at the nexus of public health and social and environmental justice for nearly two decades. Her work has always focused on increasing access to basic needs through community-driven solutions among Indigenous communities and other marginalized populations. She strongly believes in the power of grassroots movements and that equitable access to the things we need to live a healthy life is a right, not a privilege. Kate’s experience spans from advocating for equitable energy access to strengthening Tribal court systems, and she has lived and worked in Central and South America, the US, and Southeast Asia.   

Kate is a member of the Laguna Pueblo and received her master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, you can find Kate running around the forests of the Pacific Northwest, enjoying a home-cooked meal with friends and family, or searching for the next great read.

Kellie is a director and health programs leader, experienced in the fields of quality improvement, research, contracting, value-based health care, digital health, project management, non-profit leadership and collective impact work.

   She is an empathetic leader of innovative teams that challenge the status quo and drive positive change. Dedicated to putting community first, understanding and driving equity in health outcomes, building efficient teams, defining and developing impactful and assessable digital tools, and strategic planning that leads to real world solutions and impact.

   She has recently returned to Michigan Medicine after working for over a decade in non-profit leadership and program management. She is focused on clinical quality improvement and leveraging data to drive clinical improvement for the Michigan Medicine Orthopedic Surgery team.

   Her professional passions are related to global health, aging population health, sexual health and wellbeing, and general knowledge exchange from academia/clinic out into the real world. Outside of work she enjoys being active, nature, travel, and spending time with family and friends (including the furry kind).

   Kory Moore Luther, raised in rural Colorado, is a national consultant in public health workforce development and systems change. Kory received her Masters in Public Health from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2013, is a graduating fellow of the Advanced Leadership Training Program through the Regional Institute of Health and Environmental Leadership, completed her Associate Certified Coach credential through the International Coaching Federation is certified in Positive Quotient (PQ) coaching from Positive Intelligence and is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change. Kory initially joined the Project ECHO movement in 2014 with the Children's Hospital Colorado focusing on Children and Youth with Epilepsy funded by the American Academy of Pediatrics and ultimately provided the primary strategic direction Project ECHO across Colorado which became a national model of innovation and best practice. Kory's expertise in building efficient and effective Project ECHO infrastructure has led to integration of the learning model into the foundational public health systems change learning agenda to transform public health knowledge sharing and connect expertise across borders.

Dr. Kristin Meyer is a behavioral scientist, educator and founder of Blooming Lotus Lab, LLC, a consulting and coaching practice serving social impact leaders and organizations. She holds over 15 years of experience in management roles across government, academia and the private sector. Dr. Meyer’s personal mission is supporting women in rising to their professional potential and fostering meaningful impact. She works with women leaders and young professionals from a range of industries.

Prior to launching her consulting firm, Dr. Meyer led programs and research focused on reproductive health and adolescent health. As Director of Youth Prevention Programs at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Dr. Meyer led a $5m program that used gamification, classroom curriculum and parent education to reach thousands of teens in South and East LA. She guided crisis communications and program response when funding was abruptly pulled in 2017.

Dr. Meyer has taught at UCLA, Pepperdine University, the University of Florida and California State University at Los Angeles. Prior to joining the LACDPH, Dr. Meyer served as a research consultant to the UCLA Art & Global Health Center and contributed to health communication efforts in the Southeastern U.S. and abroad.

Landon Hughes is an Institute faculty member in the Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse (CoRAL). Dr. Hughes completed a Ph.D. in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan, a postdoctoral fellowship in Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a BA in Sociology and Political Science at Grand Valley State University. His research utilizes demographic methods to examine morbidity, mortality, and mental health outcomes among LGBTQ populations and considers the effects of social factors on health and agingg=.

Pharmacist with masters in public health & population/health sciences, and over 19 years of expertise in biotech, managed care and clinical hospital pharmacy.

 I manage programs for Boston Medical Center Health System and our 13 Boston-based Community Health Center (CHC) partners. My responsibilities include resolving issues with referrals from CHCs to BMCHS hospitals, hosting forums between CHC leaders to share ideas and align on health care efforts as a network, and improving access to and coordination of care across the city through programs like Uber Health and contracting specialists at CHCs.

  I am an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Health Economics, Systems, and Policy and Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. I am a cancer care delivery researcher with a focus on improving the quality and equity of cancer care for people with advanced cancer. I use large datasets and mixed-method approaches to identify and address gaps in care. I have a background in social epidemiology, so I am very interested in the systems and norms that pattern the care individuals receive.

Population Health executive with 15+ years of experience driving growth, transformation, and performance improvement across payers, providers, and value-based care enablers. Proven leader in launching and scaling complex VBC models, achieving multi-state expansion, double-digit revenue growth, and measurable gains in quality and cost outcomes. Trusted advisor to C-suites and boards with deep expertise in Medicare, Medicaid, duals populations, and integrated care. Passionate about creating equitable access to care and inspiring the next generation of healthcare innovators.

 Michael O’Donnell is founder of the Art & Science of Health Promotion Institute, founder of the American Journal of Health Promotion, founder of the Art and Science of Health Promotion Conference, and founder and chairman emeritus of Health Promotion Advocates.

 He has worked directly with more than 150 employers, health care organizations, government agencies, foundations, insurance companies and health promotion providers to develop and refine health promotion programs, products and policies, and has served in leadership roles in four major health systems, including the Cleveland Clinic, as well as serving as the Director of the Health Management Research Center at the University of Michigan.

 He has authored more than 200 articles, book chapters and columns, books and workbooks, including Health Promotion in the Workplace, which has been in continuous publication since 1983, updated into 5 editions and translated into four languages. He has presented more than 300 keynote and workshop presentations on six continents, served on boards and committees for 49 non-profit and for-profit organizations and received 15 national awards. He conceived and authored legislation that was incorporated into the Affordable Care Act, including provisions that resulted in production of the annual National Prevention Strategy. He earned a PhD in Health Behavior from University of Michigan, an MBA in General Management and an MPH in Hospital Management, both from University of California, Berkeley, and an AB in psychobiology from Oberlin College. He attended high school and was later a Senior Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor in Seoul Korea.

My professional experience has primarily been in the role of an epidemiologist serving health departments at the state and local levels. I've recently transitioned out of the public sector and into the private sector because of actions by the current federal administration and my completion of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. My current role analyzes health utilization data to increase quality of care and reduce costs for clients.

Hi! I'm Molly, and I graduated from UMich SPH in 2020 with a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education. During my time at UMich, I worked at Wolverine Wellness, which ignited my passion for health promotion in higher education. I worked at Johns Hopkins University for the first few years after graduation, and I now work at Colorado School of Mines. My expertise is in mentoring and supervising student leaders in wellness, comprehensive sexual health education, and curriculum development and implementation. I love helping my mentees reflect and consider sectors and positions in public health they may be interested in. I'm also someone who will be transparent with you about my own experience in the field, and my advice to you as a new public health professional.

Hello! I am a dynamic, seasoned healthcare executive with background in medical group/physician enterprise operations, strategy, project mgmt and process improvement expertise. As part of this I also have experience in revenue cycle management/improvements, change mgmt and rapid deployment of innovative technologies. I look forward to connecting and helping to discuss and explore/navigate the changes and opportunities within the healthcare industry.

   CEO of El Camino Hospital 8 year 1983-1991

   --involved with design and implementation of early MIS

   --very involved in managed care (HMO/PPO)

   --direct experience with employers and employer association

   --practical experience with QA for healthcare providers and purchasers

   --some international experience

   --understand HMO/PPO buy-side

   --active participant and observer in evolution of large healthcare systems in California

With a biology degree, an MPH in HBHE and many years in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, I graduated into a recession. After a long job search, I was able to find a position with a joint research center between the Ann Arbor VA and Michigan Medicine. I was a research associate for 9 years working on interdisciplinary social science meets medicine research around genetics communication, medical decision making and bioethics. I am now a training specialist working on workforce development to support research staff in their research roles and career development.

System-wide executive leadership across Ambulatory Care, Enterprise Service Lines (Heart & Vascular, Oncology, Neuroscience, Orthopedics, Imaging), and Population Health. Accountable for advancing Sentara’s $14B Integrated Delivery Network strategy, overseeing 4,500+ providers, 250,000+ lives under dual-sided risk contracts, and leading clinical integration and value-based care transformation.

   Current manager with Alvarez & Marsal Public Sector Services. I work with state and local governments to help them respond, transform, and stabilize in times of change, whether due to external factors (HHS/CMS regulatory changes, budgets) or internal (leadership changes).

Previously, I was with Guidehouse, where I supported NIH clients in different public health and research projects and transformations.

My background is in public health and epidemiology (from UMSPH) and biology and clinical research.

   At Ballad Health Tony is responsible for strategic planning and analytics; corporate development, the Ballad Health Innovation Institute and Ballad Ventures; behavioral health, community health and Ballad Early Learning Centers; marketing and communications, patient experience, and digital front door; enterprise project management and operational excellence; and the Ballad Health Foundation.

   Before joining Ballad Health, Tony served as the director of Health and Human Services for South Carolina during the first term of Governor Nikki R. Haley. He also served three years in the administration of Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal where he had responsibility for the public health and behavioral health response to two hurricanes, the H1N1 influenza pandemic, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Prior to his government service, he worked for diverse organizations such as Johnson & Johnson, Ochsner Clinic New Orleans, and St. Thomas Health Services, a community clinic.

   He is currently Chair of the Health Management and Policy Alumni Board.

Urvi Mujumdar recently pivoted her career to higher education as a Learning Facilitator at Boston University (BU) School of Public Health online Master of Public Health (MPH) program. She is also beginning the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program at BU this fall. 

She brings a multidisciplinary background in academic research, consulting, and the pharmaceutical industry, with experience in epidemiology and health outcomes research. Her academic and professional interests include health equity, addressing racial and gender disparities, population health, minority women’s health, maternal and child care, and applying real-world public health concepts to enhance teaching and learning. 

She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology, and a Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology and Cognitive Science, both from the University of Michigan. 

   Vani Patterson, MPH, is the Administrative Director for the University of Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE). Her early career spanned working in the U.S Senate to community nutrition in Detroit. When she returned to the University of Michigan, she provided consultation to health care teams across the country to improve patient-centered care for adolescents. In witnessing the profound impact of collaborative care, Ms. Patterson was drawn to the work of the CIPE. Her current interests are in leadership and culture change to transform practice and education to enable collaborative care and advance the quintuple aims of health.

• worked as public health dentist for 10 years

• worked as public health lecturer at Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University for 10 years

• Present: work at Community Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry,Mahidol University

Zina Abourjeily currently works at Resolve to Save Lives as a Program Officer, Nutrition Policy. She supports the nutrition team with managing the global nutrition data and collaborate closely with in-country and global implementation partners.

Zina has spent the past 8 years working across the food and nutrition landscape—from researching novel plant proteins for animal-free eggs and supporting local food systems at farmers markets, to studying weight bias in parents and designing interventions to improve the nutrition environment for service members. Most recently, she led a pilot study demonstrating the feasibility and profitability of behavioral design strategies—such as price reductions and point-of-selection labeling of healthy items—at for-profit food venues on military installations. Her work has helped lay the foundation for expanded access to healthier food options across the military food system.

Zina holds a Master’s in Public Health in Nutritional Sciences and a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and French Literature from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.