Executive Committee
Lorena Disha – President
Ms. Disha is currently serving as President of MPHA. She began her current role in July of 2017, and will serve as our President until June 2019. Lorena has served with MPHA for 8 years – previously serving on the Board of Directors for 5 years, Treasurer for the Epidemiology section leading their fundraising efforts, and as Student Section Ambassador.
Ranelle Brew – Immediate Past President
Ms. Brew has worked with the MPHA organization for 10+ years, serving in a variety of roles on the board of directors and section chairs. Her most recent work has been with the student section as well as serving as the 2015-2017 President.
Roger Racine – President Elect
Roger has been an active member of MPHA for 16 years. His first active committee work was participating in legislative advocacy. From there he transitioned into conference planning with the Epidemiology Section. After serving in various officer positions he accepted the position of Section Chair to orchestrate the 2013 Conference at the University of Michigan. Roger has since filled a continuous role on the MPHA Board of Directors and currently serves as Membership Chair and President-Elect, while maintaining his participation within the Epidemiology Section.
Fatema Mamou – Secretary
Fatema is a Regional Epidemiologist with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Fatema has been an MPHA member for 10 years – she was the Chair of the MPHA Epidemiology Section during the 2010-2011 term and had previously served in the MPHA Epidemiology Section as Chair-elect and treasurer. In 2012 she became a MPHA Board Member and served three consecutive terms in that position before being elected as the MPHA Secretary in 2018.
Brian Hartl, MPH – Treasurer
Brian joined the Michigan Public Health Association as a Councilor in the Epidemiology Section shortly after starting his public health career in 2003. After serving as Chair of the Epidemiology Section in 2009, he stayed involved with the board, and took on the role of Secretary in 2012. Brian is currently learning the role of Treasurer, and will fully transition into that role in 2019.
616.632.7287
Diane Revitte – Treasurer
Hope Rollins – ARGC
Board of Directors
Joanne Goldbort
Joanne is completing her second year on the Board of MPHA. Previously, Joanne served on the Public Health Nursing Committee from 2017 to earlier this year. Most recently, Joanne has presented her work “Coworker Perception of Unfairness and Ick for Pumping Breastmilk at Work” at the MPHA Epidemiology Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan, earlier this year.
Heidi Hillard, MPH
Heidi was first elected to the board in 2011, and served in that role until 2014, when she took on the role of Treasurer. After serving for three years as Treasurer, she was re-elected to the board in 2016. Heidi represents MPHA on the Michigan Public Health Week Coalition each year for the Captiol Event where we present Hometown Hero awards, as well as the Jean Chabut Public Health Policy Champion award.
Chris Miller, MPA – Communications Officer
Chris joined the Michigan Public Health Association as their Communications Officer in the Fall of 2018. As Communications Officer, Chris is responsible for the upkeep of MPHA’s website, content creation and management for the organization’s social media presence, design of marketing materials, and community outreach with stakeholders. His public health interests include health equity, NEAR science, and urban policy and planning affecting health outcomes. Chris is also an advocate of FitKids 360, a healthy lifestyles and fitness curriculum with programs in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City.
April Brown
Laura Dewberry
Taylor Flynn
Suzanne Cupal
Naomi Ervin
Melissa Meitz
Bianca Smith
Section Chairs
Em Maier, MPH – Epidemiology Section President
As a part of the Epidemiology Section, Em helps plan the annual epidemiology conference, where public health professionals can present findings, network, and forge new research connections. This year, she was an integral part of rolling out a new mentorship program to connect young epidemiologists with those established in the field. Em also ensures that her section also works to provide networking and development opportunities for all members.
Crystal Hepburn – Public Health Nursing
Melissa Meitz – Student Advisor
Vacant – Laboratory/Disease Control
Vacant – Oral Health
Committee Chairs
Vacant – Awards Committe
Vacant – Bylaws
Ranelle Brew – Elections/Nominations
Roger Racine – Membership
Brian Hartl – Newsletter
Taylor Flynn – Public Policy/Legislation
Vacant – Resource Development
Interns
Madeline LeVasseur – Intern
Madeline received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Kalamazoo College in 2016. It was there that she first became interested in public health. Madeline is currently working on her MPH in General Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Her interests include infectious disease epidemiology, health equity, and the social determinants of health. She hopes to continue engaging with these topics while working for a local or state health department. Madeline spent the past summer working as an Intern at the Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Aya Takai – Intern
Aya is currently a senior at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in community and global public health, with a minor in political science. Her interests intersects security studies and public health, and she hopes to pursue a career in defense policy.