2026 DELPH Cohort

With funding from the CDC, ASTHO and Morehouse School of Medicine's Satcher Health Leadership Institute have recruited 20 mid-to-senior-level governmental public health professionals to join our DELPH program to establish our sixth cohort of public health leaders. This program is committed to ensuring a well-prepared workforce of public health professionals, including practitioners who reflect the jurisdictions they serve.

This cohort includes public health professional representing 9 states, 10 local and one island/territory health departments and come from a wide range of professional backgrounds within public health. The DELPH Team is excited to introduce you to our sixth cohort.

Faisal Adam is a trained physician and public health epidemiologist with a multidisciplinary background and a global perspective shaped by diverse clinical and public health experiences. He currently leads antimicrobial stewardship efforts across health care facilities in Washington, D.C., through his role at the District’s Department of Health (DC Health). His work is rooted in improving health outcomes through systems-level change.

Faisal’s journey began with medical education in Ukraine and clinical practice in Nigeria, experiences that provided firsthand insight into health care delivery challenges across varied settings. In the United States, he has served in multiple capacities, including as a public health advisor with CDC, where he supported national public health response operations. He also worked on migrant and border health initiatives in Texas and contributed to global drug safety and pharmacovigilance during his time at IQVIA.

Throughout his career, Faisal has focused on the intersection of equity, health, and leadership. He believes better health outcomes require not only sound data and infrastructure but also leadership that centers communities, practices cultural humility, and builds sustainable partnerships. At DC Health, he integrates these principles into initiatives to optimize antimicrobial use and reduce health care-associated infections.

Faisal joins the DELPH program to sharpen his leadership capabilities, deepen his policy and equity lens, and collaborate with a national network of public health professionals committed to justice, innovation, and transformational systems change.

Vina Saures Ayuyu is a proud native of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). She currently serves as the administrator for mental health services at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation-Community Guidance Center. In this role, she oversees the development and implementation of mental health programs and plays an important role in strengthening the foundations of comprehensive and quality health care for the CNMI community.

Vina has served her community for over 12 years in various roles in health care. She played an integral part in the development and expansion of community-based mental health services for children, youth, and families. Her contributions to community-based health services include grants writing and management, program design and management, services integration, partnership development, and training and mentorship.

Vina a holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is a proud member of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. She is deeply committed to promoting and improving health outcomes for all individuals and continues to dedicate her career to advancing health resources in CNMI. She applies her core values of compassion and strength-based approaches to everything she pursues and carries her community’s best interest in all her opportunities.

Misty Carney is originally from Brownsville, TN, and is an alumna of Tennessee State University and Howard University’s School of Pharmacy. She completed the post-baccalaureate Public Health and Policy Program at the University of Maryland and obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health as a Bloomberg Fellow.

Misty currently serves as the program manager for the Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program at the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) where her passion for pharmacy, HIV, and public health intersect. In this role, she is tasked with ensuring that approximately 6,000 Marylanders living with HIV have access to treatment and support medications with the goal of using treatment as prevention to align with Ending the HIV Epidemic.

Prior to arriving at MDH, Misty served the community as a specialty retail pharmacist in Washington, D.C., and Suburban Maryland. Misty received the Secretary’s Spotlight Award for demonstrating excellent customer service to Marylanders both internally and externally at MDH. She contributed significantly to the 2024 legislation for pharmacists to dispense HIV nPEP and led the implementation of Maryland’s nPEP Standing Order Program for Pharmacists.

Misty has over 15 years of experience within infectious disease and public health as a pharmacist, and serves as a commissioner for the Washington D.C. Regional Planning Commission on Health and HIV. When she is not contributing her time, talent, and treasure to public health, Misty enjoys working out, listening to podcasts, and spending time with family and friends.

Colette is known for her vibrant energy and brings both style and substance to every space she enters. Whether she’s leading a strategic initiative or designing a head-turning graphic, she blends intellect, creativity, and heart. Her confident presence, collaborative spirit, and signature positivity make her a standout leader and trusted partner in cross-sector work.

Colette is a dynamic public health professional with over a decade of experience in state government, specializing in communications, strategic planning, data interpretation, project management, and health equity. Starting her public health journey at the California Department of Public Health, she discovered her passion for improving community health through non-clinical pathways. Since then, she has become a trusted and unwavering voice for reducing maternal mortality and promoting positive childhood experiences, leveraging technology, design, and storytelling to drive impact.

She holds a Master of Public Health, alongside a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts and African & African American Studies — an academic foundation that fuels her creative and culturally grounded approach to public health. She is fueled by a deep commitment to equity and a belief that leadership is about influence through trust, not just authority through title. Colette infuses every project with clarity, purpose, and bold vision.

Outside of work, she’s a supporter of festivals, farmers markets, summer concerts, kid-friendly recipes, and closing all three Apple Watch rings. A lover of museums, afternoon walks, and community events, Colette lives by the motto: lead with purpose, radiate joy, and influence through trust.

Angela Cochran is the division director of Health Promotion and Community Services at the St. Mary’s County Health Department in Maryland. In this executive leadership role, she oversees more than 20 programs focused on chronic disease prevention, maternal and child health, oral health, and violence prevention. She leads a multidisciplinary team and develops cross-sector partnerships to advance health equity and improve access to care for underserved and rural populations.

Angela received her Master of Science in Health Sciences and Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as a graduate certificate in public health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also a certified clinical exercise physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. She began her career in cancer research at VCU’s Massey Cancer Center and later coordinated adolescent wellness and clinical research programs. After relocating to Southern Maryland, she served as clinical lead exercise physiologist for the Grace Anne Dorney Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation Center and as clinical educator at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital.

She has played a key role in implementing evidence-based programs such as Nurse-Family Partnership and Group Violence Intervention, and in expanding access to oral health care through the Mini-Mission of Mercy dental clinics. Angela currently serves as co-chair of the St. Mary’s County Local Management Board, is a member of the Governance & Organizational Capabilities Workgroup of the Maryland Commission on Public Health, serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Rural Health Association, and is secretary of the Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy. She was recently accepted into the Doctor of Public Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with a concentration in Health Policy and Management, where she will continue to focus on public health leadership and health equity.

A St. Mary’s County native, Angela lives in Solomons with her husband and two children. She is passionate about building healthier, more equitable communities across Maryland.

Jessie Fernandes currently works at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services where she has held roles as an epidemiologist and evaluator, program manager, and now as a section supervisor. Over the last two decades she has worked to address a variety of topics related to communicable diseases, environmental health, and chronic disease and health promotion. She is also leading efforts to launch a statewide bi-directional referral system, increase the use of geographic information systems, and address social determinants of health in daily work.

Jessie grew up in Oregon and attended Willamette University where she received a bachelor’s degree in biology and Spanish. Upon graduation, she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in northwest Panama for 2.5 years supporting a rural village with environmental health and sanitation projects, learning local culture and language, and serving as a regional leader for other volunteers. These experiences led her to public health and graduate work at Tulane University. Outside of professional work, Jessie enjoys baking, hiking, skiing, and gardening with her family.

Tynisha George serves as a senior project manager at the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she leads initiatives that advance community health and equity across the city. A public health social worker and project management professional, Tynisha brings several years of progressive experience in public health administration, community engagement, and health equity. She has overseen large-scale initiatives impacting nearly three million individuals, demonstrating a commitment to building healthier and more resilient communities.

Tynisha is a proud alumna of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. She went on to earn a dual Master’s degree in Social Work and Public Health from Stony Brook University. Her leadership and advocacy were recognized by the National Association of Social Workers, New York State Chapter, with the Master’s in Social Work Student Award, and she was further honored with the Director’s Award for Excellence in Service to Public Health.

With a proven record of establishing systems that enhance programmatic outcomes, Tynisha’s work focuses on advancing racial equity and improving community health. Her multidisciplinary experience bridges social work, data-driven evaluation, and public health strategy to promote sustainable, community-led impact. Grounded in faith, equity, and empathy, she is dedicated to building capacity with strategically under-resourced populations and fostering environments where healing, justice, and opportunity can thrive.

Outside of her professional work, Tynisha enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, practicing Pilates, and spending time with her mini Australian Shepherd, Rayne.

Ethan is a health education supervisor at the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health in St. Louis, MO. He played a key leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic, overseeing the department’s community response efforts. Today, he supervises a team of community health educators who work to prevent COVID-19, mpox, and sexually transmitted infections through targeted outreach, education, and community engagement initiatives.

Passionate about developing the next generation of the public health workforce, advancing health equity, and improving community well-being, Ethan contributes nationally as a member of NACCHO’s Leadership & Workforce Development Workgroup, National Network of Public Health Institute’s Public Health Leads Steering Committee, and the Society for Public Health Education.

Ethan is currently pursuing his Master of Public Health in Health Promotion & Policy at the University of Missouri–Columbia and is expected to graduate in December 2026.

Gabby Hadly is the public health emergency preparedness & response program manager for the Snohomish County Health Department in Washington and serves on the department’s executive leadership team. She leads countywide efforts to prepare for and respond to emergencies that impact community health. Her approach is practical and people-centered: align roles and resources, build trusted relationships, and turn plans into operations under real world constraints.

After earning a master’s degree in public health from the University of British Columbia, Gabby joined the COVID-19 response in Texas, managing outbreaks across 59 counties. She later served as an informatics epidemiologist at the Washington State Department of Health, where she built data systems to facilitate the flow of vital information between local health jurisdictions and the state. Gabby then went on to join the Kitsap Public Health District, where she managed their emergency preparedness and response program before taking her current role with Snohomish County two years ago. These state, regional, and local experiences sharpened her ability to bridge policy and practice during times of immense change.

Committed to building and sustaining public health services, Gabby serves on Washington’s Foundational Public Health Services Steering Committee and was recently named to the Washington State Public Health Association’s Board of Directors. Through the DELPH program, Gabby aims to deepen her executive skills in organizational leadership and public health policy, strengthen her change-management practices, and expand her professional network to create dynamic, coordinated, and sustainable public health systems that communities can rely on.

She’s a patron of the arts and live music, an avid vegetable gardener and an eager, active participant in many mutual aid endeavors.

Shebra K. Hall is the chief of the Bureau of Chronic Disease in the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Public Health. The Bureau of Chronic Disease includes the Diabetes and Heart Disease Prevention and Control Program, Self-Management Programs, Delaware’s new Asthma Program, and other chronic disease programming and projects for the state, including the new Cardiovascular Health Learning Collaborative.

Shebra has held other positions in DHSS, including as the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention program administrator, Birth to Three Early Intervention training administrator, and in the Delaware Health Care Commission. Prior to her work in DHSS, she was the community initiatives coordinator for Nemours BrightStart!, a national initiative of Nemours Children’s Health. In these positions, she plays a critical role in helping community members, health care professionals, educators, and stakeholders understand key concepts and actions needed to promote health and wellness for all Delawareans.

Shebra has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Shippensburg University. Shebra is originally from New York City but has lived in Delaware with her husband and two children since 2011. When not at work, she spends most of her time cheering on her family in their various sports and activities or volunteering for Autism Delaware, Calvary Baptist Church, 4-H, and the Camden-Wyoming Little League.

Brandon Horvath is the assistant program manager for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness Program (BT-PHP). He has been with BT-PHP since June 2018, serving previously as a health communications coordinator and manager. In his current role, Brandon oversees emergency communications activities for the program, issuing mission-critical information to staff, response partners, and health care providers.

As the Department’s Health Alert Network (HAN) coordinator, Brandon coordinates engagement with key provider networks for the Division of Disease Control (DDC). He also chairs the National HAN Coordinators Workgroup and manages DDC’s Health Information Portal website, a repository for surveillance data, health care and community partner resources, and recent health alerts.

Before joining the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Brandon served as a 2017-2018 SOPHE/CDC Fellow in Unintentional Injury Prevention and developed POPPED©, a curriculum designed to increase awareness about the opioid crisis and initiatives at local, state, and federal levels to address it. In September 2024, he became a brand ambassador for the Public Health Communications Collaborative, a learning and information hub for professionals who communicate about public health. He holds a Master of Public Health degree from Thomas Jefferson University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Arcadia University.

A certified health education specialist, Brandon’s passion lies in ensuring everyone has access to the information necessary to make informed decisions about their health. In his role within BT-PHP, he strives to create spaces where staff feel comfortable, supported, and are encouraged to be creative and innovative in their approaches.

Halana Kaleel is a dedicated public health professional with a deep commitment to community engagement and health equity. In her current role as a public health community engagement specialist at Austin Public Health (APH), she is at the forefront of developing and implementing strategies that place equity at the center of the department's work. Halana focuses on building robust partnerships to improve health outcomes and helps implement the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan, ensuring that people can age in their community.

Throughout her tenure at APH, Halana has grown from an AmeriCorps VISTA to a proven leader. Her experience includes data analysis during the COVID-19 response to plan vaccination sites and ensure equitable community outreach. She has developed and implemented action plans, including key contributions to the APH Language Access Plan, where she coordinated and evaluated services to ensure equitable access for diverse communities. As the staff liaison for boards such as the Commission on Aging and the HIV Planning Council, she has honed her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, synthesize community feedback, and recommend actionable policy changes.

A strong advocate for underserved communities, she serves on APH's Equity Council and chairs the department's LGBTQIA+ staff group. Halana holds a Master of Public Health from The University of Texas, Health Science Center, with a focus on health promotion and education, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Western Washington University.

Markeeta Keyes is the director of Public Health Infrastructure and Organizational Development at the Minneapolis Health Department. She leads workforce development, guiding initiatives that strengthen the public health workforce and promote an equity-centered, anti-racist, and trauma-informed organizational culture. Her work prioritizes health and race equity, professional development, and public health infrastructure while advancing green career pathways through the department’s Green Careers Exploration Program.

Markeeta is deeply committed to fostering inclusive, community-driven pathways into public health and environmental sectors. Through experiential learning and intentional partnerships, she works to advance racial and environmental justice, ensuring a skilled, resilient, and representative workforce prepared to meet the needs of a healthy and sustainable Minneapolis.

Aracely Macias, a public health leader committed to building systems that promote health, access, and opportunity for all, is the strategic advisor in the Office of Minority and Multicultural Health (OMMH) at the New Jersey Department of Health. She provides leadership to integrate equity across departmental priorities and ensures alignment with the department’s strategic plan and OMMH’s legislative mandate. In this role, she acts as a connector across programs, helping them shape initiatives and drive collective progress.

Aracely provides strategic guidance on language access, health equity, and quality improvement, and leads policy development for OMMH while fostering collaboration with external partners. She is also laying the foundation for a statewide Health in All Policies approach to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and improve health outcomes for New Jersey’s very diverse populations.

Previously, Aracely directed the New Jersey COVID-19 Task Force on Racial and Health Disparities, managing operations and partnerships to fulfill legislative mandates and deliver data-driven policy recommendations to reduce disparities.

A Presidential Appointee in the Obama Administration, she held the role of associate director for Operations and Engagement in the Office of Minority Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she advanced implementation of the Affordable Care Act and represented HHS in President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and the White House Council on Women and Girls. She also served at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a health policy advisor on the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force.

Chelsea Moriarty Coffield is a Smith College graduate and the first MD/MBA dual-degree graduate from Johns Hopkins University. She is a strategic, data-driven public health professional, passionate about advancing health equity and systems-level change. At Harris County Public Health, she leads the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan, guiding multi-agency efforts to identify and address the root causes of health disparities. Chelsea also spearheaded the first collaboration between Harris County Public Health and the Houston Health Department to improve access to care.

Her experience spans public health strategy, evidence-based policy, and cross-sector collaboration, combining analytical rigor with a people-centered approach. Beyond her professional work, Chelsea volunteers with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and advocates for inclusive, culturally informed public health practices. She is deeply committed to exploring intersectionality and adopting innovations from diverse cultures, businesses, and technologies to expand the impact and reach of public health.

Natasha Pickens Shumpert has been a catalyst for public health leadership, innovation, and equity as a social services coordinator at the Jefferson County Department of Health in Birmingham, AL. She leads complex, multi-sector initiatives addressing social and behavioral drivers of health, bridging the gap between clinical care and community wellness.

With more than 20 years of professional expertise, Natasha has secured and managed multi-million-dollar grant portfolios, transforming data-informed insights into sustainable, community-based service delivery models. Her work includes co-developing the award-winning From Day One maternal and child health program and co-authoring the P4 Challenge proposal, which improved vaccination rates and well-child visits across multiple sites. During the COVID-19 response, she played a pivotal role in ensuring equitable access to testing, vaccination, and public health information for marginalized populations.

A 2024 Public Health Champion, Natasha has managed initiatives such as the Addiction Recovery Alliance, Peer Rx, Recovery Resource Center-Crisis Center, and overdose prevention work, expanding treatment resources and peer support for individuals affected by substance use.

Natasha has degrees in psychology, social work, and business administration, along with certifications in organizational leadership, mental health, change management, and health coaching. Recognized for blending technology with human-centered leadership and systems thinking, her expertise lies in transforming complex challenges into actionable strategies, advancing health equity, and making public health services accessible for all.

Ms. Dipa Shah directs the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Program, and has over 20 years of experience implementing federally funded and state administered nutrition programs to improve the health of vulnerable communities. Under her leadership, the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program has shifted its focus to addressing upstream factors that impact diet-related diseases, including food insecurity and poverty. She has served on numerous task forces and presented to a variety of audiences on food insecurity and its relationship to diet-related chronic diseases including obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Ms. Shah was instrumental in the development of several Board motions adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, focused on screening for food insecurity in county clinics, reducing food waste and food insecurity, and healthy food access for diabetes and prediabetes prevention.

Ms. Shah has been recognized for her leadership in establishing healthy school environments, excellence in public health programs, exceptional media and communications, and advancing health equity. She received both her Bachelor of Arts in History and Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from UCLA. She is also a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Jamilia Sherls is a public health nurse with almost 20 years of experience managing community health programs and addressing health inequities. She is the director of the Office of Immunization at the Washington State Department of Health. Jamilia also has years of experience as a health care system leader and a pediatric acute care nurse. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work in equity and public health, including the 2021 March of Dimes Heroes in Action Award of Excellence.

Jamilia received a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Master of Science in Nursing in Community Systems Administration at Thomas Jefferson University; a Master of Public Health in Community Health & Prevention at the Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health; a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Thomas Jefferson University; and a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Puget Sound. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Jamilia serves on the Association of Immunization Managers Executive Committee as secretary-treasurer and represented AIM on the CDC ACIP HPV workgroup. She is also a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington-Tacoma School of Nursing and Healthcare Leadership.

In her spare time, Jamilia enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling and exploring new places with her five-year-old daughter, playing her clarinet and other woodwinds, and genealogy.

Iliana Siarmalis is a public health practitioner with extensive experience in women’s, children’s, and adolescent health. She currently serves as deputy director of the Maryland Maternal and Child Health Bureau and has served as acting director since August 2025. In this capacity, she provides strategic leadership across statewide programs aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes through quality improvement, systems strengthening, and community-based initiatives.

Iliana holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, summa cum laude, from Towson University and a Master of Public Health in Public Health Leadership from Indiana University. She is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and Certified in Public Health, and completed the University of Miami’s Building Expertise in Administration and Management program, a business and management curriculum for public health professionals.

Previously, Iliana directed adolescent health initiatives at the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs where she managed national quality improvement projects funded by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and served as the Region IX technical assistance liaison, supporting Title V programs across the western U.S. and Pacific Basin. Earlier in her career, she managed the Hallways to Health initiative at the School-Based Health Alliance and held positions with the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Office on Women’s Health, and Planned Parenthood of Indiana.

Ms. Tenneh Turner-Warren currently serves as chief of the Office of Chronic Disease and Population Health at the Arizona Department of Health Services. She has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Master of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Rhode Island.

Tenneh has over 10 years of diverse public health experience ranging from nonprofit to health care, county and state level program administration and management. In her current role, she provides strategic direction and vision for the Diabetes, Heart & Stroke, Cancer, Community Health Worker workforce and Aging, Alzheimer Disease & Related Dementias and Worksite Wellness statewide programs. Tenneh is a member of the Diabetes, Cancer, Asthma, and Falls Prevention coalitions. Her philosophy is leadership through service and developing systems for program sustainability.