Denise C. Tahara, PhD, MPhil, MBA

Position: Associate Professor, Health Policy and Management, New York Medical College

Expertise: Systems thinking, Performance improvement, Design and innovation, Care integration, Leadership and Strategic Planning, Food insecurity, Chronic disease management, Pediatric obesity

Other Experience: Past-President, NYSPHA; APHA Council of Affiliates

Brett Harris, DrPh

Positions:  Senior Research Scientist, NORC at the University of Chicago   Clinical Associate Professor, University at Albany School of Public Health  

Expertise:  Suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use prevention and early intervention with a particular emphasis on adolescents and transitional age youth, higher education, student athletes, K-12, school-based health centers, and rural communities  

Other Experience:  President, New York State Public Health Association  Board of Directors, Capital Region Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention  

Erin Sinisgalli, MPH, MCHES 

Positions:  Director of Community Health Programs, St. Peter's Health Partners, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Health at New York Medical College, Lecturer of Topics in Public Health at University at Albany

Expertise:  Community Health Programs that promote healthy eating, improved physical fitness, breastfeeding and tobacco cessation. 

Other Experience:  Executive Director, New York State Public Health Association, EMT Volunteer at Delmar-Bethlehem EMS and CPR instructor, Media Relations, Lawmaker Education and Grant Writing

Gus Birkhead, MD

Position:  Professor, University at Albany School of Public Health  

Expertise:  HIV/AIDS, immunizations, public health surveillance  

Joelle Monaco, MBA

Positions:  President, Joelle Monaco Consulting  

Expertise:  Workforce development, non-profit and for-profit, mental health, medical settings, higher education, veterans, older adults, K-12, human resources, employee assistance programming, and re-entry  

Other Experience:  Mental Health First Aid trainer, Contributing Faculty for the University at Albany Institute of Nonprofit Leadership and Community Development,  Board of Directors, New York State Public Health Association, Founding Member, Talent Champions Council,  Capital Region Chamber’s Young Professional Network and Women’s Business Council,  Capital Region Employment Alliance,  New York State Inclusive Workforce Alliance, City of Albany Equity Agenda  

Heather Guidone, BCPA

Position:  Program Director, Center for Endometriosis Care  

Expertise:  Endometriosis  

Other Experience:  Comparative Effectiveness Advisory Council, Institute for Clinical and Economic Review  Ambassador, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute  

Leah Wentworth, Ph.D., MPH

Position:  Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Expertise: Health promotion, Mental health, Injury/violence prevention, Program management, Implementation science, Program evaluation, Occupational health, Public health education

Other Experience:  Adjunct Professor, University of New England Graduate Program in Public Health

Carol Ryan, RN, MPH

Position:  President, Health Promotion Strategies, LLC  

Expertise:  Public health policy  

Other Experience:  Board of Directors, New York State Public Health Association, Local Health Chair, NAACP , Board of Directors, Maternal Infant Services Network