Presenters

Amy Kind, M.D., Ph.D. is the inaugural Associate Dean for Social Health Sciences and Programs at the University of Wisconsin (UW) School of Medicine and Public Health. As Associate Dean, Dr. Kind oversees, creates synergies, and guides the growth of the school’s current and future initiatives, policies and programs that are designed to study and eliminate health disparities. She works closely with leaders in research, education, clinical, and public health realms to build capacity and ensure the advancement of health equity research. As Associate Dean, Dr. Kind serves as Executive Director of the $430 million Wisconsin Partnership Program grant-making endowment, founding Director of the UW Center for Health Disparities Research, Chief Executive Officer of the rural-health focused Orion Initiative, and provides dean’s office oversight to the Milwaukee-based Center for Community Engagement and Health Partnerships. Dr. Kind is a Professor of Medicine and board certified as a geriatrician. A rural northern Wisconsin native, Dr. Kind obtained B.S., M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin, residency training at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital, and additional public leadership certifications from the Brookings Institute in Washington DC and the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program. Dr. Kind is an international expert in the field of disparities-focused exposome science, social determinants of health, and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Kind leads the team that developed the Neighborhood Atlas^®, a free data democratization tool that quantifies the social exposome for every neighborhood in the US including Puerto Rico. Her work has catalyzed Congressional funding earmarks for exposome study, is heralded as a model for data democratization, and provides the foundation for Medicare’s federal equity-benchmark payment models as well as the recently announced US News 2024 hospital health equity rankings. Dr. Kind has earned multiple honors including the NIH/NIA Beeson Award, the American Geriatrics Society Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement for Clinical Investigation, election as a Member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), election as a Member of the Association of American Physicians (AAP), and membership on a White House Task Force on Aging and Technology. Her work has been published in top journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. She currently leads a research funding portfolio of over $40 million in active NIH grants and is routinely asked to advise state, federal, and international entities. Her most recent NIH grant is a 23-site national consortium (“The Neighborhoods Study”) that will provide a novel window into the mechanisms underlying social exposome linkage to Alzheimer’s Disease neurobiology.

Bethany Rogerson, M.S., is a Co-Director of the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps program in the Population Health Institute at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Her work is focused on bringing evidence, engagement, and an equity lens to decisions across sectors that affect health.  Prior to joining the Population Health Institute, Bethany was a senior manager with the Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. There she contributed to the development and implementation of Health in All Policies initiatives, including funding opportunities and technical assistance efforts to establish and advance Health Impact Assessment practice in the U.S.

Bethany holds a Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Michigan.

John R. Raymond, Sr., M.D., the Medical College of Wisconsin’s (MCW) President and CEO, assumed the position as MCW’s sixth President on July 1, 2010. He was previously Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). As MCW’s President and CEO, Dr. Raymond leads Wisconsin’s only private health sciences university with an operating budget of approximately $1.7 billion. Half of the physicians practicing in Wisconsin is an alumnus of MCW or our residency training programs. With approximately 7,400 faculty and staff members, MCW is the fifth largest private employer in Metro Milwaukee. MCW is ranked a Top 100 Research University in the Nation by the National Science Foundation and invests more than $350 million annually in research, training, teaching and related purposes. MCW physicians and advanced practice providers provide about 5.1 million patient visits annually. Dr. Raymond is focused on addressing Wisconsin’s healthcare workforce shortages, and on delivering care and hope to communities and populations disproportionately impacted by the burden of health disparities. 

Jennifer Crubel, M.S., serves as the Rural Graduate Medical Education Development Manager for the Wisconsin Collaborative for Rural Graduate Medical Education (WCRGME). In this role, she is dedicated to increasing the number of physicians practicing in rural Wisconsin communities. Jennifer collaborates with potential sites to determine their Graduate Medical Education (GME) pathways and assists residency programs in starting or expanding rural tracks. A significant aspect of Jennifer's work is her support for the professional development of rural GME Administrators, both within Wisconsin and nationwide.

Michael Stevenson, M.P.H., is a Co-Director at County Health Rankings & Roadmaps (CHR&R) in the Populational Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He most recently served as the Evidence and Policy Analyst Team Lead at CHR&R. The Evidence & Policy Analysis team’s work includes What Works for Health (WWFH), an online database that provides community leaders, coalitions and policy makers with promising strategies to advance health and equity. Prior to joining CHR&R, Michael was the Director of Health Strategy at the City of Milwaukee Health Department where he led large scale planning efforts, advised on public health policy, facilitated partnerships and analyzed public health data. He played key roles in rebuilding the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program and supporting the department’s COVID-19 response.

Michael holds a master’s degree in public health from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health and a bachelor’s degree from Wartburg College. Michael is a lifelong learner committed to centering racial and health equity in public health research and practice.

Sheri Johnson, Ph.D., is the Director of the Population Health Institute and Professor of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has dedicated her 25+ year career to partnering with children, families, community organizations and systems to advance health and well-being. Awed by the resilience of individuals and communities, she is motivated to remove unfair obstacles and conditions that create and perpetuate health inequities. Dr. Johnson completed undergraduate studies at Brown University; earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Boston University and served as a Clinical Fellow in Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She was previously Director of Behavioral Health at Milwaukee Health Services, Inc., a federally qualified health center and served as the Administrator and State Health Officer for the Wisconsin Division of Public Health. Immediately prior to joining the PHI, she was Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin Center for Advancement of Underserved Children where she collaborated with diverse stakeholders to address a broad range of real-world problems.

AAron Davis, M.P.A., M.B.A., Director of the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the Community Engagement Institute, Wichita State University, specializes in strategic operations and systems thinking to strengthen public health in Kansas. With dual master’s degrees in public administration (MPA) and business administration (MBA), AAron approaches public health challenges with a blend of business insight and empathy for local government complexities. A key leader in the Kansas Public Health Collaborative, AAron has been instrumental in initiatives to support the public health workforce. Notably, he led the implementation of electronic health records (EHR) across 11 local health departments, enhancing their service delivery and revenue. He supports public health informatics through helping launch and run the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments Informatics Subcommittee to advance data-driven decision-making. Aaron, in collaboration with Tatiana Lin, has delivered numerous workshops on helping public health and other organizations explore how to responsibly use Generative AI in their operations. He co-hosts an AI in Public Health Community of Practice for local health departments in Kansas. Lastly, AAron was the contributor to the publicationDeveloping AI Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance. Recognized by the de Beaumont Foundation as a “40 under 40” leader, AAron envisions strong public health systems partnering with communities to foster meaningful change. His work is driven by the belief that building healthier communities creates a better future for the next generation.

Emily Whitney, Ph.D., MCHES, is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Community Health Education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where she also serves as the Academic Director for the Healthcare Administration Master of Science program. Dr. Whitney teaches environmental health, drugs and society, youth health issues, and Motivational Interviewing courses.

Within these courses, Emily aims to help learners understand the importance of the determinants of health, health literacty, and advocacy. She is passionate about helping people learn the skill of Motivational Interviewing to create more effective communication that allows a person or group to find their reasons to make a change and then commit to it. Dr. Whitney has presented on Motivational Interviewing and facilitated workshops in varius public health and health care settings over the last 13 years.

Keely Rees, Ph.D., MCHES, is the Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Advancement at the University of Kentucky's College of Public Health. Previously, she served as Professor and Chair in the Department of Public Health and Community Health Education at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she focused on women's health, adolescent health behaviors, health policy, and advocacy. Dr. Rees has co-authored publications such as "Be the Change: Putting Health Advocacy, Policy, and Community Organization into Practice in Public Health Education." She has also held leadership roles including Past President of the National Eta Sigma Gamma and co-faculty advisor for the Beta Phi Chapter. Her dedication to mentorship and education is evident in her efforts to guide students and emerging professionasl in the field of public health.

Shelby C. Rowell, M.P.A., Analyst, Kansas Health Institute conducts research, policy analysis and technical support related to KHI’s work on access to care, population health and other topics. At KHI, Shelby supports operations of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant Region 7 Public Health Innovation Hub where she provides technical assistance and project management support. Additionally, she serves as the lead facilitator for the Vaping ECHO for Education program and co-facilitator for the 988 Coordinating Council. She has contributed to research and products related to rural health, Medicaid and state policy analysis. She was co-author of the publication Developing AI Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance. Before joining KHI, Shelby was a Senior Analyst on the Access to Care team at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), where she led the organization’s portfolios on Community Health Workers and rural health—providing project management for multiple federal grant deliverables and subcontractor relationships while also delivering technical assistance and developing actionable resources. Prior to working for ASTHO, Shelby worked for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, where she served as a Legislative Liaison and Policy Analyst, and as a Data Manager for the Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention’s HIV Program.

Tatiana Y. Lin, M.A., Director of Business Strategy and Innovation, Kansas Health Institute advances the institute’s mission through innovative programs and partnerships with public, private and philanthropic organizations. Her work has focused on strengthening Kansas’ public health system; examining health impacts of policies related to medical marijuana, casino development, transportation, liquor licensing, corporate farming and food insecurity; and advancing population health strategies. Tatiana also has facilitated state-level task forces on behavioral health and crisis standards of care. Her expertise spans Health in All Policies (HiAP), Health Impact Assessments and exploring artificial intelligence in public health. Tatiana co-authored the American Public Health Association’s policy on Equitably Applying Artificial Intelligence in the United States Workforce Using Training and Collaboration; led the development of the publication Developing AI Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance; and wrote a blog titled Why and How Kansas Public Health Could Be Key in Shaping a Statewide AI Roadmap. Tatiana, in collaboration with AAron Davis, has delivered numerous workshops on helping public health and other organizations explore how to responsibly use Generative AI in their operations. Tatiana also serves on advisory boards and is a past president of SOPHIA: The community of HiAP professionals.

Emma Uridge, M.P.H., Analyst, Kansas Health Institute conducts research and policy analysis related to our work on population health, access to care, insurance coverage and other topics. Currently, Emma facilitates the Age-Friendly Public Health Systems initiative in Kansas. She has contributed to research on holistic care coordination and Medicaid expansion and has co-facilitated state-level task forces focused on older adult care and crisis standards of care. Her research interests include sustainably built environments, environmental health, Health in All Policies, One Health, food and water systems security and energy insecurity. She was co-author of the publication Developing AI Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance and also developed the chatbot used in that project. Before joining KHI, Emma served as an Environmental Public Health Specialist and Investigator at the Kansas City Missouri Health Department. In that role, she focused on food safety, the Summer Food Service Program, and provided support for the city’s public health response during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rebecca Andrade, M.A., Educational Programs Manager, Kansas Health Institute develops and manages educational offerings to support KHI’s mission of improving the health of Kansans. She designs, coordinates and implements educational programs in multiple formats, fosters collaborative relationships and mentors project staff. As a member of the Strategic Communication and Engagement team, Rebecca supports the promotion of educational programs and the production of audio/visual content to augment the educational mission. Additionally, Rebecca serves as Project Coordinator and Curriculum Lead for the Ad Astra ECHO Hub located at KHI. Prior to joining KHI, Rebecca was Engagement and Outreach Manager for the Center for Responsive Schools, where she designed, organized and facilitated high-quality and scalable online and in-person learning experiences. Prior to that, she was an educator and provided instructional design and professional development opportunities for the Shanghai American School, American School of Brasília and Bahrain Bayan School. Rebecca has a master’s in teaching and a bachelor’s in history from Sweet Briar College, in Virginia.

Samiyah Para-Cremer Moore, M.Sc., Senior Analyst & Portfolio Strategist, Kansas Health Institute specializes in population health research, including food security research, program evaluation, community engagement and the incorporation of health equity considerations into decision making. At KHI, Samiyah supports community engagement efforts and leads research initiatives to strengthen the Kansas public health system at state and local levels. She also provides direct technical assistance to communities across Kansas to build their capacity for using data and evidence-based practices to support health and health equity. Samiyah’s research interests include food security, health equity, social determinants of health and evidence-based policy and practice. Prior to joining KHI, Samiyah worked as a Justice Fellow at Kansas Appleseed, where she provided research, policy analysis and program development on issues such as childhood nutrition programs, housing and COVID-19 policy.

Sheena L. Schmidt, M.P.P., Senior Analyst & Strategy Team Leader, Kansas Health Institute, leads strategic planning and programmatic activities related to access to care, including Medicaid and other publicly funded programs, the health care workforce and rural health issues. She has over 14 years of experience in public service at the federal, state and local levels. At the state level, Sheena recently served as the Director of Administrative Services for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, where she oversaw grants and contracts for the agency, among other key operational areas. At the local level, Sheena was the Senior Grants Program Administrator and a Grant Writer for the City of Topeka, where she developed strategic funding priorities which resulted in several million dollars for projects related to infrastructure and social services. She also worked at KHI as an Analyst from 2012-2016 and prior to that as an Analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C.

Sheena earned a master’s degree in public policy with a concentration in politics and institutions from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in history and a certification in nonprofit management from Washburn University. As a lifelong Kansan, she is invested in helping others understand how policies impact their health, in addition to research interests related to health equity. Her personal interests include listening to podcasts and making memories traveling with her family.