New York State Public Health Corps: Second Fellow Cohort

Arvinjon Calpotura
New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“The NYSPHC Fellowship has been beneficial in honing my skills and necessary knowledge needed to work in a research position in the epidemiology field. I hope to use these experiences of working in the New York State Department of Health in my future career endeavors of helping underserved communities throughout the country and eventually in a global health capacity.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I have been working in the Bureau of Cancer Epidemiology's Extramural Research Unit and their studies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care and outcomes. Some of these duties include identifying and implementing strategies for improving community outreach and engagement in patient contact studies and contributing to research on cancer disparities through analyses of study and Registry data.”

Brayan García Soriano
Westchester County Department of Health

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“Being a NYSPHC Fellow is allowing me to gain valuable experience in the public health field with the hope to take this experience to further my education through an MPH in the future. I hope to continue working with underserved communities throughout my career in public health.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I work as a patient navigator in the Westchester Department of Health Clinic. I help connect patients from our clinics to primary care, specialty care, and other community resources. Additionally, I am fluent in both English and Spanish helping me better communicate with a larger portion of the population we serve.”

Menyel Brooks
Chenango County Health Department

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“I am a PhD student (All but Dissertation) and open to possibilities of careers in various sectors. Gaining experience in the public sector from a learning and career development standpoint is allowing me to gauge my interests and determine where I am most needed. I couldn't be more appreciative of this opportunity and how this experience is healing past work trauma. I believe that I will have a solid foundation and career direction by the end of this Fellowship.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I am currently working on our Community Health Assessment, attending meetings for our local Homeless Coalition, and shadowing our various divisions/departments to understand everyone's role and how to improve their day-to-day functions. I would love to use this time to bring tech advancements to this department to remove unnecessary burdens on the staff and increase access for both staff and the community.”

Rita Svetanics
Chautauqua County Health Department

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“As a recent graduate in a public health related degree, being a NYSPHC Fellow fits directly in with my future career goals. My study interests lie heavily in medical ethics, mental hygiene, and environmental health, all of which come into play in the realm of public health. This Fellowship gives me tangible experience that I hope will inform my next steps as a public health professional.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“As a Fellow at my local health department, I serve on the lead team in the environmental health division. My role includes performing lead prevention inspections, following up on old and lost lead cases and assisting the team in building their GIS system in preparation of the NYS Lead Registry.”

Alyce Bilello
Putnam County Department of Health

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“Being a NYSPHC Fellow has been a goal of mine since I was an undergrad at UAlbany. The experience that the fellowship offers is something I was looking for when I graduated, and I am very grateful to be able to serve my community and start off my public health career strong!”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I assist in public health education regarding topics such as youth vaping, opioid overdose education, emergency preparedness, sexual health, mental health, tick-borne illness, etc. I attend many community events to represent the Putnam County Department of Health and its services/initiatives. I also assist the epidemiologist in our early childhood vaccination intervention, which aims to work with healthcare providers in getting their 2 to 5-year-old patients vaccinated.”

Matthew D’Angelo
Dutchess County Department of Health

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“The NYSPHC allows me not just to get more experience in the public health sector but also allows me to learn, network with public health professionals and other fellows, and immerse myself in many different areas of public health.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I am the Rabies Coordinator for the Dutchess County Department of Health. My job is to run the county's rabies suppression program - which includes bite investigations, Rabies Post Exposure Prophylaxis (RPEP) treatment, educating the public on the risks of rabies and exposure to potentially rabid animals, and making improvements to the rabies program itself.”

Nancy DelMastro
Westchester County Health Department

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“Being a Fellow aligns with my career goals because it supports professional development, exposes me to the many opportunities available in county public health departments, and allows me to gain hands-on experience while continuing to educate myself in the public health field.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I work in the Division of Health Promotion/Partnerships, where I am assisting with strategic initiatives, leading the development of a comprehensive communications plan, and supporting internal and external communications projects, events, and other relevant projects involving community partners.”

Rohini Ganpat
New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“This fellowship aligns perfectly with my larger career goals, particularly my commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting health equity. Additionally, the fellowship will allow me to deepen my understanding of the intricacies of cancer prevention and control while honing my ability to work with diverse communities and provide a unique platform for networking with experienced professionals in the field, allowing me to build relationships that can support my future endeavors.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“The Fellowship position within the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program at the New York State Department of Health Bureau of Cancer Prevention and Control offers a unique opportunity to support the New York State Cancer Consortium and the implementation of the New York State Cancer Plan.”

Mary Beth Hughes
Erie County Department of Health

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“The NYSPHC Fellowship has allowed me to put my education and background to practical use and to expand my knowledge and exposure to many different fields within public health. The Fellowship has been invaluable for networking within Erie County and NYS.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“My position is split between EMS and PHEP. I am currently working on the Family Assistance Center plan with the PHEP coordinators for Erie County Emergency Management Plans. In the EMS division, I have been working on billing compliance, inventory control, and outlining and implementing the process for Municipal Certificate of Need Conversion to permanent status.”

Aishwarya Palaksha Murthy
Monroe County Department of Health

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“This fellowship allows me to deepen my understanding of how environmental factors impact community health, which is crucial for my aspiration to work in public health policy and advocacy. Through this position, I am developing skills in research, collaboration, and data analysis, all of which are essential for crafting effective public health strategies. Additionally, engaging with community partners and stakeholders equips me with practical insights into the needs and challenges faced by vulnerable populations.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I participate in the community climate change task force to provide a public health perspective and foster collaboration among community members, as well as state and local partners. I am researching the specific needs of my community regarding the climate-related risks they face, as well as identifying available resources to address these challenges. My responsibilities also involve data assessment to support our initiatives. A significant aspect of my role includes identifying gaps within the community and developing effective solutions to address these issues.”

Emily Nojeim
Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health)

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“Through this experience, I’ve discovered a passion for mental health as well as a strong interest in public health education. The NYSPHC has been instrumental in helping me refine my career focus, and I am excited to continue working in these areas moving forward.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“In the Office of Health Education, my role with the Health Education team at the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments (GO Health) is to collaborate closely with the mental health departments of both counties. My work focuses on addressing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) within the community and supporting efforts to make the health departments and the Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming (GOW) region trauma-informed.”

Alice Spina
New York State Department of Health’s Office of Health Equity and Human Rights

How does being a NYSPHC Fellow fit in with your larger career goals?
“I hope to use my time as a NYSPHC Fellow to continue learning about the broader themes of public health in practice and to hone my skills in the areas where I am most interested, particularly in working to address and prevent health disparities.”

What do you work on in your fellowship position?
“I am researching policy related to sickle cell disease to support the Health Equity Council, and I support the Racial Equity Working Group as it works to address racism as a public health crisis in the state. I also assist with other Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention legislative charges related to cultural, linguistic, racial, and health equity by infusing and evaluating policies aligning with the department’s vision/mission for eliminating health disparities.”