Our Team

Program Assistant

Claudia Artero is a Program Assistant for IPHI. She started working with IPHI in 2018 for the VCU Asthma Research Program.  Her responsibilities included working cooperatively with the VCU and VDH liaisons to educate and provide resources to help families overcome the debilitating effects of asthma. During the pandemic, Claudia joined the COVID containment effort with VDH (Central Virginia). While she began her duties as a case investigator, Claudia quickly joined the Resources Navigation Team and assisted about 830 families who have been affected by COVID-19. Claudia is originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia. While there, she worked with the Department of Agriculture and oversaw the logistical needs of thousands of farmers. Since coming to the US, her professional career has primarily been in government and community outreach. She has also had the honor of working with the counties of Fairfax, Henrico, and Richmond City. Claudia is the mother of twins and enjoys free time with her beautiful family and a precious dog named, Shooga!

Learning Associate

I am from Capitol Heights, MD. My passion for helping people is what INSPIRES me to continue working in spaces that uplift communities and promote equity.

I joined IPHI because I wanted to work with like-minded individuals and continue to support the work focused on increasing the livelihood of communities.

Career: Served as a learning associate with IPHI, responsible for supporting the development, planning, and evaluation of trainings and technical assistance

School: Virginia Commonwealth University | Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Addiction Studies; George Washington University | Master of Public Health

In my free time: I enjoy singing my heart out to any 90s R&B song

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Workforce Development Case Manager

I was born in Washington, D.C., and have lived in Maryland my entire life. I joined the IPHI CHW Academy team because I have seen firsthand the great difference a well-trained CHW can have in the overall health of a community. I have also seen the positive impact CHWs have in preventing burnout in the healthcare industry. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of having incredible mentors that believed in me even before I believed in myself. These mentors have INSPIRED me to believe in my own ability to contribute to building a healthier community. With this opportunity, I hope to give back by sharing my knowledge with IPHI’s CHW scholars.

Career: Worked in healthcare organizations for the last 11 years including nonprofits and FQHCs. Throughout the years, I held various positions at the front desk, back office, administration, and program coordinating. During the last 5 years, I have worked on several health projects including Colorectal Cancer Screening, Operations Training/Standardization, Childhood Nutrition, and Centering Pregnancy. Most recently, I worked for a local hospital as their bilingual Project Coordinator while also serving as a CHW. I am a Certified Community Health Worker and am passionate about helping others.

School:  University of Maryland Global Campus | Working towards a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

In my free time: I enjoy hikes with my family, followed by a trip to the ice cream shop.

Human Resources Associate

I’m a human resources associate with IPHI, responsible for supporting Human Resources functions, employee relations, and workforce-related initiatives across the organization.  I’ve been with IPHI since August 2020, when I first joined as a case interviewer with the Fairfax County Health Department as part of the deployed staff to assist with the effort towards slowing the spread of COVID-19. I was then promoted to Interviewer Supervisor and was responsible for managing a team of Case/Contact interviewers.

Career: Worked with UVA Health Systems as a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) in Pediatrics prior to joining IPHI. Over 10 years of experience in the medical field supporting several different departments and organizations.

School: Keister University | Associate in Science and Registered Medical Assistant Certification

In my free time: I enjoy building Lego sets with my kids

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Finance Manager

Michael Brower is the Finance Manager for IPHI. For over 30 years Michael has worked in finance and accounting at nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Prior to joining IPHI, Michael worked as Fiscal Manager at Untied Communities Against Poverty in Capitol Heights, MD., controller at Educational Fund and Coalition to Stop Gun Violence in Washington, DC and Accounting Director at Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC. Originally from North Carolina, Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in Accounting from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC.

Program Manager

Michele Burton is IPHI’s Program Manager for the Community Healthcare Coalition of Greater Prince William (CHCGPW). She contributes her experience as a community health educator and outreach representative from Anthem in Maryland. In that role, she was a member of the health equity and healthy eating active coalitions with the Prince George’s County health department in Maryland. Additionally, she participated in local health department-led coalitions in Baltimore city, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. Prior to her work at Anthem, she was the Training Coordinator for District of Columbia Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (DC SAFE), an organization serving people impacted by domestic violence. Previously, Michele worked in corporate and nonprofit settings, including being a staff trainer at Pearson Education and a Manager of Community Engagement for disconnected youth from the foster care system. She was also a former public-school teacher in the District of Columbia. She received a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2013, a Master of Teaching Elementary Education from American University in 2010, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in 2007. She enjoys volunteering, reading, painting, and boxing in her free time.

Program Director

Abby is a Program Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation, having joined the organization after serving for five years at the Women’s Collective, a nationally recognized organization providing care, prevention, and advocacy services for women, girls and their families living with and at risk for HIV in the Metropolitan DC area.   Abby’s primary role at IPHI has been to provide leadership and coordination for the Community Health Worker Initiatives, overseeing a network of peer Community Health Workers and a portfolio of programs in which the Institute for Public Health Innovation addresses program refinement, implementation, and evaluation. She coordinated the Women’s Collective’s Policy and Advocacy Program, where she managed the dissemination of their service delivery model and toolkit and worked to train the TWC peer advocacy group, Positive Leaders Uplifting Sisters, to ensure that women’s voices were heard at policy- making tables. Prior to this role, Abby spearheaded the intergenerational and youth focused HIV prevention projects, the female condom (FC2) outreach and education project, and the Prosper! Prevention with Positives program. For her work with the Women’s Collective, Abby was awarded the Tranquil Space Foundation award for creative expression and leadership development for women and girls in October 2009. She brings knowledge, experience and community relationships that will be critical to the IPHI team and to the success of IPHI’s Community Health Worker Initiatives. Outside of IPHI, Abby has been involved in various community HIV coalitions and advisory boards including the DC Community Coalition for AIDS 2012, the DC D – Center for AIDS Research (DC D-CFAR), and the George Washington University HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) Community Advisory Board. She has volunteered as an outreach volunteer with the organization Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive(HIPS) and has served as the language arts coordinator at the Cultural Academy for Excellence- an arts and academic after school enrichment program for youth. She is a graduate of the George Washington University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and a Masters of Public Health in Global Health. In 2006, Abby was awarded the George Washington University Martin Luther King Junior Award for Service and was honored with an Impact award from the GW Black Alumni Association. She is also an inductee of the George Washington University ‘Wall of Fame.’ [email protected]

Senior Program Manager

I was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where I’ve returned after living in various places, including North Carolina, Beijing, and New York City. I hold a masters degree in Public Health with a focus on Maternal and Child Health from the University of Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health. My passion lies in maternal health, striving for health equity among birthing individuals, and addressing the root causes of health inequities.

I joined IPHI to INSPIRE positive change and reduce health disparities.

Career: Worked at the the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, managing clinical quality improvement programs and supporting the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in NYC Community Health Centers, contributing to the establishment of mass vaccination sites.

School: University of Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health | Master of Public Health

In my free time: I enjoy treating myself to a cappuccino and croissant from D.C. cafes, making pizza and cookies with “help” from my three year old daughter, and going on long walks along the Capital Crescent Trail.

Senior Program Manager

Kimberlee N. Desormeaux is a Community Health Worker for the George Washington University Hospital Heart Failure Program. I am a Community Health Worker who works with patients dealing with Heart Failure.  My goal is to educate clients on the importance of taking medications, monitoring weight, no-salt diets, and following doctor’s orders as well as attending doctor appointments. I love to dance, read, travel, and spend time with my puppy “Prince.”

Why Kimberlee became a Community Health Worker: I am motivated to continue doing this work help improve patients’ quality of life.

Program Manager

I’m from the countryside of Haiti. Raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, where diverse cultures, food, music, sports, and iced coffee brought folks together. I’m passionate about working in and with communities to help educate and connect families to services.

I joined IPHI because I wanted to work with communities that look like me so they would get INVOLVED in finding solutions for their community. In my work, I support community health workers to bridge the gap between healthcare and the community. 

Career: Eight years of public health experience (sexual and reproductive health, infectious disease, community health)

School: Springfield College; New York University; School of Global Public Health

In my free time: I am a – Sister. Daughter. Aunty. Friend.

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Health Equity Trainer and Technical Assistance Coordinator

I train and support partnerships and collaborations to improve health outcomes for vulnerable communities. I have developed and implemented several community-based initiatives, including health literacy programs and support systems for people with chronic illnesses. In addition, I led several initiatives to address the needs of communities impacted by inequities throughout her career.

I value the development of action-oriented, community-led approaches that INSPIRE others to produce positive change. I’m a proponent of leveraging technology to enhance program development and implementation. I have also designed and implemented several training programs to increase health literacy and foster a culture of continuous learning, having delivered on a range of topics related to the social determinants of health.

Career: Supported health programs and training at higher education institutions in Alabama and Mississippi. She also engages in national and community-based coalitions supporting initiatives tied to cancer prevention, food equity, and mental health in vulnerable communities.

School: University of North Alabama | Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Nutrition; Master of Science in Health Promotion

In my free time: I’m enjoying overpriced coffee

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Senior Program Manager

After living in various cities across the U.S. and abroad, moving back to the DMV was a welcomed homecoming. I love Richmond and have thoroughly enjoyed making it my home.

I was drawn to IPHI because of its extensive work around Community Health Workers. Although the projects I work on have changed over time, I’ve been INSPIREd by IPHI’s commitment to promoting equity across different programs, communities, and systems. This remains at the core of the work I do at IPHI.

Career: Fostering community engagement to change public health outcomes, building Community Health Worker programs to support maternal health, survivors of sexual violence, and children with asthma, convening partners to establish public health coalitions, facilitating learning across the country on public health topics, including healthy and equitable communities.

School: Radford University | Bachelors of Arts, Spanish Language & Bachelors of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis | Master of Social Work

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Program Associate

I currently live in a rural farming community outside of Richmond, VA. I grew up in a multicultural household that taught me to respect diverse cultures and to be a lifelong learner. Even from a young age, I was passionate about helping people in my community and abroad.

My passion for helping INFORM and educate my community to make it a safe, healthy, and equitable place is what drives my career and ambitions in public health. I joined IPHI because I wanted to make a positive health impact in Virginia.  

School: University of North Carolina Wilmington – Bachelor of science in public health; George Washington University – Master of public health

In my free time: I enjoy being a dog mom to two active and loving Siberian Huskies named Luna and Stella. 

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Program Manager

Kelly Evans is a program manager for CHW programs at IPHI. In this role, she convenes and facilitates related CHW programs through training, development, and training.

She is an experienced problem solver with a track record of success in education, housing, and healthcare systems. She is an authentic leader known for her ability to encourage, train, and motivate staff and stakeholders in the community and across Virginia.

Kelly considers herself an out-of-the-box thinker who instills confidence and camaraderie in those she encounters. She advocates on behalf of the most vulnerable populations across the state. Kelly is a facilitator, reflective listener, and cheerleader to those she meets. Kelly graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Master of Health Care Administration. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, laughing, and enjoying great food.

Sr. Operations Manager

I live in the Alexandria area of Fairfax, VA, with my husband, two kids, three cats, and a dog. Our lives are full of activities and taking advantage of everything the D.C. metro area has to offer.

I joined IPHI as the operations manager to support and INFORM leadership and program teams as they do essential work in communities. My day-to-day includes troubleshooting technology, ensuring our facilities meet staff needs, working on meeting agendas and action items, collaborating with the HR team on components of an employee’s life cycle with IPHI, and helping create a successful work-life balance for each team member.

Career: I have worked with nonprofits since 2003, both in New York City and in the D.C. area. My career has been in development, focusing on fundraising, event planning, and operations. I also volunteer at my children’s school and served on several local boards.

School: New York University | Bachelor of Arts in international relations

In my free time: I try to read at least 30 minutes every night, but then spend over an hour binging the latest shows or watching Below Deck on Bravo.

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Program Assistant

Cinthia Hatchell is the Program Assistant for CHW Trainings and Programs. She joined the organization October 25, 2021. Prior to becoming a Program Assistant at IPHI, Cinthia has had 5+ years of involvement in administrative support positions with expertise in event planning & project coordination to include virtual training platforms and was Project Coordinator for nonprofits where she handled logistics for all in-person and online trainings and provided technical assistance to allied professionals and clients. She brings extensive experience in Marketing, Strategic Planning, Project Management, Administrative Support, Event Coordination, Strong Technical Acumen, Documentation & Reporting and Verbal & Written Communication. She will apply her expertise to work with the IPHI CHW Team by providing ongoing support and strategic ideas for continued success. Cinthia was born and raised in New Jersey and has been a PG County resident for 3 years. She enjoys exploring the city, spending time with her family, and cooking new recipes.

Senior Program Manager

Mohamed Ibrahim is a Senior Program Manager for IPHI’s COVID-19 emergency response collaboration with Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Mohamed provides day-to-day administrative supervision and support of IPHI’s staff deployed to FCHD, ensures effective staff performance, assists with the improvement and implementation of procedural systems, guides the development and implementation of effective staff training activities and identifies and provide technical and informational resources that can assist FCHD in the ongoing pandemic response.Mohamed established himself professionally as the go-to person for strategic planning, research and analysis while utilizing advanced epidemiological methods. He became known as a change agent with 15+ years of experience in the field with governmental public health and UN agencies. Mohamed is an MD in medicine, has an MPhil in Epidemiology and an MPH from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and a Diploma with Merits in Business Administration from Leicester University in the United Kingdom. Mohamed’s leadership style is known as dynamic, supportive and result oriented. He has proven track record of designing and implementing nationwide population studies using the WHO’s Non-communicable Diseases Step-wise approach to determine the burden of diseases. In relation to management experience, Mohamed led the excellence department in a Primary Healthcare Reform with a $10 billion budget, 34 projects, and 134 staff. Mohamed built several electronic Monitoring and Evaluation Systems with decision support system dashboards for leadership. He worked with several UN agencies and completed multiple World Health Organization consultancies with the Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office. Mohamed has several publications in both peer reviewed journals and UN public health reports.

Communications Director

I am from Richmond, VA. My southern roots heavily influence me, but my mom is from New Jersey, so I cook and eat like I’m from up north – Blueberry cobbler, fresh tomatoes, and hoagies. I love working with organizations where I can directly support their commitment to and community impact.

I joined IPHI because I wanted to INFORM and help create IPHI’s story. In my work, I create the brand and strategy to amplify IPHI’s voice in the region.  

Career: 15 years in Virginia state government. Adjunct professor. 

School: Christopher Newport University; University of Maryland Global Campus; Virginia Commonwealth University

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Development and Grants Manager

I was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. I’ve been fortunate to have loving family members and mentors who encouraged me to pursue what makes me happy. I love working with organizations that support their communities, both directly and indirectly. I joined IPHI to INVOLVE private funders, public companies, government agencies, and individual residents in bringing health equity to Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virgnia.

Career: I’ve worked in nonprofit development to advance organizational missions in the education, social service, housing equity, and community development fields.

Education: University of Maryland, College Park

In my free time: I love cooking new recipes, getting outside, playing rec sports, and trying to keep my plants alive.

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Program Manager

I am a Kenyan American. I am passionate about global health and making a tangible impact in people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable members in the community.

I joined IPHI because I want to be INVOLVED in ensuring everyone has equal access to the social determinants of health. I work specifically with community health worker programs.

Career: Co-founder of ToTo Care Box Africa Trust in Kenya. This organization aims to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality among pregnant women living in underserved, marginalized areas.

School: Loma Linda University | Master of Public Health in Global Health; University of Eastern Africa | Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting

In my free time: I love traveling to different countries and experiencing new cultures

Director, Strategic Initiatives

As a Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), Evelyn works with various sectors and stakeholders including executive-level leadership, elected officials, health departments, planning agencies, police departments, funders, and community-based organizations. Evelyn works with these partners to implement policy, systems, and environmental changes aimed at improving the quality of life in the community. Evelyn has more than twenty years of experience as a public health practitioner and researcher. She has engaged in a variety of public health efforts ranging from community planning and capacity building to health policy development and advocacy. Prior to IPHI, Evelyn served as a senior manager of health promotion and education at CASA de Maryland., Inc. and previously as a program specialist for the Montgomery County Latino Health Initiative. She has also served as a public health consultant to local health departments and community-based organizations providing services in qualitative research, program design and planning, and curriculum development. She serves on the Latino Health Steering Committee of Montgomery County and is a Board member of the Montgomery County Food Council.  She is a member of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2015 and has been recognized as “Fifty under 50: #Food Hero,” a Forty under 40 honoree for Prince Georges County, Maryland. Evelyn was also named a Leading Women by the Daily Record. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion from American University and a Master of Public Health in Physical Activity and Public Health from the University of South Carolina. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. 

Program Associate

Bel Kelly-Russo is the Program Associate for ImmunizeVA in IPHI’s Richmond office. She most recently worked as part of the CommuniVax Initiative in the EVMS Division of Community Health. Prior to this role, she earned her MSc in Comparative Social Policy in a joint program between University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. While she sometimes misses Ireland, she is happy to be back in her home state of Virginia, having grown up in Reston and attended undergrad in Williamsburg. Her interests include maternal health, true crime podcasts, and her mischievous cat Floyd.

Training, Curriculum & Instructional Design Manager

Liz Konikoff is an accomplished professional with 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development. She is the Training, Curriculum & Instructional Design Manager at IPHI. She is responsible for providing complex management, coordination, and administrative work in planning, evaluating, developing, coordinating, and implementing training programs and services across the organization’s programs. Prior to IPHI, Liz worked in many sectors, including higher education, social services, public health, healthcare, consulting, and finance. Liz also served as the Learning Officer at the Washington, DC Department of Health.   Previously she worked with IPHI in a part-time capacity. She is now a full-time training manager. Prior to returning to IPHI, Liz helped start an internal technology training college at Capital One. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Mary Washington College and a master’s degree in Psychology from Boston University.   Liz grew up overseas. She enjoys travel and international cuisine. Outside of work, Liz enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking treats with her children, working on home improvement projects with her husband and snuggling with her two German Shorthaired pointers.

Training, Curriculum & Instructional Design Manager

Nick Kotula is the Training, Curriculum, and Instructional Design Manager with IPHI. The Training, Curriculum & Instructional Design Manager is responsible for providing complex management, coordination, and administrative work in planning, evaluating, developing, coordinating, and implementing training programs and services across IPHI’s programs.  Nick comes to IPHI with over 15 years of experience designing and delivering engaging adult learning. He worked for a variety of healthcare providers from a small medical laboratory, a large healthcare system, to most recently with the Virginia Department of Health. Nick has also designed and provided leadership training for the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority.   He has a degree from Old Dominion University in Occupational and Technical Studies with a Training Specialist concentration.   In his spare time, Nick is the proud father of two young boys that keep him on his toes. He enjoys splitting his time between hiking in the mountains and relaxing at the beach.

Senior Program Manager

I was born and raised in New Jersey. While I will always be a “Jersey girl,” I have lived and traveled to over half of the 5o states. I am a self-published author, writer, director, and short film producer. I love the creativity in storytelling. I also love family. I have a small business with my family called Generational Words. We help others tell their stories through film, art, and books. I have a passion for people and supporting them in being their best selves.

I joined IPHI because my passion is to INSPIRE people to change. I felt that because of our shared commitments, IPHI was the natural place for me to be.

Career: I have been in public health for over 30 years.  have worked in HIV and Substance Use Prevention, traveled the United States as a Family Education Consultant, worked in the Criminal Justice arena managing programs for Youth and Families, and served as a Public Health Professional for the State Department of Health. With all of this experience, my most important job has been raising my two beautiful daughters and being a grandmother to my seven grandchildren.

School: Bluefield College | Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

In my free time: Jamming out on old school R&B music

Senior Program Manager

Program Coordinator

Community Health Worker Program Associate

Human Resources Director

Career: Worked in HR for several years in the D.C. Metropolitan area for a few nonprofit organizations (e.g., Eurasia Foundation, Center for Applied Linguistics, Institute for International Education).

School: Buffalo State University

In my free time: I enjoy playing “the beautiful game” when the opportunity presents itself.

Senior Director

Program Manager

Administrative Associate

Food Equity Council Director

Camille Range, PhD, MPH, RDN is the Director of the Prince George’s Food Equity Council. She is a sustainable food systems leader in Washington, DC. As a community-based dietitian, Camille gained an understanding of the impact of social determinants of health and the high demand for culturally relevant health education. Through her curriculum and program design, she brings innovation to community and school-based programs, promoting positive, healthy behavior changes in Hispanic and African American families. From improving school meal programs to supporting locally-owned food businesses, Camille now embraces opportunities to strategize solutions to diversify urban food systems and promote health equity in the DC metro area and nationwide.

In 2023, Camille received the first Urban Leadership & Entrepreneurship doctorate at the University of the District of Columbia. Her research focuses on policy change and governance solutions to address racial and health inequities in major food systems across the United States. Additionally, Camille received a B.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL. She completed her Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, TX.

President & CEO

Senior Evaluation Manager

Senior Vice President

Senior Program Manager

Program Manager

Community Outreach Manager

Career: I have twenty years of experience in the nonprofit sector managing service programs and serving in executive leadership addressing public health initiatives domestically and internationally.

School: University of Texas Health Center | Master of Public Health; Central Michigan University | Bachelor of Science in Psychology & Sociology