DSHS Announces 2023–2024 Public Health Fellows
The Texas Department of State Health Services kicked off the 2023–2024 Texas Public Health Fellowship program on June 1. The Texas Public Health Fellowship is a one-year paid, training program for individuals early in their public health careers. Fellows receive hands-on experience in public health, professional development, and career guidance. They have varied interests and come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and levels of education.
“The Public Health Fellowship program supports the education and development of the next generation of public health professionals,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH. “Fellows gain valuable experience that can launch them into the next phase of their careers.”
Fellows are placed with local health departments, DSHS programs and DSHS regional offices. They are fully integrated into the staff during the program and work alongside seasoned public health professionals.
There were 29 fellows in inaugural 2022–2023 class. About two thirds of the fellows in this class have found or are looking for employment at a Texas public health organization. Several are pursuing advanced degrees after completing their fellowship. During their year as fellows, four members of this class presented at the Texas Public Health Conference.
“I’m honored to have been able to support recovering tuberculosis patients achieve their own personal goals,” said 2022–2023 Texas Public Health Fellow Jackson Smith, MPH, CHW, CPT. “In one year at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease, I created multiple programs to assist my site in improving our patients’ social skills, education and opportunities for employment. This has provided me with new project management skills, public speaking opportunities and the confidence to support different populations.”
In its second year, DSHS received 426 applications for the 41 openings in the 2023–2024 class, an increase of 54 percent over last year. The new class will begin working at 33 unique host sites across the state in June.
The 2023–2024 Texas Public Health Fellows are:
|
Name |
Host Site |
Fellowship |
|
Jacqueline Aguilar- Martinez |
DSHS – Birth Defects Epidemiology Surveillance Branch |
Epidemiology |
|
Ariea Alexander |
City of Lubbock Health Department |
Community Health |
|
Meredith Arrison |
DSHS – Center for Health Statistics |
Data Analytics |
|
Alyssa Barnes |
City of Laredo Health Department |
Public Health Preparedness |
|
Morgan Beckham |
DSHS – Community Health Improvement |
Public Health Program Evaluation and Quality Improvement |
|
Jessica Beharry |
DSHS – Center for Health Statistics |
Data Analytics |
|
Michelle Cajero |
Galveston County Health District |
Community Health |
|
Miranda Cano |
DSHS – Public Health Region 11 |
Public Health Preparedness |
|
Ella Castro |
Williamson County and Cities Health District |
Public Health Administration |
|
Isanel Ceron |
Chambers County Public Health |
Community Engagement |
|
Juan Cornejo |
DSHS – Accounts Payable Claims |
Public Health Administration |
|
Patricia De La Cruz |
DSHS – Public Health Region 8 |
Epidemiology |
|
Arath De La Rosa |
DSHS – Public Health Region 11 |
Epidemiology |
|
Jeanene Duplechain |
Hardin County Health Services |
Epidemiology |
|
Rebekha Garcia |
Galveston County Health District |
Community Health |
|
Lesley Gonzales |
Hidalgo County Health and Human Services |
Community Engagement |
|
Alexis Grasso |
Waco-McLennan County Public Health District |
Community Health |
|
Ana Karen Gutierrez |
DSHS – Public Health Region 11 |
Epidemiology |
|
Zhalla Hakimyar |
Amarillo Public Health |
Community Engagement |
|
Miriam Jaime |
Corpus Christi – Nueces County Public Health District |
Epidemiology |
|
Tibor Kisel |
DSHS – Center for Public Health Policy and Practice |
Epidemiology |
|
Jessica Lennon |
DSHS – Public Health Region 2/3 |
Public Health Administration |
|
Maria Lopez |
DSHS – Public Health Region 11 |
Public Health Preparedness |
|
Fancine Mascarenhas |
DSHS – Public Health Region 6/5 |
Health Promotion and Data Analytics |
|
Noelle McGehee |
Brazos County Health District |
Public Health Program Management |
|
Brianna Middleton |
Fort Bend County Health and Human Services |
Health Promotion and Community Engagement |
|
April Montemayor |
DSHS – Texas Center for Infectious Disease |
Epidemiology |
|
Sudeep Neupane |
DSHS – Regional and Local Health Operations |
Epidemiology |
|
Dennis Nyachoti |
DSHS – TB/HIV/STD Section |
Epidemiology |
|
Precious Ohemeng |
Williamson County and Cities Health District |
Epidemiology |
|
Gabriela Ortiz |
DSHS – Center for System Coordination and Innovation |
Public Health Administration |
|
Alessandra Pequeno |
DSHS – Program Operations, Fiscal Support and Oversight |
Public Health Finance |
|
Nini Pham |
Fort Bend County Health and Human Services |
Epidemiology |
|
Sydnii Robinson |
DSHS – Texas Center for Infectious Disease |
Epidemiology |
|
Ailie Rooney |
DSHS – Maternal and Child Health |
Public Health Program Management |
|
Victoria Salinas |
DSHS – Community Health Improvement |
Epidemiology |
|
Philp Sanusi |
City of Laredo Health Department |
Community Engagement |
|
Alexandra Simpson |
DSHS – Public Health Region 8 |
Epidemiology |
|
Arlo Walker |
DSHS – Public Health Region 1 |
Epidemiology |
|
Lauren Wheat |
DSHS – Office of Practice and Learning |
Communications and Promotion |
|
Aniyah Zaman |
Fort Bend County Health and Human Services |
Epidemiology |
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(News Media Contact: pressofficer@dshs.texas.gov)