NEW BRITAIN (October 26, 2010) – The Connecticut Health Foundation (CT Health) recently selected 20 area individuals as members of its 2011 Health Leadership Fellows class.
The annual Fellows program, in its sixth year, is designed to increase the knowledge and skill of program participants to advocate for and implement strategies to decrease racial and ethnic health disparities, a CT Health priority area.
“Each of these individuals possesses the qualities and experience necessary to effect changes in Connecticut’s health systems that will improve the health of our state’s residents,” says Patricia Baker, CT Health president & CEO.
“With the addition of the 2011 Fellows class, we now have a group of 120 leaders with the insight and ability to make inroads toward achieving health equity for Connecticut’s residents,” adds Sanford Cloud Jr., board chair.
Like the previous five Fellows classes, the 2011 participants represent a wide range of fields, including law, education, human services, insurance, media and public policy, as well as health care. The following class members also represent a broad range of cultures, communities, ages and ethnicities, as well as varying degrees of experience, skill and expertise:
- Olatokunbo Famakinwa, Yale University School of Medicine, Medical Student, (New Haven)
- Thomas R. Ficklin, Ficklin Media Group, President (New Haven)
- Kristen Noelle Hatcher, Connecticut Legal Services, Staff Attorney, (New Britain)
- Tiana Victoria Hercules, The Center for Medicare Advocacy, Attorney, (Mansfield)
- Damian E. Humphrey, Culturas Consulting Services, Principal (East Hartford)
- Emily Joy Jensen, Eastern Connecticut Area Health Education Center, Curriculum Specialist/Project Manager CT Multicultural Health Partnership, (Jewett City)
- Alana Kroeber, United Way of CT/HUSKY Infoline, Lead Care Coordinator, (Rocky Hill)
- Jennifer Muggeo, Ledge Light Health District, Supervisor, Administration/Finance, (Groton)
- Kiavash Nikkhou, Yale University School of Medicine, Medical Student, (New Haven)
- Stephanie O’Connor, Booz & Company, Principal, Health Strategy, (New York)
- Charlotte Parniawski, RN, Bridgeport Hospital School of Nursing, Nursing Instructor, (Bridgeport)
- Kristi L. Rodriguez, United Health Group, Director of Market Implementation for Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance, (Hartford)
- Bonnie B. Roswig, Center for Children’s Advocacy, Senior Staff Attorney, (Hartford)
- Tiffany M. Porter Sanders, MD, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Clinical Director, (Danbury)
- José Segura, Danbury Hospital, Seifert & Ford Family Community Health Center, Administrative Director, (Danbury)
- Frank Silva, Alliance for Living, Minority Outreach Case Manager, (New London)
- Michelle Alejandra Silva, Psy.D., Yale University School of Medicine, Dept. of Psychiatry, Associate Director, CT Latino Behavioral Health System, (New Haven)
- David Skoczulek, Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC & Aetna Ambulance Service, Inc., Director of Business Development & Community Relations, (Manchester)
- Frederick E. Smith, Human Resources of New Britain, Inc., Director, Division of Health and Wellness, (New Britain)
- Arlene E. Walsh, Mercy College, New York, Graduate Student, (Bridgeport)
The 2011 Fellows, selected through a competitive process, make a one-year commitment to attend two weekend retreats and monthly seminars featuring local and national public health leaders, cultural and linguistic competence experts, and policy-makers. Each Fellow also receives a stipend of $1,000 to aid in their personal or professional development. Those who work for a nonprofit organization receive an additional $250.
The Connecticut Health Foundation is the state’s largest independent, philanthropic organization dedicated to improving lives by changing health systems. Since it was established in July 1999, the foundation has supported innovative grant-making, public health policy research, technical assistance and convening to achieve its mission – to improve the health of the people of Connecticut.
Over the past 11 years, CT Health has awarded 540 grants totaling $41.5 million in 44 cities and towns throughout the state in three priority areas:
- Improving access to children’s mental health services
- Reducing racial and ethnic health disparities
- Expanding access to and use of children’s oral health services
For more information about the Fellows, visit the 2011 Fellows Directory.
To learn more about the foundation, please visit www.cthealth.org or contact Communications Officer Maryland Grier at Maryland@cthealth.org or 860.224.2200, ext. 32.