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A B O U T US
Our Story
Core Team
THE TEAM
The majority of our members are people of color and from communities most affected by COVID-19. Our 20 person core team makes our decisions, together.
Snigdha Allaparthi
(she/her)
Regional Organizer (California)
Fourth year undergraduate student studying Neurobiology and Toxicology at UC Berkeley. She is an active member of her local PIHE Chapter at UC Berkeley, where she teaches local high school and fellow college students about the importance of public health and health equity. She also helps run Splash at Berkeley, an organization that pushes for educational equity opportunities across the Bay Area for high school students.
Regional Organizer (California)
Fourth year undergraduate student studying Neurobiology and Toxicology at UC Berkeley. She is an active member of her local PIHE Chapter at UC Berkeley, where she teaches local high school and fellow college students about the importance of public health and health equity. She also helps run Splash at Berkeley, an organization that pushes for educational equity opportunities across the Bay Area for high school students.
Emma Baah-Binney*
(she/her)
R2H Board President, State Captain (OH)
Medical Sciences degree with a minor in French and a Global Health Studies certificate. Originally from Accra, Ghana, she has experienced the effects of health inequity and is interested in global health and working to ensure affordable accessible healthcare for all. She currently volunteers with Crossroad Health Center a clinic that serves the underrepresented population of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, OH.
R2H Board President, State Captain (OH)
Medical Sciences degree with a minor in French and a Global Health Studies certificate. Originally from Accra, Ghana, she has experienced the effects of health inequity and is interested in global health and working to ensure affordable accessible healthcare for all. She currently volunteers with Crossroad Health Center a clinic that serves the underrepresented population of Cincinnati.
Cincinnati, OH.
Vidya Babu
(she/her)
Communications Team
Student in biology and anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is involved in neuroimmunology and computational biology research, undergraduate student publications, as well as community health education.
Chicago, IL.
Communications Team
Student in biology and anthropology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is involved in neuroimmunology and computational biology research, undergraduate student publications, as well as community health education.
Chicago, IL.
Giovanna Braganza, MPH
State Captain (NY)
Health policy and research professional working to address health disparities such as food insecurity, health care coverage and access in New York State. She has past experience in community organizing through GlobeMed and Doctors for Camp Closure (D4CC). She earned her Masters of Public Health at the SUNY Downstate School of Public Health. Giovanna’s passion for global vaccine equity and advocacy for essential workers is in memory of her father who was killed by COVID-19 in April 2020.
Aaron Chang
(he/him)
Fundraising Team
Medical device entrepreneur who loves reading, running, and basketball.
Fundraising Team
Medical device entrepreneur who loves reading, running, and basketball.
Paul Davis §
(he/him)
Policy Director
Co-led grassroots and legislative campaigns that won >99% reductions in HIV drug prices for impoverished countries, and got life-saving medicines to 26 million people with HIV worldwide (so far); helped organize a 150+ city nationwide birddog/civil disobedience movement to save the ACA, oppose Trump tax cuts, and strike at other post-2016 flashpoints. Alumni of ACT UP, PIH, UAEM, KEI, Doctors for America, Seattle Tenants Union, co-founded Health GAP and Birddog Nation.
Baltimore, MD
Policy Director
Co-led grassroots and legislative campaigns that won >99% reductions in HIV drug prices for impoverished countries, and got life-saving medicines to 26 million people with HIV worldwide (so far); helped organize a 150+ city nationwide birddog/civil disobedience movement to save the ACA, oppose Trump tax cuts, and strike at other post-2016 flashpoints. Alumni of ACT UP, PIH, UAEM, KEI, Doctors for America, Seattle Tenants Union, co-founded Health GAP and Birddog Nation.
Baltimore, MD
Ashwini Deshpande
(she/her)
Events Team
Student studying Biology, Economics & Spanish at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked extensively in the nonprofit sector and focuses on community-based research and education, economics and engagement, and is organizing to realize the universal right to healthcare. Chicago, IL.
Events Team
Student studying Biology, Economics & Spanish at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has worked extensively in the nonprofit sector and focuses on community-based research and education, economics and engagement, and is organizing to realize the universal right to healthcare. Chicago, IL.
Analie Fernandes
(she/her)
State Captain (IN)
Student pursuing a political science and pre-health degree at the University of Notre Dame. She has a background in organizing and advocacy through her involvement with PIH Engage and GlobeMed. She is passionate about public health, and dedicated to the fight to establish equitable access to healthcare. In her free time she loves to read and hike.
South Bend, IN.
State Captain (IN)
Student pursuing a political science and pre-health degree at the University of Notre Dame. She has a background in organizing and advocacy through her involvement with PIH Engage and GlobeMed. She is passionate about public health, and dedicated to the fight to establish equitable access to healthcare. In her free time she loves to read and hike.
South Bend, IN.
Leah Jo Figueroa Carnine, PA
(she/her)
State Captain (OR)
Community organizer and primary care PA, recently moved to her hometown of Eugene to practice medicine after being part of migrant and racial justice organizing in the Southwest for over a decade, and helping build a base of white people taking action for racial justice with Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). She’s been fortunate to be part of integrating queer and trans health, harm reduction and an anti-oppression framework into her community health work, and trauma informed learning into medicine and liberation work. She’s passionate about the intersections of transformative health care and collective liberation.
State Captain (OR)
Community organizer and primary care PA, recently moved to her hometown of Eugene to practice medicine after being part of migrant and racial justice organizing in the Southwest for over a decade, and helping build a base of white people taking action for racial justice with Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ). She’s been fortunate to be part of integrating queer and trans health, harm reduction and an anti-oppression framework into her community health work, and trauma informed learning into medicine and liberation work. She’s passionate about the intersections of transformative health care and collective liberation.
Ali Greenberg, MSPH*
(she/her)
Team Co-Coordinator
Medical student organizing to integrate social justice into curriculum with White Coats for Black Lives. She has worked in grassroots organizing for access to healthcare and medicines for all since 2011. She was the Advocacy & Campaigns Officer for Universities Allied for Essential Medicines and now sits on UAEM's Executive Committee and works locally with SNaHP. She was on the Steering Committee for Right Care Alliance and has interned for Socially Responsible Surgery, the International Vaccine Access Center, and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative.
New York City, NY
Team Co-Coordinator
Medical student organizing to integrate social justice into curriculum with White Coats for Black Lives. She has worked in grassroots organizing for access to healthcare and medicines for all since 2011. She was the Advocacy & Campaigns Officer for Universities Allied for Essential Medicines and now sits on UAEM's Executive Committee and works locally with SNaHP. She was on the Steering Committee for Right Care Alliance and has interned for Socially Responsible Surgery, the International Vaccine Access Center, and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative.
New York City, NY
Leslye Heilig, MD
(she/her)
Policy Team
Volunteer advocacy leader and mentor with Together Women Rise and RESULTS. She studied at Princeton University and Harvard Medical School and did her pediatric residency at University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital. She practiced general pediatrics in rural communities in New England for 30 years and since retiring has been an active volunteer promoting global gender equality, human rights, and global health equity through multiple organizations including RESULTS, Together Women Rise (previously called Dining for Women), CARE, Oxfam.
Policy Team
Volunteer advocacy leader and mentor with Together Women Rise and RESULTS. She studied at Princeton University and Harvard Medical School and did her pediatric residency at University of Rochester, Strong Memorial Hospital. She practiced general pediatrics in rural communities in New England for 30 years and since retiring has been an active volunteer promoting global gender equality, human rights, and global health equity through multiple organizations including RESULTS, Together Women Rise (previously called Dining for Women), CARE, Oxfam.
Abby Heller
(she/her)
State Captain (NJ)
Lab manager in an autism and muscular dystrophy research lab at Child Health Institute of New Jersey. She likes to play guitar, cook, run, and do puzzles -- and campaign for global justice.
State Captain (NJ)
Lab manager in an autism and muscular dystrophy research lab at Child Health Institute of New Jersey. She likes to play guitar, cook, run, and do puzzles -- and campaign for global justice.
Meghna Kaul, MPH §
(She/her)
State Captain (CO)
Recent MPH Health Policy graduate from George Washington University. Driven to action by the experiences of my family and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am passionate about reducing disparities and inequities in healthcare, as well as mitigating environmental factors which affect our health. I believe in a holistic approach to health, including addressing social determinants of health, emphasizing health education and preventive care, and integrative medicine.
In my free time I like to hike around the Foothills near Boulder, play my ukulele, explore museums, try out new recipes and recently have been dabbling in weightlifting.
State Captain (CO)
Recent MPH Health Policy graduate from George Washington University. Driven to action by the experiences of my family and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am passionate about reducing disparities and inequities in healthcare, as well as mitigating environmental factors which affect our health. I believe in a holistic approach to health, including addressing social determinants of health, emphasizing health education and preventive care, and integrative medicine.
In my free time I like to hike around the Foothills near Boulder, play my ukulele, explore museums, try out new recipes and recently have been dabbling in weightlifting.
Jennifer M. Koo
(she/her)
State Captain (CT)
Fights oppression as a RESULTS Anti-Poverty Leader. Jennn-with-three-Ns strives to center health equity, racial justice, sustainability, disability accessibility/inclusion, and creativity in all her endeavors. She uses her voice (through research, narrative, & public policy) to dismantle racially-rooted health disparities and navigate the social determinants of health. To stay balanced, Jennn runs, hikes, gardens, meditates, & keeps a gratitude journal!
State Captain (CT)
Fights oppression as a RESULTS Anti-Poverty Leader. Jennn-with-three-Ns strives to center health equity, racial justice, sustainability, disability accessibility/inclusion, and creativity in all her endeavors. She uses her voice (through research, narrative, & public policy) to dismantle racially-rooted health disparities and navigate the social determinants of health. To stay balanced, Jennn runs, hikes, gardens, meditates, & keeps a gratitude journal!
Andrew Lewis
(he/him)
State Captain (CA)
Son of a Peruvian immigrant who has led a range of social impact campaigns across Los Angeles County and California, focusing on housing, the environment, and labor rights. Active with AFSCME 3299, Los Angeles Tenants Union, ACCE.
Los Angeles, CA
State Captain (CA)
Son of a Peruvian immigrant who has led a range of social impact campaigns across Los Angeles County and California, focusing on housing, the environment, and labor rights. Active with AFSCME 3299, Los Angeles Tenants Union, ACCE.
Los Angeles, CA