2022-2023 CSTE Mentorship Program

Welcome to the CSTE Mentorship Program!


Welcome to the 2022-2023 CSTE Mentorship Program!

This Basecamp page will serve as our main source of communication over the next 10 months. Please check back frequently (and ensure your notifications are turned on) as we will be posting reminders, upcoming events, newsletters and more.

We also invite you to use the webpage to get to know your cohort members (there are 227 of you across the nation!) and utilize the wealth of knowledge this group has.

To get that started, please introduce yourself below with:
Your Name, Jurisdiction/School, Favorite Book.

Comments & Events

Mollee Dworkin
Mollee Dworkin
State of Delaware
Lodish Molecular Cell Biology ;)
John Cameron Webster
John Webster
Hudson College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Gordis Epidemiology sixth edition............or Fantastic Mr. Fox
Caleb Lyu
Caleb Lyu
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
University of California at Los Angeles
Modern Epidemiology 3rd Edition - or - Breakfast of Champions
Alexa Meinhardt, Epidemiologist, Delaware Division of Public Health
Hello all!
Alexa Meinhardt
Delaware Division of Public Health (alum of University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health)
Gordis Epi - or - Commencement (by J. Courtney Sullivan)
:-)
Kristin Gerard, Epidemiologist
Kristin Gerard
Connecticut Department of Public Health
anything by James Patterson
Courtney Dillingham, TB Epidemiologist at University of New England ❤️
Andrew Lam
Andrew Lam
Texas A&M School of Public Health 
American Gods by Neil Gaiman 
Stephanie Neal
Stephanie Neal
Virginia Department of Health
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (favorite at the moment)
Erin LaFon
Erin LaFon
Rollins School of Public Health
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Carmen Chavez
Carmen Chávez
University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Sarah Karram
Sarah Karram
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Sabriel by Garth Nix
Shrey Saretha
Shrey Saretha
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
University of California Berkeley
Night by Elie Wiesel
Courtney Dillingham, TB Epidemiologist at University of New England
Courtney Dillingham
University of New England / Maine CDC (Starting Dec 2022)
Deadly Outbreaks Alexandra M. Levitt and Braiding Sweet Grass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Kathryn Gibb
Kathryn Gibb
California Department of Public Health
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb 
Leigh Rousseau, Epidemiologist
Leigh Rousseau, MPH
Epidemiologist at Columbus Public Health (City of Columbus, OH)
Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris


Nitin Ghadge, Research Scientist
 Nitin Ghadge MD MPH

New York State Department of Health
UNT Health Science Center, Fort Worth TX.
Fav Book: The Monk Who sold His Ferrari
Flix: Current fav "The Watcher"
Jeanetta Keslar
Jeanetta Keslar
Columbus Public Health (Columbus, Ohio)
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Mathew Yonks
Mathew Yonks MPH w/ Epi Concentration (graduating May 2023)
University at Buffalo
Favorite book: "Where the Crawdads Sing"
Becky Zwickl, Infectious Disease Epidemiologist
Becky Zwickl
Columbus Public Health
The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson
Shannon Kindilien
Shannon Kindilien, PhD
CDC, Case-based Surveillance Operations Team
Favorite Book: "The Odyssey," by Homer.
Benjamin Schram, Surveillance and Electronic Reporting System Coordinator – Epidemiologist III
Benjamin Schram, MPH
Electronic Surveillance Systems Manager
North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services
Deadliest Enemy by Osterholm
Franchesca Marte
Franchesca Marte
I'm a second-year graduate student at the MPH program in Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY).
One of my favorite books is The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Claire Umstead
Hello! My name is Claire Umstead, and I am a current MPH Candidate at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. One of my favorite books is Little Women.
Melissa Judson, HAI/AR Epidemiologist
Melissa Judson, MPH
New Mexico Department of Health 
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
Jean Millimono
Jean Millimono
Current MPH student, Temple University (City of Philadelphia, PA)
Developing Cultural Humility by Miguel
Binkai Liu
Hi - my name is Binkai!
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Can't really name a book of favorite but I've been binge watching the Lord of the Rings series recently!
Shannon O
Hello - Shannon O'Brien MD, MPH here.
  • Currently a medical epidemiologist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
  • So many good reads, but a favorite author of mine is Jeff VanderMeer. Anyone who enjoys the "weird fiction" genre should check out his work.
Lanre
Hello! 
My name is Lanre Soyoye, MPH
Epidemiologist at the Virginia Department of Health
Elizabeth Traphagen
Hi - I'm Elizabeth Traphagen, MPH
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Michelle Boyd
Michelle Boyd, MPH
Transitioning into a new remote role for the National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC) but based in Charlotte, NC. 
Favorite book is The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Kate Durst
Hey y'all- I'm Kate Durst
Epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health
Favorite Book is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Slone Taylor
Slone Taylor, MPH
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Current favorite book is Gone Girl
Deepa Mavani
Deepa Mavani, MPH
I work as an Epidemiologist at the Connecticut Department of Public Health Immunization Program and I'm a PhD student at the University of Connecticut.
All time favorite book is anything Jane Austen 
Long Lai, Environmental Scientist
Hi everyone! My name is Long Lai.
  • California Department of Public Health
  • Tufts University School of Medicine, Public Health
  • So many, but if I had to pick: Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein
Aishwarya Reddy
Hi everyone!
My name is Aishwarya. 
I currently work at the Texas Department of State Health Services.
My favorite book is The Gilded Wolves.
Mauli Shah
Hello!
My name is Mauli and I am a 2nd year MPH Epidemiology student at University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth.
The Harry Potter book series is my all time favorite :)
Benjamin Hornstein
Hello,
My name is Ben Hornstein, and I'm a District Epidemiologist for Alabama Department of Public Health.
My favorite books are the Discworld series by Terry Pratchett.
Bryan Boyle, Epidemiologist
Hi - I'm Bryan Boyle, MSA/MHA
Epidemiologist at the Tennessee Department of Health
Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
Madeline Powers
Hello! My name is Madeline Powers, and I am a second year MPH Biostatistics student at Purdue University. One of my favorite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Jesse Knibbs, Enteric Epidemiologist Boiler Up!
Jesse Knibbs, Enteric Epidemiologist
Hello I'm Dr. Jesse Knibbs D.V.M., M.P.H
I am an Enteric Epidemiologist at the Indiana Department of Health.
I love books and reading so this is hard to pick but I'll go with anything written by Tamora Pierce!
Danica Anukam
Hi everyone! My name is Danica, MPH, CHES. I am a 2nd-year epidemiology Ph.D. student at FSPH-UCLA. My research interests include cancer epidemiology and cancer health disparities, especially prostate cancer among African American men. I don't have a favorite book but I loved Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Octavia Toombs
Hey everyone!
My name is Octavia Toombs, MPH.  I currently work with the Arkansas Department of Health as the Research and Statistic Manager.   My favorite book is Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman.    
Anna Garrett
Hello! I'm Anna Garrett, MPH
I'm an Epidemiologist at United South and Eastern Tribes Tribal Epidemiology Center.
We serve 33 federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico!
I love to read, so my favorite book this year is Becoming Bulletproof by Evy Poumpouras
Dane De Silva
Hello, I'm Dr. Dane De Silva, PhD, MPH.
I am the Lead Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist at the Virginia Dept of Health. I'd say my favorite book is probably A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Jon Rosenberg
Hi, I'm Jon Rosenberg, MD, starting my 5th mentoring cohort since 2017. 
I am the founding chief of the HAI Program at the California Department of Public Health (largest and second oldest in US), now retired and working half-time with mentoring as a primary responsibility which makes this program fit me well.
My favorite recent book is How To Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan, augmented by the excellent Netflix documentary series. 
Edna Patricia Mendoza
Hello, I'm Edna P. Mendoza, a PhD sophomore at the School of Public Health in the University of North Texas Health Science Center. I'm interested in disaster epidemiology and my current research involves geohazards, climate change, and public health. I have two favourite books that I always reference my thoughts to: 1) The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg; and 2) Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.
Farzana Naiyer
Hello everyone, I am Farzana Naiyer, MD., DA., MS. I am an adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University and teach health informatics-related courses. I have a clinical background as an anesthesiologist, extensively focused on pain management. My interests lead me to earn a pain management graduate certificate from the University of Connecticut. 
My favorite book is Illusions by Richard Bach and my favorite quote from the book is “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” 
Shannon O 👋 Hey Farzana
Farzana Naiyer Hello Dr.Shanon😊
Makayla Petty
Hello! I'm Makayla Petty, a second year MPH student at Boston University with a focus in Infectious Disease Epidemiology. My favorite book is "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towels
Jessica Day
Hi everyone! My name is Jessica Day. I am a second year MPH student and currently work with the Florida Department of Health as an entry-level Epidemiologist in Maternal and Child Health. One of my favorite books is The Martian by Andy Weir.
Andie Hendrick
Hi hello! My name is Andie Hendrick and I'm the Influenza Epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). My favorite recent read is A Psalm For The Wild-Built by Becky Chambers. 
Grace Collins
Hello everyone. I'm Grace Collins. I work as a vaccine preventable disease surveillance epidemiologist with the Florida Department of Health. I love reading and all kinds of books. My favorite book is probably the bible. The other most inspiring book I've read lately is called Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt way by Robin Gerber. 
Amelia Solis
Hi everyone! My name is Amelia Solís, I am currently pursuing my MPH at University of North Texas Health Science Center. I live and work in Laredo, TX. I am the Epidemiology Administrator for the City of Laredo Health Department (145 miles south of San Antonio!). 
Hmmm… I don’t have a particular favorite book, I love going to the movies though! 
Happy to be a part of this cohort, looking forward to networking. 
Renee King
Hi everyone, my name is Renee King, I work at the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene and I don't have a favorite book but I love YA novels and one I recently read was Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas.
Heather Shin, Epidemiologist
Hello! I'm Heather Shin and I work as an epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health in their early childhood section. My favorite book at the moment is Educated by Tara Westover.
Miranda Smith, Epidemiologist/Data Visualization Coordinator
Hello! My name is Miranda Smith. I am an epidemiologist working at the Tennessee Department of Health as the Data Visualization Coordinator for our Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness (CEDEP) division in the Surveillance Systems and Informatics program. My favorite recent book is Wolfpack by Abby Wambach.
Bryan Boyle, Epidemiologist Hi Miranda! :)
Terynn E. Mingo
Hi everyone! My name is Terynn Mingo. I'm currently a 2nd year ORISE fellow with the CDC National Electronic Case Reporting Team. Hard to choose but one of my favorite books is Misery by Stephen King.
Amelia Salmanson, Viral Hepatitis Coordinator
Hi all! My name is Amelia Salmanson. I am the Viral Hepatitis Coordinator at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. One of my favorite books is The Hot Zone. Looking forward to working with everyone!
Ayomide Sokale
Hi everyone! My name is Ayomide Sokale. I am the Surveillance Epidemiologist for the Division of Maternal, Child, and Family Health of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. My favorite book that I've read this year is A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie.
Yuri Bonilla
Hi everyone.

My name is Yuri Bonilla, and I am a Public Health Informatics Specialist with the Office of Immunization at the Washington State Department of Health. My favorite book is The Grumpy Guide to Life: Observations from Grumpy Cat. 

I look forward to interact with you all!


-Yuri 
Farzana Naiyer Hello 😊
Subha Balasubramanian Hi Yuri!😀
Medjatu Kuyateh
Hi everyone.

My name is Medjatu Kuyateh but I go by Medjie. I am an Epidemiologist with Cabarrus Health Alliance and my favorite book is Children of Blood and Bone.

I look forward to connecting with you all!


-Medjie
Niharika Ikkurthy
Hi everyone. 

I'm Niharika Ikkurthy, or Niha for short. I'm a first year MPH student at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. My favorite book right now is Pachinko. 
Gregory Danyluk
Hi, I'm Greg Danyluk, and I'm the Epidemiology Program Manager for the Florida Department of Health in Polk County.  Although I can't pick a favorite book, I will admit that my copy of "Leaves of Grass" is pretty well-worn.
Betsy Kagey, Epidemiologist/Consultan
Hi!  Betsy Kagey here.  Retired from the Ga DPH after 12 years in the Office of Preparedness and Response identifying and addressing needs of vulnerable populations.  Favorite epi book:  11 Blue Men.
Carlene Robinson
Hello! I'm Carlene Robinson, and I am a DrPH Epidemiology student from Georgia Southern University. I currently work at Alabama Department of Public Health. I'm the mentee, but I'm excited to be more involved with CSTE. My favorite book is Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult!
Margarita Martinez, Infection Preventionist
Hello my fellow Public Health and Epi folks! My name is Margarita Martinez, I recently graduated from Loma Linda University with an MPH in epidemiology and currently work as an Infection Preventionist in an acute care hospital. I am looking forward to this opportunity to connect with others in my profession and to unlock new opportunities to continue learning and refining or sharing skills. On a personal note, I am based in Southern California and I am currently enjoying reading the book Designing Your Life. 
Sara Hacker
Hi everyone,
My name is Sara and I am finishing up my last quarter at Oregon State University with my MPH in epidemiology. I am beginning to search for jobs so I am grateful to have access to a mentor and networking oppurtunities. My favorite book is still the Twilight series (don't judge). Looking forward to getting to know you all.
Emily Bradford
Hello Everyone!

My name is Emily Bradford, and I am the emergency preparedness specialist at Waco/McLennan County Public Health District in Waco, Texas. I graduated last May from Baylor University with my MPH in Epidemiology. I am interested in viewing health preparedness through an epidemiology lens and exploring environmental epidemiology. My favorite book I am reading right now: Crucial Conversations. My favorite book series is Dune! I look forward to connecting with everyone!
Weston Oliver
Hi everyone, I never did introduce myself. My name is Weston Oliver. I'm a second year MPH in Epidemiology student from Georgia Southern University. I've lived in Georgia forever, and likely won't really move out of state, as my eventual career goal is to work at the CDC. 

I've kind of dropped off reading, never get any time. One of my favorites though is the Game of Thrones series, that is, if it ever gets finished. I'd like to get into more existentialist stuff like Dostoevsky or Camus.