Ms. Marcano currently serves as the Title X Family Planning Program Director/Grants Management Specialist for Unity Health Care’s (Unity) District-wide family planning program. As the Program Director, Ms. Marcano is responsible for overseeing the family planning program and leading the direction of the Title X team to meet the administrative, clinical, and financial deliverables of Unity’s District-wide Title X program.
Aside from her work experience with Unity, Ms. Marcano serves as the Secretary for the Governing Council of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association (MWPHA). In addition to her work with MWPHA, she is a member of the Omega Chapter of Delta Omega Honorary Society.
Before graduating from The George Washington University with her Master’s in Public Health, Ms. Marcano spent time as a program development intern with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean. As an intern, Ms. Marcano provided technical assistance on HIV/AIDS related outcomes for migrant and mobile populations in the English speaking Caribbean.
Prior to working with IOM, Ms. Marcano spent four years working as a Case Manager on Unity’s medical mobile unit. In this capacity, Ms. Marcano provided direct curb-side HIV/AIDS and substance abuse support services to medically underserved populations. In addition to support services, Ms. Marcano provided HIV testing, counseling, and referral services.
In summary, Ms. Marcano’s public health expertise includes but is not limited to, HIV/AIDS prevention, voluntary family planning, reproductive health, program development, grant writing, primary health care, and underserved populations.

Dr. Hettler is a licensed optometrist for thirty years practicing in many healthcare settings. She recently relocated to Washington, DC to become the Clinical Director, Associated Health Education within the Office of Academic Affiliations. Previously at VA, she established and developed an optometric education program which evolved into externship relationships with four optometry schools, two optometric residents, internal medicine two week rotations on the eye, assorted medical a and nurse practitioner observations, and interactions with an ophthalmology teaching program.
Dr. Hettler previously was a full time educator where she was involved with both didactic and clinical education. She has also worked clinically in settings such as VA, HMO's, contact lens research clinics, union occupational health offices, and private practices. She is a Regional Quality Assurance Representative doing office inspections, record audits, and consulting with various eye care practitioners on improvement of clinical skills and documentation of patient care. Additional accreditation activities include being a consultant for the Council on Optometric Education and the Council on Education for Public Health, and a National Board of Optometry Examiner. Throughout her professional career, Dr. Hettler has continued to publish and present at major meetings and maintain educational credentials.
Dr. Hettler is recognized as an expert in Optometric Public Health as demonstrated by her Diplomate status in the American Academy of Optometry, Public Health and Environmental Optometry, as well as selected for the National Academy of Practice in Optometry. She has served as chair of several committees and sections of the American Optometric Association, including the Multidisciplinary Practice Section, and the Public Health Task Force as well as a member of several other national committees. She has been an elected leader in local optometric societies of the American Optometric Association in New York, Illinois and Missouri. Currently, she is a VA representative to the Federal Education and Training Interagency Group working on public health and medical education training standards for disaster medicine. She has been an active leader with the American Public Health Association. She served in all offices of the Vision Care Section, and has served as the Chair of the APHA Education Board, APHA Joint Policy Committee and an ex-officio member of the APHA Executive Board.

Nina Brown , MPH, CHES, is a Certified Health Education Specialist who received her Master's of Public Health from the George Washington University with an emphasis in Community Orientated Primary Care. She was credentialed as a Certified Health Education Specialist in May of 2009. Ms. Brown has over 8 years of non-profit experience working in HIV/AIDS, Sexual / Reproductive Health issues, Health Literacy, and Stroke. She has worked in a variety of settings ranging from large academic institutions to small community based organizations. Currently Nina is the Evaluation and Program Development Manager for Metro TeenAIDS. She is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of the agency’s HIV Programming in the District of Columbia.

Kafui Doe is currently a Health Analyst at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Wellness and Nutrition Services. Ms. Doe moved to the Washington DC area in 2007 to pursue her MPH in Health Promotion and a Certificate in Public Health Communication and Marketing at George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.
During her time in the Washington DC area, Kafui has served as 2008-09 President and Co-Founder of the Black Public Health Student Network at GW, co-authored the Youth Sexual Health Project with the Committee on Health at the Council of District of Columbia, volunteered as a Math tutor at Anacostia High School, and interned at Metro TeenAIDS. Within MWPHA, Kafui has worked with other students on MWPHA’s “Save Lives: Free the Condoms” campaign, participated in several Health Disparities Committee activities, and currently serves as a Governing Council member and Communications Chair for the organization.
Kafui received her Bachelors of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley in 2006. During her undergraduate experience, Kafui served in various leadership roles within organizations such as UC Berkeley’s Health Worker Program, the Black Engineering and Science Student Association, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Kappa Chapter. Kafui mentored and facilitated youth focused programs such the Health Professional Partnership Initiative of Oakland, Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy, and Stiles Hall’s Le Conte Elementary and Thousands Oaks Elementary tutoring programs.
Kafui’s passion lies in addressing health disparities among children, adolescents, and young adults through innovative approaches.

Tracey M. Gantt, RN, MSN is the Outpatient Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Ryan White Part C EIS program at the Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Health Research Institute. She is also an assistant professor of nursing at a local university. She earned a Master’s of Science in Nursing with a focus in Community/Public Health Nursing and Nursing Education, from The Catholic University of America. She has extensive work experience working with vulnerable populations throughout the city, specifically with HIV/AIDS. Ms. Gantt’s work experience incorporates clinical, academic and administrative responsibilities.
Her knowledge of organizational program development, curriculum development and grant writing have garnered her program numerous funding opportunities. Her external involvement includes membership in the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care and Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Christiana B. Metzger is a graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where she earned a Master of Arts in Applied Sociology with a concentration in Health Disparities (2005). Metzger also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Administration and Policy (2003) and a certificate in the Nonprofit Sector (2005) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Metzger has served in various leadership roles in research and programming initiatives during undergraduate and graduate training. While recognizing vast disparities in health, Metzger continued to share her skills and passion as Data Manager for the National Minority AIDS Education Center and as Education and Training Program Officer for Diakonia AIDS Ministry in Soweto, South Africa over the last 5 years. Metzger conducted monitoring and programmatic efforts in reducing HIV rates among populations most affected by the virus. Metzger is trained in social science research methodologies and has diverse computer and managerial experiences. Metzger’s intrigue with the complexities of HIV testing, prevention, and treatment motivate her daily. Her overall goal is to engage in collaborative efforts in effective preventative strategies to reduce the rates of HIV/AIDS especially communities most affected by the virus.

Julie C. Ost, MPH, CHES, currently works in the area of cancer disparities across ethnic and language barriers at George Washington University in Washington, DC. She actively volunteers with a New Jersey anti-racist initiative called the Alliance for Racial and Social Justice (ARSJ), and continues to pursue social justice issues with health advocacy and health education for under-served subpopulations in the local DC area. In that capacity, Ms. Ost serves on the Board of Directors of Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS), Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington DC (DC-HBI), as well as the MWPHA Governing Council Ms. Ost has presented research regarding United States’ capacity to conduct National, State and Local Viral Hepatitis Surveillance in the states and territories. Ms. Ost’s direct service volunteer work includes supporting existing initiatives to promote screening, testing and treatment of Hepatitis B in high-risk communities of color as well as HIV/AIDS, STI and Hepatitis C prevention among sex workers and injection drug users. Within the context of MWPHA, Ms. Ost draws upon her community connections is to collaborate with other local activists on health disparities initiatives, recruit new MWPHA members and future annual conferences.

Pankti Pathak is currently an MPH student, at The George Washington University, concentrating in Epidemiology. Before starting graduate school she worked as a Healthcare Consultant, at CSC Consulting, implementing progressive strategies aimed towards the improvement of hospitals’ supply chains. Prior to CSC, she was part of an adolescent health team at Mount Sinai’s Adolescent Health Center. Working alongside an interdisciplinary team of healthcare practitioners she worked as a health educator, formulating personalized healthcare plans for the teens of the community.

With a background in Women’s Health, Adolescent Sexual Health Education and Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Katherine brings expertise to the field of Public Health and Health Education. Prior to joining the Federal Government in 2007 as a Public Health Analyst, Katherine worked at the Michigan Department of Community Health’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program. She was the lead consultant for Michigan’s CDC approved obesity initiative “Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better” Weight Loss Program targeting African American women.
Katherine is a native of Detroit, Michigan home of the Michigan Wolverines. She currently resides in Washington, DC. A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy (Bachelor of Science, Health Services Administration) and Wayne State University (Master of Education, Community Health).
Katherine enjoys traveling abroad. Her most recent trip was to Valencia Spain this summer volunteering for a mission trip with National Community Church. She also enjoys listening to live music; her favorite instrument is the acoustic guitar. Katherine recently completed the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run in April 2010. Katherine also volunteers with Central Union Mission in the District of Columbia serving homeless families.

Eduardo Pezo is currently the Law Clerk at the Ana Cuitino Law Office in Annandale, Va. He is also a member of the Steering Committee and the Data Workgroup of the Latino Health Initiative of Montgomery County. Some of his research and work interests include global and national health promotion, health policy, immigrant issues, poverty reduction, and health disparities. He is the former Acting Director and Community Outreach Coordinator of the Community Outreach and Information Dissemination Component of the USU Center for Health Disparities in Montgomery County.
He holds a JD degree from the Washington College of Law and a MA in International Affairs, International Politics with course work in International Development from the School of International Service, both in American University. In addition, he holds a MPH in International Health Policy-Promotion from The George Washington University and a B.S. in Biology with a Biotechnology Concentration from George Mason University.

Karyn L. Pomerantz is a Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. At the School, she teaches a course in community health information resources, develops professional development programs, advises practicum students, and conducts health information outreach projects that promotes health literacy.
She chairs the Health Disparities Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association. The Committee addresses social inequalities in health, focusing on the HIV epidemic in the District of Columbia as the major health inequity. It also sponsors a discussion group that clarifies the role of social class and racism in maintaining the exploitation of workers and professionals. She advocates multi-racial unity as a strategy to fight divisions and strengthen our fight against capitalism.This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it