Board Members

Nellie Washington, MPH, MS—President

Nellie Washington is a senior public health practitioner and Project Director for the Health Equity Resource Communities (HERC) initiative at Maryland’s Community Health Resource Commission. She provides strategic leadership and management for a $70 million statewide grant portfolio supporting clinical services and community-based approaches addressing maternal and child health, behavioral health, eldercare, sickle cell disease, childhood immunizations, and chronic disease prevention.

Ms. Washington brings extensive experience leading large-scale health programs and systems strengthening efforts across federal, state, nonprofit, and association environments. She is recognized for setting strategic direction, aligning policy and resources, and stewarding multimillion-dollar funding portfolios serving underserved and priority populations. A trusted advisor to senior leaders, she is known for translating legislation, data, and community health needs into scalable programs supported by strong governance and clear performance accountability.

Prior to joining the Commission, Ms. Washington spent 14 years with the U.S. Department of Defense, where she led chronic disease management and workforce wellness initiatives. Her background also includes grassroots work in school-based health programs, rural health challenges affecting veterans, and advancing equity in cancer care.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Syracuse University, a Master of Public Health from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from the University of Maryland.

Doreen Effange, DHSc, MPH, MBA, MCHES, PMP - President-Elect

Dr. Doreen Effange is a public health leader, consultant, and nonprofit executive with over 20 years of experience advancing health equity and delivering community-centered solutions with measurable impact. Her expertise spans public health practice, health systems strategy, and community development with a focus on translating policy, data, and lived experience into effective and sustainable programs. 

She has led and advised complex initiatives across correctional health cancer education, Medicaid and population health strategy, social determinants of Health (SDOH), quality improvement, and workforce development, working across healthcare systems, nonprofit, and community-based organizations. Dr. Effange brings a systems- oriented, execution focused approach to program design, organizational capacity building, and cross-sector collaboration.

Dr. Effange is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ndome Foundation supporting women and marginalized communities through education, health and community developments initiatives in the United States and Cameroon. She holds a Doctor of Health Science in Global Health, a Master of Public Health (Health Education and Promotion), and a Master of Business Administration (Healthcare Administration), and is a certified Project Management Professional and Master Certified Health Education Specialist.

Beverly Amofah, DrPH, MPH —Secretary

I hold a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree with a concentration in Epidemiology, backed by over a decade of dedicated public health experience, including specialized work in infectious disease surveillance and control. I currently serve as an Epidemiologist with the Maryland Department of Health’s Bureau of Maternal Child Health. In this role, I am responsible for leading data-driven projects specifically designed to improve health outcomes for marginalized populations, such as children  and youth with specific health care needs.

My prior experience includes serving as an Evaluation Specialist with the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute, where I focused on advanced data analysis and the evaluation of public health interventions targeting the HIV population across New York State. Additionally, I worked as a Research Scientist with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of HIV Surveillance, where I was responsible for developing hospital performance reports for facilities providing care to individuals living with HIV.

Kierra Sarfo-Kantanka, MPH — Executive Administrator

Kierra Sarfo-Kantanka serves as the Executive Administrator and Health Equity Committee Lead for the Maryland Public Health Association. She is a public health professional, creative strategist, and founder of Data & Narrative Collective Corporation. Kierra earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from George Mason University and her Master of Public Health from Florida International University. She brings experience across government and civilian sectors in public health program management, health education, communications, strategic planning, community-centered initiatives, and clinical research supporting both pediatric and adult populations, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, stem cell immunotherapies, and exertional heat-related illness.

Kierra’s work sits at the intersection of public health, narrative change, and health equity. She is passionate about making public health information more accessible, culturally responsive, and action-oriented for communities most impacted by health disparities. In addition to her work with MdPHA, she is the director of Women with the Issue of Blood, a documentary exploring the gynecological health disparities experienced by Black women living in the United States. Her broader mission is to bridge the gap between research and lived experience so that data informs systems while honoring the people behind the numbers.

Krista Forbes, MPH, MDiv, MEd—Treasurer

Krista Forbes joins the Executive Committee of the Maryland Public Health Association as Treasurer in 2026.  She currently serves as an Engagement Specialist with the NIH’s  All of Us Division of Engagement and Outreach focusing on outreach to community-based and faith-focused organizations.  The engagement role centers on building trusted relationships on the pathway to increasing awareness of health resources, improving representation in clinical research, and promoting equitable access to care.

A regarded and often requested facilitator, Krista has also proudly served as a certified and clinically trained Chaplain participating on treatment teams focused on whole-person patient care. 

Prior to transitioning to public health,  Krista held both marketing and accounting positions in the corporate sector.  She developed strategic partnerships, executed high-impact events that engaged diverse audiences and provided substantial financial oversight for such projects.  

Krista Forbes has a Master’s in Public Health from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Master of Education from Temple University and a Bachelor of Science from Hampton University. 

Rosemary Burrell —Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council 

Rosemary Burrell is a seasoned nurse leader and public health strategist with over 25 years of

nursing experience and more than a decade of leadership in public health. Her clinical

foundation informs her systems-level work, grounding policy, strategy, and performance

improvement in real-world patient and community experience.

As Chief of Population Health, she provides strategic oversight of major public health initiatives

and federally funded infrastructure investments. She leads efforts to advance health equity,

improve access to care, and align local implementation with state and national health

improvement priorities.

Rosemary is widely recognized for innovative outreach models that bring services directly to

underserved populations, including mobile health programming and community-based

partnerships. She believes effective public health leadership requires both data fluency and

deep human understanding — a perspective shaped by decades at the bedside and in

community care settings.

Her leadership philosophy is clear: build modern, responsive systems that work for the

communities they are designed to serve.

Oluwanifemi Bakare —Student Representative

Oluwanifemi Bakare is a dedicated public health leader and student with a strong foundation in epidemiology, community health, health equity, and advocacy. At Morgan State University, she is presently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education with a minor in Biology.

She has experience in community outreach, research, healthcare administration, and campus leadership. Oluwanifemi works as a Telehealth Administrative Assistant, supporting clinical operations and patient access to care, and serves as a Student Research Member at the Morgan State University Research Center. Additionally, she has been actively involved in community programs that promote student wellness and early childhood development as well as mental health advocacy.

Oluwanifemi currently serves as the Advocacy Chair for the MSU Health, Equity & Wellness Association, where she leads health advocacy initiatives and collaborates with campus partners to promote student wellness. It is a great honor for her to serve as the MdPHA Student Representative. She advocates for inclusive leadership that creates equitable public health solutions across Maryland, while ensuring that students are active contributors, not just learners, in the state’s public health workforce.

Cerina Dubois —At Large Board Member

Cerina Dubois is a UM1 Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Mental Health at Johns Hopkins University, examining the health outcomes of medicinal cannabis users and working on the development of a national data repository for cannabis. She graduated with her PhD at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University - focusing on the health outcomes of Illinois' harm reduction Opioid Alternative Pilot Program, evaluating the association of medical cannabis use on opioid use, pain levels, and quality of life. Furthermore, Dr. Dubois spent many years at the University of Alberta analyzing and disseminating the results of Canada's largest epidemiological cohort of medical cannabis users. 

Beatrice Barnabas —At Large Board Member

Dr. Beatrice Benjamin Barnabas, DrPH, is a global health and biomedical research leader with more than two decades of dedicated public service at the National Institutes of Health in Rockville, Maryland. Throughout her federal career, she has contributed to strengthening the genomics infrastructure and advancing large-scale sequencing initiatives in the field.

She currently serves within the National Human Genome Research Institute, where she provides strategic oversight for complex, high-throughput genomic research operations. In this capacity, she guides long-range strategic planning, budget development and execution, and federal acquisitions in support of high-impact scientific programs. Her leadership ensures operational excellence, fiscal stewardship, and seamless coordination across multidisciplinary teams, enabling scientists to accelerate discovery while maintaining rigorous compliance and accountability standards.

Dr. Barnabas brings deep expertise at the intersection of genomics, public health, and organizational leadership. She manages complex research portfolios, oversees cost recovery and procurement models, and serves as a Contracting Officer’s Representative, ensuring that large federal contracts are executed efficiently and in alignment with mission priorities. She partners closely with senior scientific leadership to translate visionary research goals into sustainable operational frameworks that drive innovation and measurable outcomes.  Her collaborative contributions towards landmark efforts such as the Human Genome Project and ENCODE have supported next-generation sequencing capacity across the NIH and beyond.

Dr. Barnabas holds a Doctor of Public Health in Global Health Leadership from Indiana University. She is deeply passionate to strengthening research capacity, advancing international collaboration, and promoting equitable access to scientific innovation. Multilingual and culturally fluent, she aims to bring a global perspective to her leadership, fostering partnerships across institutions and borders. Her work reflects a steadfast dedication to advancing global health equity through strategic vision, operational excellence, and collaborative engagement.

In addition to her doctorate, Dr. Barnabas holds a Master of Science in Biotechnology from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, academic foundations that underpin her interdisciplinary expertise and commitment to scientific and public health advancement.

 Yale Friedman —At- Large Board Member

My journey in the public health sector began in 2015, when I began studying in the American University's Public Health program. My key interest areas include topics such as oral health, mental health, infectious disease control, law, and pharmacy, many of which I explored in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the George Washington University. It was an extremely rewarding experience to collaborate with and learn from instructors and classmates from a variety of disciplines all over the world. We all have a common goal to achieve health equity on a global scale. One of the most notable experiences I had in this program was the MPH practicum experiential component, for which I had the opportunity to intern for the Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Suburban Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medicine. Most recently, I have begun the MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Healthcare program at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. Through this program, I am pursuing my interests in clinical research and individualized medicine. In addition to these experiences in academia, I was thrilled to serve on the MdPHA Board as Student Representative for three years. In this role, my goal was to act as a leader and mentor for other students who wish to explore the field of public health to ultimately give back to the community on a grand scale. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with the MdPHA Board as an At-Large Director starting in 2026. What an honor it is to represent an organization whose mission is to promote and advocate for health equity to improve health outcomes, especially among underserved populations.

Dr. Lillian Agbeyegbe is a public health practitioner with over decades of experience in program planning and implementation. She earned her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center and her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Community Health Education from The City University of New York – Hunter College. She earned her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Economics from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

Dr. Agbeyegbe has worked on the issues that disproportionately affect women, including human trafficking, healthy housing, homelessness, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and female genital mutilation.

Dr. Agbeyegbe is the founder of The Rest Of A Life (TROAL) and has served on many boards, including the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence (MNADV) and Court Watch Montgomery County. She is currently serving a third-term as a Governor's appointee on the Maryland Family Violence Council. She also was a Senior Community Engagement Manager on the Strategic Initiative on Sex Trafficking team at Polaris, a leading national anti-trafficking organization.

Dr. Agbeyegbe is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and is also Certified in Public Health (CPH).

Rael Odengo, PhD—At Large Board Member

Dr. Rael Kobe Odengo, a Global Health Communications Specialist based in Maryland, is an experienced health educator, skilled researcher, and human-centered design facilitator. Professionally, Dr. Odengo has over 19 years of experience in journalism, social behavior change communications, community engagement, health equity, social science research, and public health. She has led the coordination, planning, preparation, presentation, and evaluation of numerous public health campaigns, focusing on family planning, monkeypox, and COVID-19. 

Dr. Odengo received her PhD in Global Health Education and Promotion from Walden University, where her research focused on global health literacy. She specifically explored the barriers and facilitators to obtaining culturally appropriate cancer health education among Kenyan immigrants in Washington State. She also holds a Master’s in Communications from Maseno University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Nairobi. 

With a wealth of experience in designing and coordinating public health education programs, Dr. Odengo has crafted health education interventions, behavioral change communication strategies, and advocacy tools to promote healthy behaviors and policies. She has also successfully managed grants and contracts throughout her career. 

Dr. Odengo is the Health Equity Communications and Access Lead for the Washington State Department of Health's Community Relations and Equity team. In this role, she leads the development of culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach strategies, accessible systems, and clear information pathways for people with limited English proficiency and disabilities. Her experience includes managing family planning projects in Nigeria with Johns Hopkins University and leading social behavior change communication initiatives in Kenya before relocating to the U.S. in 2015. Notably, her leadership on a family planning project in Kenya resulted in an 11% increase in service uptake across six regions. Additionally, while at PATH-Kenya, she oversaw the production of a 256-episode radio program that reached over 5 million listeners across multiple counties.

Chidera Anigabor, MPH—At-Large Board Member

Chidera Anigabor, MPH, is a visionary leader and Population Health Strategist with a steadfast commitment to advancing public health equity and fostering community well-being. With over seven years of experience in public health and healthcare administration, she has successfully spearheaded innovative initiatives that bridge gaps in care and empower underserved populations.

Ms. Anigabor holds a Master’s in Public Health Nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, equipping her with a robust foundation in nutrition science, program design, and data-driven evaluation. As a Healthcare Administrator at Premier Health Group, she has established operational excellence, driven communication strategies, and optimized resource allocation, contributing significantly to organizational growth and improved patient outcomes. Her strategic insights have led to the successful design and implementation of programs addressing pressing public health issues, including childhood obesity and cervical cancer disparities.

Beyond her administrative accomplishments, Ms. Anigabor is deeply engaged in advocacy and policy work. She serves as a Policy Committee Member and Chair of the WIC Work Group at the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN), where she has contributed to impactful policy recommendations, including input on WIC food packages, the FDA’s voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals, and the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. As an active member of the American Public Health Association (APHA), she collaborates with diverse stakeholders to advance equitable health policies.

In her volunteer role as a Public Health Nutritionist at FCFA Global, Ms. Anigabor has demonstrated her commitment to community health by designing educational programs and advocating for food security. Her ability to blend strategic leadership with hands-on community engagement reflects her holistic approach to addressing health disparities.

Ms. Anigabor’s dedication to lifelong learning and innovation is exemplified by her ongoing doctoral studies at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she continues to explore transformative solutions for public health challenges. As a newly elected MdPHA Board Member, she is eager to leverage her expertise, passion, and collaborative spirit to drive meaningful improvements in health outcomes across Maryland.

Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju, DrPH, MSN, BSN, RN—At-Large Board Member

Dr. Oluwatosin Olateju is a renowned global health leader who currently teaches as a Nursing Professor at Coppin State University. She has spearheaded numerous health initiatives addressing infectious disease prevention, family health, nutrition, and sexual and reproductive health for diverse populations. Additionally, she is a dedicated mentor, public health researcher, and health policy advocate.

Dr. Olateju founded Food and Care for All (FCFA) in 2019, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing food security and equitable healthcare for underserved communities in Maryland and Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2021, she launched the Meals for Kidz Initiative in Nigeria, an FCFA-affiliated NGO that collaborates with local schools to ensure underprivileged children receive the nutrition necessary for learning.

Dr. Olateju obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master of Science in Community & Public Health Nursing from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). She also received a Doctor of Public Health degree from Morgan State University, specializing in Health Policy and Management.

Dr. Olateju is an alumnus of the Paul Ambrose Scholarship Program and a Fellow of the American Public Health Association-Kaiser Permanente Community Health Program. She has extensively published and presented on the international, national, and regional levels and has served within many national, state, and local professional agencies. Dr. Olateju has earned numerous prestigious honors throughout her career, including the Feleta Wilson Social Justice Award in 2024 from the American Public Health Association, the Public Health Leadership Award in 2024 from the Maryland Public Health Association, and the Top Nurses 2020 Award from Baltimore Magazine.

In 2023, she was appointed by Governor Wes Moore to serve as co-chair of Maryland's inaugural Commission on Public Health, a position she continues to hold.

Kerry Green, PhD—At-Large Board Member

Dr. Kerry M. Green is currently a Professor and Chair of the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She joined the faculty in August 2007 as an Assistant Professor after completing a post-doctoral fellowship in Prevention Science at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As a prevention scientist, her research concentrates on improving the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations. Much of her work focuses on identifying the causes of health disparities over the life course among urban Americans. Her research is concentrated in two major areas: (1) risk and protective factors, including structural factors, over the life course and (2) the interrelationship of substance use, mental health, crime, and sexual health over the life course. Almost all of her work utilizes longitudinal cohorts, mostly urban cohorts followed from childhood to adulthood. Much of her work has been with the Woodlawn Study, a community cohort study that began in 1965. She coordinated the midlife follow-up (age 42) in 2002-03, and led the age 62 follow-up with funding from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). This 5-year R01 provides an unprecedented opportunity to take a life course perspective to prospectively examine how factors in childhood predict aging outcomes in urban Americans. She has published extensively on this data with continuous NIH funding since 2006 from such institutes as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). 

In addition to the research, teaching, and mentoring at UMD, she co-leads the early career mentoring program for the Society for Prevention Research. This program matches early career scholars with senior prevention scientist mentors, as well as facilitates an introduction to prevention science for undergraduate students. She was elected to the Maryland Public Health Association's board in 2025 and is serving on the membership and student committees.