Coffee & Convos is the Dornsife School of Public Health’s networking event series. Public health professionals and alumni are invited to share information about their Organization, reflect on professional experiences, or discuss employment opportunities with students. Students benefit from this opportunity to network with alumni and public health professionals, and explore work environments, industries, and public health career paths over coffee.
Upcoming Speaker
Christine Ivery is a TEDx speaker who is dedicated to addressing inequities in healthcare and mitigating issues within the Black infant and maternal mortality crisis. Her passion is to help all walks of life through disease and disparity prevention, as well as to make an impact in the communities she serves. As Project Manager at the Jefferson Collaborative for Health Equity, she secures implementation of the program objectives, leads teams to successful execution, and cultivates networks to effectively address barriers that affect health outcomes.
Christine serves as Regional Director of Sisters in Public Health and the Community Health Planning and Policy Development (CHPPD) Section Counselor for the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is a proud member of the American Public Health Association, Drexel University Center for Black Culture (CBC) Advisory Board, the Greater Philadelphia Norfolk State Alumni Chapter, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Social Justice platform.
Christine holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science- Kinesiotherapy from Norfolk State University, a Master’s degree from Drexel University in Public Health, and Health Education Specialist Certification (CHES).
Kelly McLaughlin has over 12 years of experience in the public health field as a Health Educator in preventing programming. Kelly is currently employed as a Public Health Education Consultant at the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH), Communicable Disease Service. She is the Team Lead of Project Firstline, a CDC funded infection prevention and control training initiative with the goal of preventing healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings by educating frontline healthcare workers in proper infection prevention and control practices. Last August, Kelly began teaching part-time as an Adjunct Professor at Atlantic Cape Community College located in Southern New Jersey where she teaches Medical Terminology and is the first public health professional to join the Nursing and Health Sciences Department.
Kelly has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of New England and a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Exercise Science with a specialization in Health Promotion and Fitness Management from Rowan University. She is also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist through NCHEC.
In addition to her role as Co-Chair of the SIPH Philadelphia Chapter, Kelly is the Membership Chair of the New Jersey Society of Public Health Education (NJSOPHE), a member of the American Public Health Association (APHA) currently serving as a Section Councilor for the Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section and Co-chair of the Health Communication Matters Workgroup, and a member of Delta Omega Honor Society.
Carly Specha is an accomplished Project Manager on the Education team at Public Consulting Group (PCG), where she applies her expertise in technology solutions to improve student education outcomes. Carly holds a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree focused on Health Care Management from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health.
At PCG, Carly collaborates with schools, school districts, and state education agencies to identify their unique needs and develop customized and innovative solutions that meet their goals and improve educational outcomes. Her ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders, attention to detail, and expertise in project management have earned her a reputation as a highly effective project manager.
Before joining PCG, Carly gained experience in project management, program development, and quality improvement in various healthcare organizations. Her expertise in healthcare management has proven valuable in her work on the Education team, where she has successfully led projects that promote student success and improve educational outcomes.
Carly is also deeply committed to giving back to her community. As the Vice President of Development for Sisters in Public Health, a non-profit organization that promotes the health and well-being of women, Carly plays an active role in fundraising, outreach, and program development. She is passionate about empowering women to achieve their full potential and believes that public health is a critical tool for achieving this goal.
Throughout her career, Carly has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence, professionalism, and social responsibility. She is a dynamic and effective leader who is dedicated to making a positive difference in the world, both through her work at Public Consulting Group and her volunteer efforts with Sisters in Public Health.
LaBreshia (Bre) Taylor is a Master of Public Health student and Graduate Civic Scholar at Arcadia University. She received a B.S. in Biopsychology from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, GA. In addition to her role as Co-Chair of the SIPH Philadelphia Chapter, Bre is a Program Support Specialist for Arcadia’s Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, where she received the 1st annual Values in Practice Award.
Bre has several years of experience in the civic engagement sector, where she has coordinated educational experiences for students both domestically and abroad in New Orleans, Tallahassee, Charlotte, and Guatemala. Last year Bre served as a Project Coordinator for Along the Way, a PA-based non-profit specializing in providing childcare and professional development resources to single mothers. On behalf of Along the Way, Bre presented the workshop titled “63%: Saving Moms and Children from the Childcare Poverty Crisis” at the Early Childhood Education Summit (ECE) sponsored by the Pennsylvania Child Care Association and the Pennsylvania Head Start Association. Additionally, Bre has a background in event planning and marketing for small businesses and non-profits.
LaBreshia is a proud native of Memphis, TN, but is happy to call Philadelphia her home.
Past Speakers
Did you miss a Coffee & Convos, but want to connect with an organization or speaker? See below for a list of past guests. Please contact Michelle Quigley or Tariem Burroughs if you would like to contact a former speaker.
Past Presenters 2022-2023
- Sarah Caldwell, MPH ’21
Impact Analyst, Philadbundance - Keshia Maughn, MPH ’11
Senior Principal/Senior Vice President, Strategic Advisory Services, STATinMED Research - Steve Preston
Chief Program Officer and Interim Chief Operating Officer, Share Food Program - Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake
President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, and Vice President of Community Affairs, Independence Blue Cross ID Care PA
Past Presenters 2021-2022
- Najah Doka, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Tender Grassroots and Infectious Disease Specialist, ID Care PA - Halima Doka, MPH
Operations Manager, Tender Grassroots and Regulatory Specialist, Technical Resources International, Inc. - Rachael Oyewole
LT, Consumer Safety Officer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs - Zohaib Ishaq, MPH, MLS(ASCP)
LT, Consumer Safety Officer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs - Domenic D’Alessandro, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, CDCES
LT, Regulatory Review Officer, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Prescription Drug Promotion - David Wierz
Principal – Health Sciences, Exponent - Anam Khan, PhD
Scientist, Exponent - Nnaemeka Odo, MB, BS, MPH, PhD
Senior Scientist, Exponent - Scarlett Bellamy, ScD
Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Unit, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
View the recording. - Sabrina Charles, MPH ’18
Project Manager, U.S. Public Health Accompaniment Unit, Partners In Health - Briana Guillory, MPH ’20
Study Manager, Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence, MERCK - Brittany Benson, PHR
Talent Strategist Partner / Talent Acquisition, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Research Institute
View the presentation. - Breauna Branch, MPH ’20
Mathematical Statistician, USDA-FSIS
- Pamela Armstrong
Senior Business Administrator II / Talent Acquisition Manager, Cardno ChemRisk - Matthew Phillips
Associate Director, Project Management, Merck
View the presentation. - Claire Fox
Senior Study Manager, Center for Observational and Real World Evidence, Merck - Alexandria Kachurak
Study Manager, Center for Observational and Real-World Evidence (CORE), Merck
Past Presenters 2020-2021
- Karen Michael, PhD, MPH ’11
Industrial Hygienist, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WSDLI) - Wendy L. Bowe, MPA
Management Analyst, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WSDLI) - Venetia Runnion, MS CIH, CSP, IH
Compliance Manager, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (WSDLI) - Barbara Bungy, MPH ’07, MBA ’15, MCHES
Deputy Director, Education Plus Health (EPH) - Brian Zepka, MPH
Senior Project Manager, Research & Evaluation Group at Public Health Management Corporation - Brittany Chambers, MPH ’14
Associate Director of Education, Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) - Vishakha Hariawala, BS ’18
PPO Project Implementation Specialist, Hill Physicians Medical Group - Angelique Hrycko, MPH ’12
Process Manager, Strategic Access Transformation, Boston Children’s Hospital - Tierra Pritchett, Ed.D.
Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Health Partners Plan
Past Presenters 2019-2020
- Kathryn McNamara, MPH ’16
Environmental Health Officer, United States Public Health Service - Stacy Terrell
Diversity & Inclusion Manager, USAID’s Global Health Technical Professionals (GHTP) program - Dan Muldoon
Director, Division of Data Analytics, Policy and Programs Group at CMMI - Keshia Maughn, MPH ’11
Lead Data Scientist, MMIT - Carol Fullerton, Ph.D.
Research Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, & Scientific Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress - Holly Herberman Mash, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University - Ryan Coffman, MPH, CHES, CTTS-M
Tobacco Policy and Control Program Manager, Philadelphia Department of Public Health - Tori Kontor, MPH ’18
Innovation Consultant, Independence Blue Cross (IBX) - Signe Espinoza, MPH ’19
Director of Policy, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
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