Ronald Davis
Whitman-Walker Health
Ronald serves as the chair of the WRAIR Community Advisory Board. He is also the Client Advisory Board of Whitman-Walker Health, which is aligned with the AIDS Clinical Trials Group, focusing on HIV treatment and cure research. He has experience working as a Peer Outreach Educator for Whitman-Walker Health, US Helping US in Washington, D.C., as well as the National Association of Science under the National HIV and AIDS Hotline.
As a long-term survivor of HIV, Ron has witnessed and experienced the evolution of treatment options to address the virus. He recalls that getting his diagnosis and gaining access to information simultaneously was not as easy as it is today. Ron’s experience pushed him to become very resourceful in obtaining the information he needed to address his condition with the goal of not just surviving but thriving. Being aware of the stigma attached to being HIV positive was unsettling, and it challenged Ron to stay motivated and find ways to reach out to his community and help educate and enlighten them about living with HIV.
Because of his passion in serving his community, Ron looks forward to learning about COVID-19 and how it affects people with HIV.
Michelle Chabbott
Department of Health Care Finance
Michelle is a Clinical Psychologist with 35+ years devoted to advocacy, trauma and resilience training. Currently, works with the Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) supervising a program which conducts independent assessments for long term care supports and services for vulnerable people in the District.
Jheni Libongco-Barbour
Continuum Healthcare Network
Jheni is the Founder of Continuum Healthcare Network and Co-chair at Asian American Chamber of commerce. She works with underserved populations promoting equal access to care. Currently, Continuum Healthcare Network is doing a lot of advocacy for the COVID-19 vaccine. Jheni is also a Senior Business Development and Operations Executive with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare services and business management. She has experience in product development, strategic operational planning, and program marketing strategies. Through her experience, she has developed exceptional skills in business and account relationship management including sales and marketing.
Jheni is also involved in community awareness and engagement events through the execution of health fair events, social media campaigns, and health expos. She is experienced in grant writing for telemedicine programs, healthcare studies, and healthcare outreach for the underserved population.
Anita Massengale
Anita is a Registered Nurse with a BA in Psychology, from the University of the District of Columbia. She also attained a Juris Doctorate from Howard University Law School. Anita has over 30 years of Clinical Nursing experience, of which 20 years are in middle-upper management. She has dedicated her professional career to ensuring patient safety through proactive healthcare risk management.
Anita has been a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc since 1986. Her greatest gift to the world, as well as her greatest accomplishment, is being the mother to Anna M. Cobb.
Jennifer Stewart
Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital / D.C. Department of Health
Jennifer is a Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience in the field. She attained her nursing degree from the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College.
Her work experience has allowed her to serve as the Coordinator for the DC Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program and work with area clinics and the underserved population in the city.
Jennifer has worked for MedStar Washington Hospital Center as a surgical nurse, staff nurse for Labor & Delivery, Occupational Health Nurse for the Department of Human Services, and currently as a Nurse Supervisor in the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.
For Jennifer, being a nurse has been a very rewarding career as it has allowed her to help in caring for patients and making a difference in their lives.
Carlos Velázquez
HMA Associates, Inc.
Carlos Velázquez is the CEO and President of HMA (Health Marketing) Associates in Washington, D.C., a communications firm that specializes in working with underserved communities to impact health equity. His expertise is in the development of communications interventions as a vehicle for shifting public narratives about social change. This makes him an innovative and dynamic thought leader in the cultural marketing field.
Carlos launched national campaigns that address issues such as mental health, immunization uptake, HIV/AIDS prevention, and food insecurity. As an award-winning author and speaker, he contributes as a guest blogger on issues related to men’s health and social justice.
Carlos wears multiple hats in serving as a board member for various organizations such as the Arlington Community Foundation, Human Rights Commission (Chair), Arlington County Commission for the Arts, the Public Information and Community Engagement Committee of the Commission on Aging (co-chair). He recently served on the Arlington County Complete County Committee for the U.S. Census.
Cortlen Yarbrough
Institute for Public Health Innovation
Cortlen is a Community Health Worker (CHW), working professionally in the D.C. community, specifically wards 5-8 for almost 6 years. He received his BA in International Studies from Ohio State University. Cortlen works for the Institute for Public Health Innovation, where he has received his initial CHW training with a focus on HIV. As a community health worker, he conducts educational outreach to the community, faith- based organizations, and private providers who work with populations that serve people living with HIV/AIDS. Combining those skills plus lived real-world community experience, Cortlen has been effective in providing social services, individual peer counseling, and community education to people living with HIV as well as the underserved Black/Brown communities.
In his spare time, Cortlen focuses on self-care which can involve daily meditations, long walks, and watching old Godzilla and Kung Fu movies.
Analisa Espino
Analisa is a second-year master’s student at George Washington University. She is receiving her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health Epidemiology & Disease Control with an expected graduation date in May 2023. She has worked with George Washington University’s Campus COVID-19 Support Team as a case manager for two years. She also assists in an HIV clinical trial at George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates. She is grateful to her other board members for sharing their knowledge and willingness to have her serve on the board. She looks forward to expanding her public health career and working with vulnerable populations in disease control.