Camp Treasure: Navigating the Deep Sea of Maternal and Child Health

Allison Schleicher is an Epidemiologist at Northern Nevada Public Health, where I focus on syphilis and congenital syphilis. My background includes a masters degree in epidemiology from The University of Nevada, Reno, and I have a passion for public health with an emphasis in sexual health. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my French Bulldog, Bowie.

Dr. Andria Peterson joined the Roseman College of Medicine as Executive Director of the EMPOWERED program in 2021. Prior to this role, she spent 12 years working as a clinical pharmacist in the pediatric and newborn intensive care units (NICU) at St. Rose Dominican Hospital. It was during this time that she co-founded the EMPOWERED program, a care coordination model designed to help pregnant and postpartum individuals experiencing a substance use disorder navigate their path from recovery to stabilization to resilience. Dr. Peterson is responsible for providing leadership for the program and plays a critical role in mobilizing state, local and grass-roots level stakeholders to promote recovery and improvements in the quality of life for program participants and their families. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences for Roseman’s University’s College of Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice with Roseman University’s College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Peterson was appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo in October of 2023 to serve a two-year term on Nevada’s Patient Protection Commission. She is also a Core Team Member of the Nevada Perinatal Health Initiative and has worked on a state level to develop policy for the training of providers in identifying individuals with substance use disorder. She has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including an honorable mention by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation for the Pearl Birnbaum Hurwitz Humanism in Healthcare Award, recognition as a Southern Nevada Healthcare Hero, recipient of the Nevada Hospital Association Imagination Award and received a Dignity Health Acts of Humankindness Steward Award for her efforts.

Marcia O’Malley is a Project Coordinator with the Family Navigation Network, Nevada’s Family to Family Health Information and Education Center and is the Director of Parent to Parent of Nevada. She helps oversee the statewide team of Family Navigators and manages the Parent to Parent of Nevada peer mentoring program.

Caregiving and family support are near and dear to Marcia’s heart. She has a young adult son who has Down syndrome and has worked in the disability space since his birth. She is a fierce advocate for disability rights. Her stories of raising her son have been shared to state and national leaders, educators and social workers, but her proudest moments have been watching her son speak out about disability issues that he feels are important.

Marcia is passionate about helping families navigate the convoluted systems of care for children who have a special health care need and/or disability. She knows what it’s like to feel confused and frustrated and doesn’t want another parent to ever feel alone on that journey.

Cimi Neal is a Healthcare Administration professional with over a decade of experience in case management, care coordination, and program development. Known for her commitment to improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare services, Cimi excels in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) and enhancing maternity care through strategic leadership and innovative solutions playing a pivotal role in advancing maternal health initiatives.

In her current role, Cimi conducts comprehensive SDOH assessments and facilitates interdisciplinary care to support patients through their pregnancy and postpartum journeys. She has successfully bridged gaps in healthcare access, led cross-functional program development, and created tailored care plans, significantly improving patient care quality and streamlining operations.

Cimi’s achievements include exceeding program revenue goals and maintaining high consumer satisfaction rates. Her skills in process improvement, complaint resolution, and employee coaching have consistently driven operational excellence.

Beyond her professional work, Cimi has made significant community contributions. She served as an Outreach Coordinator for the VITA Program with United Way, promoting financial literacy and support for underserved populations, as Co-Chair of the Southern Nevada Maternal and Child Health Coalition.

Cimi is now channeling her expertise into consulting, focusing on Diversity and Inclusion, SDOH, policy development, and training. This new venture aims to enhance organizational practices and promote equity across various sectors. Her deep understanding of cultural competency and dedication to healthcare excellence make her a valuable asset in fostering inclusive and high-quality care environments.

For speaking engagements, consulting inquiries, or more information, please contact Cimi Neal at 702-600-3869 or info@prosperaventures.org

Dr. Kristen Herlosky was born and raised in Las Vegas and is deeply rooted in her hometown. She earned her bachelor of arts in anthropology in 2015, then continued on to receive both her masters degree and PhD in the Department of Anthropology at UNLV in 2023. Kristen began her graduate path with a passion for learning about pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum health. She is now the postdoctoral researcher for the EARN-FS (Early Responsive Nurturing Care for Food Security) intervention in the UNLV School of Public Health. In addition to her postdoctoral responsibilities, Kristen is a childbirth educator and active full-spectrum doula, serving women and families throughout the Las Vegas valley since 2019.

Christina M. Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP (Dr. Madison) is a Nationally recognized and globally connected clinical pharmacist. She has two decades of expertise as a residency-trained clinical pharmacist specializing in infectious disease and gender-based health and is a dynamic force in the healthcare industry. She provided direct patient care through her academic appointment from 2007 - 2023 as a faculty member with Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Pharmacy. She still provides direct community outreach through her involvement with local non-profits and CBO in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Dr. Madison has committed to educating the public about reproductive health and justice as it relates to access to contraception and abortion care. She is dedicated to sharing her experiences through the intersection of clinical excellence, advocacy, and communications strategy. Dr. Madison is the Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist a public health consulting firm which was established in 2019 with a vision for health communications.The driving force behind our company's mission, Dr. Madison is committed to amplifying the voices of healthcare professionals in providing care to historically marginalized communities highlighting the need for healthcare through a health equity lens. The Public Health Pharmacist, is a women and minority-owned business, dedicated to delivering culturally competent health content.

Dr. Madison has been featured in over 250+ TV appearances, including a standout segment on Good Morning America (GMA3), with her most recent appearance as part of their Menopause Manual series during Women’s Health Week. She has also been an invited panelist at The White House for the COVID-19 Health Equity - What Works Summit in 2022. Recognized for her outstanding contributions, she has received prestigious awards such as the Bowl of Hygeia Award, 2023 Outstanding Clinician of the Year by Immunize Nevada, and National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Women of Distinction Finalist.

Ms. Henderson, as the senior training coordinator for the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCEDSV), was responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of education strategies that support the mission of NCEDSV. While working at NCEDSV, she had conducted over 290 presentations to advocates, law enforcement, judges, teachers, parents, and allied professionals in the fields of social work, batterer’s intervention, therapists, public health, and medical professionals. 

Judy's educational background includes two bachelor's degrees: Social Science and Sociology and a master’s degree in education management from the University of LaVerne, California. While working as a public high school teacher, coaching an award-winning cheerleading team, and attending classes to earn her master’s degree, Judy actively volunteered as an EMT in a Pennsylvania rural community for eight years.

Kaleigh Mancha has served as a full spectrum birth worker & Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist for almost 15 years, specializing in perinatal & postpartum mental health conditions, reproductive experiences, loss, medical trauma & complex PTSD. She has been a certified yoga teacher for 10 years & currently oversees all yoga programming & mentorship of teachers at Yoga Haven as their Program Director. Additionally, Kaleigh co- founded Heart & Sol Collective in 2020, a queer & BIPoC founded & led non profit that provides accessible & culturally responsive services to address maternal health disparities in the Las Vegas community.

Maria Palapa – Master Student 

Maria is a recent graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s of  Science in Public Health. She is a certified Community Health Worker and CPR Basic Life  Support Instructor. She serves as the board as community outreach for the Southern  Nevada Breastfeeding Coalition and secretary for the Flavors for Life non-profit  organization. 

She is currently a graduate assistant for the School of Public Health supporting projects  involving household food insecurity and breastfeeding amongst mothers and infants. She  is currently involved in the development of the intervention of Nurturing Care Family  Navigator and working towards manuscripts involving the West Las Vegas Promise  Neighborhood. Maria’s passion is to educate, inform, and empower communities to have  opportunities for a healthier, better life. Her interests are to work with initiatives targeting  maternal health, childhood obesity and nutrition, breastfeeding, and chronic disease.

Megan McDonough is a PhD student of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the UNLV School of Public Health. She currently works for the Early Responsive Nurturing Care for Food Security research team as a data analyst. She has a BS and MS in nutrition and has been a registered dietitian since 2002. She has many years of experience providing nutrition care for trauma, surgery, oncology, and cardiac patients in the inpatient hospital setting. More recently she was a nutrition and public health instructor for UNLV, before deciding to return to school for a terminal degree. Her research interests include nutritional epidemiology, chronic diseases, physical activity, as well as the long-term health effects of food insecurity. She enjoys running, cooking, playing the violin, and being outdoors.

Rosalie “Joyce” Abeng, MPH, is the Director of Research at the DOULA CO-OP of Nevada. Previously, she led Health in All policies pilot projects in Nevada and held the role of Program Officer overseeing a Nevada's Maternal and Child Health Title V grant. Joyce also brings extensive teaching experience, having instructed a Healthcare Careers class for advanced English Language Learners and delivered reproductive and sexual health education to more than 100 Samburu youth through the Samburu Girls Foundation in Samburu, Kenya. Her dedication is driven by a commitment to overcoming healthcare barriers.

Rachel Mack is a licensed Social Worker and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the State of Nevada. She is originally from St. Louis, Missouri and relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2008 where she attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She has extensive experience working with clients experiencing opioid use disorder- specifically pregnant and postpartum women. She has also worked in the outpatient setting as a substance abuse counselor, and in the inpatient setting providing level of care assessments and referrals to individuals seeking treatment for mental health and/or substance abuse. Rachel is passionate and dedicated in providing support for participants of the EMPOWERED program as they navigate their journey from surviving to thriving.