Our Team
Amihan Crisostomo, MPH
Kamusta! I am excited for the opportunity to work with you to use data, research and evaluation to advance health and race equity and strengthen community health. I am a passionate public health professional with a strong background in community-based research, monitoring and evaluation, and project management.
Currently, I am serving as a quality improvement coordinator with the San Francisco Health Network where I monitor population health metrics related to chronic diseases and collaborate with healthcare staff and providers to implement quality improvement initiatives focused on eliminating health disparities. As a Monitoring & Evaluation Fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the One Health Office at the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), I led the development and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation framework for the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP) Process, leveraging my skills to assess outcomes of the tool developed by the CDC to prioritize zoonotic diseases of greatest regional concern and develop next steps for addressing these priority zoonoses through a regional, multisectoral, One Health approach.
I have extensive experience working with non-profit organizations and public agencies, providing technical assistance and conducting evaluations across various social and health sectors. I am committed to utilizing data-driven approaches to inform policy decisions, improve program effectiveness, and ultimately, achieve health and racial equity. My skills in project management, facilitation, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and data analysis allow me to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders and translate evaluation findings into actionable recommendations.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my family exploring the outdoors, backpacking, and traveling.
Anna Kaminski, MPH (she/her/hers)
I am from Seattle, WA and have lived in the Bay Area for 11 years. I have experience as a volunteer, intern, consultant, and employee in different non-profit organizations.
In the past, I have worked as a youth rowing coach and created curricula for the Oakland Strokes Middle School rowing program. I volunteered with Street Level Health in Oakland providing free health resources to the community, with Boost! West Oakland providing tutoring services to elementary school youth, and with Oakland Animal Services, playing with and socializing dogs who are looking for a new home.
Now, I lead the data and evaluation team at the Native American Health Center in Oakland and San Francisco as Senior Program Manager. In this role, I manage a team conducting evaluation and data collection for community-based programming aimed at addressing social determinants of health. I also create, review, and monitor project budgets throughout program implementation. I am passionate about uplifting communities, and working toward a stronger, more people-focused public health system.
Galen R. Maloney, MPH
Growing up in San Francisco gave me a strong foundation in progressive politics that has led to career choices focused on youth development, community organizing, teaching, and homeless services. Working for Larkin Street Youth Services for the past six years, I have been on the frontlines of the current housing crisis and witnessed the critical impact on young people. I am committed to upstream solutions that achieve social justice and equity and remain involved in a wide range of topics and issues including prison reform, mental health and healing, and meaningful solutions at the intersection of public health and urban design. My work on developing artistic public ping pong tables informed previous research into public space access and the psycho-social health impact of public space design. I bring skills in project management, project development, fundraising, grant writing, and both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Rebecca Mendez, MPH
I have worked as a researcher in the Health & Equity Research Lab for the last decade. In my research experience, I have been at the forefront of working with local community organizations (e.g., Center for Youth Wellness and Roadmap to Peace) to improve the health of Bay Area communities. My work addresses chronic stress due to social inequities that adversely affect health outcomes, guiding me toward innovative, upstream solutions for health equity. For example, as the project manager in the Reclaiming Nature initiative, I collaborate with Save the Redwoods Leagues to organize trips to the Redwoods for BIPOC communities, fostering mental and physical wellness. In addition, my expertise in community assessment has been instrumental in enhancing the Public Health Institute's implementation of the Electronic Health Record medical system in Oakland. This endeavor significantly improved patient care and health data management, showcasing my ability to merge research insights with practical solutions. My experiences have given me a comprehensive skill set that includes project management, program evaluation, and qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. My career is dedicated to crafting solutions that actively improve community health.
Jacque Perkins, MPH
Hi. I’m Jacque, a proud LA native moonlighting in the Bay Area for the past 6 years. I have over 8 years of experience in clinical research management, program development, and program evaluation. In my early career, I worked almost exclusively in spaces designed to facilitate and support youth development while my subsequent research has shifted focus to the aging population and improving our understanding of neurological disorders. As a public health professional, I am passionate about health equity and commited to supporting diverse research initiatives in the Bay Area. When I’m off the clock, I’m a proud plant dad and lover of all things drag.
Laura Zepeda Torres, MPH
Hi there! My name is Laura Zepeda Torres. I am a public health professional with over 6 years of experience working primarily in the non-profit sector conducting program implementation, grant administration, and evaluation of community-based programs. Currently, I work at La Clinica de La Raza, Inc. as a program planner managing a portfolio of 15-25 grants and contracts related to mental health and substance use disorder/medication-assisted treatment programs. In my free time, I love outdoor activities, knitting and embroidery projects, cooking, and hanging out with friends!
