Julie Friedman, MPH
[email protected]

Julie Friedman has an eclectic background in health education, worksite wellness, early childhood development, and community participatory research. She written and published articles on health promotion and public health issues, as well as on twins. She has been an invited presenter at local and national conferences to discuss the diverse community engagement projects she has managed.

From her roots as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, to launching the lactation program for employees of the Los Angeles Times, Julie has continued addressing women’s health in her current position. Julie was instrumental in founding Worksite Wellness LA, a nonprofit organization providing onsite health education to low wage workers, and served as the board chair from 2015-2017. In December 2017, Julie was appointed to the LA County Commission for Women by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and chairs the Health Committee.

Social justice issues are central to Julie’s work and she remains committed to advancing health equity and narrowing women’s health-wealth gap. She is married and has twin sons.

Kara Justeson
[email protected] 

Kara Justeson graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Human Biology & Society and minors in Asian American Studies and Public Health. She is passionate about the importance of cultural humility and inclusive spaces in serving community programs. While at UCLA, Kara was a SHEP Peer Health Education Intern and served as a caseworker working on health education and grant writing with UCLA's Mobile Clinic Project. Kara hopes to pursue an MPH and is interested in how social services and programs can support the overall health of individuals and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys making jewelry, painting, and swimming in the ocean.

Diana Dudar
September 2021 -  

Diana Dudar is pursuing her Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Education at California State University, Northridge. As a graduate student, Diana is an involved member of CSUN’s MPH Student Association. Currently, she works in social services as a Program Services Coordinator for adults with disabilities. Diana has experience as a peer health educator, developmental therapist for youth, and health scholar in a clinical setting. She is most passionate about maternal and child health and the major determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality. She is a certified lactation educator and plans on earning her IBCLC soon. Additionally, Diana is working on her outreach to support and serve the homeless population. In her free time, Diana loves exploring nature, painting, and planting.

Yoari Higuera
September 2021 -  

Yoari is a senior at California State University, Dominguez Hills majoring in Community Health. She plans on becoming a health educator in her interests of women’s health and sexual/reproductive health. She enjoys volunteering for her church and advocating for a better quality of life, making sure communities have accurate information and knowledge of the accessible resources. In her free time, she loves to sing, spend time with loved ones, and travel to new places.

Sienna Martinez
June 2021 -  

Sienna Martinez, Central Valley native, is a second year transfer student at UCLA where she studies psychobiology. Sienna is passionate about working towards eliminating health disparities within disadvantaged communities. She is currently an undergraduate researcher with the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative where she is exploring the potential for hormonal mediation of the sex dependent effects of cannabis. In addition to her research, she is the co-founder and president of Spanish and Healthcare, Chief of Community College and Transfer Initiative for MiMentor, a non-profit, and works for the UCLA Academic Advancement Program/McNair Scholars Program. Her career goals include pursuing a MD/PhD and becoming involved in health policy pertaining to women’s health and mental health. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, painting, and stretching.

Courtney Lartigue
June 2021 -  

Courtney Lartigue is a second-year undergraduate transfer student at UCLA pursuing her Bachelors of Science in Biology with a minor in Society and Genetics. She is expected to graduate from UCLA in 2022 and plans on attending medical school to become a pediatrician. Courtney has deep interest in the field of Maternal and Child Health and serves as a Cohort Leader in UCLA’s Pathways for Students into Health Professions Program. In years to come, her goal is to give back to her community by opening a non-profit organization geared towards educating children on sexual/reproductive health and inspiring them to pursue careers in medicine. Other than studying, her hobbies include doing yoga, dancing, journaling, making candles, and experiencing new places as well as trying new food with her loved ones.

Jenny Ferrin
January 2021 -  

Jenny Ferrin is currently a second year studying Human Biology and Society with a minor in Spanish at UCLA. She recently returned from an 18 month religious mission trip to Mexico where she gained a passion for helping underserved communities. She is excited to help Women in the Greater Los Angeles Area move toward a healthier lifestyle through the services WHERC provides. She has volunteered as a Care Extender at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, as a Special Olympics Coach, and is currently an intern for UCLA Sports Medicine and a Research assistant for UCLA Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. She plans to pursue an MD and specialize in Emergency Medicine. In her free time, she loves participating in all outdoors activities including running, hiking, backpacking, and even bungee jumping.

Emma Ngyuen
June 2021 -  

Emma Nguyen is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Los Angeles majoring in Human Biology and Society with a concentration in Bioethics and Public Science Policy and is minoring in Global Health. Throughout her undergraduate career, Emma has advocated to broaden the accessibility of reproductive justice by conducting critical research necessary to write reproductive health policy and implement campus policy reform. More recently, Emma has spearheaded efforts alongside the Epstein Health Law and Policy Program to require express consent for unauthorized pelvic examinations in Texas. As an aspiring women’s health provider and policymaker, Emma intends to pursue a joint MD/MPP program and hopes the experiences she gains as an intern for WHERC will provide her with the tools and perspectives necessary to navigate the increasingly nuanced fields of health, public policy, and their intersections. In her free time, Emma enjoys running, practicing hot yoga, and exploring Southern California.

Anahit Nargizyan
June 2021 -  September 2021

Anahit Nargizyan is a second-year Master of Public Health student focusing on Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Southern California. She was born, raised, and spent most of her life in Los Angeles, California and hopes to utilize the field of public health to give back to her community, specifically those which lack access to proper health resources and experience high rates of chronic disease. Her main research interests include maternal and adolescent health as well as chronic disease epidemiology. She has done research in the past observing the effects of maternal tobacco smoke on the onset of childhood leukemia as well as written community health newsletters to prevent household lead exposures and conducted literature reviews. In the future, she hopes to conduct meaningful research in the public health field and work toward implementing programs that promote equitable access to health care. When she’s not working or studying, she likes to try new restaurants, spend time with her dog, and go on adventures.

Lucia Muro
February 2021 - May 2021 

Lucia is a born and raised San Fernando Valley girl who received a BS in Kinesiology from California State University, Northridge. Her love for health and wellness motivated her to pursue a Master’s in Public- Community Health Education away from home at California State University, Long Beach. Her kinesiology background helped her gain group fitness experiences where she led full-body free exercise programs in low-income communities around the San Fernando Valley. She is currently concluding her MPH Program at CSULB where she has gained experience in obesity, diabetes, and COVID-19 precautions and preventions. With her background in fitness and her receiving knowledge in public health, she hopes to reach out to low-income diverse communities and implement healthier lifestyle resources to better health thus decreasing chronic illnesses. She is open minded to future careers, but her main objective is to help those in most need and give back. As a Latina woman she hopes to make an impact in communities of her own and make her culture proud

Fatima Benitez
January 2021 - June 2021

Fatima is a fourth year Human Biology and Society major with a concentration in Medicine and Public Health and a Global Health Minor. She is passionate about health equity and health education particularly in the field of women’s health and sexual health. She is currently the Financial Director and member of the HIV Testing and Counseling Coalition at UCLA which provides free HIV testing and risk reduction counseling to marginalized communities in the Los Angeles area. She aims to pursue her Master's in Public Health and become involved in efforts to promote women's health as well as become further involved in sexual health education. In her free time, she enjoys trying new coffee shops, thrifting, and hanging out with friends, family, and her pets.

Lily Emerson
January 2021 - June 2021 

Lily is a fourth year Human Biology and Society major with a concentration in Bioethics and Public Science Policy. She is passionate about health education, especially on subjects that affect marginalized communities. Outside of the center, she explores this through her role as the Director of Community Relations for the Pediatric AIDS Coalition at UCLA, organizing HIV informational programs for high school students and bringing community activists to discuss pertinent health topics with the campus community. She is interested in pursuing a career in public health, hoping to provide health education to communities in need. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and baking.

Belen Bravo
September 2020 - June 2021 

Belen is currently a 4th year studying Human Biology and Society with a minor in Chicano Studies at UCLA. She is interested in public health work that explores the discrepancies in life experiences among populations of varying socioeconomic statuses. Simultaneously, a passionate advocate for education and working towards closing the gap between higher education and underrepresented communities. She has volunteered as a caseworker for UCLA's Mobile Clinic Project, Together Advocating for Community Health intern, and now works as a UCLA Campus Tour Guide and AAP Peer Counselor. She is hoping to pursue her MD-MPH to work as a Family Medicine Physician. In her free time, she likes exploring LA, going thrifting, cooking new foods, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Maya Kalbag
August 2020 - June 2021

Maya is a fourth year Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology major at UCLA. She does arts and crafts with pediatric patients and their families through Project Sunshine at UCLA, mentors a third grader through the Youth Empowerment Program, and conducts research with fruit flies to better understand sleep regulation in the brain. She became interested in women's health and health education after volunteering at the Westside Family Health Center. She is planning on going to medical school and aspires to be a pediatrician. In her free time, Maya enjoys experimenting with new recipes and making greeting cards.

Jenny Birondo
May 2020 - August 2020

Jenny Birondo is a second year Public Health Graduate Student at California State University, Long Beach. As a graduate student, she is part of the Health Science Graduate Association on campus, and enjoys volunteering at local organizations. She currently works as a Tobacco Cessation Specialist for 1-866-NEW-LUNG, Orange County Health Care Agency's free quit smoking program. Jenny has experience with advocacy, health policy, and health promotion. She is passionate about providing free or low cost health services to underserved communities, specifically women and adolescents/children. In addition, she teaches piano, volunteers as a pianist for her church choir, and she enjoys exploring new cafes in her area.

Zaira Ramirez
May 2020 - August 2020

Zaira Ramirez is pursuing her Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Education at California State University, Long Beach. As a graduate student, she is the President of the CSULB Health Science Graduate Association. Currently, she works as a Tobacco Cessation Specialist II for Orange County Health Care Agency's free quit smoking program, 1-866-NEW-LUNG, where she manages the Marketing Unit and facilitates tobacco cessation classes. Zaira has experience working with diverse populations, including Spanish speaking, behavioral health, sober living, homeless, and youth. She also has knowledge in program planning, implementing, and evaluating. Zaira is passionate about empowering others to take control of their health and assisting them in reaching their full health potential. In her free time, Zaira loves to travel the world and be a tourist in her city of Los Angeles.