Cohorts

Benjamin Antwi

Fellow
Division of Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness
Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program

A resident of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, I am originally from Kumasi in Ghana, where I practiced Physician Assistantship for close to five years. I earned my Master of Public Health from Middle Tennessee State and my Bachelor’s in Physician Assistantship from the University of Health and Allied Sciences. 

I am passionate about addressing socio-environmental determinants of health among the general population through research and practice. My special interests are infectious disease prevention in healthcare settings and addressing the dangers of antimicrobial resistance. I believe this fellowship provides the right opportunity and resources to learn from seasoned experts to develop the competencies and skills I need to address infectious disease concerns in Tennessee healthcare settings, while improving the health of all Tennesseans.

Bege Mallam

Fellow
Office of Health Planning

Originally from Northern Nigeria, I hold a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Kaduna State University, Nigeria, and a Master of Public Health from Tennessee State University. Over the course of my master’s program, I had the opportunity to intern with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN), West Tennessee Healthcare through the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA), and the TDH Jackson/Madison Regional Office, where I gained valuable insights and experience in public health.

I am passionate about health education and communication, particularly in the areas of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. I am eager to contribute my knowledge and skills to the field and to learn from fellow public health professionals. I look forward to networking with leaders from the health department and other collaborating state agencies, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the health and well-being of Tennesseans.

Krista Cole

Senior Fellow
Division of Family Health and Wellness

Originally from Bristol, Tennessee, I earned my Master of Public Health (MPH) with a major in Global Health, and concentration in Community Health Development from Emory University. I simultaneously earned my Certificate in Public Mental Health from Emory. My public health interests span many health topics including, but not limited to, community health and mental health.

Fascinated by health and wellbeing, and healing, health and society has always been a concentration of mine. I have an artistic and engineering mindset, and my goal has always been to figure out what elements can come together to create the healthiest, happiest, and most self-actualized societies. That said, over time, I have concentrated my work in public health leadership. My formal, research experience has been in topics like maternal and child health, health disparities, nutrition, health technology, global mental health education, medical information sciences, physical health, affect, substance abuse, student happiness, spirituality, musicians, and communication between patient and doctor. 

I have worked tirelessly to positively impact the health of Tennesseans during my time as a Public Health Executive Fellow for the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH). My role has involved leading and motivating others, coming up with innovative ideas, making key decisions, and driving current public health initiatives. My experience has been invaluable to my public health career in government. I feel I have gotten to work to spread compassion, peace, and healing while gaining impactful skills.

In my current work, I am continuing to lead and motivate others, but also increasing the amount of people I can provide leadership to, coming up with more innovative ideas and continuing working on publications, continuing to make key decisions, and continuing to drive current public health initiatives. One example of a project I am working on is a statewide health improvement project where I am a lead and primary contributor. I continue to be grateful to be mentored by the highly skilled, collaborative, and compassionate leadership at the TDH, and to gain the unique experience in public health at the state government level.

I am hopeful that my work with the state of Tennessee will provide a measurable impact on community health development as I continue to lend my skills and passion to the work I do. Also, I am so grateful that I can continue to help spread compassion and help others to live healthy lives. 

Miranda Givens

Senior Fellow
Office of Strategic Initiatives

After growing up in rural Grundy County, Tennessee, I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Public Health from Middle Tennessee State University. During my undergraduate journey, I also minored in Aging Studies to bolster my understanding of aging populations and ways to impact their journey through the highs and lows of traveling through older adulthood.

My experience with the Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) working under the strategic planning umbrella has opened so many doors. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of planning, facilitating, and evaluating several significant projects and initiatives that have not only aligned with the Department's goals but have also moved the department towards fulfilling its mission. I have worked on projects including the planning and execution of a retreat for Executive Leadership focused on fostering cohesive communication and aligning our strategic goals with actionable plans at all levels of the organization. I developed and facilitated a targeted activity focused on enhancing communication and breaking down information silos, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages transparency and teamwork across departments. I have also done a comprehensive comparison page of state strategic plans, which provided valuable insights for our department’s strategic positioning. I also took on the role of organizer and leader for the Tennessee Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council (TN PCaQoLAC). These accomplishments have not only reinforced my commitment to the Department's mission but have also demonstrated my capability to deliver impactful results in a collaborative and strategic manner.

My goal during the second year of my fellowship is to successfully continue to manage the Palliative Care and Quality of Life Advisory Council and work closely with the Office of Health Aging (OHA). I will be focusing on continuing to sharpen my skills through the ample opportunities that the Executive Fellowship has opened for me and to make meaningful connections. 

Mariah Horton

Senior Fellow
Office of Strategic Initiatives

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I earned my Master of Public Health from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and my Bachelor of Public Health from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Over the past year, I assisted in the implementation of the Community of Practice Summits. I contributed to the creation of briefs on Early Relational Health and the Social Determinants of Health while also developing a team one-pager. Additionally, I assisted in grant reporting and writing the annual Community Health Assessment (CHA) report. I also had the opportunity to present on Positive Childhood Experiences and Early Relational Health while helping create a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) training. 

In my second year, I will be focusing on three key areas. The first is evaluating and improving the CHIP training. The second is reformatting the CHIP training from an in-person to virtual. The third is becoming a subject matter expert in Positive Childhood Experiences and Early Relational Health and creating more educational materials around these topics.

My participation in these tasks has deepened my understanding of public health within state government while enabling me to deliver meaningful contributions to the department. I am excited to continue into a second year, eager to further expand my skill set and continue to make an impact.

Octavia Forrest

Division of Family Health and Wellness, 2022 - 2024

Born, raised, and still residing in Nashville, Tennessee, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH), with a minor in Physical Science, from Belmont University. 

Prior to my current position with the Tennessee Department of Health, I interned with the Communicable and Environmental Disease and Emergency Preparedness (CEDEP) Division. The Public Health Executive Fellowship with the Division of Family Health and Wellness (FHW) has allowed me to make valuable impacts within my public health interests. These interests include health disparities and health equity, social determinants of health, health communication, multidimensional literacy, childhood health and development, and strategic development. The fellowship has provided me with opportunities to expand my knowledge and skills, enhance my personal and professional development, and engage in networking opportunities.

My fellowship has also consisted of several specific projects. The first year, I worked on administrative and communication assignments with the support of the Director of Strategic Development. Two projects that have been effective and impactful at improving communication across the Division and to the public are: a) FHW Website Modernization – making the website user friendly and incorporating common knowledge with a fifth grade reading level, b) Employee Connections – making a Microsoft Teams Channel that allows over 200 staff members to get to know current and new employees. 

In my current second year, I am working on programmatic projects. Two I have assisted with that have had a meaningful impact on my public health journey and interests include: a) the Fiscal Year 2023 Evidence-Based Home Visiting (EBHV) Legislative Report – translating the report from a text heavy report to a visualized graphic one, b) the FHW Health Equity (FHWHE) Five-Year Strategic Plan – facilitating and co-facilitating, alongside the Director of Health Equity, the development of goals and activities for two priority teams (Collaborations and Partnerships and Community Engagement), as well as developing final drafts of the plan. 

The Public Health Executive Fellowship has been the perfect entry-level steppingstone needed to accelerate my career as a public health professional.

Crystal Lemus

Office of Strategic Initiatives, 2019 - 2021

As a two-year Public Health Executive Fellow at the Tennessee Department of Health, I had the opportunity to develop a robust foundation in public health leadership and policy implementation. My primary placement was within the Office of Strategic Initiatives, where I worked closely with county health departments and local health councils to conduct County Health Assessments (CHAs). This work allowed me to support community-driven, data-informed decision-making processes that helped identify local health priorities and inform community health improvement plans across Tennessee. I was deeply involved in stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and the facilitation of cross-sector partnerships—essential elements of sustainable public health infrastructure.

In addition to my home office work, I completed rotations with both the Office of Traumatic Brain Injury and the Office of Patient Care Advocacy. In the Office of TBI, I led a comprehensive statewide needs assessment focused on the experiences and service gaps affecting TBI survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers. This project culminated in presentations to advisory councils and shaped departmental strategy around trauma-informed care. My time in the Office of Patient Care Advocacy focused on advancing the Healthy Aging Initiative in collaboration with the CDC, helping integrate a life-course perspective into policy and practice across various divisions.

Throughout my fellowship, I developed a deep appreciation for the complexities of state-level public health and the critical role physicians can play in advocating for health equity beyond the clinical setting. I enhanced my skills across multiple core public health competencies, including data analytics, systems thinking, and strategic communication. More importantly, I gained insight into how to champion upstream solutions to some of our most persistent health challenges. This experience confirmed my commitment to a career at the intersection of medicine and public health—one that prioritizes not only treating illness, but also addressing the social, political, and environmental determinants that shape health outcomes.

Erika Kirtz

Office of Primary Prevention, 2016 - 2017

I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and I earned my Master of Public Health degree from Tennessee State University. Currently, I am pursuing my Doctor of Public Health degree at Johns Hopkins University. 

I completed a year-long fellowship in the Office of Primary Prevention, during which I also collaborated with the Office of Healthy Aging, the Office of Disparities Elimination, and the HIV program. In this role, I led the evaluation and development of strategies and metrics for the Primary Prevention Initiative, which was created to incentivize community-based organizations to address social determinants of health. Additionally, I conducted data collection and analysis for a research project co-sponsored by the Tennessee Departments of Health and Education to assess the association between physical education and academic outcomes and to inform funding needs. This fellowship experience helped me discover my passion for epidemiology. Since completing the fellowship, I have worked as an epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health for the past seven years.

Judi Knecht

Office of Health Policy, 2016 - 2017

During my fellowship at the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) from June 2016 to June 2017, I explored public health from various angles — working in a Local Health Department, a Regional office, and the Central Office. Coming from a background in business management and the arts, I found this experience eye-opening and fulfilling. 

One of my proudest moments was drafting a successful grant application for a rural health improvement project, where I brought together data and collaborated with partners to make our vision a reality. I also helped design a care coordination program, analyzing financial aspects and engaging with Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) to see how we could align our efforts. 

In addition, I reviewed billing and operational processes at Local Health Departments and Regional Offices, identifying opportunities for efficiency through LEAN practices. I researched the impact of value-based payments on health outcomes, contributing to TDH’s recommendations for TennCare as they implemented new payment models. 

Overall, this fellowship deepened my understanding of how public health works in Tennessee and reinforced my commitment to advocating for meaningful initiatives that improve community health.