Alumni Council
Alumni Council Members
The Zuckerman College of Public Health Alumni Council supports alumni and students through professional development, networking, mentorship, and internships. It helps recruit and retain students while fostering connections and advancing philanthropic efforts through events, fundraising, and community engagement.
Members of the Council
Gilbert Arvizu MS, BS ’15
Community Development and Engagement Director at Valley of the Sun United Way
2015 BS, Public Health
Arizona
Gilbert Arvizu is a health and social care leader from Phoenix, Arizona, with over a decade of experience addressing health-related social needs. He has developed community care hubs, implemented social determinants of health screening tools, and integrated community health workers. Gilbert earned a BS from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and an MS from Johns Hopkins University.
As Community Development and Engagement Director at Valley of the Sun United Way, Gilbert leads a coalition on a transformative initiative to standardize social care reimbursement in Arizona, addressing the “wrong pockets” problem. His work fosters "coopetition," encouraging managed care organizations to align reimbursement models and collaborate with community-based organizations.
Gilbert has also expanded health and human services programs at Chicanos Por La Causa and earned a 2015 UnitedHealth Group Innovation Award. A PhD student at Arizona State University, he serves on several boards and committees, including the Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County and the American Public Health Association.
Larissa Estes DrPH, MPH ’05
Executive Director, Racial Equity Commission at the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, Office of Planning and Research
2005 MPH, Family and Child Health, Maternal and Child Health
California
Larissa Estes, DrPH (MPH, 2005), was appointed Executive Director of the California Racial Equity Commission in 2023, established by Governor Gavin Newsom. With over 20 years of experience in allied health, healthcare, and public health, she focuses on community and equity. Before joining the state, Dr. Estes led ALL IN Alameda County, a countywide initiative addressing poverty, education, and economic opportunity. She has authored publications on women’s health, accountable communities, high medical utilization, and mental health.
Dr. Estes has extensive experience in program planning, maternal and child health, mental health, and public health policy at all levels of government. She holds a BS in Athletic Training from Duquesne University, an MPH from the University of Arizona, and a DrPH in Community Health Practice from the University of Texas Health Science Center. She is a sustaining member of Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and serves on several advisory committees, including for the American Cancer Society and the University of Arizona.
Anthony Hasan MPH ’13, BA ’10
Senior Director Outcomes Liaison at Eli Lilly and Company
2013 MPH, Public Health Practice
Arizona
For the past eight years Tony has worked as an Outcomes Liaison at Eli Lilly where he leads medical and scientific engagement initiatives aimed at supporting equitable access to medications across U.S. commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare lines of business. His role involves the development and dissemination of health economic and outcomes research focused on U.S. population-health decision makers.
Tony is also involved in his organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, working to foster an environment where all employees feel valued and supported. He is passionate about mentoring and coaching early career professionals, especially those from non-traditional backgrounds.
Tony lives in Tucson with his wife Morgan and their two dogs Harry and Sonny.
Joshua Mallett MS ’12
Deputy Director, Research at The Council of State Governments Justice Center
2012 MS, Biostatistics
Colorado
Joshua Mallett supports management of the Research Division at the CSG Justice Center with over 15 years of experience programming to clean, manage, and analyze data in R, Stata, and SAS with a focus on data ethics and security, innovative methods of promoting quality assurance and reproducible research, and leading the design and development of data visualizations with a experience in accessibility. Prior to joining the CSG Justice Center, Mr. Mallett was responsible for managing and reporting performance metrics from the WIOA PIRL data. He was also a research programmer at the RAND Corporation, managing and analyzing Medicare CAHPS data. Mr. Mallett received a B.S. in Mathematics from Northern Arizona University, and a M.S. in Biostatistics from the University of Arizona.
Christopher Nagata MPH ’14, MBA ’14, BS ’10
System Vice Chair, Administration & Finance at Mount Sinai Health System
2014 MBA/MPH, Public Health Policy and Management
New York
Christopher Nagata is an experienced healthcare leader with a history of top roles at leading academic medical centers. He currently serves as the System Vice Chair for Administration and Finance at Mount Sinai Health System in NYC, overseeing emergency medicine services across nine hospitals. Previously, he was at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, where he led finance and administration for cardiology and cardiac surgery. Christopher also held various leadership roles at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, including hospital operations and surgical services administration, and managed the administrative fellowship program. A three-time graduate of the University of Arizona, he earned degrees in physiology, MBA, and MPH. During college, he worked at Banner University Medical Center, the Pima County Health Department, and served as Student Body President. Christopher now lives in Manhattan with his husband, an attending physician at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Anu Partap MD, MPH ’01
Pediatrician and Physician, Director of Health Equity at Cook Children’s Health Care System
2001 MPH, Community Health Promotion
Texas
Anu Partap, MD, MPH, is a pediatrician and Physician Director of Health Equity Integration at Cook Children’s Health Care System in Texas, where she leads efforts to eliminate healthcare disparities for over 400,000 children. From 1998-2018, she served as Medical Director of safety net clinics and faculty at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and UT Southwestern. Anu has secured over $26M in grants to improve pediatric care, family support, and professional education. In 2017, she consulted on Texas' foster care health requirements and, in 2018, led the Center for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect at Cook Children’s. She chaired the Tarrant County ACES Task Force, creating community programs based on input from 100+ local groups. Anu has held numerous professional board and council roles and is a frequent speaker on childhood adversity. She serves on the Texas Pediatric Society board, is a member of the Helfer Society, and leads a Girl Scout troop.
Tom Romeo MPH ’17, BS ’13
Director, Health Care at Stand Together
2017 MPH, Health Promotion
Virginia
Tom Romeo is Director of Health Care at Stand Together, where he leads the health care strategy and forms strategic relationships with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and practitioners taking on the toughest challenges facing the future of American health care.
Prior to joining Stand Together, Romeo served as Associate Director, Health Care at Charles Koch Foundation, he led strategy and grant making for the academic engagement. Additionally, he has experience preforming state and national level policy research as an analyst at a leading think tank. During graduate school, Romeo worked directly with patients as a hospice aid while obtaining his B.S. in psychology and Masters in Public Health from the University of Arizona.
Mae Rouhani MPH ’15, BS ’13, CPSO, PMP Prep, RYT
Global Regulatory Operations & Digital Innovation, Manager at Johnson & Johnson
2015 MPH, Family and Child Health, Global Health
2013 BS, Public Health
New York
Mae Rouhani, MPH, is a leader in data, operations, and technology with expertise in Global Health Program Management, Public Health Systems, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Data Management. She currently serves as Manager of Data Analytics at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, promoting a data-driven culture and enhancing decision-making.
With over a decade of experience in the Global Humanitarian Aid sector, Mae worked in INGOs on programs for displaced people and refugees across 40+ countries and 30+ cities. Her background in health systems, portfolio management, and data strategies, along with her understanding of human behavior in Public Health, equips her to drive innovative solutions.
A DEI advocate, Mae contributed to a DEI Council Metrics Committee and was honored with the Young Professional Achievement Award by the University of Arizona in 2022. In 2023, she was nominated as a Women Changemaker by the International Rescue Committee. Mae also founded Boos, a wellness brand rooted in her identity and yoga expertise.
Wendy Suhr MPH ’02, BA ’98
Managing Owner at Suhr Consulting Group
2002 MPH, Health Education and Behavioral Sciences
California
Ms. Suhr has over 20 years of experience improving the nation’s emergency preparedness, from terrorist attacks to public health pandemics. She helped develop the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP), the country’s first methodology for conducting and evaluating exercises. With a Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) credential from FEMA and a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of Arizona, she’s a recognized expert in the field.
In 2015, she founded her woman-owned business, Suhr Consulting Group, focusing on emergency preparedness across the San Francisco Bay Area. Her business has since thrived, playing a key role in the region's response efforts.
Most recently, Ms. Suhr contributed to pandemic response in San Francisco, further honing her skills. Her expertise and dedication make her a vital resource for communities seeking to strengthen their emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
Carla (Mary) Valdez Ed.D., MPH, BS ’00, MCHES
Faculty at California State University, Northridge
2000 BS, Health Education
California
Carla Valdez, Ed.D., MPH, MCHES (she/her/ella), has been a lecturer at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) since 2007, also teaching at Los Angeles Mission College and California Lutheran University. With extensive experience in public health education and management, she previously served as lead Health Educator and Patient Services Trainer at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. At CSUN, Dr. Valdez is chair of the lecturer’s committee, faculty advisor to the Public Health Alumni Chapter, faculty lead for the program newsletter, and a mentor to new faculty. Her research focuses on reproductive and sexual health, particularly among college students. Dr. Valdez is active in the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE). She serves on the Division Board for Certification of Health Education Specialists and on the Board of Directors for a Planned Parenthood affiliate.