Hub Events

Join the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy on April 7th at 10 AM for an engaging “Health Materials Potluck” webinar! Dr. Cynthia Baur, Center Director, will guide participants through 2-3 examples of how to craft clear and effective health materials. Whether you’re a health communicator, educator, or advocate, don’t miss this opportunity enhance your communication skills. Let’s create impactful health messages and materials together! 

Slides - Health material potluck

Webinar recording - Health material potluck

Dr. Cynthia Baur opened the Eastern Shore Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub (“Hub”) Convening, welcoming attendees from state and local agencies and organizations to a day of learning, sharing, and collaboration. Dr. Baur shared the Hub’s accomplishments, activities, and next steps.

The first panel discussed how state and local agencies are using plain language and other techniques to improve website design and enhance accessibility for users. Stephanie Dolamore from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and Lilly Madigan from the Maryland Department of Information Technology presented Maryland’s new Plain Language Standards and outlined how these standards aim to increase accessibility and improve public communication. Josh Weber from the Talbot County Health Department highlighted the plain language and usability improvements made to their website. The panelists shared insights on usability, accessibility, and best practices in plain language application.

The second panel discussion focused on advancing language access in Maryland, where several laws, including the Consumer Information Hub law, promote public access to information and services in languages other than English. Vadim Petrov from Ad Astra, the state of Maryland contractor for language services, provided an overview of Ad Astra’s language access services, while Dr. Cynthia Calixte from the Wicomico County Health Department and Dr. Marlene Orantes shared their professional and personal perspectives on helping patients and community members with language barriers in healthcare.

Following lunch, Dr. Catherine Maybury, Hub Manager, led a hands-on session on using the Plain Language Action Planning Guide. Attendees explored the Maryland Clear Writing and Plain Language Checklist and applied its criteria to public health materials.

A table networking session followed, where attendees discussed strategies to make health literacy a regular topic for local action. Participants shared challenges and collaborated on ways to prioritize health literacy in their communities.

The event concluded with reflections on the discussions, especially about the many ways organizations already are using plain language and working to expand language access. Dr. Baur closed by reminding everyone that the Hub team is available for training, consults, and other help with plain language, language access, and information dissemination activities. 

Agenda

10-10:30 AM - Registration & networking

10:30-11:00 AM - Opening remarks and update on Hub progress

• Dr. Cynthia Baur, Director of the Hub and the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy 

11-11:45 AM - Reimagining your website to be public-friendly

• Lilly Madigan, Maryland Department of Information Technology 
• Rachel London, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
• Josh Weber, Talbot County Health Department

11:45-12:30 PM - How to advance language access

• Vadim Petrov, Ad Astra
• Dr. Cynthia Calixte, Wicomico County Health Department
• Dr. Marlene Orantes

12:30-1:25 PM - LUNCH

1:25-1:30 PM - Settle in for the afternoon sessions

1:30-1:55 PM - How to use the Plain Language Action Planning Guide

• Dr. Catherine Maybury, Hub Manager and Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

1:55-2:30 PM - Table networking: Talk with your colleagues

• How to make health literacy a regular topic for local actions

2:30-3:00 PM - Wrapping up and closing remarks

3:00 PM - End

Rachel London, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council

Rachel London is the Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, a statewide public policy and advocacy organization that creates change to make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live the lives they want with the support they need. Rachel has been with the council for 16 years, serving as the Director of Children and Family Policy and Deputy Director prior to becoming Executive Direct.

Rachel earned her Bachelor's Degree and Law Degree from the University of Maryland. After law school, she was a staff attorney at Disability Rights Maryland where she was active in many important civil rights issues for adults with developmental disabilities, including the closures of the Rosewood Center. 

 Cynthia Calixte MD, MPH

As a first-generation Haitian American raised in Long Island, New York, Dr. Cynthia Calixte has always been passionate about helping others. She was accepted into the BS/MD program at City College, a decision she has never regretted. Her interest in family medicine was sparked while volunteering with a family medicine physician, where she appreciated the broad scope of care and the opportunity to assist individuals of all ages. Two colleagues recommended the Eastern Shore, highlighting the growing Haitian population and the need for healthcare providers who speak Creole. Currently, she is one of only three providers in the county fluent in Creole, allowing her to effectively serve and advocate for the community. 

Vadim Petrov, Ad Astra

Vadim Petrov is the Director of Client Solutions at Ad Astra Inc., a trusted leader in cross-cultural communication services for government and corporate clients worldwide. During college, Vadim began his career as an intern, working his way up through roles in records management, project management, and ultimately business development. Over time, he became an expert in language access solutions, ensuring that the strategies he develops not only meet clients' immediate needs but also set them up for long-term scalability and efficiency. 

Josh Weber, Talbot County

Josh Weber is the Public Information Officer at the Talbot County Health Department. With a strong background in government administration, Josh has previously served as a Legislative Assistant for the Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel and a Grants Specialist for the Utah Indigent Defense Commission. His experience in public service has honed his skills in policy communication and community engagement. In his current role, Josh is responsible for advancing public health initiatives, enhancing communication strategies for clinical services, and fostering partnerships to increase public awareness. He is dedicated to promoting health equity and improving access to essential services in Talbot County. 

Dr. Cynthia Baur opened the College Park Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub (“Hub”) Convening, welcoming attendees from state and local agencies and organizations to a day of learning, sharing, and collaboration. Dr. Baur shared the Hub’s accomplishments, activities, and next steps.

The first panel discussed how state agencies are reimagining their websites to be more public-friendly. Maggie Kunz from the Carroll County Health Department and Courtney Carta from the Maryland Health Care Commission shared strategies for using plain language and user-centered design to improve website accessibility. They highlighted best practices for making digital information more engaging and easier to navigate.

The second panel focused on advancing language access in Maryland. Vadim Petrov from Ad Astra, the state of Maryland contractor for language services, provided an overview of translation and interpretation services available through state contracts, while Dr. Khin Rupa from the Howard County AAPI Commission discussed strategies for improving multilingual access to public health information.

Following lunch, Stephanie Dolamore from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and Lilly Madigan from the Maryland Department of Information Technology presented Maryland’s new Plain Language Standards. In 2024, Governor Moore signed an executive order to create the standards and plain language plans for state agencies. They outlined how these standards aim to increase accessibility and improve public communication.

Dr. Catherine Maybury, Hub Manager, led a hands-on session on using the Plain Language Action Planning Guide. Attendees explored strategies for integrating plain language principles into their own organizations and reviewed tools to refine their communication efforts.

A table networking session followed, where attendees exchanged ideas on making health literacy a priority in their communities. Participants shared challenges and collaborated on actionable solutions for local implementation.

The event concluded with reflections on the day’s discussions, especially about local implementation of plain language and language access activities, information accessibility, and health literacy opportunities in public engagement. Dr. Baur closed by reminding everyone that the Hub team is available for training, consults, and other help with plain language, language access, and information dissemination activities. 

Agenda

10-10:30 AM - Registration and networking

10:30-11:00 AM - Opening remarks and update on Hub progress

• Dr. Cynthia Baur, Director of Hub and the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

11-11:45 AM - Reimagining your website to be public-friendly

• Maggie Kunz, Carroll County Health Department
• Courtney Carta, Center for Quality Measurement and Reporting, Maryland Health Care Commission 

11:45-12:30 PM - How to advance language access

• Vadim Petrov, Ad Astra
• Dr. Khin Rupa Maung, Howard County AAPI Commission

12:30-1:25 PM - LUNCH

1:25-1:30 PM - Settle in for the afternoon sessions

1:30-1:50 PM - Stay up-to-date on Maryland's Plain Language Standards

• Lilly Madigan, Maryland Department of Information Technology
• Rachel London, Maryland Development Disabilities Council

1:50-2:30 PM - How to use the Plain Language Action Planning Guide

• Dr. Catherine Maybury, Hub Manager and Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

2:30-3:00 PM - Table networking: Talk with your colleagues

• How to make health literacy a regular topic for local actions

3-3:15 PM - Wrapping up

3:15-3:30 PM - Closing remarks & highlights of the day

3:30 PM - End

Maggie LaPietra Kunz, Carroll County Health Department

Maggie LaPietra Kunz has a BS in Biology and an MPH from the University of Michigan. She has worked at the Carroll County Health Department for over 12 years. She works on community health and strategic planning, quality improvement, and grant management and guides their communications. She loves “translating” health information for the general public, and is thrilled to help support the transition to plain language in Maryland.

In her spare time, Maggie enjoys bird watching, hiking, singing, and volunteering. Maggie is married to Jim Kunz and they have two children - Kate, 23, and Tony, 21 - and two cats.  

Rachel London, Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council 

Rachel London is the Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, a statewide public policy and advocacy organization that creates change to make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live the lives they want with the support they need. Rachel has been with the council for 16 years, serving as the Director of Children and Family Policy and Deputy Director prior to becoming Executive Director.

Rachel earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Law Degree from the University of Maryland. After law school, she was a staff attorney at Disability Rights Maryland where she was active in many important civil rights issues for adults with developmental disabilities, including the closures of the Rosewood Center.

Vadim Petrov, Ad Astra

Vadim Petrov is the Director of Client Solutions at Ad Astra Inc., a trusted leader in cross-cultural communication services for government and corporate clients worldwide. During college, Vadim began his career as an intern, working his way up through roles in records management, project management , and ultimately business development. Over time, he became an expert in language access solutions, ensuring that the strategies he develops not only meet clients’ immediate needs but also set them up for long-term scalability and efficiency.

Courtney Carta, Maryland Health Care Commission

 Courtney Carta is the Chief of Hospital Quality Initiatives at the Maryland Health Care Commission. Ms. Carta has 15 years of experience in health care policy, research and program evaluation. In her current role, she oversees the hospital performance tool for Marylanders to find and compare health care services, quality metrics, patient safety ratings, and price transparency data. Ms. Carta Holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Science from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Public Health degree in Epidemiology from the University of South Carolina.

Dr. Khin Rupa Maung, Howard County's AAPI Commission

 Dr. Khin Rupa Maung received her medical degree in Yangon, Myanmar. She began her medical career in Jamaica and the U.S. before shifting to full-time parenting in 2007. Since 2012, she has worked with nonprofits, including the Hepatitis B Initiative and the Asian American Center of Frederick, advocating for Burmese immigrants’ healthcare needs. She was instrumental in the hepatitis education, screening, immunization and linkage to care of over 900 Burmese immigrants in the DMV area from 2012 to 2014. She helped translate Maryland Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives ‘s COVID 19 Information and How to Report Hate Crimes into Burmese language. She is currently a commissioner on Howard County’s AAPI Commission and also serves on the board of nonprofit organization Wings of Hope Global Cooperative.

This webinar focuses on two new tools to help Maryland state and local agencies apply health literacy criteria to campaigns, grants, and contracts. The Hub law states that agencies that sponsor media campaigns or issue grants and contracts with health information and communication activities also include health literacy criteria. Agencies must submit their campaigns, contract, and grant documents to the Hub team for review. We reviewed the criteria, tools, and review process to make sure you are not creating or reinforcing health literacy barriers!

Slides - Health literacy for grants, contracts, and media campaigns

Webinar recording - Health literacy for grants, contracts, and media campaigns

This webinar focuses on how we can increase people’s access to health information, services and care through attention to critical characteristics of our health organizations and systems. These include health professionals’ communication skills and practices, the quality of health information, the ease/difficulty of health activities and tasks, and characteristics of our health organizations and systems that impede or facilitate access. Dr. Rudd will provide an overview of an expanded concept of health literacy and discuss various tools that can help us assess our work and services to support increased access and health equity.

Slides - Health Literacy Insights for Strengthening Access, Services, and Care

Webinar recording - Health Literacy Insights for Strengthening Access, Services, and Care

People with Limited English Proficiency face many language and cultural barriers outside scheduled healthcare visits. To reduce these barriers, medical interpreters often extend their services to include health system navigation. La Clínica del Pueblo, a federally qualified health center and community-based organization, worked with the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy to research and identify how to enhance and expand medical interpreters’ role in advancing health literacy within the organization and with patients. The webinar will describe the project and recommendations for next steps.

Slides - La Clinical del Pueblo

Webinar recording - La Clinica del Pueblo

Health organizations can't fix what they don't know about, and finding and fixing health literacy barriers in a health organization takes leadership, planning, and focus. Implementing health literacy at an organization can help the public - residents, patients, and clients - find and understand health information. The first steps to becoming a health literate organization are to build a team and find champions. Join us and learn how to create your team to change organizational and professional practices to improve health literacy. 

Slides - Organizational Health Literacy 

Webinar recording - Organizational Health Literacy

Using active voice energizes your writing and makes information clearer to your audience. Dr. Cynthia Baur led participants in a deep-dive to learn to identify passive voice and revise it to active. 

Slides - Active Voice

Webinar recording - Active Voice

Creating effective communication products for multicultural audiences who use everyday languages beyond English requires intentional choices and forethought that prioritize the needs, preferences, and values of your priority audiences. This session offered recommendations for writing and adapting content for non-English speakers (translation and transcreation).

A Design Process for Clear and Culturally Responsive Health Information Products slides

A Design Process for Clear and Culturally Responsive Health Information Products recording

Jargon may sound fancy, but it gets in the way of connecting with your audience. This session is a deeper dive into jargon, which was introduced in our Plain Language Basics webinar.

Eschew Obfuscation: Recognizing and Eliminating Jargon slides

Eschew Obfuscation: Recognizing and Eliminating Jargon recording

Your website may have great information to share, but can your audience find, understand, and use that information? The Hub's Web Content Review Tool can help you structure information so it's easy to read and understand.

Intro to the Hub's Web Content Review Tool slides

Intro to the Hub's Web Content Review Tool recording

Community health workers (CHWs) are trusted information sources, cultural brokers, and valued care partners, but first and foremost, they are communicators. Learn about the Hub’s training modules that help CHWs build communication and connection skills to more effectively serve their clients.

Overview of Health Literacy for CHWs slides

Overview of Health Literacy for CHWs recording

Dr. Sandra Saperstein presented an introduction to the field of data visualization, or "data viz." She discussed how to determine which chart to use for the data you have, shared tips to help your audience get the data message you want to elevate, and demonstrated simple techniques to make a chart less cluttered and more impactful.

Dr. Sandra Saperstein is a Senior Consultant at Sharp Insight, a program evaluation firm. Her evaluation work has focused in the non-profit and public sectors and has included evaluation planning, literature reviews, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, data visualization, reporting and capacity building.   

In addition to her work at Sharp Insight, Sandy is also a Lecturer at the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, College Park. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in public health informatics and social media/digital health. Prior to obtaining her degree in Public Health, Sandy worked as an occupational therapist and provided services to adults with strokes and head injuries.

Dr. Cynthia Baur, Director of the Horowitz Center for Health Literacy and the Maryland InfoHub, explained why plain language matters and offered tips for creating messages your audience can understand the first time they see, read, or hear it.

Plain Language Basics

Webinar recording - Plain Language Basics

Representatives from Maryland’s Eastern Shore counties joined the Hub team and colleagues from elsewhere in Maryland for the Hub’s inaugural Eastern Shore Convening. Though inclement weather pushed the meeting online, participants enjoyed dynamic and informative presentations and networked through the event chat.

REVISED 1/10/2024

11:00 - 11:10 AM    Welcome

• Dr. Cynthia Baur  

11:10 - 11:35 AM     Hub Overview & Evaluation Plan 

• Dr. Cynthia Baur 

11:35 - 12:30 PM    Panel Discussion: State and Local Organizations’ Challenges and Opportunities for Plain Language Public Information

• Keri Grant, Tech Extension Educator
• Susanne Forno, Maryland Insurance Administration
• Habacuc Petion, Executive Director, Rebirth Inc.
• Moderator: Dr. Devlon Jackson, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy, Department of Behavioral and Community Health

12:30 - 1:00 PM     Lunch 

1:00 - 1:45 PM       Maryland Plain Language Checklist & Web Review Tool

• Dr. Cynthia Baur

1:45 - 2:30 PM     Panel Discussion: Community Health Workers and Information Sharing

• Tina Backe, Maryland Department of Health
• Kimberly Hiner, Maryland Department of Health
• Miu Stieve, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy
• Moderator: Karla Clara Vega, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

    
2:30 - 3:00 PM     What did we learn? What else do we need to learn and do? What are the unique information and communication needs of the eastern shore counties?

• Dr. Cynthia Baur
   

3:00 PM        End

Click the links below to watch recordings of the Eastern Shore Convening.

Morning Sessions

Afternoon Sessions

Tina Backe

Coordinator, Community Health Worker Program

Tina Backe is the Coordinator of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Program at the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI). She manages the CHW certification and training program accreditation processes, and staffs the State CHW Advisory Committee. Tina has served in other roles at OPHI before happily joining the CHW team in 2020. Previously, she coordinated a State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in Carroll County. She has graduate degrees in Biology and Education from San Francisco State University.

Susanne Forno

Digital Media Specialist, Maryland Insurance Administration

Susanne Forno serves as Digital Media Specialist for the Maryland Insurance Administration, the state agency that regulates the insurance industry. In her role she manages their social media platforms, produces their consumer monthly emails, chairs the Spirit Committee, and more. Prior to joining the agency in June 2022, she spent three years in a similar role with the Maryland Department of Aging. For nearly a decade, she has focused on social media, working with several Maryland nonprofit organizations. Her skill set includes graphic design, website management, photography, and mass email communications. Susanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Communications from the University of Baltimore.

Keri Grant

Tech Extension Educator

Keri is a Tech Extension Educator at the University of Maryland Extension office. She provides digital education for Talbot, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties. Examples include lessons on QR codes, using your smartphone, and chromebook workshops. She also assists with signups for the Affordable Connectivity Program, saving money for community members on their monthly internet bill. The goal of her program is to bridge the digital divide by increasing access to the internet and skills required to take full advantage of the resources available. 

She earned a bachelors in Plant Sciences in 2017 and a Masters in Business Administration in 2022, both from the University of Maryland. Previous to her current position, she spent four years as a Nutrient Management Advisor for Wicomico County and 2 years working for Howard County Recreation and Parks.

Habacuc Petion

Executive Director, Rebirth Inc.

Mr. Habacuc Petion is Executive Director of Rebirth Inc. Rebirth is a nonprofit organization based in Salisbury, MD. Mr Petion founded Rebirth more than 20 years ago (2002) to empower, sustain & enrich his community. Rebirth’s mission is to advocate for the rights & facilitate resources for the vulnerable & immigrant workers on the Delmarva Peninsula. Their work focuses on education, communication, community outreach and development. Two of Rebirth’s community-focused programs are its after-school program for children and radio station WRBY OASIS (100.5FM) which provides information, education and entertainment to immigrants and minorities in the Haitian, Afro-American and Latino communities.

Apichaya (Miu) Stieve

Faculty Assistant, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy; Maryland Certified Community Health Worker

Miu is a Maryland certified community health worker, and the Horowitz Center’s community liaison for the Lifting All Voices project in Frederick, Maryland. A native of Surin, Thailand, Miu blends her expertise in cross-cultural communication with a plain language approach to ensure that all community members have access to clear, accurate, actionable health information.

Together with CRISP and the Maryland Health Care Commission, the Hub welcomed Cindy Brach, MPP, to discuss how using health literacy tools improves patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Ms. Brach's presentation looked back and forward at how health literacy insights and tools inform the ways we implement healthcare quality and safety initiatives.

Health Literacy Tools

Webinar Recording - Health Literacy Tools

Cindy Brach, MPP is a Senior Healthcare Researcher at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). She leads AHRQ’s health literacy activities, is the Co-Chair of the HHS Health Literacy Work Group, and serves on the Healthy People Health Communication and Health Information Workgroup. Tools that Cindy has generated, such as the AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, Making Informed Consent an Informed Choice: Training Modules for Health Care Leaders and Professionals, and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) are used to make health information easier to understand and act on and healthcare services easier to access. Cindy served on the National Academy of Medicine’s Roundtable on Health Literacy, where she led an effort to define the ten attributes of a health literate organization and was a founding Editorial Board member of the journal HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice.

Cindy is also AHRQ’s point person for cultural and linguistic competence and served on the HHS Language Access Steering Committee. She also served on the original Advisory Group for National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) as well as the National Project Advisory Committee to enhance the National CLAS Standards. Cindy is a frequent speaker at national conferences and webinars, and has published book chapters, blogs, and authored or contributed to over 80 publications in journals.

At 11:00 am on October 4, 2023, Dr. Cynthia Baur opened the inaugural Maryland  Consumer Health Information Hub (“Hub”) Convening, welcoming attendees from state and local agencies and organizations to a day of learning, sharing, and collaboration. Dr. Baur began by describing the Hub’s origin and purpose, and highlighting some of its products and services. Dr. Sandra Saperstein described the evaluation process Sharp Insights will use to describe what the Hub does, how well they do it, and what difference the Hub makes to partners, partner organizations, and Marylanders overall.

A morning panel discussion addressed state and local organizations’ challenges and opportunities for plain language public health information. John Corbin discussed health literacy issues and initiatives for various populations in Garrett County, Maryland. Susanne Forno shared social media strategies and activities at the Maryland Insurance Administration. Vishnupriya Desai presented the Marylanders Online internet access and digital navigators program. Dr. Devlon Jackson moderated the discussion, offering panelists the opportunity to share success stories, describe how they reach underserved and marginalized populations with plain language health information, and expand on how they learn from their community members about needs and preferences around health information.

Following lunch, a second panel discussion highlighted the role of community health workers (CHWs) as key information resources and messengers. Tina Backe described Maryland’s CHW certification programs and highlighted several projects that leverage CHWs’ unique role in the community to improve health outcomes for those they serve. Miu Stieve provided a CHW’s perspective on cultural responsiveness and the role of health literacy in CHWs’ daily work. Moderator Karla Clara Vega invited panelists to share examples of CHWs bridging cultural and linguistic gaps in communication, and to offer policymakers advice on how they can support the role of CHWs in addressing public health issues.

Hands-on sessions focused on plain language and communications planning. Attendees explored the Maryland Clear Writing and Plain Language Checklist and applied the criteria to actual public health informational materials. A separate session introduced attendees to the CDC’s Communication Plan outline, and invited them to think through the steps as they apply to their own daily work. 
 

Agenda

• 10:30 - 11:00 AM           Registration and networking
• 11:00 - 11:10 AM           Welcome  
• 11:10 - 11:30 AM           What is the Maryland Consumer Health Information Hub?  
• 11:30 - 12:10 PM          State and local organizations panel on challenges and opportunities for public information   
• 12:10 - 12:40 PM          Lunch on your own
• 12:40 - 1:40 PM            Maryland plain language checklist, language access resources, and website review methods 
• 1:40 - 2:00 PM              Community health workers and information sharing ​​​​​​
• 2:00 - 2:45 PM              Developing a basic communications plan
• 2:45 - 3:00 PM              What did we learn? What else do we need to learn and do? 
• 3:00 PM                          End 

Tina Backe
Coordinator, Community Health Worker Program

Tina Backe is the Coordinator of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Program at the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), Office of Population Health Improvement (OPHI). She manages the CHW certification and training program accreditation processes, and staffs the State CHW Advisory Committee. Tina has served in other roles at OPHI before happily joining the CHW team in 2020. Previously, she coordinated a State Health Insurance Assistance Program for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in Carroll County. She has graduate degrees in Biology and Education from San Francisco State University.

John Corbin (he/him)
Informatics Administrator, Garrett County Health Department

As the Informatics Administrator at the Garrett County Health Department, John Corbin is dedicated to harnessing data-driven insights and cutting-edge technological solutions for tackling public health challenges and elevating community well-being. Drawing from his diverse background in data and computer sciences, mathematics, finance, and marketing, John has developed practical solutions to tackle health equity through the dynamic lenses of data and communications, specifically tailored to Garrett County and the north-central Appalachian region. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Marketing from Frostburg State University, John continues to actively pursue ongoing educational opportunities to expand his skill set and further empower his mission to improve public health outcomes through the development of emerging and model practices. John’s work has significantly contributed to tracking public health measures and outcomes, fostering open-source collaboration, and developing a data-driven and informed approach to addressing health equity in Garrett County.
 

Vishnupriya Desai
Program Manager, Digital Navigation Program 

Vishnupriya Desai joins the University of Maryland Extension as a Program Manager in November 2023. Her professional background is in Computer Science & Engineering and has her B.S. in Management of Aging Services from UMBC. In her previous position as a Digital Inclusion Coordinator, she helped close the digital divide by serving the technology needs of seniors in Baltimore County. With great enthusiasm, she looks forward to bringing digital equity to Maryland.

Susanne Forno
Digital Media Specialist, Maryland Insurance Administration

Susanne Forno serves as Digital Media Specialist for the Maryland Insurance Administration, the state agency that regulates the insurance industry. In her role she manages their social media platforms, produces their consumer monthly emails, chairs the Spirit Committee, and more. Prior to joining the agency in June 2022, she spent three years in a similar role with the Maryland Department of Aging. For nearly a decade, she has focused on social media, working with several Maryland nonprofit organizations. Her skill set includes graphic design, website management, photography, and mass email communications. Susanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Communications from the University of Baltimore.

Apichaya Stieve
Faculty Assistant, Horowitz Center for Health Literacy

Apichaya or Miu Stieve is currently working with Horowitz Center for Health Literacy as a community health worker/a community liaison for the "Lifting All Voices" project in Frederick, MD.

See our Flickr album for photos from the event!