Faculty Member Inductee
Dr. Tracie Baker
Dr. Tracie Baker is an Associate Professor in Environmental and Global Health at the University of Florida and the director of the internationally renowned WATER Lab. She holds a DVM and a PhD in Molecular and Environmental Toxicology. Dr. Baker leads a groundbreaking One Health program that investigates environmental contaminants and their impacts on animal and human health across generations, with extensive field studies in the Great Lakes, Everglades, and Ethiopia. Her pioneering research on transgenerational inheritance of disease has secured continuous NIH funding for over 12 years and earned numerous prestigious awards. Throughout her career, she has nurtured the next generation of scientists through comprehensive mentorship of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students.
Many chapter members have benefited from Dr. Baker’s mentorship and commitment to student success, and we are grateful for her continued service to our college.
Alumni Inductee
Valentina Gomez
Valentina is a public health professional from Venezuela whose early exposure to her country’s health system collapse shaped her commitment to sustainable change. She’s passionate about equitable, community-centered solutions that address root causes of health challenges. Through programming and partnerships, she focuses on strengthening education, access, and well-being for underserved populations.
Honorary Inductee
Scott Darius
Scott Darius is the Executive Director of Florida Voices for Health, which he co‑founded in 2017. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida in 2010 and graduated from the University of Florida College of Law in May 2013. Scott began his health‑advocacy career in 2012 with Florida CHAIN (Consumer Health Action and Information Network), where he helped coordinate the statewide campaign for Medicaid expansion. Since then he has led initiatives to promote equitable health policy throughout Florida.
Graduate Student Inductees
Graduate Student
Sophia Amro Gazze
Sophia is completing her MPH in Population Health Management with a focus on public health policy. Her work examines how healthcare systems and workforce policies influence access to care. She also contributes to clinical research in urology and cancer therapeutics. Committed to service, she mentors students and supports community initiatives including the Special Olympics.
Graduate Student
Emma Anderson
Emma is graduating with her MPH in Epidemiology. She works as a Clinical Research Assistant in UF’s Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, supporting clinical trials and outcomes research. She also volunteers at the Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation. Emma plans to become a physician, using her public health training to improve patient outcomes and reduce barriers to care.
Graduate Student
Ryan Athay
Ryan earned his Bachelor of Public Health from UF last spring and is graduating this spring with his Master’s in Population Health Management. Over the past year, he’s worked in Congressman Darren Soto’s office overseeing the health policy portfolio. After graduation, he’ll return to Washington to continue his career in healthcare policy and management.
Graduate Student
Anita Beijer
Anita is completing her MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her research focuses on healthcare systems and patient outcomes, including work on transplant outcomes and substance use disorders. She’s applying to MD/PhD programs with the goal of becoming a physician-scientist who bridges clinical medicine and public health to create more compassionate healthcare systems.
graduate student
Michelle Geier
Michelle is a psychiatric clinical pharmacist for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. She’s Board Certified in Psychiatric Pharmacy with special interest in substance use disorders. She manages patients who are primarily dual diagnosis and experiencing homelessness, and supports opioid use disorder treatment access throughout San Francisco. Michelle is Past President of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists.
graduate student
Aubrey Graydon
Aubrey is completing her MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences. She’s worked as a Graduate Outreach Educator with GatorWell, specializing in harm reduction, and served as a Health Professions Trainee at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. Aubrey looks forward to continuing her work as a public health professional after graduation.
graduate student
Melissa Lewis
Melissa is completing her Master of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences. As Program Coordinator for Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Medication-Assisted Treatment program, she works to expand access to evidence-based substance use treatment. Her work focuses on community engagement and health equity across underserved populations, and she plans to pursue a career in health law and policy.
graduate student
Jesse Meyer
Jesse is graduating with her Master of Public Health. Her work is grounded in compassionate, person-first care. She’s served as Vice President of the Public Health Student Association and worked with Peaceful Paths, Florida Voices for Health, and as an EMT MAT Responder with Gainesville Fire Rescue. These experiences have shaped her passion for harm reduction, advocacy, and prevention.
Graduate Student
Karin Rashid
Karin is graduating with her MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her research focuses on maternal and child health, health disparities, and cancer. She currently interns with UF Health Cancer Institute’s Community Outreach team, analyzing Florida’s cancer-related policies. Karin hopes to build a career in health policy.
Graduate Student
Mohammed Ruzieh
Mohammed is a non-invasive cardiologist with a strong focus on outcomes research and clinical trials. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology. Mohammed has authored 86 PubMed-indexed publications, including 44 original investigations, along with numerous abstracts and four book chapters. His research experience spans cohort studies, post hoc analyses of clinical trials and large database studies. He has served as site PI for an NIH-funded trial and a couple industry-sponsored studies. Mohammed’s work focuses on cardiovascular outcomes, treatment effect heterogeneity, and risk modeling, with particular interest in atrial fibrillation, chest pain, and syncope.
Graduate Student
Megan Still
Megan is a resident trainee advancing public health within neurosurgery. Her work addresses disparities in neurosurgical care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. A Fulbright alumna, she’s contributed to research on neurosurgical disease burden and outcomes. She’ll begin a pediatric neurosurgery fellowship this year, focusing on spina bifida, epilepsy, and craniofacial surgery.
Undergraduate Student Inductee
undergraduate student
Daniela Hoyos
Daniela is a Public Health major with minors in Latin American Studies, International Development, and Health Disparities. She’s conducted research in Dublin, Ireland and at UF’s McKune lab. Currently, she coordinates UF’s Florida Health Policy Leadership Academy and serves as Vice President of Flipping the System. This fall, she’ll pursue her Master’s in Global Health Policy at George Washington University.
undergraduate student
Kensey Yates
Kensey is graduating with her BPH and BA in Political Science. She participated in the PHHP Honors Program and wrote her thesis using data from UF HealthStreet. She interned with Doctors for America to advocate for healthcare access among vulnerable populations. This August, she’ll attend Saint Louis University School of Law, and will work with the National Drug Early Warning System before starting school.