Sustainable Health through Community Action:
Engaging for Lasting Impact
NJSOPHE Mid-Year Meeting
Thursday, May 29
9 AM - 3 PM
RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center - Hamilton, NJ
Pending confirmation, attendees are eligible to receive 4 credits for Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), and public health continuing education credits.
If the registration fee causes a financial hardship, NJSOPHE members can apply for a scholarship to attend the meeting.
Agenda (see below for speaker bios):
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Coffee, light breakfast, and networking
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Opening Panel
Beyond the Grant Cycle: Sustaining Community Health Programs for Long-Term Impact
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: Workshop 1
Built on Partnership, Driven by Shared Vision: Designing Programs That Last
11:30 AM – 12:25 PM: Networking Lunch
12:25 PM – 12:45 PM: NJSOPHE Updates
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM: Workshop 2
Bridging Research and Community Action: Turning Data into Sustainable Solutions
1:45 PM - 1:55 PM: Break
1:55 PM – 2:55 PM: Workshop 3
Community Power & Policy: Advocacy for Long-Term Health Change
2:55 PM – 3:00 PM Closing Remarks
Speaker Bios
Opening Panel
Beyond the Grant Cycle: Sustaining Community Health Programs for Long-Term Impact
Racheal O'Dea, MS, AMTP, DRCC, CGRS
Racheal O’Dea is a passionate advocate for mental health and emotional well-being. She has a background in Psychology and vast experience in grant writing, program development, and building strategic partnerships.
Currently serving as Chief Administrative Officer at the Mental Health Association in New Jersey, Racheal works to build and advocate for programs and initiatives supporting individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges while also promoting the importance of peer delivered services. A key part of her work involves building collaborative partnerships across communities—connecting with organizations, leaders, and grassroots initiatives to expand access, amplify underrepresented voices and vulnerable populations, and create sustainable, community-driven support systems. As a panelist, Racheal hopes to contribute to a thoughtful dialogue encouraging collective healing, stigma reduction, and actionable change through collaborative partnerships.
Dr. Elvis Gyan, Ph.D.
Dr. Gyan serves as the Director of Social Determinants of Mental Health (SDOMH), under the leadership of the Chief and Deputy Medical Director at the American Psychiatric Association, and has the primary responsibilities to coordinate education, awareness, research, policy, and information dissemination activities related to SDOMH.
His expertise lies in understanding SDOMH and providing management for the planning and implementation of APA's SDOMH initiative. Dr. Gyan has served as a Health Scientist and Educational Leader with expertise in analyzing social, economic, and environmental factors impacting health outcomes. He brings a wealth of experience designing and implementing scientific research and public health programs. His extensive background in higher education, spanning over 15 years in Academic and Student Affairs, has also greatly enhanced his strategic decision-making and leadership abilities. His unwavering commitment lies in empowering communities by imparting knowledge on contemporary issues, equipping them with critical decision-making skills, and instilling values that contribute to solving complex societal challenges.
Jim Walsh, CSW
Jim Walsh graduated in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Minor in Elementary Education from Saint Francis College, Maine. Over the last 45 years, Jim has worked for numerous social service agencies including: Child Placement, Passaic County; Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS); Teen Pregnancy Program Newark, NJ; Child Support –Trenton, NJ; and New Jersey Veterans Home Alzheimer Unit in Paramus and Edison, NJ.
Jim joined Oasis in 2001 and has been instrumental in initiating and expanding Oasis’ Social Service Department to include, 2 additional MSW Social Workers for the women and youth programs, working with over 70 local agencies, as well as Implementing Health/Wellness Assessments for all women who come into Oasis and working with Victims of Domestic Violence, Hunhoused, Substance Abuse and implementing an internship program comprised of five local universities. Jim is currently Oasis Director of Community Outreach Services, Certified Social Work Manager (CSWM), licensed Certified Social Worker in the State of New Jersey and has received numerous certifications and awards
Workshop 1
Built on Partnership, Driven by Shared Vision: Designing Programs That Last
Jenna Sistad
Jenna Sistad is the Executive Director of Neighborhood Connections to Health, a Greater Freehold based community coalition and Project Manager for the Ocean Monmouth Health Alliance, a regional chronic disease prevention coalition. 
Her journey supporting underserved populations through public health efforts began in 2009. Jenna started working with people with disabilities. She was providing respite programs and seizure first aid training in all 21 counties in NJ. After 8 years, she transitioned to a role in early childhood development overseeing a parent advocacy coalition. Since then she has gained a variety of experience creating and administering all types of inclusive initiatives in New Jersey such as: day and overnight camps, health education, advocacy councils, special events, food access programs and public health platforms. Jenna’s niche is creating local grassroots opportunities using a shared leadership model- she believes you must include leaders in the community in change making efforts if you want to create sustainable change. She also brings a personal perspective to her work as a caregiver for her father, a stroke survivor, who needs total care. Jenna resides at the Jersey Shore with her husband and two young sons.
Workshop 2
Bridging Research and Community Action: Turning Data into Sustainable Solutions
Cindy Hou, DO, MA, MBA, CIC, CPHQ, CPPS, FACOI, FACP, FIDSA, FAPIC
Dr. Hou is the Infection Control Officer and Medical Director of Research for Jefferson Health - New Jersey (JNJ) and an Infectious Diseases specialist. 
She is dually board-certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases. Dr. Hou has expertise in sepsis, antibiotic stewardship, infection control, quality improvement, patient safety, equity and language access. She is the Principal Investigator for a grant from the Office of Minority Health to reduce inequities in people who speak a language other than English. In addition, Dr. Hou is the Chief Medical Officer of the Sepsis Alliance and a member of its Board of Directors. Dr. Hou earned an M.B.A. and M.A. from Boston University, a D.O. from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and B.S. from Yale University. She has a Certification in Infection Prevention and Control, is a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety. Dr. Hou is a Fellow for the American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Association of Professionals in Infection Control.
Erin M. Bunger Johnson
Erin M. Bunger Johnson has experience using collaborative and participatory approaches to evaluate, research, and plan initiatives. 
She has managed several assessment, evaluation, and research projects related to policy and environmental changes to prevent chronic disease and promote wellbeing. These have included state and local level community health and wellbeing initiatives in a variety of settings such as community-based organizations, schools, early care and education centers, health care settings and state or local governments. She also has expertise in planning and evaluating partnerships, clinical interventions and health-related legislation. Ms. Bunger Johnson holds a Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Workshop 3
Community Power & Policy: Advocacy for Long-Term Health Change
Dr. Erin O’Neill, PhD, MCHES, CSCS
Dr. Erin O’Neill is an Associate Professor of Public Health Education and Chair of the Population Health & Exercise Science Department at New Jersey City University.
She’s a 2021 Fellow with the National Leadership Academy for Public Health (CDC). As a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES), she serves as a consultant to government and community health organizations for programmatic strategies to alleviate health disparities and to promote health justice and equity.
Prior to her current role, Dr. O’Neill served as an Assistant Professor at American University and a Health Educator at Cecil County (Maryland) Health Department. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Delaware, and an MS and PhD in Health Promotion & Educational Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech.
