Description:

Hear from expert panelists Karen Macera-Cuevas, Neha Agarwal, Brittany Watson, and Allan Maleche, who bring extensive global health experience and perspectives on improving health equity. 

Karen Macera-Cuevas, DrPH, a Chicago native, is the current Deputy Director of Health Promotion at the Illinois Department of Health. Dr. Macera-Cuevas is passionate about improving health equity and has over 20 years of experience leading teams and improving population health. She is the Chair-Elect for the American Public Health Association (APHA) - Public Health Education Health Promotion Section.  She previously worked at Northwestern University as an Associate Director and Lead Research Project Coordinator within various divisions for over 16 years. 

Neha Agarwal, MSBME leads PATH’s Diagnostics program. PATH is a global non-profit organization that promotes health equity by developing and adapting technologies to address health needs in low- and middle-income countries. At PATH, Neha is responsible for ensuring equitable access to diagnostic products across many disease areas such as malaria, pneumonia, and maternal and child health. 

Brittany Watson, MD, MPH is passionate about public service, improving the health of vulnerable populations through programs and practices that address health equity, diversifying the medical workforce, and improving access to affordable healthcare and health education. In 2021, Dr. Watson was appointed American Academy of Family Physicians Leading Physician Well-being Scholar. 

Allan Maleche, Esq. is a practicing lawyer and leader in global health and human rights. Allan has extensive experience in ethics and global health policy. Allan currently serves as executive director of Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN). He also co-chairs the UNAIDS Human Rights Reference group and is a member of the International Advisory Board for the Global Health Centre. Allan spearheaded litigation in Kenya, Africa over the involuntary imprisonment of individuals with TB as a measure to protect public health. This groundbreaking case ultimately led to major changes in TB policies in other countries.