The Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship

Isabella was placed at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, Bureau of Community Health Promotion in the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Unit.

Isabella Walters is a public health professional specializing in program evaluation, with a focus on maternal and child health. As a fellow, she supported the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Unit in its goal to connect families with the services and resources their children need to thrive. Isabella earned her Master of Public Health and a certificate in Maternal and Child Health from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee’s Zilber College of Public Health in 2023. Her experience spans both the nonprofit and state government sectors, with a commitment to improving health outcomes for maternal and child health populations. After completing the fellowship, Isabella became the Manager of Health Initiatives at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center in Minneapolis, MN.

Kristie was placed at the Milwaukee Health Department.

During her fellowship, Kristie led strategic initiatives within the Milwaukee Health Department Family and Community Health branch, focusing on public health administration and maternal and child health. She strengthened operational infrastructure by documenting staffing protocols and developing onboarding resources to improve training and workflows. Kristie designed and implemented a harm reduction-informed, multilingual infant safe sleep training program that served over 200 clients. She restructured the FIMR parental interview process to be more client-centered, resource-oriented, and clinically aligned. She collaborated with staff and consultants to launch a Community Action Team, built cross-sector partnerships, and facilitated internal professional development and community workgroups. Kristie’s work is grounded in a commitment to equity, community-centered practices, and evidence-based approaches. She consistently drives initiatives that align public health strategies with the lived experiences and needs of the communities served. Following her completion of the fellowship, Kristie accepted a position as a Population Health Specialist at Outreach Community Health Centers in Milwaukee.

Maddie was dual placed at the Rock County Public Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 

Maddie Roberts (she/hers) began the Fellowship as a dual-placed fellow at Rock County Public Health and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, in the Administrator's Office. During her first year, she supported health equity and policy initiatives at both sites, contributing to policy analyses, infrastructure development, and a legal epidemiology project. In June 2024, Maddie applied for and accepted a position as the Public Health Policy Specialist with Rock County—an opportunity made possible by the skills and connections she gained through the Fellowship.

Raphie completed her fellowship with Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in Milwaukee.

Raphie Torralba was placed at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in the Department of Environmental Health and Community Wellness (DEHCW). During her time, she advanced DECHW’s work in community health educator and education and volunteer coordinator roles. In the community, she created opportunities for youth and families to engage with their health through diverse avenues, include outdoor and family-based nutrition education. Moreover, her programming allowed participants to deepen their awareness of the ways that the systems we live in impact their health and wellness. Behind the scenes, she developed program systems and manuals to support staff capacity for implementation. More than the work she accomplished, she also built deep connections with her team in DEHCW and the greater community that she served, which has made Milwaukee feel like home. Following the fellowship, Raphie began a position as Transportation Policy Analyst with 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.

Ravyn was placed with the Foundation for Black Women's Wellness in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ravyn Cruse is a New Orleans native. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Fisk University and an MPH from Xavier University of Louisiana. During her fellowship at the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, Ravyn served as the Black Maternal and Child Health Alliance Coordinator supporting cross-sector partnerships and initiatives focused on maternal and child health, policy development, and community engagement. She also contributed to the Foundation’s broader efforts, including air quality grants, volunteer and internship coordination, and the Well Black Woman Institute, a community-centered health equity leadership program. The work she did during the Fellowship has reinforced her belief in the power of community voice and strong partnerships to drive meaningful change and improve lives.

Sydney was placed in Wisconsin Rapids with the Wood County Health Department. 

As a fellow with the Wood County Health Department, Sydney completed data analysis and project management activities related to harm reduction, substance use prevention, and health equity in rural communities. She supported the installation and maintenance of six public health vending machines and coordinated the county’s first Overdose Fatality Review, a multidisciplinary process aimed at understanding the circumstances leading to fatal overdoses and identifying opportunities to prevent future deaths. She analyzed Place of Last Drink data on OWI arrests, hospital data to investigate increasing NICU transfer rates, and qualitative interviews to understand disparate COVID-19 pandemic experiences in communities across the county, as well as leadership needs among the Hispanic/Latinx community. Sydney also served as the public health lead for the UW-Madison Global Health Field Experience in Sri Lanka on global health, climate change, and community development. Following the completion of her Fellowship, Sydney has accepted a position as Overdose Epidemiologist at Kent County Health Department in Grand Rapids, Michigan.