ABOUT THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH LEADERS
About Our Leaders
The CEMCH Leaders Program is an interdisciplinary, two-year training and scholarship program for students committed to Maternal and Child Health (MCH). In addition to enrolling in MCH courses, CEMCH Leaders will learn a wide range of comprehensive and innovative approaches to the field outside the classroom.
This will include additional training in community-engaged partnership, research, and practice. Leaders will receive a taxable stipend distributed over the course of the Fall and Spring semesters of two years. Students interested in applying to this program must specialize in MCH.
CEMCH Leaders
lillian Lestrange
Lillian LeStrange is a first-year student in the Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences department with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her background in psychology and sociology continues to shape her interest in the connections among individual experiences, social conditions, and population health.
Lillian chose Tulane because of its strong commitment to improving health both locally and globally, as well as its integration with the New Orleans community. She was drawn to the program’s interdisciplinary approach and its emphasis on applying public health knowledge in real-world contexts. At Tulane, she hopes to build on her interests in psychology, sociology, statistics, and health systems while learning how to develop solutions that address the social factors influencing maternal and child health.
Lillian is particularly interested in barriers to accessing maternal and child mental health resources and in the role of health literacy in shaping care and outcomes. She is also interested in the intersection of public health and developmental psychology and hopes to learn more about designing and evaluating programs that address disparities in child and adolescent health care. Her long-term goal is to contribute to programs and policies that make mental health services and other essential health resources more accessible to children, adolescents, and families.
Outside of school, Lillian enjoys staying active and participating in community events. She enjoys yoga, soccer, and running. Lillian also loves exploring New Orleans festivals, parades, and restaurants, especially during holidays and other celebrations. Some of her favorite spots include Spicy Mango and Loretta’s.
Demarquis Milton
Demarquis Milton is a first-year student in the International Health and Sustainable Development department with a specialization in Maternal and Child Health. After completing his undergraduate studies at Xavier University. His childhood goal was to attend Tulane University one day. Attending Tulane has allowed him to continue his education in New Orleans, a city he has come to know and value, and somewhere he wants to keep building community.
Demarquis recently interned with the New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps (NOMRC), where he gained experience supporting local public health preparedness and community response efforts. His maternal and child health interests include pediatrics, neonatology, and providing support to families as a doula. He is particularly interested in the care of children and newborns, and in the ways compassionate, family-centered support can improve experiences and outcomes for parents and infants.
Outside of school, Demarquis enjoys playing video games on his PS5, playing basketball, writing poetry, and making and listening to music. He also enjoys thrifting and exploring the city. When he is not studying, he can often be found enjoying a meal at Bub’s Burgers, his favorite New Orleans restaurant.
Devan Pietrzak
Devan Pietrzak is an MSPH student specializing in Epidemiology and Maternal and Child Health. Her academic and professional interests focus on how environmental exposures and infectious diseases influence pregnancy outcomes, fetal development, and child health. She is also interested in understanding how social and environmental conditions contribute to differences in maternal and child health outcomes and shape the health of communities.
Before coming to Tulane, Devan gained experience in epidemiologic research, mosquito surveillance, insecticide-resistance testing, breeding-site inspections, and community outreach through her work with the New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board. These experiences strengthened her interest in studying the relationships among infectious diseases, environmental systems, vectors, and human health. She also worked at the Harry Thompson Center, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, where she surveyed individuals experiencing mental health challenges. This work deepened her interest in mental health and community-centered interventions, particularly efforts that respond to the needs of people who are often underserved by traditional health systems.
Devan chose to continue her master’s education at Tulane because of its strong research opportunities and interdisciplinary approach to public health. She was especially drawn to the opportunity to explore her interests in epidemiology, infectious diseases, and maternal and child health while working alongside local community organizations. Tulane’s connections with the New Orleans community have allowed her to continue engaging with issues that are important to her and to connect her academic interests with real-world public health efforts.
Outside of school, Devan enjoys playing the viola, scrapbooking, visiting estate sales, trying new restaurants, and reading fantasy and mystery novels. Her favorite New Orleans restaurants include Atchafalaya and Superior Seafood, where she especially enjoys the blackened catfish.
Alexia Ruiz
Alexia Ruiz is a first-year MPH student in the International Health and Sustainable Development department with a specialization in Maternal and Child Health. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California.
Alexia chose Tulane because the program aligns closely with her commitment to addressing health disparities and inequities. She was also attracted to the opportunity to explore a new city and state while learning in a smaller, more intimate cohort than many other graduate programs. Her interests in maternal and child health include understanding and addressing inequities in health outcomes, as well as exploring mental health among maternal and child health populations. Through her studies, she hopes to better understand the factors that shape health and well-being and contribute to efforts that promote more equitable care and support.
Outside of school, Alexia enjoys reading and solving Rubik’s Cubes. As a new resident of New Orleans, she is also looking forward to exploring the city and getting to know her new community.
Marisa Arsenault
Marisa is an MPH student in the International Health and Sustainable Development department, with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. After getting her undergrad degree in Community Health, she worked as a Community Health Educator at a hospital in Maryland, where she helped lead community vaccine events, health fairs, workshops, and mobile health clinics. Wanting to get a better understanding of the overarching socio-ecological factors that impact health, particularly within a global framework, she decided to get her MPH here at Tulane.
She was drawn to the IHSD program because she feels aligned with the Department’s philosophy that everyone has the right to live a healthy life regardless of place and circumstance. She wants to learn best practices when it comes to sustainable health solutions in resource-constrained settings. She is interested in the intersection between climate change and women’s health. She is currently working on research related to water insecurity, and the sexual and reproductive healthcare of vulnerable populations in the Gulf South.
Outside of school, Marisa enjoys taking dance classes and cooking with her roommates. She’s an avid reader and spends a lot of time at her local library. Marisa feels best when she’s out in nature, so she’s had fun exploring the many parks and green spaces in New Orleans.
Shamiso Zihumo
Shamiso is originally from a small town right outside of Dallas called Little Elm, Texas. She is also a recent Tulane graduate, and is in her 1st full year in her MPH program. Her concentration is in Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences with a specialization in Maternal and Child Health. During undergrad, she was heavily involved in the Newcomb Institute Reproductive Rights Internship, an undergraduate research assistant for nolaHYPE, and a former REACH intern. As of right now, she is currently a graduate student research assistant alongside working with CEMCH.
Shamiso attended Tulane for her undergraduate studies and received a B.S. in Neuroscience, so she knew Tulane’s strong public health presence would be a great fit. Additionally, she really appreciated how much the university valued community service and engagement. She believes that to make a meaningful difference in our communities, we must not only listen to community members but also immerse ourselves in those same spaces.
In terms of Maternal and Child Health (MCH), there are only about 13 Centers of Excellence nationwide, and Tulane’s robust program is dedicated to building and refining the MCH workforce which is something that further solidified her interest! She is interested in research regarding menopause and endometriosis. More recently, she found an interest in obstetric violence and how/why birthing experiences differ across demographics, and looking into more effective and safer birthing interventions to address the issue of maternal mortality in developed countries like the United States.
Outside of school, she likes to do a little bit of everything creative, such as painting, sculpting, crocheting, and, more recently, writing. As a former student-athlete, working out is a part of her daily routine as well. Even though she’s lived in this city for going on 5 years, she still loves exploring new places either by herself or with her friends. Shamiso’s favorite thing to do in New Orleans is to go to the second lines, specifically Super Sunday right after Mardi Gras! Her favorite places to eat would probably have to be Tia Marias or Lil Dizzy’s.
Chloe Garrett
Chloe is an MPH student in the Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences where she focuses on health equity and community-based interventions across the lifespan. Before coming to Tulane, she was a community development program manager for the Arkansas Arts Council, where she led outreach efforts to connect rural and marginalized communities with arts and culture resources. She earned her BA in sociology and anthropology at Hendrix College, and then served a year with AmeriCorps in her hometown of Little Rock, AR. Through AmeriCorps, she managed a community garden in an elementary school to educate students about growing their own food, increase their access to fresh produce, and lead culturally responsive nutrition education programming.
She chose Tulane for its strong reputation in public health and its global network of faculty, alumni, and community partners. The university’s commitment to health equity and interdisciplinary collaboration aligns with her values and career goals. She’s always loved New Orleans, and Tulane was her top choice when I decided to pursue an MPH.
Within maternal and child health, Chloe is especially interested in early childhood development and the social determinants that contribute to adverse childhood experiences, such as food insecurity and poverty. She is passionate about exploring the intersection of child health with education systems, policy, and advocacy. After graduation, she hopes to work on community-based initiatives that promote equitable access to resources and support for families.
Outside of school, she enjoys exploring New Orleans and volunteering with local organizations. The city’s vibrant and diverse culture offers endless opportunities to learn, connect, and give back. Whether it’s attending a neighborhood event or supporting a local nonprofit, she loves being part of the energy that makes New Orleans so special.
One of her favorite weekend activities is visiting the Crescent City Farmers Market in City Park on Sundays. She loves stocking up on fresh produce, grabbing a pupusa and an iced coffee, and soaking in the atmosphere. It’s a great way to support local businesses and connect with the community.
Treasure Joiner
Treasure is an MPH student in the Social, Behavioral, and Population Sciences department with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She grew up in Long Beach, CA but she have been living in New Orleans since she started undergrad at Tulane in 2021. During undergrad, she found my passion for public health, specifically for maternal and child health and reproductive health and justice. She was a Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health intern through Newcomb Institute where she interned for Saul’s Light, an advocacy organization in New Orleans that supports NICU babies and bereaved families. Currently, she is involved in research and projects about justice-involved women and children at the intersection of maternal and child health and sexual and reproductive health. In the near future, she also aspires to become a doula and a lactation consultant. Overall, she is passionate about improving health outcomes for marginalized communities, especially for Black birthing people and their families.
A few of her hobbies include dancing, reading, and listening to music. She enjoys taking dance classes at different studios in the city and learning new styles. She also loves exploring New Orleans and finding new spots for food, live music, art, and community.
Her favorite thing about New Orleans is the community. New Orleans has become her second home because of the meaningful relationships built with locals, as well as students and faculty here at Tulane. She admires the culture, pride, and authenticity that New Orleanians have and I will forever cherish the memories made here.
