Many employees in public health say they were influenced by their upbringing, family background, or life or health experiences. As a result, they have dedicated themselves to promoting health equity, to help right the wrongs they saw or felt. DPH is fortunate to attract these equity specialists who say their jobs are satisfying, personally and professionally.
DPH Workforce Spotlight – Eduardo Nettle
Video: DPH Workforce Spotlight – Eduardo Nettle Video
Skip this video DPH Workforce Spotlight – Eduardo Nettle Video.Oanh. T. Bui
Lead Coordinator, CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services)
As a Vietnamese immigrant and a single mom of a child with disabilities, Oanh struggled to navigate the health care system for her daughter and for herself, and many times she felt ignored. “Medical professionals seemed to dismiss my cultural background and disregard my opinions because I speak English with an accent,” says Oanh.
Her daughter has had trouble accessing services due to her disability and communication style, using an augmentative and alternative communication device. “My own experience motivates me to work toward systems change, and my job allows me to do just that.”
At DPH since 2019, Oanh helps bureaus and programs integrate Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services, or CLAS standards, and offers trainings for using these and other tools to help achieve health and racial equity. Oanh says she was deeply moved and encouraged by the recent launch of the department’s strategic plan to advance racial equity. She says the plan incorporates the diverse perspectives of advisory members across the department and will help drive changes that will make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of residents.
“As a proud public health professional, I must say that DPH offers a unique opportunity to positively impact community well-being and health outcomes,” says Oanh. “I highly recommend that job seekers consider applying to DPH.”
Omar Cabrera
Ethnic Media Relations and Community Health Education Manager
If you follow sports and listen to Telemundo, you’ve likely heard the voice of Omar Cabrera. Omar started his career as a journalist, working for the biggest Spanish-speaking networks in the United States, covering sports and producing the local newscast. After almost 15 years in the field, he switched careers to join the DPH Communications Office in 2012.
Still very much connected to the media, Omar serves as the face of DPH for Hispanic (Latino) audiences during breaking news events and public health emergencies. He has established robust relationships with ethnic media reporters and producers across Massachusetts, a valuable asset for communicating public health messaging.
Omar also coordinates language translations for all DPH bureaus and programs, making sure DPH messaging and materials are reaching all residents.
“Especially during the pandemic, in the middle of chaos, it was a great feeling to know that we were reaching all of our ethnic communities with the latest information,” says Omar. “For me personally, the long hours and effort to ensure our COVID messages about transmission and prevention went out in 11 languages was not only valuable, but necessary.”
Omar knows that communication is key. “What we do is making a difference, helping to close the gap of health disparities in the Commonwealth.”
Cheryl Cromwell
Tribal and Indigenous Health Equity Strategist
Cheryl’s career path to DPH has been a deeply personal one. Her disabled grandson had medical issues that kept him hospitalized and in rehab for months. “He lived a short full life to the age of three,” says Cheryl, who postponed nursing school to care for him. “I became a committed advocate for those unable to advocate for themselves.”
Cheryl spent 19 years advocating for improved health care for her Tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoags, as an elected member of the Tribal Council. She was the Tribe’s first Health Liaison to the Federal Indian Health Service, working to bring health and dental services to the Tribe and improve human services.
Arriving in 2023, Cheryl helps manage DPH’s COVID Vaccine Equity Initiative, expanding outreach and vaccine access in Tribal communities. She also works on improving data collection and building stronger ties to Massachusetts Tribes. She is educating her colleagues around the history of Tribes and Indigenous people.
“I’m proud that we now host a Tribal and Indigenous Health Summit, an event that gathers people together to bring equity into Tribal and Indigenous affairs and relations. At DPH, I’m honored to work with a great team and supportive leaders to advocate for more mainstream attention for the first people of this land.”
Nassira Nicola
Deputy Director for Access and Inclusion, Office of Health Equity and Community Engagement
Nassira says her personal background and work experiences are what led her to public health, hoping to make life better and healthier for everyone, no matter their history or circumstances.
“I’m the queer, disabled child of an undocumented Arabic-speaking immigrant on one side, and a formerly-homeless single mother on the other, so justice and equal access to social services have always been critical to me,” says Nassira.
She studied linguistics to understand how and why people whose first language isn't English are often excluded from public life. She worked as an interpreter, then for a disability advocacy organization, and in 2018 decided to join DPH, hoping to make a difference “from the inside.”
Nassira manages a team of experts in disability and language access, homelessness prevention, and culturally-appropriate public services. They are a helpful resource, ensuring that programs have the information and tools to provide public health services that work for everyone.
“I came to DPH after years in the nonprofit world, helping fix problems one at a time, which is important but often frustrating,” Nassira says. Being at DPH means working at the center, seeing the bigger picture. I can do more than help one person at a time. I can help make change and improve health conditions for all.”