My path to global health did not start in a clinic or lab - it started on Capitol Hill. Working there, I saw firsthand how policy decisions made in a room far away directly determine who receives care and who does not. That was an important lesson. Health is not just about science; it is about systems, rights, and access.

 

I wanted to help bridge the gap between policy and people. So, I combined that insight with my public health training to focus on a central question: How do we get the best evidence out of scientific journals and into programs that actually work and reach people in real-world settings?

 

For over 15 years, I have worked to answer that by partnering directly with the people designing and using health systems, from ministries of health to patient advocacy groups. Whether building a patient navigation program in Brazil or designing tools for health systems across three continents, my focus is on inclusive, co-created, and locally led approaches that are informed by both data and lived experience.

 

When I am not working, you can find me having fun with my family, cashing in travel points for a vacation, attempting (and often failing) to make Brazilian brigadeiros, or enjoying a hike where I briefly forget how much I hate bugs!

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​​Why "Ponte?"​​

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Ponte means "bridge" in Portuguese. It reflects my years living and working in São Paulo and captures what I do every day. I connect policy to people, evidence to action, global strategy to local leadership. Whether I'm bringing multilateral organizations together with the voices of lived experience, translating research into sustainable programs, or turning ambitious goals into measurable impact, my work is always about building bridges that last.

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​My Approach & Philosophy​​

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I believe everyone has a right to health and who you are, what you do, who you love, or where you live should never determine your access to care. This belief drives everything I do.

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Grounded in social science and public health, I take a collaborative, hands-on, roll up your sleeves approach to help teams anticipate barriers, adapt solutions, and translate evidence into measurable, equitable impact.

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Technical Expertise & Practice Areas​​​​​

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​My consulting services are supported by my deep technical expertise across the following areas, all aimed at a common goal: strengthening systems and improving access to care. ​​

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Leadership & Management

• ​​​Strategic planning, program design, and quality improvement processes

Health Systems Strengthening

• Patient-centered, differentiated models of care, patient navigation and peer support, HIV-NCD service integration

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL)

• Mixed methods research studies, MEL frameworks, indicator development, data translation for decision making 

Implementation Science & Knowledge Translation 

• Bridge global evidence and real world context to co-create practical, scalable solutions

Communication & Advocacy

• Scientific and technical writing, grant and proposal development, data visualization, community and patient engagement 

HIV & NCD Integration

• Integrate noncommunicable disease screening, treatment, and chronic disease management into existing service delivery systems

Cervical Cancer & HPV Prevention

• Vaccination strategies, self-testing access, elimination through research and programs

Languages

• Professional-level Portuguese (but please don’t test me on Brazilian shorthand!)

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Where I've Worked & Studied

 

I have lived up and down the east coast of the U.S., London, and São Paulo and have worked domestically in the U.S., as well as across Africa, the Caribbean, the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Europe, and Latin America.

 

I hold a ​Master of Public Health (MPH) in Global Health from Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA); a Master of Science (MSc) in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics (London, UK); and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science from Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA, USA​​).​