2024 CAHC Annual Meeting

Renee Branch Canady, PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Michigan Public Health Institute

Dr. Renée Branch Canady serves as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MPHI, a public health institute comprised of process and subject matter experts with a shared mission of working together to center equity, promote health and advance well-being for all. Dr. Canady is a relationship driven leader and author of the recently published book, “Room at the Table: A Leader’s Guide to Advancing Health Equity and Justice.” In this well-received book, Canady presents a leadership challenge to everyone seeking to understand the intricacies of equity and justice, pushing them to become change agents within health/public health and other fields.

Prior to joining MPHI, Dr. Canady served as Health Officer and Director of the Ingham County Health Department, located in Lansing, Michigan. In that role she oversaw the county’s statutory responsibility to protect and promote the health of county residents and lead the development of the innovative and nationally known, Ingham County Health Equity Social Justice program.
Dr. Canady has held faculty and administrative positions at Michigan State University in the College of Nursing where she developed a research trajectory in maternal health and health inequities. She was an assistant professor in the C.S. Mott Department of Public Health, where she developed and chaired the Master of Public Health (MPH) core course “Health Equity for Public Health Practitioners.”

Dr. Canady earned her PhD in Medical Sociology from Michigan State University, master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University and bachelor’s degree in public health nutrition from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM, October 8, 2024 Somerset Ballroom and Virtually

  Opening Keynote Address

Mario Wilcox, LMSW

Mental Health Consultant

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Mario Wilcox, LMSW, is a mental health professional with a foundation in social work and child welfare. After earning his Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Wagner College in 2007 and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Michigan State University in 2013, Mario has dedicated his career to advocating for the well-being of children and families. With years of experience in child welfare, he joined the Child and Adolescent Health Center in 2021 as a Mental Health and Administrative Consultant.

• 9:00 - 10:15 AM, October 9, 2024 In person only

  Breakout 1D: Building Effective School Partnerships

Kimberly Lear

Writer, Researcher and Founder, Inlay Insights

Inlay Insights

Kim Lear is a writer, researcher, and the founder of Inlay Insights. She is known for skillfully weaving eye-opening statistics, insightful stories, and relevant case studies to make presentations come alive. Previously, Kim was the content director at BridgeWorks, a research firm dedicated to generational and millennial trends. Her undergrad research focused on baby boomers and longevity, and her post-grad work centered on millennials
and social media trends. She is currently in her ninth year of a longitudinal study on leadership.

Kim was recently named one of today’s best speakers by Meetings and Conventions Magazine, and she appeared as keynote speaker before some of the most renowned companies in the world. She has received rave reviews from clients such as American Express, Cisco Systems, Deloitte, Disney, General Mills, LinkedIn, Mastercard, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Wells Fargo, and more.

In addition to speaking, Kim was head of research on the book Gen Z @ Work. She has written whitepapers on generational wealth transfer, retirement trends, and Gen Z’s impact on higher education. Kim is the writer of the popular Substack, Kids These Days. She has been featured on NPR and national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, USA Today, and TIME magazine.

She is a highly sought-after generational expert and serves as an advisor to FORE, an AI startup focused on predictive analytics for attrition. She also volunteers for The 78 Cents Project, an organization dedicated to helping young women develop strong presentation skills.

• 1:00 - 2:15 PM, October 9, 2024 Somerset Ballroom and Virtually

  Closing Keynote Address: Prepare for the Future: Building Strong Relationships Across Generational Lines

Nicole Montgomery

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

I am a mom of five very active children! We love hiking, camping, and hanging out on any body of water as much as possible. I previously worked as the Market Director of Intake for Universal Health Services, overseeing the intake departments for psychiatric hospitals. Before I took on my previous role, I worked for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan working in and overseeing their child and adolescent health programs across four counties. I have work experience with Community Mental Health and Children’s Protective Services as well. I am very excited to join the CAHC team!!

• 9:00 - 10:15 AM, October 9, 2024

  Breakout 1C: Screening for Mild to Moderate Severity of Need--REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS SESSION. PLEASE CHOOSE ANOTHER DURING THIS TIME SLOT.

Michelle White

Program Consultant, CAHC Program

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Michelle White is a Program Consultant with the Child and Adolescent Health Center program at MDHHS. Prior to coming to MDHHS, Michelle worked in local public health for over 25 years specializing in health education, adolescent sexual heath, and a variety of maternal, infant, and children’s health programs. She is also one of the co-founders of the Michigan Coalition on Adolescent Sexual Health. She is passionate about child and adolescent health and expanding the role of health centers in Michigan’s schools.

• 9:00 - 10:15 AM, October 9, 2024

  Breakout 1A: Strategies for Implementing a Successful Focus Area Workplan

• 10:30 - 11:45 AM, October 9, 2024 In person only

  Breakout 2B: Keeping the Needs Assessment Fresh and Current: REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS SESSION. PLEASE SELECT ANOTHER SESSION DURING THIS TIME SLOT.

Maureen Connolly, MD

Henry Ford Health System’s School-Based and Community Health Program

Henry Ford Health

Dr. Maureen (Mo) Connolly is a pediatrician and Medical Director of Henry Ford Health System’s School-Based and Community Health Program in Detroit. She works with clinical staff to provide primary care services at school and community-based clinics, with a focus on adolescent medicine, sexual health, and HIV prevention and treatment. She has also been the CAHC Medical Director since 2022 and has loved getting to know providers across the state. She earned her MD from the University of Michigan and completed pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

• 10:30 - 11:45 AM, October 9, 2024 In person only

  Breakout 2C: Cool, Calm and Collected: Preparing for Health Center Emergencies-- REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS SESSION. PLEASE SELECT ANOTHER SESSION DURING THIS TIME SLOT.

Gina Zerka

Mental Health Consultant and E3 Program Coordinator

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Gina Zerka is 2006 graduate from Wayne State University with a master’s in social work. As a clinical social worker and a certified alcohol and drug counselor, she has provided mental health and substance abuse individual, and group therapy as well as consultation and supervision, in a variety of settings (outpatient, residential, school, and private practice). In the last 10 years, Gina has focused her attention and expertise with systems level mental health care in schools. In her prior position, Gina was the Clinical Supervisor and Coordinator of a School-Based violence prevention grant in the Lansing School District, which provided mental health counseling/consulting, restorative practices, trauma informed systems, group services and case management. Currently, she serves as the Mental Health Consultant for the School-Based Health Center Model as well as the E3 Program Coordinator for the mental health only model within the Child & Adolescent Health Center Program. Gina is happy to further here career with the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services and take the next steps to support mental health services in schools across the State of Michigan.

• 9:00 - 10:15 AM, October 9, 2024

  Breakout 1C: Screening for Mild to Moderate Severity of Need--REGISTRATION IS CLOSED FOR THIS SESSION. PLEASE CHOOSE ANOTHER DURING THIS TIME SLOT.

Cassie Van Gessel, MPH

School Wellness Program Consultant, CAHC Program

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Cassie VanGessel, MPH, is a School Wellness Program Consultant with the Child and Adolescent Health Centers. Prior to joining MDHHS in 2023, she worked in early childhood development and for an FQHC providing psychiatric research opportunities. She is very passionate about child and adolescent health and expanding resources to rural communities throughout Michigan.

• 9:00 - 10:15 AM, October 9, 2024 In person only

  Breakout 1D: Building Effective School Partnerships

Bry Fryczynski has spent the past 9 years working in the field of HIV and STIs. In her current role as HIV Counseling, Testing, and Referral (CTR) Coordinator within the Bureau of HIV and STI Programs, she ensures Michiganders have access to high-quality, culturally sensitive HIV testing at CTR programs throughout the state. Her goal is to eliminate stigma surrounding HIV/STI testing, allowing it to become synonymous with other routine health screenings. This objective includes giving providers tools they need to foster open and honest sexual health conversations with those they serve.

• 10:30 - 11:45 AM, October 9, 2024 In person only

  Breakout 2A: Adolescent HIV/STI Screening and Testing: How to Champion Change within Health Centers