Melissa’s personal trademark – helping others – is reflected in her professional path and her commitment to the association profession. She has extensive experience in associations from the American Bankers Association, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Society for Neuroscience, which introduced her to the health sciences, healthcare, and academic arena. She worked closely with volunteer groups and deeply connected with the organization’s mission to support those who apply scientific knowledge and research to advance the understanding of the brain and nervous system. Her work to launch a social media presence, build the brand, identify structural efficiencies, and implement a data-driven membership strategy will add incredible value to ACPM.
She has worked closely with volunteer leaders and Boards to enhance organizational management – from systems integration to launching a new membership model to a new website to managing a merger to organizational restructuring and more. She has the requisite expertise to provide strategic oversight of membership, programs, committees, community development, research, government affairs and content creation. In addition, she strengthened the overall operational practices of the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, including financial management and budgeting, personnel management, systems infrastructure and business continuity. One of her favorite accomplishments involved outreach and communications to students entering the field. Establishing a workforce development strategy and connecting with those choosing a career in the industry, led to industry-wide coalitions and grant and mentoring programs for students.
Melissa is excited to reconnect with health care as the American College of Preventive Medicine’s Executive Director, Membership & Operations. Melissa holds a B.A. in Communications from George Mason University and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). In addition, she earned a Certificate in Editing and Publications from Georgetown University.
Melissa lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Jason and their children, Gabriella and Victoria. When she takes time for herself, Melissa’s biggest satisfaction and a source of inspiration is teaching indoor cycle where she coaches and motivates individuals through a workout!
Mahalia Alascio serves as the Administrative Services Specialist at the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), where she supports administrative operations and logistics, assists with key operational processes, and plays an integral role in supporting the governance of the College. She graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance and a minor in Communications. Mahalia holds a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Health Policy and Practice at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Mahalia holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification in healthcare project management and has diverse experience in administrative and healthcare roles. She previously served as a Radiation Oncology Coordinator at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health, an Executive Assistant at Palermo Rhodes, and a Health Administration Intern at CalvertHealth, where she worked directly with the Vice President of Business Development and Strategy.
A former NCAA Division I equestrian athlete, Mahalia brings strong organizational, teamwork, and time-management skills to her work. She enjoys fitness, horseback riding, and spending time on the water in her free time.
Anita Balan is the director of residency engagement and development at the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). She staffs committees including the Prevention Practice Committee and the Graduate Medical Education Committee. She is currently responsible for the day-to-day management and implementation of one of the grants funded through the ACPM–CDC Cooperative Agreement to integrate public health and healthcare. She has developed and implemented a day-long institute and a webinar on health systems transformation. Currently she is working on addressing the role of preventive medicine physicians in CDC’s 6|18 Initiative. She also creates and disseminates the monthly newsletter and manages the website of the National Violent Prevention Network, an ACPM-led coalition that advocates for the nationwide expansion of the National Violent Death Reporting System.
Ms. Balan is passionate about health promotion and disease prevention, public health advocacy, and eliminating health disparities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist.
Will Hirzy is the manager of member services at ACPM. Will brings a breadth of experience in member and customer service to ACPM’s membership team. After graduating from the University of Missouri, he served in a member services role at the International Economic Development Council before embarking on a long-running career as a real estate agent in the Washington, D.C. metro area. In this role, Will focused on building his customer service and relationship-building skills.
When he’s not supporting ACPM’s members, Will is baking, trying out a new board game, or spending time with his family at home in College Park, MD.
Noah Isenstein is the manager of communications and advocacy at the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). Noah has worked at local and national levels to inform the public on complex public health issues. Before joining ACPM, Noah coordinated Mpox communications for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury media and communication for the National Park Service, and COVID-19 outreach for the Nashville Public Health Department.
Noah is passionate about improving health literacy, public health infrastructure and healthcare resiliency. He earned a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH and currently lives in Washington, DC. Noah enjoys exploring new art, food and music available in the district.
Cara Molinari is an experienced leader in higher education expertise in the development of “live” and electronic medical education platforms. Her experience is tailored to nonprofit and university settings. She comes to ACPM with a track record of achieving medical accreditations with the ACCME, ACGME and LCME.
In her time in the nonprofit arena, she has worked on myriad grant proposals and executed fresh and informative conference and continuing medical education for CME and MOC. She is a change agent for organizations going through system and workforce transitions. She has over 20 years of experience in medical education and has coached and mentored faculty and staff for career growth and excellence.
Kate Shreve, MPH, brings more than 20 years of experience in public health research and policy to her role as Director of Programs and Grants at ACPM.
Prior to joining ACPM, Kate most recently served for 14 years as the Research Program Director for the Division of Emergency Medicine at Children’s National Hospital; responsible for planning, developing and administering a large portfolio of federal, industry and foundation grants as well as managing strategic planning for the program.
After many years in emergency medicine research administration, Kate is thrilled to have joined ACPM to devote her energies toward amplifying critical issues relevant to preventive medicine providers.
A native of Washington, D.C., Kate lives in D.C. with her husband and three children.
Natasha Whitmore, a distinguished former Navy sailor, with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Morgan State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Science. As a candidate for the RD, LDN, and CHES certifications, she is dedicated to promoting public health and nutrition education.
Natasha is presently a fellow in the CDC’s Public Health Associate Program, assigned to the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM). At ACPM, Natasha will be engaged in creating educational and experiential opportunities for physicians in clinical preventive services, emergency preparedness and response, infectious disease surveillance and outbreak response, and addressing inequities in prevention in rural health. Her work will emphasize enhancing public health competencies in various healthcare environments, encompassing preventive medicine and primary care.
Natasha’s commitment to enhancing the nutritional well-being of African-American women and children is augmented by her completed fellowship with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists. Having extensive research experience in the food and beverage sector, she is further enhancing her skills in evidence-based nutrition policies and program creation, thereby advancing ACPM’s objective to enhance population health and preventive care.
