OPHA STAFF

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Jan Howard | janhoward@opha.net

Jan Howard serves as Oklahoma Public Health Association Administrative Assistant. She has worked with the OPHA since September 2010. She is medically retired from Tinker AFB and since then has worked as an independent bookkeeper for a number of individuals and for two other non-profits over the years. You can reach her by emailing opha@opha.net or by calling 405-605-2099 from 8 - 11 a.m.

OFFICER - PRESIDENT

Tracy Freudenthaler, PhD, MPH | president@opha.net

Tracy Freudenthaler has earned both her PhD and her MPH (OSU and OUHSC respectively). Her professional background includes conducting clinical research trials and over 10 years teaching in higher education. She coordinated a large-scale (5,000 subject) human papillomavirus (HPV) clinical trial in Northeastern Oklahoma and Arkansas and has partnered with various pharmaceutical companies leading to FDA approvals of both her vaccines and STA testing products. She loves to serve her community, connecting women with health services regardless of health insurance or ability to pay. When she is not in the classroom discussing community health, you’ll find her writing about historical patent medicines and late 1800’s medical treatments related to abnormal psychology. 

OFFICER - PRESIDENT-ELECT
Wendi Middleton, PhD, CHES

Bio coming soon!

OFFICER - IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT

DJ McMaughan, PhD | darcy.mcmaughan@okstate.edu

Dr. DJ McMaughan (they/them) is a disabled scholar in Health Education and Promotion at Oklahoma State University. Their work centers on improving systems using a disability studies and critical health services approach. They’ve taught health education and public health students using Universal Design in Learning and Critical Disability Theory frameworks. Dr. McMaughan is the recipient of the APHA New Scholar Award in Disability (2015) and the Aggie Allies Rainbow Award (2020) for their work in disability and advocacy. They have published and presented disability focused research in peer-reviewed journals and national conferences, and are a professional member of SOPHE, APHA, and the Society for Disability Studies. The guiding principle behind their work is 'nothing about us without us'.

OFFICER - SECRETARY

LaKaija Johnson, PhD, MPH, MPS | lakaijaj@gmail.com

Dr. LaKaija Johnson is a population health scientist, educator, and strategist with over a decade of

experience leading and evaluating the implementation of strategies to build capacity and strengthen infrastructure to advance systems change in academic, government, and non-profit settings. Dr. Johnson currently serves as a Principal Scientist in Team Science at Sage Bionetworks, where she provides leadership on how to implement and evaluate best practices for collaboration building and team science on the Science Coordination & Community Engagement team. Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where she earned a

master’s degree in Public Health, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, where

she earned a master’s degree in public service, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center,

where she earned her PhD in health promotion and disease prevention research. Dr. Johnson’s career is built on a passion for health equity and social justice that she leverages to

identify opportunities to take collective action by implementing innovative evidence-based strategies, programs, and policies to create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive research and practice environments.

Kamisha D. Busby has been working as the Maternal and Child Health Equity and Special Projects Manager for the Oklahoma State Department of Health since December 2019. In this role, she works closely with her colleagues in focusing on the reduction of infant mortality and premature births while empowering families and encouraging healthcare providers to provide quality and equitable care to their clients which she holds dear to her heart. She also serves as the Quality Improvement Coordinator in Maternal and Child Health services addressing maternal health and is active on other community-based committees that focus on Maternal/Child Health including serving as a past Health Care Chair of the Infant Mortality Alliance Health Care Workgroup of Oklahoma County, and current agency lead for the Health Disparities Workgroup of the Oklahoma Maternal Health Taskforce. Having the experience of working for non-profits and local government, Kamisha brings over 16 years of public health and nursing experience and knowledge to the field. In the community, Kamisha continues to serve her community in several capacities. She is a board member of March of Dimes Oklahoma Chapter, Family Builders, Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, and the Stork’s Nest of Oklahoma City. She holds a Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Health Care Administration from Southern Nazarene University, and a Bachelors degree in Public Health and a Bachelors degree Nursing from the University of Central Oklahoma.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE & BOARD GOVERNANCE CHAIR

Katie Qualls Fay, MS, MCHES | katiequalls@ou.edu

Katie Qualls Fay is a proud seventh-generation Oklahoman. She knew she was destined for a career in health education when she was elected to deliver the “Why I Live Tobacco Free” speech at her D.A.R.E Assembly in 6th grade. She works at Goddard Health Center – the on-campus clinic for the University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. She is a health promotion practitioner and adjunct instructor at the University. In her roles, she collaborates with campus agencies, academic departments, student organizations, and administration to provide health education and prevention programming to the campus community. She enjoys teaching undergraduate students pursuing pre-health professions as well as teaching group fitness classes. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in health. Her graduate research used the Integrative Model to study sleep behavior in college students. Outside of work, Katie volunteers with her sorority as a critical conversation facilitator where she travels to college campuses in the US to lead conversations on sexual assault, alcohol skills, and mental health. She serves on the Board of Directors for UShine – a local nonprofit that provides curriculum to improve mental and emotional well-being for youth and young adults. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband Evan and dog Duke and attends every home OU football game.

APHA AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GOVERNING COUNCIL &

PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIR

McKenzie Cowlbeck, MPH, CPH | mckenziecowlbeck@gmail.com

McKenzie Cowlbeck (she/her) is a lifelong Oklahoman who feels passionately about improving the quality of life in her state through equity-centered policy and advocacy. Born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, she graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Math and Sciences and a minor in International Studies from the University of Oklahoma Norman and an MPH in Administration and Policy from the OU Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) Hudson College of Public Health (HCOPH) in Oklahoma City. She is a proud OU Norman and HCOPH alum. Post-grad, McKenzie recently finished her CDC & ChangeLab Solutions Public Health Law Fellow and now works and volunteers for OPHA full-time. She is spearheading OPHA's policy and advocacy efforts as OPHA's Public Policy Committee Chair while also serving as OPHA's Affiliate Representative to the APHA Governing Council (ARGC). McKenzie's dedication and involvement in OPHA stems from her passion to contribute to the betterment of her state so Oklahomans may live the happy, healthy lives they deserve and her belief that OPHA has the potential to be a profound steward of public health in the state. She lives in Norman, Oklahoma with her partner Westin and beloved pup Belle, the second of whom often makes appearances in the Public Policy Committee's virtual meetings.