Daniel Sledge, PhD | daniel-sledge@ouhsc.edu

Daniel Sledge is a scholar of public health and health policy. He received his PhD from Cornell University and is an Associate Professor in the Hudson College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. His work deals with issues including the opioid epidemic, public policy and communicable disease, disaster response and recovery, and the development of public health institutions. His research has appeared in publications including the American Journal of Public Health, JAMA, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), and Policy History. His article “Linking Public Health and Individual Medicine” won the best paper award from AJPH. He is passionate about improving public health and about understanding the ways in which public policies impact the day-to-day lives of individuals and communities.

EXECUTIVE BOARD – PAST-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. 

EXECUTIVE BOARD – SECRETARY
Gracie Pearcy, MPH | she/her | gracie.pearcy14@gmail.com

Gracie Pearcy (she/her) is a dedicated advocate for equitable healthcare, driven by her background in community health and health promotion. She earned her undergraduate degree in Community Health from The University of Oklahoma, followed by a master's degree from Hudson College of Public Health, specializing in health promotion. In her current role as the Community Health Worker Training Coordinator at the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Gracie is deeply committed to addressing disparities in healthcare access. She passionately believes in the importance of wellness and effective health communication as fundamental pillars of community well-being. Beyond her professional endeavors, Gracie is an enthusiastic public speaker and educator, regularly sharing her expertise to empower others to prioritize their health.

In her leisure time, she finds joy in exploring new destinations through travel, maintaining an active lifestyle with exercises she enjoys, and cheering on her beloved OU sports teams with a resounding "Boomer!"

A native of Oklahoma, Kamisha D Busby is currently working as the Maternity and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Manager of Case Management for Oklahoma Complete Health. In this role, she works closely with her colleagues, focusing on the reduction of infant mortality and premature births; and maternal health while empowering families and encouraging healthcare providers to provide quality and equitable care to their clients, which she holds dear to her heart. 

She is active on other community-based committees that prioritize health, including serving as a past agency lead for the Health Disparities Workgroup with the Oklahoma Maternal Morality Taskforce, Health Care Chair of the Infant Mortality Alliance Health Care Workgroup of Oklahoma County, and a current board member and officer of the Oklahoma Public Health Association. Having worked for non-profits and local government, Kamisha brings over 19 years of public health and nursing experience and knowledge to the field.

Kamisha continues to serve her community in several capacities. She is a board member of March of Dimes Oklahoma Chapter, Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, the Stork’s Nest of Oklahoma City, and the Oklahoma State Director of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She holds several awards and recognitions for her impact within her work and the community, including being recently honored by the Oklahoma Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated’s 2023 MiLady Award recipient. She holds a Masters in Business Administration with a focus in Health Care Administration from Southern Nazarene University, a Bachelors degree in Public Health, and a Bachelors degree in Nursing from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is married to Joshua A Busby and is the proud mother of Cobie, Kara, and Joshua II.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Jessica Imotichey, MPH, MLS | jessica.imotichey@chickasaw.net

Jessica Imotichey received her Masters in Public Health, with a focus in Health Administration & Policy, from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and her Masters in Legal Studies in Indigenous People’s Law from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. She has spent much of her career working on American Indian health policy issues and currently serves as the Health Policy & Legislative Analyst for the Chickasaw Nation. In her free time, Jessica enjoys camping throughout the various National Parks.  

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Katie Qualls Fay, MS, MCHES | katieqfay@gmail.com

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 program assembly in 6th grade. She's now working for the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline with the TSET Health Promotion Research Center on the OUHSC campus. She's still telling people why she lives tobacco free (and you should too!). Katie is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in health. She also holds a Master Certified Health Education Specialist certification.

Outside of work, Katie volunteers with her sorority as a critical conversation facilitator where she travels to college campuses in the U.S. 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.

SECTION & CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVE

Wendy Frankenburger MPH, CHES, CPH | wendy.frankenburger@gmail.com

Wendy chose public health because she believes in equitable access to health care for all individuals. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and Certified in Public Health after receiving a BS from Oklahoma State University and an MPH from the OU Health Sciences Center-Hudson College of Public Health. Her focus is on reducing barriers to care, addressing social determinants of health, advocacy, education and making connections to improve health outcomes. In her current role as the community benefit manager at Ascension St. John, she is involved with community engagement opportunities and oversees a small grant program. She tracks initiatives, programs, services and activities provided by the organization’s six hospitals that address the health-related needs of the community, including those identified through the Hospital's Community Health Needs Assessments as she leads the CHNA and implementation process. Prior to that, she worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Health for over 6 years as a county health educator. She is the current Chair of the PHEHP section of OPHA, involved in many community coalitions,  the THD CHIP and the Chronic Disease and Risk Factors and Management group and serves on the board of Caring Community Friends in Sapulpa. She lives in Tulsa with her husband and two daughters and enjoys cycling, traveling, and cooking.

SECTION & CAUCUS REPRESENTATIVE

Rachel Liebe, PhD, MPH | she/her | rachel.liebe@okstate.edu 

Rachel Liebe (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Oklahoma State University. She received her PhD and MPH from Virginia Tech. Her work focuses on the non-nutritional factors impacting nutrition behaviors and health equity. She is interested in exploring innovative policy, system, and environmental changes to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities. Currently, she is focused on the relationship between food security and mental health among mothers and the role of poverty stigma and psychological coping. She has presented her research at multiple national and international conferences. She is passionate about making system-level changes to support the health of all Oklahomans. Bio coming soon!

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

Sara Low, MPH, CPH | saral@tset.ok.gov 

Sara Low is originally from Lawton, OK. She earned her Master of Public Health from the Hudson College of Public Health (HCOPH) at the University of Oklahoma. Sara is currently a Senior Program Manager for community programs at the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). Prior to joining TSET, she worked on community health improvement projects at state and local levels through her work with the Oklahoma City Planning Department, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Stephenson Cancer Center, and The Mine OKC (a program of the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth at the University of Oklahoma). She has participated in various public health committees and partnerships and is currently a member of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Committee. In 2022, the HCOPH honored Sara with the Young Alumni Professional Award for Interdisciplinary Public Health. Passionate about health equity and access, particularly in rural areas, Sara is committed to shaping healthier futures for all Oklahomans. Sara lives in Oklahoma City with her husband, Will, their daughter, and their cat. In her free time, she enjoys singing karaoke (poorly and only at home), traveling, and spending time with her family.

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

Melissa Simms, RN, MEd, CCM | she/her | melissa.simms@health.ok.gov

Melissa Simms (she/her) is a lifelong Oklahoman born and raised in Lawton, Oklahoma.  She is a driven, dedicated community advocate that works diligently to support and promote health and wellness in her community and throughout the state. She received her ADN from Western Oklahoma State College, BSN from Oklahoma City University and Masters in Education Specializing in Wellness from North Central University. Understanding that wellness is multi-faceted, Melissa trains and works in several sectors to improve and promote individual, community and organizational health and wellness. She is active in her community, supporting organizations and purposes that prioritize health. Melissa lives in Lawton with her husband, three sons, daughter and plethora of animals. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, yoga, adventuring, learning new skills and spending time with her family.

STUDENT CAUCUS CHAIR

Florah Aluoch, MPH(c), BDS | florah.aluoch@okstate.edu

Florah was born and raised in Kenya and recently moved to Oklahoma. She is a full-time master’s student in Public Health at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater Campus. Her research interests focus on nutrition, mental health, addiction, and healthcare. She previously worked with several non-profit, and community-based organizations in Kenya. During that time, she was implementing several projects in rural communities, working closely with Community Health Workers and several Health facilities to improve the health and well-being of marginalized rural communities and households ensuring they get proper nutrition and health care. She holds a bachelor’s degree in development studies with a focus on Community Health. She is passionate about health and hopes to continue contributing to public health here in Oklahoma. In her free time, she enjoys learning new skills, creating beautiful spaces, and spending time with her new close friends who have become family.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & 

APHA AFFILIATE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE GOVERNING COUNCIL (outgoing)

McKenzie Cowlbeck MPH, CPH | she/her | mckenziecowlbeck@gmail.com

McKenzie Cowlbeck (she/her) is a lifelong Oklahoman born and raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma. She is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Oklahoma, obtaining a BS in Math and Sciences and an MPH in Health Policy. Post-grad, McKenzie was in the first cohort of the CDC & ChangeLab Solutions Public Health Law Fellowship, focusing on policy surveillance, and continued leading OPHA's policy, advocacy, and administrative revitalization through a mix of consulting and volunteering. She also accepted the appointment to serve as OPHA's Affiliate Representative to the APHA Governing Council (ARGC). As of September 2024, McKenzie OPHA's full-time staffed Executive Director. In this capacity she will continue to lead OPHA's policy and organizational revitalization, focusing on process building, attracting funders, and improving member experience and benefits for OPHA's long-term sustainability. She feels passionately about improving the quality of life in her state through just public health policy and advocacy, people-focused and sustainable organizational development, and activating Oklahoma's public health students and workforce.

McKenzie lives in Norman with her partner Westin and beloved dog Belle. She is a major foodie, loves locally roasted coffee, and enjoys birding and listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks on repeat in her free time.