Sharlene E. Edwards, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC started her career in public health in 2002 as a Project Coordinator for the Rapid Assessment Response and Evaluation (R.A.R.E) Project in Manatee County to assess and describe the dynamics of local HIV/AIDS transmission in the community. It was from here that Sharlene developed a love for Communicable Diseases and Public Health. Sharlene spent 18 years working for the Florida Department of Health, gathering experience in the areas of: STIs, Epidemiology, Preparedness, TB Control, Immunization, and Management. Currently Sharlene serves as a Public Health Advisor for National STI programs, adjunct faculty at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, and lead public health consultant for My Better Living Health & Wellness Consulting, LLC. She has extensive experience in coordinating local strategic planning efforts to improve community health and bringing partners together from various sectors to collaborate towards better health outcomes. She has over two decades of experience in health education, strategic planning, public health evaluation, and community health improvement planning. Sharlene is passionate about health promotion and prevention for those who suffer from health disparities and health inequities. She is heavily involved with community grass roots organizations that work to promote and improve health outcomes within black and brown communities.

Luke Johnsen, DO, focuses on program design, implementation and data collection while still providing patient care in the areas of Public Health concerns, STDs and HIV. He currently assists with the design and implementation of less provider-focused and more technology-based methods of PrEP delivery, such as PrEP via Telemedicine and same day walk in PrEP, while shifting from a provider model to utilizing more peer navigation resources. He has provided STD clinical and epidemiological training for medical residents and fellows at Johns Hopkins University as well as given presentations to other medical professional and to members of the community. He has a strong interest in HIV prevention particularly in communities with limited resources or with historically poor uptake of preventive measures.

Julie Mastry, Ed. D., is a career educator, community leader, mentor, and active participant in supporting and organizing local philanthropic events. Currently she is serving as principal of Pinellas MYcroSchool Charter High School, a credit recovery school for students who are behind in credits, or have dropped out of school and still want to earn a high school diploma. For over 5 years, Julie has volunteered weekly at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital pediatric NICU. She serves on several Boards, including Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, SAH Clinical Excellence Committee of the Board. Additionally, Julie is heavily involved in the charity bearing her mother’s name, The Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation. Since 2003, CMOCF has provided financial support to women fighting ovarian cancer, as well as working locally, nationally and internationally to promote and advocate for ovarian cancer research.

Stephen Marlin, MPH, CPH, is currently serving as the Research and Surveillance program manager for the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. With a background rooted in public health, Stephen has played a crucial role in shaping the local response to public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked with the ESF-8 coordinated outbreak response team while completing his master's degree curriculum at the University of South Florida. After accepting a position as a lead surveillance epidemiologist for DOH-Pinellas, Stephen applied his expertise to epidemiological reporting and analysis to address issues such as COVID-19, tuberculosis, HIV, STIs, and behavioral health. In 2022, he created a research project examining the role that social determinants might have played on COVID-19 case severity in Pinellas. Stephen is an active collaborator with the Community Research Advisory Board, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in research initiatives, and ensuring that public health efforts are inclusive and representative. Stephen is primarily interested in advancing public health research and improving epidemiological surveillance at both the county and regional levels.

Maria Pinzon, MA, is the Executive Director of the Hispanic Services Council and has served in this position since 1996. Ms. Pinzon has extensive experience in community and public health and has a deep understanding and background beyond health care access issues to include health equity models. As Executive Director of Hispanic Services Council, Ms. Pinzon has actively pursued partnerships with the broader health system through outreach efforts and participation in various community advisory boards. Prior to coming to Hispanic Services Council, Ms. Pinzon served as Director of Programmatic Operations for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and Outreach Coordinator for the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO). Ms. Pinzon has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Furman University and a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University.