Chronic Disease Directors Orientation Cohort 1
September 8-29, 2021
Karol Fink, MS, RDN
Section Chief, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
State of Alaska, Division of Public Health / karol.fink@alaska.gov
Karol Fink, MS, RDN is the chief for the State of Alaska section of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion which also houses programs to address unintentional injury and substance misuse and prevention. Her job is to lead a team of public health experts who ensure Alaskans live free from injury, substance misuse and diseases caused by tobacco, physical inactivity and poor nutrition such as diabetes, heart disease, and many cancers. As a public health practitioner she has published on a variety of topics including student obesity prevalence, sugary drink consumption and school lunch and physical activity outcomes. She has over 20-years of experience as a public health practitioner implementing interventions, developing trainings and associated education materials for health professionals, conducting epidemiological evaluation and disseminating finding.
Shannon Gopaul
Chronic Disease Division Chief
District of Columbia Department of Health / shannon.gopaul@dc.gov
Shannon Gopaul, MPH, PMP serves as the Chronic Disease Division Chief for DC Health and oversees program strategy, development and implementation. Ms. Gopaul has over a decade of experience managing, implementing, and supporting clinical research in chronic and infectious diseases in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area. Within the fields of clinical research and public health program management, Ms. Gopaul has extensive experience in community engagement and addressing health disparities.
Lily Helzer, MPH
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Section Manager
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services / lhelzer@health.nv.gov
Lily Helzer is a Native Nevadan and has worked in public health with the State of Nevada for the past 10 years. She has experience in Maternal and Child Health and Immunizations but mostly in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. She has served as the Chronic Disease Director for Nevada for a year now. She lives in Reno, Nevada with her family, trying to spend as much time in the mountains as possible.