Meet the team driving change in public and rural health.
With over two decades of expertise across 17+ local, state, and federal health and human services agencies, as well as rural health, public health programs, and academic research, North Highland is uniquely positioned to address today's most pressing public health and rural health challenges.
What sets North Highland apart? Our team members have firsthand experience working within the very agencies we now support, bringing deep expertise in planning and evaluation, program management, grant management, data analytics, policy analysis, care coordination, and information technology. Many team members hold advanced degrees, including Master of Public Health (MPH) credentials, ensuring our solutions are informed by both practical experience and specialized knowledge.
From epidemiologists and health services researchers to community health specialists and policy experts, North Highland delivers comprehensive support to help organizations maximize funding and successfully navigate complex transformations—including mobilization planning, workforce development, and data modernization.
Many organizations we partner with face challenges in financial sustainability, data fragmentation and interoperability, and workforce capability—making it difficult to connect strategy to results. With backgrounds spanning multiple public health domains, we help agencies connect communities with care through data-driven strategies, build resilient infrastructure, and design sustainable systems.
This depth of real-world public health expertise means we don't just advise—we've lived the challenges our clients face. Together, we're creating lasting impact for the people and communities that need it most.
Your mission combined with our expertise creates extraordinary results. Let's talk about how we can make your vision a reality.
Jennifer Elmore, PhD: Dr. Elmore is a strategic public health leader and researcher with 15 years of experience transforming health and human services across state and county governments. With a decade of experience working directly for public and population health agencies, she specializes in strategic planning and evaluation, health programs, maternal and child health, and aging services. She navigates complex systems to deliver measurable outcomes in program effectiveness, organizational performance, and technology transformation. Known for building high-performing teams that turn strategic vision into reality and leading cross-functional public health initiatives that create lasting impact.
Danielle Cote, MPH: Danielle bridges policy and practice, transforming regulatory requirements and business needs into seamless operational processes. She has a Master's degree in Public Health from Brown University, where you learn public health by doing public health. This, coupled with 14+ years of epidemiology experience and VA health services research, brings analytical rigor and real-world problem solving to every project. She is acutely able to put herself in the shoes of her clients. Danielle specializes in managing complex system integration projects through the full SDLC lifecycle, ensuring client initiatives meet deadlines while maintaining state and federal compliance. Her experience spans both rural and urban health systems, giving her a unique lens for identifying root causes and innovating solutions at every level.
Ashley Clinthorne, PhD: Dr. Clinthorne is a data science and AI professional with 15+ years of experience spanning public sector, healthcare, and insurance. With a PhD in Demography and Population Studies and a background in social services, she brings a unique analytical perspective to understanding population trends and translating them into actionable insights. Her consulting work with the CDC and state governments has deepened her expertise in the unique applications and challenges of public health data. She is passionate about harnessing the power of data and emerging AI capabilities to solve complex problems and improve outcomes across public spaces.
Leah Elsmore, MPH: Leah is a public health professional with 13+ years of experience focused on improving access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities. With a Master's degree in Public Health, she has partnered with Rural Health Centers and FQHCs, contributed to federal Medicaid initiatives, and advanced health literacy at major health systems. A skilled facilitator, trainer, and writer, she excels at translating complex health information into clear, accessible content—from patient education materials to strategic planning documents. Through her unique combination of public health expertise, communication skills, and genuine commitment to health equity, Leah supports her clients as they bridge gaps in care and empower communities to achieve better health outcomes.
Katie Williams, MPH: Katie has dedicated 15+ years to advancing community health through food security initiatives, care coordination, and chronic disease prevention. With a Master's degree in Public Health, she specializes in addressing the community conditions that influence health and building programs that create meaningful impact. Her career spans state health departments, nonprofit organizations, and health/social care technology where she has led operations, budgeting, training, and communications. Katie values the impact of public health's reach and is passionate about improving health access and outcomes across all communities.
Shivali Naik, MPA: Shivali brings 16+ years of strategy expertise and 13 years of healthcare transformation experience across public, private, and international health systems. From modernizing state programs to establishing premier clinical services, she specializes in building impactful strategies for a changing healthcare landscape. Her work spans federal health systems, academic medical centers, and major global healthcare partnerships. With a background in policy and a Master's degree in Public Administration, she views public health as essential across local and global development.
Emerging Leaders in Public Health
Public health is constantly evolving, and we're committed to developing the next generation of leaders who will provide expert support for public health agencies today and tomorrow.
- Elizabeth Zimmerman, MPH: Elizabeth is a dedicated and driven public health professional with an MPH and four years of experience in federal, state, and academic settings, focused on public health technology, program evaluation, and strategy. Elizabeth has worked directly with rural health clinics across multiple states to analyze data coverage gaps and accelerated response times to emerging health threats.
- Nicholas Alford, MPH: Nicholas is a rising public health expert and DrPH candidate with an MPH and six years of experience in men's health, chronic disease, policy analysis, and behavioral science. He specializes in public health planning, program evaluation, Medicaid policy analysis, and patient access operations. Nicholas has led statewide health initiatives, managed grants, and supported modernization efforts for public health labs and workforce models.
- Sasha Jenkins-St. Prix, MPH: Sasha combines a research background and an MPH in health policy with four years of experience leveraging evidence-based approaches to inform public health program and policy decisions. She has provided technical assistance to county health departments on expanding Community Health Worker use in rural communities, including developing and annually updating a Community Health Worker resource booklet.
- Cynthia Majeski, MPH: Cynthia brings an MPH with four years of experience and a unique foundation in biochemistry and psychology to her work in community public health and outreach initiatives. She has planned and implemented a prenatal screening program, collecting and analyzing maternal health data, and drafting policy briefs and legislative documents with evidence-based recommendations to improve healthcare delivery systems.
- Kylene Arredondo: Kylene brings 10+ years of experience in public sector and health-related projects, specializing in system modernization, regulatory compliance, and health coverage for underserved communities. She has supported the development, implementation, and testing of critical systems for public and rural health, ensuring proper risk mitigation and successful systems transitions for various state departments.
- Christopher Collisi: Chris brings over eight years of experience supporting specialized state health department programs with a focus on regulatory compliance and system implementation, applying business and economics lenses to public health strategy and operations. He has worked directly with state departments of health on their medical marijuana programs.
- Casimiro Cosme: Casimiro brings three years of professional experience in both the public and private sectors, with a background in environmental studies and organizational change management. He has worked in vector-borne disease prevention education and rural health, with direct experience in systems modernization oversight and quality assurance at a state health and human services agency.
