Meet the interns who supported International HELP from Fall 2025 through Summer 2026 through training development, grant research, health education content creation, and global project preparation.

A volunteer shares her experience traveling to Uganda with IHELP, learning Luganda, connecting with CHWs, and discovering the power of community-centered public health.

Meet International HELP’s Summer 2025 interns! Learn how Jude and Milla are advancing global health through new WASH training materials, program evaluations, partnership development, and grant research.

This semester, our interns are taking on several important projects to expand and support our community health worker (CHW) initiatives. Fatima and Monica are each conducting community assessments, one in Charlotte, NC, and the other in Entebbe, Uganda, to prepare for new CHW trainings in early 2025. They’ll be using tools like key informant interviews, focus groups, logic models, and SWOT analyses to guide their efforts. Jenny is focused on sustainability, supporting our existing CHW groups by developing monthly meeting handouts and agendas, revamping our sustainability plan, and improving our Spanish training materials. Natalie is creating a general assessment and evaluation process for our advanced nutrition certifications and updating our nutrition training materials, while Sam is revamping our assessment process for advanced maternal health certifications and implementing it in Uganda to support an upcoming training.

We are so grateful for this amazing team of interns! Meet each of them below to learn more about their backgrounds and what drives their passion for global health.

Fatima Deleon

I am a Senior Health major with a minor in biology & psychology at UTRGV and will be graduating this December. Originally, I am from Brownsville, Texas and one interesting fact about me is I love to bake and am constantly trying new recipes, for this past Thanksgiving I perfected a key lime pie recipe. I thank the Great British Bake Off for my love of baking. Hopefully, I will make a coconut pie for next Thanksgiving, but we shall see. I have a mountain of thriller books I need to read soon, I have quite the book buying addiction. My current side job is at Uber, which surprisingly does not pay well and generally relies heavily on tips. My future plans after completing my degree in health, I will continue here at UTRGV to obtain my master’s degree in mental health counseling, which is very near and dear to my heart. Some other fun facts are I have a four-year-old crazy orange cat whom I love very much and was a rescue, he is now very spoiled and on a medical diet. He is a skilled killer of all types of stuffed animals from PetSmart and or Target and has recently taken to howling at the neighborhood cats, I am not sure if they are his friends or enemies. I look forward to starting this internship and working with you!

Jenny Alvarado

I recently graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Public Health and Human Ecology. During this internship, I will be in my second year at UT Health Houston, where I am pursuing a Master of Public Health in Community Health Practice. After obtaining this degree, I intend to enroll in a physician assistant program and apply my public health knowledge as a practicing provider. In my free time, I enjoy baking, reading, and spending time with my family. 

Monica Bagous

My name is Monica Bagous, and I am passionate about public health, particularly in disease prevention. I hold an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and am currently pursuing my Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in Health Promotion. As an Egyptian, I have a deep connection to my hometown and dream of contributing to disease prevention efforts there. I believe that if we have knowledge about something, we have a responsibility to share and educate others, breaking the cycle of preventable health issues. I am committed to empowering communities and improving healthcare systems globally through education and collaboration.

Natalie Lezcano

My name is Natalie Lezcano and I am a second-year Master of Public Health student at the University of Florida. I am a proud double Gator-in-progress as I also received my bachelors in Health Education from UF. In addition to my internship, I also work full-time as a Wellness Coordinator for UF Health, helping fellow employees learn how to prioritize their health and well-being. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, writing, playing with my dog Nasa, and building LEGOs. 

Sam Good

My name is Sam and I am an MPH student studying Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Boston University. As a researcher in both chronic and infectious disease pathology, I value International HELP’s commitment to curbing the spread of preventable disease through global health education. During my time as an MPH practicum intern, I hope to contribute useful education materials and thorough program evaluations for the development of sustainable global education programs.

This spring we have 2 incredible new interns joining us for the semester! Olatunde will be helping us develop an advanced training to further educate, empower, and equip our Community Health Workers we have previously trained. Galia will be helping us with our social media accounts to reach a larger audience and share our mission with more people, as well as using analytics to track our interactions and engagement. We also have 2 volunteers joining us as well! Sarah will be working on an advanced maternal health training assessment, and Casee will be improving our training materials. See below what they will be focusing on in more detail, and learn about who they are!

Olatunde (Ola): He will be developing an advanced first aid training, similar to our advanced maternal health and nutrition trainings we have done in the past. He will be creating a first aid certification that covers topics that go beyond what we teach in the initial CHW training on first aid.

Galia: She will be doing more than just creating social media content, she will also be researching the best methods on how to use different platforms and how to expand our reach. Using our analytics on Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms she will help us engage more with our followers and cater our posts to what people like to see the most.

Sarah: She will focus on helping develop an assessment tool for our advanced maternal health certification.

Casee: She will help improve our training materials by adding more practical information for pain management, first aid, and general care based on her physical therapy knowledge and expertise.

Olatunde Oladipupo

I was born in Nigeria and am currently pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with a focus on Epidemiology at the University of Texas Health School of Public Health in Houston. As an International Medical graduate, my goal is to become a Family Physician in the USA. I am deeply committed to utilizing my expertise in Public Health to improve the well-being of underserved communities and enhance the overall health of the population, extending my impact beyond the patients I will care for in the clinic.

Outside of my professional endeavors, I have a strong passion for English Premier League soccer. During my free time, I relish spending quality moments with my wife and children outdoors, enjoying the beauty of the world around us.

Galia Yonaty 

Hi, My name is Galia Yonaty. I am studying graphic design and digital marketing at Santa Monica College. In my free time, I enjoy reading and baking. The organization’s crucial mission of educating communities on treating preventable diseases resonates with me deeply. In my role as a social media intern, I am eager to amplify and share the impactful work that International Help does.

Sarah Poirier

Hi my name is Sarah! I am in the second year of my MPH program at Saint Louis University, COE and I am concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. I have spent the last 9 months working on pre-assessment work with Title V at Vermont’s State Health Department. I am very excited to be working with IHELP for my capstone project and to have the opportunity to have an impact globally. I am passionate about reducing maternal mortality and closing the healthcare gap for historically marginalized communities. I enjoy hiking, trying new coffee shops, and traveling. I’m excited to join the IHELP team!

Casee Yarborough

Hello! My name is Casee. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training and I currently work in injury prevention for airplane mechanics. I am excited to pass along my first aid and healthcare knowledge for the important work that IHELP is doing across the world. When I’m not working, I love being outside, especially if it’s sunny. I am from Fernandina Beach, Florida so I love anything to do with the water: surfing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. On a similar note, I also love to exercise. Some of my favorite ways to stay fit are through weightlifting, yoga, or a team sport, like basketball, soccer, or flag football.

This spring we have 5 incredible new interns joining our team. They will be helping us research for our upcoming projects in Guyana, El Salvador, and Honduras. Here is a list of what each intern will be focusing on this spring semester.

Nevin: Developing and finalizing our advanced certification in nutrition and first aid

Ayodele: Guyana and Curacao: Program planning for 2 new community projects.

Adriana: El Salvador: Program planning for new community project and translation.

Joyce: El Salvador: Program planning for advanced certification with current CHW’s in nutrition. Also, helping with translation and being the point of contact for a few of our current CHW groups

Erin: Honduras: Program planning for a new community project.

Nevin Varghese  

Nevin Varghese is a physician from Texas who enjoys patient care and teaching medicine. He considers himself an
educator and believes that the advancement of global health depends on education and research involving all levels of society. He is also completing Master of Public Health at Benedictine University, a strong interest he developed during the Covid pandemic. The MPH program focuses on health policy, epidemiology, social and behavioral aspects of health, medical ethics, public health education, health and environment, biostatistics, and research methods. He believes that this path will help in advancing global healthcare and eliminate health disparities. Nevin is currently doing an Internship/Practicum with International Help through which he aims to improve global health needs in Central America. Besides medicine, you would find him learning new languages and exploring new cultures. He enjoys watching international movies and documentaries and reading about the universe and space exploration.

Ayodele Tyndall 

Ayodele Tyndall is a Master of Public Health student with a concentration in Nutrition at Liberty University. She is passionate about community education and nutrition intervention. Her interests in disease prevention through good nutrition and healthy lifestyle habits. Her goal is to equip individuals in the community with the knowledge to choose and live healthily.

Adriana Araica 

Adriana Araica was born in Managua, Nicaragua. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Community Health from George Mason University, with a concentration in Global Health. While completing her studies she worked at a small nonprofit dental organization, servicing the indigent population of Northern Virginia. As a Community Health worker for the Fairfax County Health Department, she aided clients to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, she works as a family assistance worker, providing resources to the residents of Fairfax County, as well as finalizing her MPH studies. During her free time, she enjoys reading, watching documentaries, and spending time with her chihuahua, family, and friends.

Joyce Gonzalez 

My name is Joyce Gonzalez. I am originally from New York and have a big family as one of 8 siblings. I am a Navy veteran with over 15 years of navy service. I married a fellow sailor, and we have two beautiful boys, Sebastian (4) and Gabriel (7). I work for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, issuing permits and clearances for wastewater collection systems.   I am currently in the final year of my MPH at the University of Nevada Reno. I enjoy playing video games, reading, and spending quality time with my family in my spare time.

Erin Bates 

Erin Bates is a dentist in upstate New York with a background in private practice dentistry and an interest in global health. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia, she attended the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry. Erin completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and then returned to her home state of Missouri to practice. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health through Liberty University with the aim of utilizing ongoing continuing education to augment her dental practice and enter the academic realm in the future. She is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and the American College of Dentists and enjoys having the opportunity to travel, spending time with her husband, and adventuring in the great outdoors with her dog.

Hello 2023! We are so grateful for all of our 2022 interns. We had a total of nine new interns join the team, as well as a few that stayed with us from previous semesters. We wanted to give you the opportunity to learn more about the people who made this past year possible. With their help we were able to complete nine projects, training over 140 Community Health Workers in El Salvador, Syria, Honduras, and Zimbabwe! Once again we want to say a big thank you and highlight our awesome interns

Fatou Cisse 

My name is Fatou, and I am an MPH student at the University of Miami. My experience consists of 10+ years of non-profit public health experience. My interests are in epidemiology and program development. I became interested in the field by observing inequities in underserved communities along with low levels of health literacy and its effects on the population’s disease conditions and overall health.  I have been involved in founding and consulting a non-profit foundation, supporting community-based programs, and using research data to plan and execute community interventions in underserved populations.

Ashley Richard 

My name is Ashley, and I am studying for my Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health at Saint Louis University. I am passionate about partnering with communities to improve health and well-being, from the people’s perspective. I am excited to join the International HELP team!

Bobongile Nkala

My name is Babongile Blisset Nkala. I am a Registered Nurse and Master of Science in Public Health degree (MPH) candidate. I have vast experience working in TB & HIV research projects in Eswatini and Sierra Leone. I have worked within a variety of settings with diverse contexts thereby, providing me with valuable experiences. I am passionate about working closely with communities in countries with limited resources and various health system gaps to provide sustainable solutions.

Kelda Lee

I am an MPH Candidate at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at GWU. I am also working part-time as a Public Health & Community Development Consultant in Maputo, Mozambique where I currently live.

Kaitlyn Mikalic

Currently, I am a graduate student at Arcadia University in Philadelphia completing a dual MPH and MMS degree. I graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2020 with an undergraduate degree in Health Science. Personally, I enjoy the beach, listening to podcasts, and writing in my planner. Throughout my time in Orlando, I worked and volunteered for various organizations and health care clinics. I found my passion for public health through these experiences as I recognized just how important it is to not only treat diseases acutely but also take an upstream approach to understand the root of the problems people are experiencing. During the first few semesters of my MPH degree, my favorite classes were program planning and communications and through these classes, I’ve gained the knowledge and skills to create communication materials and programs that promote positive health behavior changes. I am very excited to put my new skills to work this spring and to learn even more from my new internship with International HELP. 

Djenabou Diallo

My name is Djenabou Diallo, an MPH in Epidemiology student at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston at the San Antonio Regional Campus. I am originally from Guinea but moved to the United States in 2009. The health and science field has always been an interest of mine from a young age. I was fortunate to attend the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) for my undergraduate studies and earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology there. My undergraduate studies helped me hone in on microbiology and infectious diseases as my fields of interest. After a semester at UTSA graduate program in Microbiology and Immunology, I decided to pursue my master’s in public health. I hope to find my professional fulfilment in the public health field as an infectious disease epidemiologist that intersects research knowledge and advancement with everyday health measures and practice for the betterment of people’s health; be it locally or globally. My hobbies include cooking, visiting parks and museums, sleeping, and volunteering. As a practicum intern with an organization like International HELP who seeks to educate, empower, and equip future health leaders to serve their communities; I wish to take my first steps in public health practice learning as much as I can with a powerful mission and vison centered around sustainability and the communities I serve.    

Riley Connelly

Hi! My name is Riley, and I am a sophomore at Saint Louis University studying Public Health, International Studies, and Spanish. I hope to pursue an MPH in the future with concentrations in Global Health and Biosecurity/Disaster Preparedness. I am passionate about disease prevention, and I am so excited to work with this incredible organization to do just that! In my free time, I enjoy exploring coffee shops, taking outdoor walks, and reading.

Joanna Herrera

My name is Joanna Herrera, new intern for International Help. I have been a Registered Nurse for over 18 years and work in Los Angeles. I grew up in the Northern Virginia area. This is my last year in my Masters in Public Health degree in American Public University System. I love art, traveling, barre, nature walks, and writing.

Alicia Etwaru

Hi! My name is Alicia Etwaru and I am an MPH intern at International HELP. I studied Health Sciences on a pre-med track during undergrad where I was exposed to the field of public health. I am currently completing my 2nd year of the MPH program with a concentration in Urban Health at Northeastern University. I am passionate about community and global health with hopes to improve the health status of underserved communities. I look forward to working with International HELP as we learn from various cultures while educating and empowering individuals to take charge of their health. 

This fall we have a new group of incredible interns helping with a variety of projects over the coming months. Those projects range from finalizing program details for training expansion in rural El Salvador, completing country profiles, and analyzing the needs of the community in Uganda and Zimbabwe, as well as updating and helping develop our Google Classroom software for remote training in Syria. We’re so excited to see all the amazing work they will do and the support they will provide to help us equip, empower, and educate local people around the globe. Welcome to the team!

Bassima Alodini

Hi! I am Bassima and I am from Yemen, which is known as Happy Yemen. I studied medicine and practiced many medical aspects focusing on primary health care. Volunteering and participating with young people and communities are the main drivers of my passion. Then studying global health in Bonn university, enhances my knowledge in empowering communities, organizing and planning projects and trying to manage the environment’s issues. As we need everyone to be healthy, this will not be without treating the unanimous health issues globally, and that is why I am here in this esteemed, valuable organization.

Giselle Correia

My name is Giselle, I live in Houston, Texas. I am currently attending Southern New Hampshire University, completing a Masters in Public Health Program. Global Health is my concentration and I am very excited to be a part of this program.

Kaitlyn Keely

I’m from Washington, IL, which is a small town 2 hours South of Chicago, and have recently moved to just outside of Asheville, NC. I’m currently a Senior at Boston University studying Health Science with hopes to pursue a Law Degree after graduation. In my free time, I love to explore the city of Boston and find new restaurants or sites to see.

Abigail Lipe

Hi! My name is Abigail, and I’m currently finishing up my Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. My area of focus is tropical medicine and infectious disease, with particular interest in HIV and women’s health. Ultimately, after a few years of experience in the field, I hope to continue on to get a PhD in Epidemiology and become a professor of infectious disease!

Deena Ayesh

Deena is currently an undergraduate chemistry student at the University of California, Irvine. She aims to eventually study medicine and achieve her dream of becoming a pediatric intensivist for an international organization such as the World Health Organization of Doctors Without Borders. Alongside her full-time courseload, she works as a Starbucks barista and a freelance artist in her spare time. Her hobbies include human rights advocacy, jewelry-making, and learning different languages. During her internship with International HELP, Deena hopes to gain more insight in the process of addressing disparities for health education programs in underprivileged communities.

This summer we have a new group of interns helping to advance our programs. We will be focusing on implementing a Maternal Health Certification training in El Salvador, creating additional health trainings for our current health workers, and preparing to resume Community Health Worker trainings in El Salvador and Sierra Leone at the end of this year! Additionally, some of our interns are working on the beginnings of new projects in Honduras and in the US. Welcome to the team!

Michala Geraty

Hi there! My name is Michala Geraty. I am one of the undergraduate student interns this summer at International HELP. I am finishing up my third year at Liberty University with a Public Health, Health Promotion major and a Spanish minor. I am so excited for this internship, as I have a real passion for Global Health and fighting disease. I hope to continue in my education and get a Masters of Public Health. I am from Pennsylvania, but I am in Virginia for school and I have loved my time here so far. I can’t wait to see what this summer has in store and all the great work I will have an opportunity to be a part of!

Quin Buisch

I’m currently a rising senior at Long Island University, majoring in Global Studies. I’m interested in global health, cultural sensitivity, and communications. My goal is to work in an intersection of the three to be an agent for change to solve global issues such as ending preventable diseases, world hunger, and period poverty. I am so excited to join the International HELP team this summer as a Social Media/Marketing Intern!

Evelyn Argueta

Hi my name is Evelyn Argueta I am currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, I am also a graduate student at Liberty University, working towards a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health. I received a Bachelors of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas at San Antonio. I have public health volunteer and work experience through a number of organizations including The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Global Health Brigades. Through my practicum at International Help, I hope to apply the skills and knowledge acquired through my graduate education in order to make an impactful and lasting difference in communities abroad.

Madeleine Burkholder

I am currently a student at Saint Louis University in the process of earning a Master of Public Health, and I am concentrating in Global Health and Biosecurity/Disaster Preparedness. I had intended to pursue a medical degree, however, my eyes were opened to the idea of public health when I worked with a diabetes prevention program. After that experience, I knew working to prevent disease was my newfound passion, rather than treating disease. I look forward to learning from International HELP and serving local communities this summer, as I hope to take this experience and my degree to vulnerable communities around the world to aid in disease prevention.

Arushi Ishwar

Hi everyone, my name is Arushi Ishwar and I will be an undergraduate health intern this summer at International HELP! I’m currently living in the greater Philadelphia area and just finished the first year of my undergraduate at Haverford College. I am currently a prospective psychology major and health studies minor on the pre-med track. In the past, I have worked on a few global-health-related endeavors with companies like Child Family Health International and Amnesty International. In my free time, I enjoy baking as well as learning new languages like Spanish and Hindi. I’m very excited to learn more about global health and cultures and assist with International HELP’s mission this summer!

Timothy Ramseyer

I am in the Master of Public Health program at Liberty University online and will finish the degree after completing my practicum. Since seeing the incredible health needs of communities in developing nations while on a mission trip to Nicaragua in High School, I have known that I want to work in the global health sector to develop sustainable solutions to health problems. I graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and will be starting a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology in July 2021. I believe the experience gained through this internship will help me use my training in pathology to increase the availability of medical laboratory services in underserved communities. I am looking forward to working with International HELP, and I believe the projects we work on will contribute meaningfully to the health of the communities served.

Jemima C. Stanley

My name is Jemima C. Stanley, I am a student doctor currently finishing up medical school in the USA. I did my first five years of medical school in China and am originally from Singapore. I am passionate about Global Health and enjoy research as well. I am currently the Vice-Chair of the International Committee at the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association.  I have done a Global Health fellowship with Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children. I have also completed a public health research internship with the Colon Cancer Foundation, which involved working with Dana-farber’s Cancer Institute. I have worked on a couple of volunteering programs with the United Nations regarding WASH projects, telehealth implementation, etc. I have also published a paper through an university-funded research project on IgA Nephropathy and have experience with research on Covid-19 as well. I plan on doing electives in Sri Lanka, India and other countries over the next two years before starting my residency here in the United States. I love debating and participating in water sports recreationally.

Samuel Smejka

My name is Samuel Smejkal and I am currently finishing up my Master of Public Health from the University of Lynchburg. I started the program back in 2017 and in addition to all that has happened this past year, I have seen the need for providing people with knowledge and best practices for keeping individuals and communities healthy. I have a strong passion for educating the public and developing programs that make the most impact on their well being. This goes hand-in-hand with what I am currently working on with International HELP. I am assisting in the development of a Parent Class aimed at Child Safety, continue the development of a Community Health Worker certification program and assisting in the search for funding for these programs. In my time outside of work, I enjoy playing with my children and spending quiet evenings relaxing with my wife while watching one of our shows. I am also an avid disc golfer. I look forward to seeing how much work I can put in with these projects and I can’t wait to see them implemented.

Sureena Mann

As a rising senior at Santa Clara University studying biology and public health, I first became passionate about public health after witnessing the health disparities present in the rural villages my parents had grown up in. I was drawn to International HELP after seeing how this organization is directly working towards decreasing gaps in healthcare access across the globe. I have always been passionate about enacting social change in my own local communities and I hope that I will be able to continue to act on this passion at International HELP. As a Health Intern, I am excited to have the opportunity to help this organization grow by creating training curriculum for community health workers and exploring new ways to expand the current training process to an accessible virtual format.