ASPPH is pleased to welcome our first ASPPH/USDA Rural Health Fellow, Tamara Telles, MPH (University of Nevada, Reno School of Public Health). Ms. Telles recently began her fellowship with the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Health division.

During the fellowship, she will help to lead the development of tools to better explain USDA rural health programs in order to enhance access to them. These tools will be used by federal and non-federal partners. Ms. Telles will also prepare and implement USDA rural health initiatives and strategies while building and maintaining relationships across USDA and with their partners. This fellowship is the first of its kind to be offered by ASPPH.

“My passion, experiences, and understanding of the importance of leveraging unique strengths that rural communities share to address inequities and disparities led me to apply for the ASPPH/USDA Rural Health Fellowship,” states Ms. Telles.

“With mentorship and guidance from the Rural Health Liaison within USDA Rural Development, I look forward to working within a federal agency and bolstering the skills needed to lead projects; create, disseminate, and establish accessible resources; and cultivate necessary relationships with diverse partners, stakeholders, and inter agencies to influence an equity lens at my highest potential. This ASPPH/USDA Rural Health Fellowship will further my professional trajectory as well as my personal goals and commitments to implement health policy initiatives, administer innovative approaches, and inspire community mobilization to reduce health disparities and enhance health equity in rural communities and developing countries.”

ASPPH looks forward to working with Ms. Telles and USDA Rural Development as we move forward with this important program.

Learn more about the ASPPH/USDA Rural Health Fellowship Program. Please email any questions to TrainingPrograms@aspph.org.