Our Alumni
PopFam has launched the careers of more than 2,000 public health changemakers across the globe. This vibrant community of nonprofit pioneers, policymakers, academics, scientists, and health innovators is working on the frontlines to drive change and improve lives—everywhere, for everyone. Meet our 50 Amazing Alumni recognized as part of our 50th Anniversary celebration.
Learn more about six of our Amazing Alumni below.
Tsion Firew, MD, MPH '17, Chair of Emergency Medicine at Africa Health Sciences University, Rwanda
Dr. Tsion Firew is a force in global health, combining frontline grit with strategic vision to build responsive and equitable emergency care systems in low- and middle-income countries where they’re needed most. As chair of emergency medicine at Africa Health Sciences University, she helped with the efforts in Rwanda’s rapid response to its first Marburg virus outbreak in 2024, navigating fear, urgency, and uncertainties with precision and resolve.
Jijo James, MD, MPH ’01, Chief Medical Officer for Johnson & Johnson MedTech & Interventional Oncology
Dr. James’ expertise spans across the consumer, medtech and pharmaceutical segments of the healthcare industry where he brings a passion for public health and safety science innovation to advance population health. After several years of being an active leader within the Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC), he was honored to be appointed as chair of the board of directors and serve for several years. MDIC is a groundbreaking public-private partnership dedicated to advancing medical device regulatory and safety science for patient benefit.
Bhavik Kumar, MD, MPH '15, Chief Medical Officer, Planned Parenthood Greater Ohio
Despite relentless and numerous attacks on access to abortion and trans care, Dr Kumar has continued to show up for his patients and honor their choices and their humanity. For Dr Kumar it is a privilege to do this work in Ohio, and in Texas and Louisiana. One of the highlights of his career was being invited to the White House to meet with Vice President Harris to engage in a roundtable discussion about abortion access.
Neha Mankani, MPH '12, Founder of Mama Baby Fund and Humanitarian Engagement and Climate Advisor, International Confederation of Midwives
As a midwife working in Pakistan, Neha’s clinical practice serves a severely climate-affected coastal island community off of Karachi. Through the Mama Baby Fund, Neha provides free, high-quality maternal and newborn healthcare to families who would otherwise have no access to services — transforming the maternal health landscape as the only provider of comprehensive maternity care along this stretch of coast. Neha is especially grateful that she has been able to carry the lessons from this frontline work into her role at the International Confederation of Midwives, where she collaborates with midwives and professional associations globally at the intersection of midwifery, maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), climate change, and humanitarian settings. Neha’s work focuses on capacity development, advancing knowledge equity, strengthening preparedness and response, and advocating for the critical role of midwives in building resilient health systems.
In October 2025, Neha was recognized on the TIME100 Climate 2025 list for her leadership at the intersection of climate resilience and maternal health.
Carolyn (Cari) Olson, MPH ’04, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Cari specializes in environmental health, climate health policy, and applied data. In summer 2020, in response to the combined threats of COVID-19 and extreme heat, New York City (NYC) implemented an emergency program to distribute free air conditioners (ACs) called Get Cool NYC. Playing an integral role in making this program happen is one of the highlights of her career with the Health Department, and she’s particularly proud of her efforts to expand recruitment for Get Cool to include collaboration with local community and faith-based organizations.
Shaila Tieken, MS ’23, Senior Research Associate, PUSKAPA
With a bold, interdisciplinary approach that bridges public health and criminology, Shaila’s work challenges institutional silos to address the complex, intersecting forces shaping children’s health and well-being. At PUSKAPA, Universitas Indonesia, Shaila leads research and advocacy that amplifies children’s voices and promotes institutional accountability. Shaila’s work has directly informed national policy, driving reforms in Indonesia’s juvenile justice system and shaping the country’s child rights monitoring framework. Currently, Shaila’s work is focused on reframing child marriage and sexual violence as urgent public health priorities, pushing for holistic, preventive strategies that center girls’ safety, dignity, and futures.