Meet the professionals and advocates behind the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy at 海角社区
This team leads the training and mentorship of future CHWs, advancing health equity through education, research, and hands-on community work.
(Perla Barajas, Sydni Brown, Alex Saltzman, Amy Nguyen, Libby Harrington, Sheba George, Hector Balcazar)
Sheba George
Title: Director of the CHW Academy
Bio: Dr. Sheba George is the Director of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy and a faculty member in the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine at 海角社区 in Los Angeles. She also serves as Course Director for the 鈥淢edicine and Society鈥� longitudinal pre-clerkship course in the College of Medicine and leads the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP) Pipeline as its Program Director.
Hector Balcazar
Title: Co-Founder
Bio: Dr. Hector Balcazar, Co-Founder and former Director of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy, also served as Dean of the College of Science and Health at 海角社区.
He brings extensive experience in public health education, research, service, and community outreach, particularly in collaboration with community health workers. Dr. Balcazar has authored over 180 publications, including more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Sydni Brown
Title: Master Trainer of the CHW Academy
Bio: Sydni Brown is the Master Trainer of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy at 海角社区. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2021 and began her journey with the Academy as an intern shortly after graduation.
Since then, Sydni has built extensive experience in community health initiatives, fueling her commitment to training future Community Health Workers. Her public health interests include maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, health equity, and the social determinants of health. She remains passionate about advocating for underserved communities and is dedicated to supporting the continued growth and impact of the CHW Academy.
Alex Saltzman
Title: Program Coordinator
Bio: Alex brings a wealth of experience in case management, housing navigation, and working with vulnerable populations, including unhoused folks and foster youth. He is particularly interested in primary prevention and integrated care approaches to crisis management.
At the CHW Academy, Alex is excited to further deepen his understanding of community health work and connect with others who share a commitment to improving health outcomes for underserved communities.
Outside of work, Alex is an avid wildlife photographer and enjoys expressing creativity through rap and poetry.
Perla Barajas
Title: Program Coordinator
Bio: Perla earned her BA in Human Biology in 2021. Most recently, she served as a case manager at an FQHC which provided her valuable clinical experience that will contribute to the growth and development of the CHWA.
Perla has a passion for public health initiatives, including community health work. She is passionate about Health Equity, addressing Social Determinants of Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and other social justice issues that intersect with public health.
In her free time, Perla likes to go camping and spend time with her dogs.
Libby Hartigan
Title: Program Manager
Bio: Libby manages the Academy’s training, development, and communications. With eight years of experience in managing a paraprofessional training program, she is excited about training Community Health Workers and addressing health disparities.
Libby鈥檚 personal interests include art, meditation, and cooking
Team members of Providence
Justin Joe
Title: Director of Community Health Department
Justin Joe is the Director of Community Health Investment for three of Providence鈥檚 Los Angeles hospitals: Saint John鈥檚, Little Company of Mary Torrance, and Little Company of Mary San Pedro. Justin has over 10 years of experience working at Providence, overseeing community benefit programs that address needs in underserved neighborhoods.
Throughout his career at Providence, Community Health Workers (CHWs) have played a vital role in the success of programs he has implemented to address social determinants of health. He believes CHWs are essential members of care teams who help bridge the gap between the health care system and the local community.
Juan Mendez
Title: Manager of Community Health
Bio: With over 13 years of administrative experience in the community health sector, Juan Mendez has been a key contributor in the development of many community health initiatives aimed to reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Since joining Providence Health & Services in 2006, he has led programs and teams that support early learning education, chronic disease self-management, and access to preventive health services. Currently the Manager of Community Benefits and Vasek Polak health clinic at Providence, Juan serves as a liaison between health services and the community to facilitate access to quality health care in vulnerable populations.
Juan is dedicated to employee growth and development and is an active proponent of advancing the Community Health Worker Workforce and its integration into healthcare systems. He completed his undergraduate degree in Social Work in 2004 from Cal State Long Beach and obtained his MPH in Urban Health Disparities from Charles Drew University in 2018.
Rosalva Salazar
Title: Project Manager
Rosalva Salazar manages the development of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Academy at 海角社区. Her work is supported by the California Community Reinvestment Grant Program, Cedars-Sinai, UniHealth Foundation, and the Hilton Foundation. She leads efforts to grow and sustain the Academy within clinical settings, ensuring high-quality training and support for aspiring Community Health Workers.
