Staff

Charmaine Ruddock, MS – Project Director

As the project director for Bronx Health REACH, Charmaine Ruddock is responsible for the day to day operations of the project, which includes overseeing community based prevention initiatives and public policy efforts. Since joining the Institute in 2000, Ms. Ruddock has worked with consultants, community groups, local government, and national organizations to implement Bronx Health REACH programs. She is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the National REACH Coalition and is a member of the steering committee of the National Health Equality Coalition. Ms. Ruddock also sits on the Advisory Board of CUNY’s Lehman College MPH program and is a senior fellow at Hunter College’s Center for Health, Media, and Policy. In 2009, Ms. Ruddock was invited by CDC to present on the work of Bronx Health REACH at the World Health Organization Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. Prior to joining the Institute, Ms. Ruddock administered health care services to underserved communities for more than 10 years, and was involved in the design, development, and operation of managed care organizations serving communities in New York City, Long Island and Connecticut.

Rachel Ingram – Senior Program Manager

As the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program Manager, Rachel oversees and initiates activities related to the 2018-2023 Towards a Healthier Bronx REACH Grant to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy food in diverse community settings in the Bronx. She currently manages nutrition and physical activity programs within the IFH health centers, Bronx-based meal serving organizations, faith-based organizations, and other related programs. Rachel co-coordinates the outreach strategy to public policy makers at the federal, state and local levels. Previously, she implemented a Vegetable and Fruit Rx Prescription Program to increase access and consumption of fruits and vegetables for over 600+ patients at three health centers within the South Bronx. Rachel has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Silberman School Work at Hunter College, a Master of Education from Hunter College and a bachelor’s degree from Rowan University. She was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.

Kelly Moltzen, MPH, RD – Program Manager

As Program Manager for Bronx Health REACH’s Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) program, Kelly Moltzen manages the development and implementation of evidence-based policies, place-based strategies, and promising practices to increase demand for and access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for daily physical activity in schools and early childhood education settings. She works with a broad array of stakeholders on Complete Streets project, food justice issues and serves as principal liaison to the New York State Department of Health. In addition to Ms. Moltzen’s role as CHSC Program Manager, she co-chairs Bronx Health REACH’s Nutrition and Fitness Workgroup and our policy engagement efforts with elected officials and policy makers.

Immaculada Moronta, MIM – Program Coordinator

As the Program Coordinator for Bronx Health REACH, Immaculada Moronta oversees the work of the faith based outreach initiative. The programmatic focus includes increasing access to healthy food and nutrition through the distribution and redemption of NYCDOHMH Health Bucks ($2 coupons used at NYC farmers markets), creation of the Boogie Down Walking clubs, and the Racism and Our Health series focused on addressing racism as a determinant of health. She also manages the Food Service guidelines at several faith based organizations.

Michael Johnson – Communications Associate

As the Communications Associate for Bronx Health REACH, Michael Johnson is responsible for all communications and marketing of the organization which includes all Bronx Health REACH’s social media channels and website, and securing media and press coverage of all initiatives. Michael also coordinates all communications and marketing efforts with Bronx Health REACH partners.

Joseph Ellis – Outreach Coordinator/Community Health Worker

As the Outreach Coordinator/Community Health Worker Joseph Ellis coordinates the Vegetable & Fruit Prescription Program at the Institute for Family Health’s Stevenson Family Health Center, Mt. Hope Family Practice, and Walton Family Health Center. He assists patients in making healthier decision regarding vegetables, fruits, and other healthy alternatives with walking tours to and from local supermarkets, bodegas and vegetable carts. Joseph also provides assistance in disseminating information on various health issues to the churches in the Bronx Health REACH Coalition.

Moria Byrne-Zaaloff, MPH – Program Manager

Moria is the Program Manager of the CDC-sponsored COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Initiative. This vaccination campaign aims to increase the number of people getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines in the Bronx. As manager, Moria works with many churches, mosques, schools and community-based organizations to address concerns about COVID-19 illness and flu and vaccines and barriers to vaccination access in the Bronx community. She currently co-chairs the Vaccine Community Advisory Board with Charmaine Ruddock to create community-driven program planning, implementation and evaluation processes. Previously, Moria spent more than 3 years working on the Creating Healthy Schools & Communities program where she helped schools develop and implement evidence-based policies, place-based strategies, and promising practices to increase demand for and access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for daily physical activity. She worked with 91 schools in the South Bronx, offering training, technical assistance, resources and connections to school-based programs. She coordinated the development and implementation of two programs in Bronx schools, the Don’t Stress Eat Fresh and a countermarketing curricula and campaigns. These programs connected healthy eating to the school environment on campus and near school grounds. In addition to Moria’s role as Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools & Communities program, she supervised FoodCorps members (2016-2021), co-chaired Bronx Health REACH’s School-based Nutrition and Fitness Workgroup, and assisted in the development and evaluation of nutrition-related programs. She also spent two years working with CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute on a study seeking to determine the effectiveness of a countermarketing curriculum and messaging to reduce youth demand for sugar-sweetened beverages. Moria was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Laguna, Philippines.

Kenny Escobar, MPH – Nutrition and Physical Activity Coordinator

As the Nutrition and Physical Activity Coordinator for Bronx Health REACH, Kenny organizes activities related to improving health, preventing chronic disease, and reducing health disparities among Bronx residents. He works closely with faith-based institutions, meal serving organizations, health centers, NYC agencies, and other organizations in the Bronx to implement policy, systems and environmental changes. Kenny has a Master of Public Health and bachelor’s degree from Cornell University.

Diana Bernal, MPH – Program Coordinator

As the Program Coordinator for the Creating Healthy Schools & Communities program, Diana Bernal provides technical assistance and resources to schools in order to facilitate strategies, supplementary programming, and design that supports and sustains physical activity and nutrition, as well as assessing and improving implementation of the Department of Education (DOE) Wellness Policy and Local Wellness policies in schools. She also works with program partners to implement Foodservice Guidelines (FSGs) within worksites and community settings; improve policies, practices, and environments for physical activity and nutrition in Early Care and Education (ECE) settings; and implement community planning and active transportation interventions to increase safe and accessible physical activity. Diana has a Master’s Degree in Public Health with a concentration in Community Health Education from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy and a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Diana has experience as a health educator and youth advocate and has worked with underserved communities in different settings, ranging from after school programs to community centers.

Eve Plotka, MPH – Grant Administrator and Policy Analyst

Eve Plotka, MPH, is Grant Administrator and Policy Analyst for the Bronx Health REACH Coalition at the Institute for Family Health. She co-coordinates the outreach strategy to public policy makers at the federal, state and local levels and is responsible for coordinating budgets and other financial aspects of several of BHR’s grants. She also works on developing policy efforts of the #Not62 campaign, by participating in the Health Disparities Workgroup Subcommittee, helping partners and the community build their asks of elected officials, and communicating directly with the offices of elected officials based on these asks. Prior to working at Bronx Health REACH, Eve worked in healthcare as a medical secretary and volunteered in local political campaigns. She has a BA in Political Science from Arcadia University and an MPH from New York University.

Cheikhou Oumar Ann – Community Health Worker

Mr. Oumar provides direct education and outreach with a focus on West African and Muslim communities. He collaborates with faith-based groups and others to adapt messaging as needed; complete street-level outreach and face covering distribution in high-traffic areas; and provide additional direct support to in-person and virtual events, materials distribution and community education activities.