Building the future
…of global public health
REACH Fellows
REACH fellows are problem solvers in public health preparedness. They are leaders who can find structure and set priorities amid chaos and uncertainty. They are innovators driven to find practical solutions to complex public health emergencies. They are collaborative yet decisive when humanity is faced with threats to health. And they are relentless in their pursuit of building resilient health systems.
Current Fellows

Obed Ohia
Administrator for Strategy and Operations, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Obed Ohia leads enterprise-wide initiatives to improve the way patients are cared for, with a primary focus on operational transformation through technology and the alignment of clinical and operational enterprises. With a background in public health and over seven years of experience in this space, Obed has developed data-driven tools that streamline care progression and enable proactive planning for providers and patients. These decision-support systems help reduce barriers, optimize patient flow, and enhance real-time responsiveness. Obed holds an MPH in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University. Beyond clinical operations, you can often find him reading, watching, or playing soccer somewhere in the city.

Ariel Contreras
Practice Manager of Multi-Specialty Outpatient Practices, Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Ariel is a proud Washington Heights native whose upbringing in the vibrant uptown Manhattan neighborhood inspires a lifelong passion for improving healthcare access and equity across New York City. Over the course of a decade-long career at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Ariel has held multiple roles ranging from frontline support services, Operations Supervisor at the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic, and currently Practice Manager of multi-specialty outpatient practices at Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. This progression has given him a unique perspective on the healthcare industry and its challenges, allowing him to lead both with empathy and strategy. Guided by his transformational and servant leadership styles, Ariel has successfully led teams through dynamic changes, streamlined workflows, enhanced patient access, all while emphasizing the importance of building resilient and high performing teams. Additionally, Ariel holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Neuroscience from CUNY Brooklyn College and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Arizona State University. Outside of his professional endeavors, Ariel has a rotating door of hobbies including ceramics, traveling, and fashion.

Katie Praino
Director of Care Coordination and Social Work, NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
Katie is a 16-year veteran of the New York Presbyterian Health System. Throughout her tenure at NYPH, she has been an advocate for vulnerable populations, ensuring they get the care they need in the hospital and the resources to be safe and healthy when they return home. Katie began her career at New York Presbyterian Cornell Medical Center as a Clinical Social Worker in 2009. Her front-line experience has made her an impactful leader whose patient centered approach to care has made a difference in many patients’ lives. Additionally, Katie serves on the Board of Directors for Gramatan Village, a non-profit organization that supports seniors aging well in their community. She is also a founding member of Women in Senior Healthcare (W.I.S.H.), a non-profit organization of professional women in the healthcare field, focused on education and planning for seniors. Katie earned her BSW and MSW from New York University. She holds certifications in Case Management and Case Management Administration from the American Case Management Association and the Commission for Case Management.

Matthew Regan
Pediatric-to-Adult Heart Transplant Coordinator, NewYork-Presbyterian
Matthew is an experienced healthcare professional specializing in heart transplant coordination, with a strong commitment to patient-centered care and health equity. In his current role at, he serves as the facilitating complex post-transplant pathways for young adults transitioning into the adult heart transplant program. He acts as a critical liaison between patients, families, and multidisciplinary clinical teams, ensuring timely, compassionate, and efficient care throughout the transplant continuum. Mr. Regan holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Connecticut State University (2008) and a master’s degree in Operational Leadership from Quinnipiac University (2022). Prior to joining NewYork-Presbyterian in 2017, he worked as a cardiothoracic intensive care nurse at Danbury Hospital, where he developed a strong foundation in critical care and transplant medicine. In addition to his clinical work, Mr. Regan is an active contributor to the academic community, with published research in professional journals focusing on transplant coordination, patient-centered care, and healthcare equity.

Danielle Maring
Clinical Service Line Director Women’s Health and Pediatrics, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Danielle is a healthcare administrator with more than 10 years of experience in leading teams, optimizing hospital operations, and driving service line growth. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Nutrition with a concentration in Public Health and an MBA in Healthcare Management. Currently, Danielle serves as the Service Line Director for Women’s Health and Pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where she oversees strategy, program development, and service expansion across both specialties. Her passion for women’s health is both professional and deeply personal. Danielle is committed to advancing models of care that prioritize safety, access, and emotional support for women at every stage of life, while also strengthening pediatric services that promote coordinated, family-centered care. Through her work, she strives to build stronger bridges between communities and health systems by driving change that reflects her belief that women’s health is foundational to the wellbeing of families and communities at large.

Michelle Ryan
Senior Security Director, NewYork-Presbyterian
Michelle serves as the Senior Security Director at NewYork-Presbyterian, where she has worked for the past nine years and is a seasoned leader with more than 25 years of experience in operations, logistics, and security management. Her tenure at the institution began in a corporate capacity as Director of Operations, where she successfully oversaw strategic initiatives before transitioning into her current security leadership role. Throughout her career, Michelle has been recognized for her ability to drive operational excellence, develop innovative solutions, and foster a culture of accountability and collaboration. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Michelle is passionate about giving back through volunteer work. She also enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, and proudly rooting for the New York Mets.

Amir Dandan
Enterprise Pharmacy Manager, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Amir specializes in the procurement, financial oversight, and inventory management of medications across NYP’s Pharmacies. In his role, Amir leads enterprise-level pharmacy projects to ensure uninterrupted patient care by maintaining reliable access to critical medications, even in the face of drug shortages and a rapidly shifting supply chain landscape. His work focuses on optimizing spend, implementing innovative solutions
with Hercules initiatives, and strengthening operational efficiency across the pharmacy enterprise. Dedicated to advancing patient care through supply chain resilience, Amir’s mission is to ensure NewYork-Presbyterian always has the medications needed on hand to support its clinicians and patients. Amir earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Long Island University.

Charlie Bello
Director of Security, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Charlie Bello was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and grew up in Washington Heights. Charlie was sworn in as a Police Officer on July 1st, 2004 and upon graduation was assigned to the 44th Precinct Operation Impact and six months later to patrol duties. He was promoted to Sergeant on March 26, 2010 and assigned to the Criminal Justice Bureau covering Patrol Borough Bronx. In 2012 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the 49th Precinct. There he served as Platoon Commander, Special Projects Lieutenant, and Operations Coordinator. He served as the Executive Officer of the 26th and 28th precinct and was designated the Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan North Specialized Units in 2017. In April of 2019, Charlie Bello was assigned to the 33rd Precinct as the Commanding Officer. In 2020 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Inspector and subsequently transferred to the 44th Precinct. In 2021, he became the first Hispanic Commanding Officer in its history. In 2022 he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and two years after his promotion was transferred to Patrol Borough Manhattan North where he served in the Adjutant position overseeing compliance, discipline, and overtime. In September 2024, Charlie transitioned to the private sector and was appointed Director of Security at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. In this role, he is responsible for leading hospital-wide security operations, overseeing compliance with healthcare security regulations, and ensuring the safety of patients, staff, and visitors across one of the largest healthcare systems in the nation. Charlie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Manhattan University, a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College, and a Master’s in Criminal Justice from John Jay College.

Jennifer Lehman
Site Director of Rehabilitation Services, NewYork- Presbyterian
Jennifer began her career at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in 2001 as a physical therapist at the Columbia Campus. She went on to hold several leadership positions, including head physical therapist roles and Manager of Physical Therapy. Jennifer is currently the Site Director of Rehabilitation Services at NYP Columbia overseeing inpatient and ambulatory operations at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Columbia and The Allen Hospital campuses. Jennifer is a Board Certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties and has a passion for performing research, working closely with all members of the interdisciplinary patient-care team and supporting and mentoring the development of therapists and students as they grow professionally. Jennifer holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York University.
For questions or further information, please contact Claire Raether, Training and Education Specialist and Fellowship coordinator at cr3144@cumc.columbia.edu.



