Health Equity Research Assembly (HERA)

Meet the HERA

The HERA is a collaborative network of organizations and caring individuals united in their effort to enhance the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities in Miami-Dade County. We focus on creating comprehensive strategies that address both system-level influences and the broader social factors impacting health. By establishing focused subcommittees, HERA aims to craft effective and tailored solutions for our community's unique needs.

Current Members of the HERA

Questions? Please contact [email protected]

Michael Roman

He/him/his
City of Miami
Community Partnerships Manager

Michael Roman plays an important role in managing initiatives and creating strategies that have resulted in innovative approaches to community development projects that promote social change and healthier neighborhoods. Michael oversees Community Partnerships, Policy & Strategic Development, and the Opportunity Center and is also Liaison for the City of Miami’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Board.

He currently sits on the Board of Directors for SAVE and 4Ward Miami. He is also a Maven Leadership Collective Alumni and Coach, investing in creative social impact leaders who are queer and trans people of color and allies. Michael graduated from Florida International University with a BS in Mass Communications.

Gabriel Paez

Miami-Dade County
LGBTQ+ Executive Director

Lindsey Lizer

Miami Foundation
Vice President of Community Investments

Jason Smith

He/him/his
Miami-Dade County
Director of Equity

Jason Smith is the Director of Equity in the Office of Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. He helped steer the Mayor’s Thrive305 initiative which was the largest community engagement effort in Miami-Dade County government history. Other major projects of his office include reforming and improving Miami-Dade County’s procurement system to provide more opportunity for local and small businesses; and launching Strive305, a successful small business initiative. Since his appointment, the County has initiated a procurement disparity study which will help inform the County’s efforts to build an equitable procurement program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University; an MBA from Florida International University; and a law degree from the Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University where he graduated magna cum laude.

Christine Marte

She/her/hers
Miami-Dade Police Department
Policy Officer

My name is Christine Marte, I've been an officer with the MDPD for eight years. I am currently assigned to the Homeland Security Bureau out of MDPD focusing on Hate Crimes throughout the county. In my time with the Police department, I've been in proactive units and was assigned out of the Special Victims Bureau (Domestic Crimes and Child Abuse) for four years. As a department we would like to create awareness and educate our officers as well as the community on Hate Crimes and their importance.

Dr. Cristina Brito

She/her/hers
West Kendall Baptist Hospital
Director, Healthy West Kendall Community and Volunteer Services

Dr. Cristina Brito is the Director for Healthy West Kendall Community and Volunteer Services at West Kendall Baptist Hospital. She is a seasoned health care leader who seeks to improve public health by establishing efficient, targeted community initiatives. Dr. Brito has served as the Co-Chair of the Executive Board and the Chair of the Children’s Issues Committee for the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade and has worked on a number of initiatives to address health disparities throughout the community. Previously, Dr. Brito served as an Associate Director of Health at United Way Miami, overseeing program funding in the areas of Access to Care and Healthy Lifestyles. Dr. Brito has a Bachelor’s in psychology, a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Health Sciences with a specialization in Global Health from Nova Southeastern University.

Daniel Molloy

He/him/his
Director of Programs
Pridelines

Daniel is a career not-for-profit fundraising & development professional with over 7 years of experience in the sector – from grants writing and management, program implementation, service delivery, organization administration – both in the United States and abroad.

In Daniel's current role as a Director at Pridelines Youth Services in Miami, he develops and implements youth and young adult programs, like the Agency's latest initiative series under its new "Miami Beach LGBTQ+ Youth Safe Space" — a sequence of holistic wellness-focused, youth support and discussion groups called "Rainbow Circle", "Beyond The Binary", and "The League of Extraordinary Transgender Youth", a.k.a. "The League".

Daniel is also responsible for the management of Pridelines various public health intervention services — infrastructure that provides free & confidential HIV and STI screenings, sexual wellness counseling, and referral and linkage-to-care for clients needing clinical treatment.

Altogether, Pridelines programs and services reach and engage thousands of youth and community members in-need, at-risk, or seeking support and camaraderie a year. Daniel is passionate about LGBTQ+ issues, Rights & Protections, community development work, as well as inspiring the next generation of leaders to become agents of positive social change.

Kiara Doss

She/her/hers
Executive Assistant
Afro Pride Federation, INC

Kiara Doss is an Executive Assistance with expertise in Program Management. With 15+ years of experience in Healthcare Administration, she brings a wealth of knowledge and skills to the table.

Currently serving as Program Manager at HPTN096 in partnership with Afro Pride, she manages the implementation research study group and its activities as it relates to HIV Prevention and care amongst the Black MSM community. Her leadership style is characterized by her attention to detail and ability to navigate the logistics of the coalition and its members, fostering a collaborative and results-driven work environment.

Isis Zambrana

She/her/hers
Vice President, Chief Quality Officer
Jackson Health System

Isis Zambrana is the Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety and Chief Quality Officer for the Jackson Health System. In her role, she oversees the development and oversight of the health system’s quality and patient safety programs, external reporting for national registries and public reporting. Isis has led an incredible re-design of the quality, safety, and accreditation processes that has resulted in significant improvement in evidenced and accreditation outcomes, data analytics, and public reporting across the Health System’s six acute care hospitals, multiple Ambulatory and Urgent Care Centers, Primary Care Clinics, two Long Term Care Centers and various Correctional Facilities.

Isis also leads the system’s health equity efforts utilizing social determinants data to help identify health care disparities in specific patient populations. This work has led the organization to prioritize maternal health disparities focusing on reducing post-partum hemorrhage and blood transfusions in birthing women. Isis is the past-president of the American Heart Association (AHA), Greater Miami/Fort Lauderdale Metro Board. Her contribution in serving on the board lies largely in wanting to ensure the AHA mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives is achieved by being in service to the community.

She also served as the JHS spokesperson for English and Spanish language TV commercial campaign, “Keeping You Safe at Jackson”, launched during the height of the COVID pandemic. Isis was the recipient of the 2020 Hispanic Women of Distinction Award.

Nic Zantop

They/them/theirs
Deputy Director
Transinclusive Group

Nic Zantop proudly serves as Deputy Director of Transinclusive Group, a Trans-led organization dedicated to serving South Florida's Transgender and LGBTQ+ community with essential services and support. Drawing on a background in nonprofit leadership and community advocacy, Nic spearheads Transinclusive's strategic partnerships, grant procurement and fundraising, and communications efforts. Prior to joining the Transinclusive leadership team, they played a pivotal role in amplifying LGBTQ+ voices while overseeing marketing and communications at The Pride Center at Equality Park, one of the nation's largest LGBTQ+ community centers. A lifelong commitment to human rights and equity has led to Nic's involvement in initiatives like the In CommUNITY Health Equity Research Assembly along with many other local LGBTQ+ and health-focused boards and committees.

Ashley Mayfaire

She/her/hers/They/them/theirs
TransSOCIAL, Inc.
Director of Operations

Ashley Mayfaire (they/she pronouns) is the Co-Founder & Director of Operations of TransSOCIAL, Inc. After experiencing firsthand the barriers that their husband, Morgan, faced during his gender transition from female to male, Ashley and Morgan co-founded TransSOCIAL, Inc. to build a network of resources and support for the Trans community. They utilize their platform to educate and engage the community in HIV prevention and treatment efforts through their participation in the South Florida AIDS Network, and have consulted for multiple research projects and reports on HIV in the Trans community. In 2022, they were awarded the 40 Under 40 Public Health Catalyst Award from The Boston Congress of Public Health. An alumna of Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Ashley spends their free time creating art and tending to their furry and feathered children.

Stratton Pollitzer

He/him/his
Equality Florida
Deputy Director

Stratton is the Co-Founder and Deputy Director of Equality Florida and has co-led the organization since its inception in 1997. Recognized nationally as an expert in LGBTQ nonprofit development, Stratton pioneered programs that grew Equality Florida from one of the first LGBTQ groups in the South into the largest LGBTQ state-based advocacy group in the country. A former Montessori school principal and 4th generation educator, Stratton oversees Equality Florida's Safe and Healthy Schools project, the largest LGBTQ safe schools program in any state in US history, which has trained over 40,000 principals, counselors and teachers from all 67 Florida school districts. A political science graduate of Emory University, Stratton is the recipient of the Harvey Milk Honors Medal. Stratton and his husband Christopher are the fathers of twins, Benjamin and Sarah, who are six months older than Equality Florida.

Melvin Fort

Care Resource
Retention Manager

Dr. Edward Summers

Pridelines
Executive Director

Jasmine McKenzie

The McKenzie Project
Executive Director

Franklin Monjarrez

He/him/his
SAGE
Program Manager

Franklin Monjarrez, MSW, brings over 20 years of experience in social services, program management, and community development to SAGE. Most recently, he served as Program Director for the Client Services program at Miami's Jessie Trice Community Health Center. Monjarrez holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work with a specialization in children and families from Florida International University. Franklin enjoys watching his beloved Miami Heat and watering his ferns in his spare time.

Xavier Romani

Center for Independent Living South Florida
Marketing and Outreach Director

Steve Adkins

Greater Miami LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Chief Executive Officer

Al Molina

Florida Blue
Market Leader