Meet the Students Leading StuHe into the New Academic Year

1. What is StuHe?
 
StuHE is a student-led organization at New York Medical College (NYMC) committed to advancing health equity, promoting health justice, and empowering the next generation of public health and health care leaders. Through education, advocacy, professional development, and community engagement, StuHe creates opportunities for students to explore the social, structural, and systemic factors that influence health outcomes. Our goal is to cultivate a community of future leaders who are equipped to address health disparities and create meaningful, lasting change in their communities.
 
2. Who are the StuHe officers for the 2026-2027 academic year?
 
Malaïka Dewes, M.P.H., Dr.P.H. candidate, StuHe president, and a Rockland County native, is committed to addressing and eliminating the health disparities gap and enhancing equal access to high-quality health care. She currently serves as manager of financial operations at St. Peter's Health Partners within Trinity Health New York and an adjunct professor at the University of St. Joseph’s. With a concentration in health policy and management at NYMC, Dewes completed her administrative fellowship with Trinity Health at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, Connecticut. A dedicated champion for health equity, Dewes holds a Master of Public Health in health policy and management from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in neuroscience from the University at Albany. Dewes’ outgoing personality, strong work ethic, and self-starting attitude has been a staple within her career thus far.
 
Meghan Appel, M.S., Dr.P.H. candidate, StuHe vice president, is a practicing cytotechnologist with five years of clinical laboratory experience. Appel’s research focuses on maternal mental health as well as long-term care and healthy aging. She is passionate about population health and improving health care access and equity. Appel has a vast educational background, holding a Bachelor of Science in biology from the College of Saint Rose where she also minored in public health, and a Master of Science in molecular cytology from the Albany College of Pharmacy of Health Sciences. Appel has completed various internships in clinical laboratories, hospital settings, and multiple long-term care and senior living communities. She spends much of her free time volunteering with local organizations to improve public education, and recently, she began helping a local organization in Westchester County develop a public health and service resource guide for staff to efficiently provide community members in need with accessible information and contacts. Appel is a dedicated health care professional who is focused on giving back to local communities.
 
What is StuHe prioritizing for the upcoming year?
 
This year, StuHe is prioritizing student engagement and opportunities for members to translate their academic knowledge into meaningful action. We aim to strengthen connections among students, faculty, and community partners while creating spaces for dialogue around health disparities, social determinants of health, and emerging public health challenges. We are also focused on expanding professional development opportunities that help students build leadership skills, develop their professional networks, and explore diverse career pathways in public health and health care.
 
What events or activities does StuHe have planned for this year?
 
StuHE has several exciting opportunities planned for the 2026–2027 academic year to bring students together around health equity, community engagement, and public health advocacy. Upcoming activities include a pop-up event on November 10, designed to engage students and build awareness of StuHe’s mission, as well as a December fundraising initiative to support the organization’s continued programming and impact. Looking ahead to April 2027, StuHe will celebrate National Public Health Week through activities that highlight the importance of public health, promote health equity, and encourage students to consider how they can contribute to healthier, more equitable communities. Through these initiatives, StuHe hopes to foster meaningful connections, increase student involvement, and create opportunities for students to put their passion for health equity into action.
 
What advice would you give students who are interested in getting involved with StuHe?
 
Our advice is to get involved, stay curious, and bring your authentic self to the table. You do not need to have all the answers or be an expert in health equity to make a meaningful contribution. StuHe is an opportunity to learn, ask questions, share your perspective, and collaborate with others who are passionate about improving health outcomes. Whether you are interested in advocacy, research, community engagement, leadership, or simply learning more about health equity, there is value in getting involved. Your experiences, ideas, and voice matter, and meaningful change begins when we come together to learn and take action.