Senior Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Associate Professor of Medical Education, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai

Ann-Gel S. Palermo is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer in Education and Research for the Office for Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) of the Mount Sinai Health System and the Senior Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Palermo has developed a career portfolio that reflects the intersection among diversity affairs, medical education, and community-based public health practice and research. Dr. Palermo’s work in diversity affairs at ISMMS aims to foster a holistic and equitable medical education training experience for students and faculty with a primary focus on individuals from disadvantaged and or underrepresented backgrounds in medicine and science. Some of Dr. Palermo’s specific contributions to ISMMS’ educational platform include developing and delivering curricula addressing racism and bias in clinical medicine, integration of social contemporary issues into graduate and medical education, advancing a holistic and equitable approach to student and curricular affairs practices and policies, and serving as the faculty advisor to 15 medical and graduate student-led organizations and initiatives focused on youth and community engagement as well as service and advocacy. Dr. Palermo’s work in the health system focuses on developing approaches to systems thinking and redesign through the lens of race, bias, health disparities, and advancing shared leadership and accountability in prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and equity to improve health outcomes in patient care and employee satisfaction in our workforce.

Dr. Palermo holds a faculty appointment as an Associate Professor in the Departments of Medical Education and Pediatrics. Dr. Palermo earned her Master of Public Health degree (majoring in Health Policy) from the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1999 and a Doctorate of Public Health at the City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy in 2012. Dr. Palermo has several current and previous notable affiliations. Currently, Dr. Palermo is the national chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Student Affairs (GSA) Committee on Student Diversity Affairs (COSDA). Previously, Dr. Palermo served as a past board member and board chair of Community Campus Partnership for Health and was also a Fellow of the inaugural class of the Health Innovators Fellowship of the Aspen Institute and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

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Senior Advisor for Communications and Policy, Acting Chief Customer Officer, MTA

Shanifah Rieara joined the MTA in 2021 as Senior Advisor for Communications and Policy. She is responsible for providing support and strategic advice to the Chairperson on state and local affairs. She is also serving as the Chief Customer Officer in an acting capacity.

Prior to joining the MTA, Ms. Rieara served as Deputy Comptroller for Public Affairs at the NYC Comptroller's Office. In this role, she led the Public Affairs Bureau responsible for advocacy, government relations, community engagement, constituent services, public programs and executive office operations. She coordinated the agency’s senior staff and managed cross-bureau teams on reform and accountability initiatives and citywide public engagement efforts to shape the office’s services. She also oversaw strategic engagement with the interfaith communities and New York City’s growing constituencies.

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MPH Candidate, Policy and Management at NYU School of Global Public Health

East Harlem native, Leslie Ortiz Cadwallader is currently pursuing her MPH at New York University in Public Health Policy and Management. She was the former Regional Director of Program Management at Aya Healthcare, staffing healthcare professionals at hospitals throughout the country. She led Aya Healthcare program managers at hospital systems in the MidWest and East regions in strengthening client relationships, improving processes, and mitigating issues.

Prior to Aya Healthcare, Leslie worked in the non-profit sector serving at-risk and marginalized communities as Prevention Resource Coordinator at Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Home Visitor at Early Head Start, and Developmental Skills Trainer at Alaka’i Na Keiki Inc. She graduated cum laude from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in Public and Community Health.

Leslie Ortiz Cadwallader currently lives in South Harlem.

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