Beth Anderson, MPH
Chronic Disease Epidemiology Section Manager
e-mail: andersonb@michigan.gov
Ms. Anderson provides oversight for data management projects and supervises the program coordinator and registry manager, the stroke data analyst, the EMS stroke quality improvement coordinator, and the stroke informatics epidemiologist. She has more than a decade of experience in public health, including asthma, cardiovascular health, oral health, cancer genomics, and diabetes. In her position as manager of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology Section (CDES) in the MDHHS Lifecourse Epidemiology and Genomics Division (LEGD), she oversees epidemiologic work in chronic disease and genomics epidemiology.
Akia Burnett, MSW, MBA
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Unit Manager
Cardiovascular Health, Nutrition and Physical Activity Section Manager
e-mail: burnetta@michigan.gov
Akia Burnett coordinates the day-to-day operations of Michigan’s Cardiovascular Health Program. She is the program manager for both the National and Innovative Cardiovascular Health Programs (23-0004 and 23-0005) and is responsible for subject matter expertise, overseeing staff, implementation of the grant related and work plan activities, and monitoring contracts.
Adrienne Nickles, MPH
Co-Principal Investigator
Program Coordinator & Registry Manager
e-mail: nicklesa@michigan.gov
Ms. Nickles is the program coordinator and registry manager for MiSP and is responsible for surveillance and epidemiologic activities. These include managing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Coverdell grant deliverables, overseeing the submission of data use agreements and development of IRB protocols; data submissions to CDC; continuing enrollment of hospitals and management of the hospital data collection system; ensuring the quality of data collected; providing staff support for MiSP; and analyzing the stroke systems of care-related data and communication of findings. In addition, she also supports the expansion of the integrated stroke EHR data system, Chronic Disease Registry Leveraging Electronic Health Record Data, or Chronicle. She has a master's degree in epidemiology and has served as the epidemiologist for MiSP since 2012.
Justin Allen, BA, EMT-P
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) QI Coordinator
e-mail: allenj29@michigan.gov
As the EMS Quality Improvement (QI) Coordinator, Mr. Allen collaborates with Medical Control Authorities (MCAs), EMS agencies, and hospitals to enhance prehospital reporting and identify opportunities to improve data quality and stroke care outcomes. He works closely with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Division of EMS and Trauma on statewide initiatives aimed at advancing stroke care quality. Additionally, Mr. Allen leads and expands the efforts of the Detroit and Flint Stroke Coalitions, partnering with the MiSP team and local organizations to implement community-based interventions. His work focuses on fostering collaboration between hospitals and EMS providers while developing innovative strategies to promote stroke prevention and reduce risk in high-risk communities.
Olivia Barth, MPH
Chronic Disease Informatics Epidemiologist
e-mail: bartho@michigan.gov
Ms. Barth coordinates the Chronic Disease Registry Linking Electronic Health Record Data, or Chronicle. Chronicle is a near, real-time, statewide disease surveillance system capturing electronic health record (EHR) data on chronic conditions, such as stroke events, hypertension, and heart disease, throughout Michigan. She is passionate about modernizing public health data systems with timely, accurate, and actionable information to support chronic disease prevention and management.
Ghada Ibrahim, MS
Stroke Data Analyst
e-mail: ibrahimg@michigan.gov
Ms. Ibrahim supports the EMS and Nurse Quality Improvement Program Coordinators and the Registry Manager by leading routine surveillance and data linkage activities that advance the goals of MiSP and statewide systems of stroke care. Her responsibilities include managing the hospital data collection system, supporting the implementation of EMS-related data algorithms, conducting enhanced surveillance reporting, and ensuring data quality. Ms. Ibrahim also prepares regular reports for participating hospitals and oversees the annual hospital inventory survey. In addition to her analytical duties, she conducts special analytic studies to advance knowledge of stroke care and patient outcomes, manages the program's website, and develops benchmark reports and data dashboards, ensuring access to accurate and timely information.
Naomi J. Ishioka, RN MSN NHDP-BC CEN, PEM
Stroke QI Nurse Consultant
e-mail: ishiokaN@michigan.gov
Ms. Ishioka provides strategic leadership and expert consultation to state and local partners, community organizations, and healthcare systems across the state. With a background in emergency nursing and disaster preparedness, she works with multidisciplinary teams to strengthen stroke systems of care and drive quality improvement. She collaborates with nursing organizations, EMS providers, and public health entities to reduce stroke incidence and improve patient outcomes. Ms. Ishioka also plays an active role in stroke-related workgroups, helping hospitals implement and sustain best practices. She uses quality improvement methods to evaluate performance, identify gaps, and design effective interventions. Additionally, she promotes community-based strategies to reduce stroke risk in high-risk and underserved populations.
1 CDC Program 1815: Improving the Health of Americans Through Prevention and Management of Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
2 CDC Program 1817: Innovative State and Local Public Health Strategies to Prevent and Manage Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke