Alwyn Cohall, MD – Co-director
Dr. Alwyn Cohall has served as the Director of the Harlem Health Promotion Center (HHPC) since 1999. He is a professor of Sociomedical Sciences, Population and Family Health, and Pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center. He has a wide range of research interests, such as access to care, health literacy, sexual and reproductive health, and health communication. He has authored or co-authoredmore than 60 publications on a wide-range of health issues as they affect adolescents and adults of color. Cohall received his medical training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, underwent his pediatric residency at Montefiore Hospital, and completed his adolescent medicine fellowship at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
Renee Cohall, LCSW-R, ACSW – Co-director
Renee Cohall, LCSW-R, ACSW, serves as the Co-Director for the BeWell Health & Wellness Program. She is also the Director of Special Initiatives for the HHPC where she strategizes, coordinates and implements new projects pertaining to adolescents and young adults within the HHPC and Project STAY programs. She has been instrumental in activating the Youth Access Program outreach and clinical services. She was the Director of the School Health Initiative Project, a former core project of HHPC, which helped incorporate health messages within high schools. She also served as the director of the Adolescent Initiative Project, which centralized communication among community based programs and health clinics and spearheaded several coalitions to bring about collective community outreach in Harlem and Washington Heights.
Janice Desmangles, Health Coach
Janice Desmangles is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Lesotho, Southern Africa from 2024 until 2024. She is currently pursuing a master’s in Public Health at Columbia University where she is studying population and family health. Janice has worked in several capacities as a counselor, direct support professional, qualified mental health professional, and health educator. Her passions include HIV/AIDS prevention, sexuality, and sexual reproductive health. She enjoys working with youth and advocating for social justice.
Jennifer Meyer, Health Coach
Jennifer Meyer is pursuing a dual Master's in Social Work (MSW) and Master's in Public Health (MPH) at Columbia University. Jenn has worked with incarcerated youth and adults and international refugee populations developing art programs that promote social change, advocacy, self-growth, and entrepreneurship. Prior to attending Columbia University, Jenn attended The Ohio State University studying public affairs.
Sarah Timmons, Health Coach
Sarah Timmons is pursuing a Master’s in Public Health at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual and Reproductive Health. She currently works as a Research Assistant creating a SmartPhone app aimed at providing support and information for adolescents with Long-Acting Reversible Contraception. Prior to graduate school, Sarah worked as a Health Educator and Insurance Access Coordinator for the Institute for Family Health at the High School of Fashion Industries’ school-based health center.
Annie Walden-Newman, Health Coach
Annie Walden-Newman is pursuing a dual Master's in Social Work (MSW) and Master's in Public Health (MPH) at Columbia University. Annie has worked with adolescents in a variety of capacities, including mental health counseling at an outpatient child & adolescent psychiatric hospital clinic, teaching middle school sexuality education and providing individual counseling to English Language Learner (ELL) high school students in NYC public schools. Prior to attending Columbia University, Annie worked in the sexual and reproductive health policy field in Washington D.C.
