Program Coordinator and Health Equity Specialist

OLANIKE SALIMON

Program Coordinator Community Health & Equity Specialist

Newark, NJ 07108 973-***-**** ***********@*****.*** PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Results-driven Program Coordinator and public health professional with extensive experience connecting underserved communities to healthcare resources and social services. Demonstrated expertise in reducing disparities among populations experiencing homelessness and historically marginalized groups including LGBTQ+ communities, Black/African American, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander populations. Skilled in community engagement, cross-sector partnerships, program implementation, healthcare coverage education, and facilitation of listening sessions and focus groups. Committed to advancing health equity through community-driven solutions and addressing social determinants of health.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Community Resource Navigation & Referral Systems

• Health Equity & Disparities Reduction

• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Assessment

• Healthcare Coverage & Services Education

• Community Partnership Development

• Program Coordination & Implementation

• Listening Sessions & Focus Group Facilitation

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Data Collection, Analysis & Reporting

• Culturally Responsive Outreach

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Community Outreach Navigator

Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition – West Orange, NJ June 2023 – July 2025

• Connected underserved residents to healthcare coverage, primary care services, housing support, and community-based resources.

• Identified social determinants of health including food insecurity, transportation, housing instability, and insurance barriers.

• Partnered with community-based organizations to streamline referrals and reduce service gaps.

• Led community listening sessions to identify barriers to healthcare access.

• Tracked outreach metrics and referral outcomes for reporting and program improvement. Community Researcher

Rutgers School of Public Health – Newark, NJ June 2021 – December 2025

• Coordinated community-engaged research addressing maternal health disparities.

• Facilitated focus groups and stakeholder discussions to inform healthcare interventions.

• Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data to identify systemic barriers to care.

• Disseminated findings to community partners and public health leaders.

• Contributed to statewide maternal-child health program evaluations. KEY PROJECTS

Black and Latino Maternal Experience Study

• Examined healthcare access disparities and systemic inequities.

• Developed community-informed recommendations.

Centering Pregnancy Evaluation Initiative

• Evaluated group prenatal care models.

• Identified participation barriers including transportation and insurance limitations. COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIPS

Nemours Foundation – Study of Homelessness Among Students

• Provided insight on structural barriers affecting students experiencing homelessness. New Jersey Birth Equity Funders Alliance – Birth Equity & Reproductive Justice

• Collaborated on initiatives addressing racial disparities in maternal health. Child Trends – Housing Justice Project

• Advised on research examining housing instability and child development. South Ward Environmental Alliance – Environmental Pollution & Truck Count Emissions

• Supported environmental justice efforts addressing pollution exposure in Newark. EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 2016

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Agricultural Science Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 2008

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