Student Health Advocates

How do I connect with the Student Health Advocates for an event, workshop, or training?
If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with OSBHA Student Health Advocates, please contact Mykia Hernandez at mykia@osbha.org or 503-719-4515 ext. 103. Click here to find out more about consulting with the OSBHA Student Health Advocates.

How do I become a Student Health Advocate?
Applications for the 2020-2021 cohort are closed. We will reopen applications for the 2021-2022 cohort in the summer of 2021. If you have any questions, feel free to check out our FAQ page. 

Benefits of becoming a Student Health Advocate?

• Leadership opportunities
• Making a positive impact on your community ​
• Public speaking and communication skills​
• Policy advocacy skills​
• Goal setting and event planning​
• Deepened relationship to social justice ​
• Relationship and team-building skills
• $700 annual stipend for your participation​. Additional stipend for presenting and/or facilitating at events

Meet our 2020-2021 Student Health Advocates:

Amira Hassen
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Amira Hassen, a sophomore who attends Jefferson High School, is a Student Health Advocate working alongside the Oregon School-Based Health Alliance. She has always had an unceasing interest for healthcare; especially topics surrounding social justice issues. Being a Muslim, woman of color, she understands the struggles of marginalized communities. Although this is only her first year as a Student Health Advocate, she hopes to gain experience and valuable knowledge to continue advocating for and amplifying the voices of people who'd otherwise not be heard. At school, Amira is involved with many clubs, one being her school’s own Youth Action Council. She is also vice president of her class. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking/baking, watching some of her favorite shows, etc.








Azucena Santos
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Azucena is a first generation college student and in her second year of working as a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School-Based Health Alliance. Her goal continues to be to use her platform to advocate for the needs of her latine community and every other marginalized community that faces inequities within the healthcare system. Azucena has volunteered at her local public libraries, animal shelters, local public school events as a way to give back to her community and will continue to do so as she continues her journey in higher academia. Azucena is uncertain of which career she wants to pursue, regardless, she knows that whichever career she chooses, it will have to be one where she helps her community in any way possible. She believes that anything is possible, one only has to find the way to make it work.








Draia Shelton
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Draia Shelton is a 15 year old highschool student who works as a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School- Based Health Alliance and her goal is to expand her learning on the youth health in Oregon, as well as bring her perspective into the conversation. Draia has worked with youth advisory councils before as a STEM advocate for Portland Public Schools. Her well maintained 4.2 GPA balances with her work at Prescott Elementary teaching dance to 4&5th graders. Draia is a sophomore who enjoys cheerleading, reading, writing, dancing, shopping, and watching movies. Draia aspires to be a second generation college graduate from an HBCU because it would mean so much to her family, and be a check off the list towards following her dreams. As a young black girl Draia strives to break out of the stereotypical box society tries to put her in, and show her brilliance and determination through her work.







E Esbensen
Pronouns: They/Them
Student Health Advocate

E Esbensen aspires to be a veterinarian in the future in order to help animals and their owners to the best of their abilities, and they would also like to be a person who is very active in speaking up for LGBTQ+ youth and adults. As a non-binary and pansexual youth that has a good support system behind them, they want to be able to help others who may not have that same support, in speaking up and getting the validation and support they deserve. They would also like to help in making things more accessible for all regardless of who they are and what they identify with.









Erika Cetina
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Erika Cetina is a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School-Based Health Alliance and her goal is to work along our team of health advocates to advocate for a change in the youth health care system. Before joining SHA, Erika was and still is a Youth Action Council member at Jefferson High School. Erika is involved in clubs and is currently the sophomore class president at her school. She also loves playing sports; she plays on Jefferson’s soccer team. Erika believes that everyone should be eligible for free health care. She is a sophomore at Jefferson High School that enjoys helping her community and being involved. Erika aspires to be a nurse in the future, because she thinks she would be a great nurse due to her passions and interests.









Fartuun Yusuf
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Fartuun Yusuf is a junior at Franklin High School, a Student Health Advocate who works with the Oregon School-Based Health Alliance to inform and spread awareness on topics such as youth healthcare. Fartuun being a woman of color and a Muslim has a passion/interest for topics that impact minorities and healthcare topics such as mental health, youth healthcare but also topics that are seen as taboo. Fartuun is involved with Black Student Union, Volunteers for School Uniting Neighborhoods, YAC and AVID. Fartuun believes that healthcare access and education should be available to every student. Fartuun aspires to be in the medical field specifically, a diabetic educator being a type one diabetic herself, wanting to educate, debunking stereotypes that come with the disease but, also sharing my experiences with others. ​









Jaelene Diaz Chavez
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Jaelene is a student health advocate who works as a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School-Based Health Alliance and goal is to help inform the youth about current health topics, issues and provide information on resources. Jaelene works in a student clinic at her university where she has worked with students of different backgrounds and gets an insight to what different services each individual needs. Jaelene is a junior in college who enjoys playing sports, cooking, spending time with her dog, and volunteering around in her community. She is currently a biomedical sciences major with an interest in law. Jaelene aspires to work in the medical field because she enjoys getting to help people and is fascinated by science.









Jordynn Michael
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Jordynn is a senior at Gresham High School who works as a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School-Based Health Alliance.  Her goal is to advocate for her peers health needs and to eventually become a pediatrician.  Jordynn aspires to become a pediatrician because of her love for science, children, and helping others.  She would like to give a voice to the underrepresented groups and people in her community.  She also believes that health care should be equally accessible by all.  In her spare time she enjoys reading, drawing, and volunteering.










Melissa Juan Muñoz 
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Melissa Muñoz is 17 and has lived in Portland OR almost all her life. Melissa is a Student Health Advocate at OSBHA. This year Melissa has tried occupying herself more with social justice issues in society by joining social justice organizations, events, programs, etc. While being here at OSBHA, Melissa is eager to learn more about school-based health centers and what she can do to help to improve the healthcare/medical system.










Mirea Bacit
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocates

Mirea Bacit is a freshman at PCC, majoring in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on victim advocacy. Although she’s majoring in Criminal Justice, Mirea is actually pursuing a career in the healthcare field as an ER doctor and surgeon. She’s hoping that her degree in Criminal Justice will help her become more understanding of victims and how to take care of them as a healthcare provider, advocating for trauma informed care. Another one of Mirea’s goals is to use her platform and presence as a future doctor in order to address health disparities in healthcare and provide services to underserved communities.










Morgan Gallardo
Pronouns: They/Them
Student Health Advocate

Morgan is a returning student health advocate. They have over 8 years of experience under their belt, working with their high school's Youth Advisory Council before joining OSBHA their senior year. Now entering their fourth year with the Student Health Advocates, Morgan has worked on several events with the OSBHA, including participating in youth panels, supporting healthcare bills and other students at Oregon's capitol on Youth Advocacy Day, and event planning for the annual YAC summit. Morgan's central values include representation and fair treatment of the LGBT community in healthcare, reproductive rights, and equal opportunity for care regardless of income.









Natalie Cetina
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Natalie Cetina-Huchin is a Senior at Jefferson High School. Natalie is a Student Health Advocate with Oregon School-Based Health Alliance. Her goal is to use her voice to raise awareness about mental health issues that impact students in Oregon and to advocate for her latinx community. Natalie has been involved in Jefferson’s Y.A.C (Youth Action Council) for the past two years. Natalie has helped plan and facilitate events that have focused on showcasing all the resources available to youth. At the moment, she’s involved in SEI Female Leadership, International Culture Club, On Track OHSU biotech program, Student Council, Y.A.C, the PPS Peer Mentor Program and the We Will Mentorship(SEI) program. Natalie also represented Jefferson High School in the 2020 Rose Festival Court. Natalie is currently Student Body Co-President at Jefferson, and is M.E.Ch.A’s Co-President as well, Natalie’s has helped create a safe space and environment for her Latinx peers. Natalie aspires to be a dentist. Natalie would like to travel to provide free dental care for low income families in developing countries.







Salma Sheikh
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Salma Sheikh is an honor roll student at Oregon Islamic Academy. As a first-generation Somali American, she understands the needs of first-generation immigrant teens who navigate multiple cultures and roles and the stresses that come with that journey. She believes that every voice needs to be heard. She is a passionate advocate for women’s rights, racial equality, and other social justice causes. Salma excels in science and competed in last year’s Gresham Science Expo. Salma’s goal is to major in Science and pursue a career in law. In her free time, Salma enjoys reading, biking, journaling, and spending time with the people she loves.









Sienna Day
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate
Sienna is a college student with a passion for public health data, health literacy, and equitable adolescent health. For three years, Sienna has been with the Oregon School Based Health Alliance as both a student health advocate and a peer coach. She is currently pursuing a Computer Science degree at Portland State University, and she hopes to find a career in creating software to map public health data. Sienna also interns at the Milwaukie High School School-Based Health Center as a Youth Advisory Council leader. She has several years of experience in school-based health and youth healthcare overall. In her free time, she enjoys playing video games, making coffee, and drawing maps. With OSBHA, Sienna hopes to empower youth and educate communities on implementing youth health care systems.










Sophia Mann
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Student Health Advocate

Sophia has been with OSBHA for three years and she’s excited to continue learning and educating other youth. She currently goes to Jefferson high school and plans to go to Portland state university next year to major in Public Health: School Health Education. After college she plans on becoming a health educator because she believes everyone has the right to education about their health so they can make informed decisions.