Six New Staff Join HIPHI in Fall 2024

HIPHI is thrilled to introduce six new staff members joining our team in Fall 2024! Meet our newest team members:

Irene Contreras joined HIPHI in June 2024 as the Bilingual Health Aide for the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Maui Initiative. In this role, she serves as a liaison between HMHB and the Maui pregnant/postpartum community, supporting both Spanish and English speakers. Irene mainly assists these families with pampering, formula, clothing, education on safe sleep, and other essential health education and necessities. Irene graduated from Kaua‘i Community College with a certification in Medical Assisting in 2020 and has been working as a Medical Assistant since then. She also earned an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts in 2022 and is currently pursuing a nursing degree. In her free time, Irene enjoys crafting and spending time with her family.

Beatriz “Bea” Aurelio-Saguin joined HIPHI in July 2024 as the Director of Policy & Advocacy. She leads efforts to shape health policy, advocate for public health issues, and drive legislative changes to improve community health. With a Master’s in Public Health and global experience, Bea specializes in policy advocacy, community outreach, and program management, with a strong focus on advancing health attainment for all. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she founded a social enterprise. In her free time, Bea enjoys baking around O‘ahu, surfing, and spending time with her two dogs.

Julie Mejia joined HIPHI in August 2024 as the Hawai‘i Policy Alliance’s Statewide Coordinator. She brings with her extensive experience in criminal justice and program implementation, having worked for over fifteen years in community and victim support services. Julie is thrilled to be a part of the Hawai‘i Alcohol Policy Alliance, where she aims to utilize her collaborative experiences within the Honolulu Police Department, military, fire department, and local entities to support victims in Hawai‘i. She’s passionate about raising public awareness and preventing the harm of alcohol misuse in the community. In her spare time, Julie enjoys spending time with her two-year-old son, eight dogs, and four cats.

Sophia Steddin joined HIPHI in August 2024 as the Special Projects Assistant, dividing her time between the Drug-Free Coalitions and Food Systems. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health this past May and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Health Administration at Tulane University, the nation’s oldest school of public health. Sophia has previously interned at both Make-A-Wish and Kaiser Permanente. Sophia is eager to give back to the community and the land that has given her so much, and she is looking forward to the many learning opportunities offered by HIPHI. Some of her hobbies include hiking and freediving.

Aponi Boyer joined HIPHI in September 2024 as Community Coordinator for the Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth. She holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College, and is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Aponi loves traveling and seeing new places, and hopes to be able to travel outside of the U.S. in the future.