Throughout her 5-year public health journey, Makala has accrued significant experience and worked at the local and federal levels of government to help improve the lives of those who need it most at institutions such as Johns Hopkins, ASTHO, and the CDC. Makala has been awarded a unique opportunity to assist leaders in the field of injury and violence prevention and work alongside stakeholders and gatekeepers to promote, prevent, and improve the quality of life for diverse populations. Her experiences in the community have exposed the need for services that are humble to the cultural differences of a diverse population. Makala is also dedicated to influencing the next generation of leaders. Makala received the 2019 APHA Trong D. Nguyen Memorial Award, 2020 Peter J. Sawires Memorial Conference Scholarship for commitment to the anti-violence field, and was honored to receive the 2020 UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Rachel Stevens Scholarship Award in Public Health to recognize her commitment to leadership in the field of public health. While serving as a United States Air Force Reserve Officer, she continues her public health research at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control while attending Duke Divinity as a TMC Fellow.
