Tambra Raye Stevenson Named Inaugural Burness Public Health Creator FelloW

Leading a New Era of Storytelling and Innovation in Public Health

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Public health visionary and scholar Tambra Raye Stevenson, MPH, MA, founder of WANDA: Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture, has been named an inaugural Burness Public Health Creator Fellow, joining a select group of creators leveraging digital storytelling to reimagine public health communication and inspire community action.

The Burness Public Health Creator Fellowship recognizes creators who use storytelling to advance equity, build trust in science, and promote healthier, more just societies. Stevenson—a PhD candidate at American University School of Communication—stands at the intersection of media, technology, and democracy, using her WANDA and NativSol platforms to transform how families and communities see public health in everyday life.

“Tambra embodies the spirit of the Burness Public Health Creator Fellowship,” said Abby Manishor, Vice President and Director of Media Relations at Burness. “Through both her personal and WANDA digital platforms, she is spotlighting the science, stories, and leaders helping families and communities around the world build healthier lives and better food systems.”

Rebranding Public Health for the Future

Stevenson’s recognition arrives at a pivotal time. Across the nation, experts are calling for a rebrand of public health as misinformation, mistrust, and political polarization threaten the profession’s credibility. At this year’s National Health Communication, Media and Marketing Conference in Atlanta, Dr. Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, MA, President and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, warned that “public health needs a brand marketer.”

For Stevenson, this moment underscores why digital creators and communicators are essential to the future of the field.

“We are living in an age when public health must speak human again,” said Stevenson. “This fellowship gives me the platform to merge my academic training and media experience to reimagine what health storytelling looks like—making it personal, cultural, and rooted in community. The future of public health depends on restoring trust, rebranding our message, and reclaiming our humanity.”

Spotlight at the APHA Annual Meeting

As part of the fellowship, Stevenson will join two major sessions at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting this November in Washington, D.C.

First, she will participate in the Burness Creator Session, “The New ‘Social Science’: Meet Influencers and Content Creators Shaping the Conversation on Public Health” on Monday, November 3, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. ET.

Stevenson will also speak on a second panel titled “Beyond the Meal: How Food Is Medicine Is Reshaping Population Health,” moderated by Danielle Nierenberg, President of Food Tank, on Tuesday, November 4, from 2:30–4:00 p.m. ET.

In this session, Stevenson will discuss how WANDA is leveraging storytelling and AI to design community-based Food as Medicine programs that support birth workers, doulas, and maternal health professionals in Washington, D.C. She will share insights from NOURISH: Maternal Food as Medicine, a program that blends cultural food traditions, digital storytelling, and community engagement to improve nutrition and maternal outcomes in Black communities.

“WANDA’s work shows how local, culturally grounded storytelling can advance Food as Medicine beyond the clinic,” said Stevenson. “By integrating community voices, AI tools, and narrative data, we’re not just changing how people eat—we’re changing how they feel, heal, and connect.”

Other panelists include Dr. Kurt Hager of UMass Chan Medical School and Lynn Fredericks, founder of FamilyCook Productions, both leading national experts in Food Is Medicine research and community implementation. Together, the panel will explore how Food Is Medicine can evolve from clinical interventions to population-level behavior change that aligns with broader health equity and policy goals, including the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) framework.

About Tambra Raye Stevenson

Tambra Raye Stevenson, MPH, MA, is the founder and CEO of WANDA: Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture, a global movement educating, advocating, and innovating for healthier, sustainable food systems through the power of women and girls. She also leads NativSol Studios, a media and communications agency amplifying cultural food stories across Africa and the Diaspora.

A National Geographic Traveler of the Year, Stevenson has been featured by Forbes, NPR, and The Washington Post and invited to the White House to advance a Food Bill of Rights. She has served in leadership roles with the DC Food Policy Council, Tufts Food and Nutrition Innovation Council, Milken Institute’s Food as Medicine Advisory Board, and USDA’s NAREEE Advisory Board. Her current doctoral research at American University explores Black women’s belonging in online health communities, bridging academic inquiry with real-world impact.

“For me, this fellowship is about turning research into relevance and data into dialogue,” Stevenson said. “It’s time we tell a new story of public health—one that centers culture, community, and care.”

About the American Public Health Association (APHA)

The American Public Health Association (APHA) champions the health of all people and all communities. Founded in 1872, APHA is the oldest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 25,000 members from over 40 disciplines of public health. Through science-based policy, advocacy, and education, APHA works to strengthen the public health profession, promote best practices, and advance health equity nationwide. APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health and leads National Public Health Week each April to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues critical to improving our nation’s well-being.

Learn more at www.apha.org

About the Burness Public Health Creator Fellowship

The Burness Public Health Creator Fellowship supports digital creators who use storytelling to build trust in science, elevate underrepresented voices, and inspire action for public good. Fellows receive mentorship, media training, and opportunities to engage at national platforms like the APHA Annual Meeting, empowering them to shape the next generation of public health narratives.