Dr. LaTweika A.T. Salmon-Trejo
Tell us about yourself.
I am a public health strategist and epidemiologist with expertise in infectious disease surveillance, maternal and child health, behavioral health, and data-driven program design. My career has focused on transforming complex epidemiologic and policy challenges into actionable strategies that improve community health, advance equity, and strengthen public systems. I work at the intersection of research, implementation, and leadership, supporting agencies and organizations in Florida and nationally to build high impact, evidence-based programs.
Why did you pursue a DrPH?
I pursued a DrPH to develop the leadership, analytical, and systems-level skills needed to solve structural public health problems. I wanted a practice focused doctorate that would allow me to integrate epidemiology, biostatistics, economics, and policy into real world decision making. The DrPH provided the advanced tools I needed to lead programs, influence policy, and drive measurable population level change.
What are you currently excited about in your job?
I am energized by work that brings data, policy, and community voice together. My current portfolio spans maternal and child health equity, behavioral health system improvement, and TB genomics. I draw on my outbreak response experience to strengthen surveillance, guide rapid action, and support agencies as they plan in real time. I am especially excited about helping public health teams adopt more analytic and equity centered approaches to decision making, build workforce capacity, and use clear and compelling storytelling to translate complex epidemiologic findings into programs that genuinely shift outcomes for communities.
If you could write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
“Tracing the Source: A Journey Through Loss, Leadership, and Public Health.” This title reflects the intersections between my personal history and my professional calling. I grew up in a home shaped by my father’s heroin addiction, which taught me early about vulnerability, inequity, and the structural forces that shape health. At eleven years old I watched the movie Outbreak and knew I wanted to understand disease, protect communities, and bring order and clarity during moments of uncertainty. My story deepened during my DrPH journey. I lost my mother in the middle of completing my dissertation, and soon after I faced workplace abuse and trauma during a period of profound grief. I was held to expectations that were not applied to colleagues and had to navigate personal loss in an environment that offered little compassion or support. These experiences strengthened my commitment to public health leadership rooted in equity, integrity, and humanity. The title captures this full journey: tracing the sources of harm, tracing the sources of resilience, and tracing the sources of purpose that have guided my work as an epidemiologist and leader.
What is something interesting about you that we should know?
I have a lifelong passion for dance, creativity, and bringing joy to others. Earlier in my life I performed in shows and parades across Walt Disney World and became close friends with cherished characters like Winnie the Pooh and Chip and Dale. I also spent time living on a snowflake as a Who in Whoville at Universal Studios alongside the Grinch. These experiences strengthened my compassion, my love for expression, and my ability to connect with people in meaningful ways; qualities that continue to shape how I lead and serve in public health.
