Joelle Ragland is a dynamic healthcare operations leader specializing in high-touch patient care, project management, and infectious disease response. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health Policy from the University of California, Irvine.

Joelle currently serves as an Operations Supervisor at Cedars Sinai Medical Group, where she leverages her expertise in care coordination and concierge medicine. Her rapid advancement at Cedars Sinai is notable: she served as a Patient Liaison for prestigious programs like the LA 28 Olympics Partnership and the Executive Health/Compass Program, where she spearheaded new workflows, executed care coordination for Team USA athletes, and managed critical operations across several departments. Her initial work focused on managing a multidisciplinary gender-affirming clinic providing services to the LGBTQ+ population.

Her experience in infectious disease is extensive, stemming from her time at AM LLC, where she held multiple roles including Senior Case Navigator and Deputy Project Manager for Outbreak Prevention and Response teams during the COVID-19 pandemic. A licensed Phlebotomy Technician, Joelle is focused on outbreak disease management, sickle cell research, and medical technology as she pursues the Executive MPH to drive operational excellence in healthcare.

How do you spend your free time?
“I spend my free time with friends and family and catching up on sleep. I also like to take dance classes and or try to cross something off of my bucket list. The last thing I did was do a 5-mile hike to bungee jump off of the ‘Bridge to Nowhere.'”

Why did you join the EMPH Program?
“I joined the EMPH Program to deepen my understanding of the diverse career paths within public health and to identify where I can make the greatest impact. In my current role, I’ve been steadily moving into leadership positions and wanted a stronger foundation to guide that growth. My manager—who also completed the program—spoke highly of the experience and encouraged me to apply, which ultimately motivated me to take this next step in my professional development.”