Leslie Aguilar Ramos 

CHCI Public Policy Fellow

Presented by Johnson & Johnson 

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio 

School: Ohio State University-Main Campus 

Degree: B.S. in Public Health 

Placement: The Office of Representative Shontel Brown

Leslie Aguilar Ramos (she/her) was born and raised in San Diego, California, and later relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio with her family. She is the daughter of two Mexican parents from La Unión, Guerro, and Yecapixtla, Morelos. A proud first-generation college graduate, Leslie graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health.   

Leslie is deeply committed to promoting health equity. Her efforts have led her to participate in community programs such as the Moms2B program, which provides support to low-income pregnant individuals and addresses infant mortality in Franklin County. As a CDC John R. Lewis Public Health Scholar, Leslie gained experience in environmental justice work with Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice. While at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, she collaborated on a pilot study that explored perceived biases in a clinical setting as part of the Health Equity Scholars Program. The findings from her team’s work were presented at The Ohio State 28th Annual National Conference on Diversity, Race & Learning. Additionally, her time at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health Fostering Advancement & Careers through Enrichment Training in Science (FACETS) fueled her interest in connecting research and policy. During her time on campus, Leslie was actively involved in the Undergraduate Student Government, serving as a University Senator in Shared Governance and holding Vice-Chair positions in Capital Planning and Senate Operations. Through her involvement, she advocated on Capitol Hill with the Association of Big Ten Schools on issues related to college affordability and the expansion of SNAP benefits to college students. Her work in addressing college food insecurity led Leslie to become a Momentum Fellow with the Student Basic Needs Coalition, where she gained valuable skills in community organizing.   

As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Leslie aims to apply the skills and experience acquired during her undergraduate years and is eager to learn about the policy process. She is committed to addressing health inequities in all marginalized populations through policy, initially focusing on the Latino community. Looking ahead, Leslie is excited to explore graduate school opportunities that combine her interest in community work with policy.