Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Mishaal Butt now resides in Austin, Texas. As Research Analyst for the Epidemiology and Public Health Preparedness Division at Austin Public Health, Mishaal supports the city’s efforts to prevent and respond to public health emergencies impacting Austin and Travis County. Through concerted education and outreach efforts, her focus extends to underserved populations, including the unhoused, the elderly, disabled individuals, and communities of color, all who are disproportionately susceptible to health emergencies and weather-related health issues. Mishaal works closely with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and other federal agencies to provide data analysis and policy thought leadership to support health program implementation and identify gaps in veteran health access across city, state, and federal programs. She has led several projects that have supported VHA initiatives to ensure veterans access to care including Electronic Health Record Modernization, Telehealth Monitoring and Evaluation, and equity assessments. Mishaal has been eager to join GHC for years and is most excited about collaborating with other fellows “to build solutions to create a more equitable health system that serves our most vulnerable populations and, by extension, the world.”