Welcome Aboard

The Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County is proud to welcome five new members to our Board of Directors for 2026. Each brings a unique blend of professional expertise, community passion, and personal connection to the families we serve. Together, they expand our collective heartbeat for healthier pregnancies, stronger families, and brighter beginnings across Hillsborough County.

Join us in celebrating the newest stewards of our mission.

Brooke Dapolito

Associate Director of Regulatory Project Management, BeOne Medicines USA, Inc.

Brooke Dapolito leads regulatory projects at BeOne Medicines USA, Inc., ensuring compliance and efficiency across development milestones. Her connection to Healthy Start is deeply personal. Brooke first engaged with the Coalition as a participant in our TeleStart program, later courageously sharing her experience at our April Community Meeting. Her journey from participant to board member embodies the full-circle power of community support.

Brooke and her husband, Vin, are proud parents to their daughter, Bella, and devoted to their senior dog, Hershey. Outside of work, she enjoys event planning, traveling, baking, and volunteering in support of dog rescue efforts and postpartum mothers. Brooke brings both professional precision and heartfelt lived experience to the Board table.

Melissa Garitta, MPA

Division Marketing Manager, Physician Services Group, HCA Florida Healthcare

Melissa Garitta is a communications and marketing professional with over a decade of experience, currently serving as Division Marketing Manager for the Physician Services Group at HCA Florida. She leads regional marketing strategy, digital campaigns, community outreach, and physician engagement initiatives that drive service-line growth and enhance brand visibility.

Previously, as Junior Deputy to the CEO at Tampa Family Health Centers, she managed special projects, coordinated large-scale events, and drove employee engagement initiatives that aligned organizational culture with core values. She received her BA in Communications in 2012 from University of South Florida and her MA in Public Administration from Florida International University in 2014.

Allison “Allie” Nguyen, MPH, MCHES

Research Partnerships Program Manager, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement, Moffitt Cancer Center

Allie Nguyen is a seasoned public health professional with more than 13 years of experience managing programs, cultivating partnerships, and advancing health equity. Her career reflects a steadfast commitment to communities experiencing disparities in health outcomes through advocacy, research, and collaborative systems-building.

Allie currently serves at Moffitt Cancer Center, strengthening research partnerships that elevate community voice and engagement. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer at Live Tampa Bay and spent more than nine years with the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, including leadership roles within the Office of Minority Health. Allie brings a data-informed, community-centered lens that will help guide Healthy Start’s strategic growth and impact.

Jessica Vega-Eugene

Brand & Marketing Communications Strategist

Jessica Vega-Eugene is a dynamic brand and marketing communications strategist whose work centers on building authentic relationships, elevating community voice, and creating sustainable ecosystems across nonprofit, public, and corporate sectors. With deep expertise in stakeholder engagement and messaging strategy, Jessica develops integrated campaigns that resonate, inspire, and drive measurable impact.

Beyond her professional work, Jessica is a passionate community advocate, volunteering in youth mentorship and civic initiatives while using her communications expertise to amplify underserved voices. A University of South Florida graduate, she brings a powerful blend of creative leadership, strategic vision, and community-rooted purpose to the Coalition’s Board.

Jeffrey Wilcox

Shareholder, Hill Ward Henderson

Jeff Wilcox is a Shareholder at Hill Ward Henderson, where he helps employers navigate complex employment and workforce issues, including litigation involving harassment, discrimination, wage and hour laws, whistleblower claims, and other employment-related matters. He also advises clients on proactive strategies that reduce organizational risk and strengthen workplace practices.

Jeff earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University in 2006 and his law degree from Florida State University College of Law in 2009. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Britney, and cheering on Florida State University sports. Jeff brings valuable legal insight, governance experience, and a steady, solutions-oriented approach to our Board.

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Our 2026 Board members reflect the heart of the Coalition: professionals, parents, advocates, and community builders committed to ensuring every family has the support they need to thrive. We are honored to welcome Brooke, Melissa, Allie, Jessica, and Jeff and look forward to the perspective, leadership, and energy they bring as we continue strengthening families and shaping healthier futures.

Please join us in welcoming them to the Healthy Start Coalition of Hillsborough County.