Arleny Abreu
Arleny Abreu is a dedicated public health professional and health educator with over a decade of experience in the health sector. Currently serving as a Communicable Disease Investigator for Westchester County, she specializes in sexually transmitted diseases and women's health, combining rigorous investigative work with a commitment to public education. Her role involves interviewing patients, collecting specimens, analyzing data, and collaborating with community organizations to prevent disease and promote overall well-being.
In addition to her work in public health, Arleny has a strong background in health education. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Lehman College, instructing Allied Health students in courses such as Anatomy & Physiology, Clinical Nursing Skills, Phlebotomy, EKG, and Patient Care. Her previous experience includes health education roles at Morris Heights Health Center and medical assisting instruction at Westchester School for Dental Assistants, where she developed educational materials, conducted outreach, and guided students toward professional healthcare certification.
Arleny earned her Master’s in Public Health from Monroe University in 2019 and is pursuing a Doctor of Public Health at Capella University. In 2026, she founded Woman of Intuition LLC, an arts and entertainment company offering spiritual workshops and tarot readings. Passionate about women’s health, safety, and empowerment, she approaches her professional and entrepreneurial endeavors with integrity, empathy, and a focus on fostering positive outcomes for the communities she serves.
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Teacher
• RMA
• Monroe University - MPH
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the power of positivity and keeping a positive mindset. I feel like life can throw many things at you, but if you have a positive mindset and you choose to be happy, you choose to be successful, you choose what you're going to achieve and what you're going to be, it doesn't matter what's in front of you. If you have any challenge in front of you, but if you choose to be positive, if you choose to look at it the right way - basically, when life gives you lemons, make a margarita. Positivity is what I would say.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was when I was in undergrad and having a rough time, not getting what it was that I wanted to do. I had a professor who told me to be persistent - just be persistent, have that perseverance, and be consistent, showing up every day. He told me to look at my schedule as a 24-hour schedule, not what do I have to do this week or this month or this year, but just what are we going to do today, and try to recreate that perfect schedule. Maybe what you didn't do today could get done tomorrow. The best thing my professor told me was consistency is key - it's showing up for yourself every day.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice would be to do something that you're passionate about, and the money will come later. Do something that you're really passionate about, because when you're doing something that you're passionate about, the money comes easily, and you really find a purpose and a fulfillment when you're passionate about what you're doing.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges right now, under the current administration, is all the funding that is being cut for public health. I feel like that's a challenge, especially with prevention and research. There's a lot of funding that's being cut, so if anybody's trying to get into research, there might not be as much opportunities right now when it comes to research opportunities. The biggest challenge is a lot of nonprofits are losing a lot of grants and a lot of funding, even with the federal job cuts and stuff like that.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important for me in my work and personal life are honesty and integrity. I'm very passionate about the overall well-being of women, women's health and women's safety, but I would say just honesty - trying to do everything that I do when it comes to my professional career as honestly and professionally as possible, because people value that when you're honest with them.