Denise Lopez
40 Under 40 Class of 2021
Phoenix, Arizona
Supervisor, Office of Maternal and Child Health
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
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I believe in leaving this world a better place than I found it. My goal overall is to continue to listen to the needs of our community, especially our most vulnerable populations, mobilize partnerships, and pool resources as each new opportunity presents itself.
Three words to describe me:
kind, patient, determined
The best part of my job:
making healthy lives possible
Something that would surprise others about me:
When I was a little girl I wanted to be an actress on Broadway.
Denise Lopez recognizes that every issue facing her community is a public health issue and strives to bring voices who have been left out in the past to the table. In her role, Denise directly manages the development, implementation and technical oversight of the Office of Maternal and Child Health’s (MCH) program and works closely with partner organizations to develop tools, strategies, and recommendations for strengthening MCH interventions.Â
A co-parent of three, Denise understands the importance of workplace family policies. In 2019, she launched a mini-grant program that helps employers create lactation spaces for nursing mothers. Due to her hard work, many of the program’s grantees have used the program as a springboard to offer infant-at-work policies to their employees.Â
Denise received a master’s degree in psychology from Grand Canyon University and a BS in psychology and a BA in religious studies from Arizona State University. She also holds a certificate in Building Expertise in Administration and Management from the University of Miami.Â
