News

Equitas Health Appoints Two Members to its Board of Trustees

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Equitas Health is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees.

The new members, who will serve three-year terms beginning in April 2024, bring with them expertise in education, administration, development, fundraising, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. They have a deep commitment to the mission of Equitas Health, to the LGBTQ+ community, and to all the people we serve.

“Our open application process for trustees has identified a great number of highly qualified candidates. We are truly thankful for those who have come forward,” said Kaarina Ornelas, Chair of the Equitas Health Board of Trustees.

“The board will engage in another targeted recruitment effort for new trustees later this year. Those efforts will focus on areas outside of Columbus, with an emphasis on patient representation from our clinics in Akron, Cincinnati, and Dayton and areas where we have statewide offices,” said Ornelas. “Making sure we add voices from around the state will help us fulfill our commitment to diversity in all areas.”

The Board of Trustees is Equitas Health’s governance body providing strategic direction in support of its mission to be the gateway to good health for those at risk of or affected by HIV; for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) community; and for those seeking a welcoming healthcare home.

MEET OUR NEW TRUSTEES

Anthony M. Peddle, EdD, CTSR-E (he/him), is an elementary school administrator in Columbus City Schools. He has taught in both traditional and non-traditional classroom settings from early childhood education to doctoral programs. Anthony was the first graduate of the Executive Doctoral Program at Ashland University in 2020. He also earned a Master’s in Educational Administration & Leadership from Ashland (2017) and a BA in Early Childhood Education from Ohio Wesleyan University (2014). He is a strong advocate for public education, LGBTQIA+ persons, mental health awareness and care, and leaving the world a better place than he found it. Anthony identifies as a neurodivergent, gay cis-man. He and his husband live in Delaware, Ohio with their two dogs.



Gabriel Mastin (he/him) is a native of Mansfield, Ohio, and works for the Columbus Museum of Art as the Leadership Giving Officer. He helped to launch the LGBTQ+ and Allied membership level, Loud and Proud at The Columbus Museum of Art, the first such level at a museum in North America. Since its launch in 2018, Loud and Proud has been featured in a college textbook on museum membership innovation and recognized by The Human Rights Campaign for its commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Gabriel previously worked for Nordstrom as a personal stylist. He also volunteered to help manage the local store’s philanthropic budget in the community, winning awards for this work. He has been a volunteer with Equitas Health for 15 years and a patient for 10. He recently served as a co-chair for Art for Life 2023. Gabriel considers it an honor to serve on the board of an organization that has “on numerous occasions quite literally saved my life.” His volunteer work in the community extends beyond Equitas Health to the Human Rights Campaign, Stonewall Columbus, Melissa’s House, and more. He is a graduate of the Leadership Columbus Class of 2020 and is active with their alumnus program. He is also a 2003 graduate of Ravencrest Chalet Bible College in Estes Park, Colo. Gabriel enjoys decorating, reading, entertaining, visiting friends and family, antiquing with his besties, and maintaining his faith as an active member of The Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Mansfield, Ohio.