As a dynamic, forward-thinking, creative, just leader, researcher, and educator, I am committed to novel, strategic, and comprehensive thinking to enhance community well-being, safety, resilience, and vitality for all. I harness the power of community engagement, strategic partnerships, and contextualized and rigorous evidence to shape our ecosystems, including programs, practices, and policies, and support communities. I excel at synthesizing and translating evidence and content across fields. I've capitalized on my expertise in proposal development, community engagement, mixed methods design, and program leadership as the Qualitative Research Director w/Renalis Health. We acquired a National Institutes of Health Small Business Research Innovation, demonstrating a commitment to culturally responsive healthcare. We're adapting English-language digital therapeutic platforms for US Latinas, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in treating pelvic health disorders. As a Community Engagement Research Consultant, I understand the importance of involving the community. My strategic insights have been pivotal in planning the infrastructure for engaging traditionally marginalized communities, leading to a $7M+ Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute-funded national, multistate trial. My framework and methods were instrumental in securing $705K NIH funding (2015-2020) as a Senior Research Specialist and PM at the University of Illinois Chicago. There, I led a portfolio of 8 projects using participatory mixed methods research on a national, multi-site transdisciplinary Research Consortium, leading to 11 publications in 2 years, 50-61 peer-reviewed articles, and 51 conference presentations. I wrote a doctoral dissertation on the transdiscplinary study of interpersonal violence, chronic pelvic pain, and equity, which led to the Community Health Equity Trauma research organizing framework, which enhances actionable data. My roles transcend research; they involve changing policies and practices to allow for participatory, inclusive, contextual health narratives and outcomes. Our collective efforts are rooted in creating opportunities for health. Our mission is clear: to change systems for equity. These initiatives are not just about results but also about ensuring everyone's voice is heard. They align with my commitment to healthy, safe communities and restorative and responsive systems. ✔️Ph.D. in Public Health, Community Health Sciences✔️Master of Public Administration; Public Management & Community Development✔️Bachelor of Science, Sociology
Listed skills include Community Outreach, Research, Pelvic Health, Program Evaluation, and 24 others.