URochester Medicine / Center for Community Health & Prevention / Health Equity Research / Health Equity Researchers

Health Equity Researchers

Peruse, search, or filter our list of Health Equity Research Core Investigators—a group of faculty members, scientists, health care providers, and trainees who span many disciplines across the University of Rochester, as well as community leaders, and members of city government whose work is aligned with our mission.

If you would like to get involved in health equity research, please contact Jordan Matlock at OHER@urmc.rochester.edu.

Researcher image	Researcher	Contact
	ABDOUL HAROU MHA, DrPh Core Investigator, Center for Community Health and Prevention University of Rochester Research My health equity research focuses on understanding how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social determinants, and psychological factors contribute to mental health disparities. I aim to develop culturally informed, community-engaged interventions that reduce mental health issues among underserved populations.
	AILEEN ALDALUR, PhD Assistant Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research I am interested in research on Deaf mental health including the identification of mental health disparities, the exploration of Deaf sociocultural influences on Deaf mental health, and the development of evidence-based interventions to prevent and treat mental health problems and suicide among deaf individuals.	Email
	ALEXANDRA YAMSHCHIKOV, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research The connection between management of serious infections, antimicrobial stewardship and social determinants of health is an emerging, and urgent, area of scholarly and national interest. My primary research interests lie at the intersection of informatics, antimicrobial stewardship, infectious diseases clinical practice and healthcare finance. I am interested in evaluating innovative ways to resource, sustain and elevate an equity focus in how we manage complex infectious diseases such as diabetic foot ulcers and other conditions requiring Outpatient Parenteral Antibotic Therapy (OPAT), and how we approach antimicrobial stewardship efforts.	Email
	ALICIA MIZES, BA, MD Departmental Fellow/Resident, Dermatology University of Rochester Research Evaluating hair and skin changes that gender diverse patients taking gender affirming hormones experience, the impact on mental health, and access to healthcare.LGBTQ+ Mental health Health services	Email
	ALISON ELDER, PhD Associate Professor, Environmental Medicine University of Rochester Research I am interested in gaining a better understanding of how inequities impact responses to ambient air pollution, particularly in the context of global climate change.Students Urban Air/ water quality.	Lab
	ALLEN ANANDARAJAH, MS, MBBS Professor, Medicine University of Rochester Research improving access and health education for underserved communities with chronic autoimmune disease	Email
	AMINA ALIO, PhD Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Maternal and Child Health, Reproductive and sexual health, Global Health, HIV/AIDS	Email
	ANDREW ALIGNE, MPH, MD Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Early literacy violence prevention
	ASHLEY JENKINS, MD, MSc Assistant Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research Jenkins focuses on improving equitable health care access and delivery for people with childhood-onset conditions. With a particular focus on intersectional population health (e.g., Black person with sickle cell disease, or Latina with a developmental disability).	Email
	BEAU ABAR, MS,PhD Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine University of Rochester Research Identification of need for cancer screening and Emergency Department-based interventions to increase screening uptake and decrease observed disparitiesCancer/ cancer screening	Email
	BEN HART, MBA Community Partner, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research I am interested in the intersection of housing and health, community, economic empowerment, and civic participation. My goal is to popularize the discussion of housing instability as opposed to strictly homelessness and help develop a vocabulary and toolkit for that issue. I want my research to inform practices that undo the legacies of redlining and urban divestment.	Email
	BROOKE LEVANDOWSKI, PhD, MPA Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Rochester Research My research seeks to improve stigmatized reproductive and sexual health outcomes through understanding the influence of social determinants of health and health equity on health decision making. My domestic research has focused on HIV/STI prevention, contraception access for urban youth of color, infant mortality reduction, and increasing access to equitable healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. My international research measured maternal morbidity and mortality due to unsafe abortion in Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana.	Email Lab
	BRYANNA MOORE, PhD, HEC-C Assistant Professor, Health Humanities and Bioethics University of Rochester Research Ethical issues in the management of pediatric patients with chronic illnesses, specifically conflicts over treatment decisions and improving communication through approaches that are informed by stakeholder engagement/CBPR. However my interests/experiences span ethical issues housing programs, free clinics, and mental health care, too.	Email
	CAROLINE EASTON, PhD Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Using Digital Treatments, AI & Wearable Technology to Deploy Coping Skills to Prevent Psychiatric & SUDS decompensation.	Email
	CAROLINE HUANG, BS Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My health equity research interests include health among people in incarceration, substance use disorder and mental health disorder preventions.
	CAROLINE SILVA, PhD Assistant Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Dr. Silva has examined the role of two forms of social disconnection-thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness-in suicide risk among high-risk populations, including sexual minorities, military service members, and clinical outpatients. Dr. Silva's current program of research is focused on integrating the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide with cultural determinants of health to inform the development and evaluation of suicide prevention interventions for at-risk Hispanics.
	CATHERINE CERULLI, JD, PhD Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry - Retired, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research I study violence prevention and response as people move through time accessing services.	Lab
	CHARLES KAMEN, MPH, PhD Associate Professor, Surgery University of Rochester Research Cancer health equity, sexual and gender minority health equity	Email Lab
	CHAVONNE KOUASSI, MPH, MD Assistant Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Food insecurity in pediatric GI population Improving access of patients of color to pediatric GI	Email
	CHEN ZHANG, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Nursing University of Rochester Research Zhang works on reducing health inequity in the HIV care continuum and improving sexual wellness among underrepresented groups.	Email
	CHRISTIE PETRENKO, PhD Associate Professor, Mt. Hope Family Center, Department of Psychology University of Rochester Research My research focuses on increasing access to care for people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) across the lifespan. My work emphasizes community-engaged methods, implementation science, and mixed-method approaches.	Email Lab
	CHRISTINE BOERMAN, MS, RN, DNP Nurse Lead, Cardiology University of Rochester Research I am interested in research related to rural medicine and the technology gap.Rural Older adults Global health	Email Lab
	CHRISTINE COWARD, MD Associate Professor, Ophthalmology University of Rochester Research Diabetes retinopathy is a known cause of vision loss. Some individuals who present with diabetic retinopathy have not seen a nutritionist to help modify their eating habits. Our department could create a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the healthcare disparities associated with diabetic retinopathy among underserved populations. The project would focus on providing culturally sensitive medical information, improving access to nutrition services, and identifying and addressing food insecurity to promote a healthier dietary lifestyle for affected individuals. Our South Clinton office has partnered with FoodLink to provide diabetic-friendly foods with accompanying recipes for those who identify as having food insecurity.	Email
	CHRISTOPHER SEPLAKI, PhD Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research My research interests focus on how the social and physical environment influence aging and age-related health outcomes. My interests cross several of the priority areas below. (housing, mental health, chronic diseases)	Email
	CONNOR TUNIEL, MD Departmental Fellow/Resident, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Exploring a community-based youth intervention that uses sport as an entry point to strengthen mental health and mental health literacy, prevent violence, and build safer, more supportive environments for young people.	Email
	CONRAD WAHL, BA Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research I am interested in improving serious illness communication in oncology and in access to palliative care.	Email
	COREY NICHOLS-HADEED, JD Assistant Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Gun violence prevention through community partnerships and intergenerational connections.	Email
	COURTNEY JONES, MPH, PhD Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine University of Rochester Research Jones' interests are related to health equity in the emergency care setting, including the ambulance and emergency department. She is also interested in how implicit bias influences the quality of care patients receive in emergency room settings and how that influences disparate outcomes.	Email
	CAMILLE QUINN, PhD Associate Professor, School of Social Work University of Michigan Research Reducing legal system involvement and mental health disparities of Black girls and young women.	Email
	CAROL ST. GEORGE, EdD Professor, Teaching and Curriculum University of Rochester Research Using literacy to prevent bullying, Literacy as a way to strengthen identity, understanding, expand world view, and build empathy, Reading to babies prebirth to support language development, build parental bonding, positively affect post partum depression etc.	Email
	CYNTHIA RAND, MPH, MD Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Improving vaccine delivery. I also lead a primary care fellowship and the fellows have diverse projects related to health equity.	Email Lab
	DANIELLE ALCÉNA-STINER, MS, RN, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Nursing University of Rochester Research Alcena-Stiners' research addresses health disparities related to infectious disease health literacy and implementing interventions informed by adolescent populations from communities that have been made vulnerable.	Email
	DEAN SENECA, MPH Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Addressing Indigenous Trauma and Health Disparities
	DAPHNE SCOTT-HENDERSON, MS, RN, PhD Director, Nursing Informatics University of Rochester Research I am very much interested in improving the overall mental and physical well-being of LGBTQ+ populations of color and also black people in general; especially related to sexual and reproductive healthcare and mental health understanding and care-seeking.	Email
	DEBORAH OSSIP, MS, PhD Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Equitably reducing tobacco use including vaping and exposure to secondhand smoke/vape.	Email Lab
	DENZIL HARRIS, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research My interest is at the intersection of equity and access to palliative care at all phases of treatment
	DIANE MORSE, MD Associate Professor Public Health Services, Medicine University of Rochester Research I use community based participatory research and implementation strategies to address inequities in health services among women and men who have substance use and/or metabolic disorders, involvement in the criminal legal system, and/or at risk of HIV. I am interested in trauma-specific, motivational, social media, and peer community health worker approaches.	Email
	EDWARD SCHWARZ, PhD Professor, Orthopaedics University of Rochester Research I work with the Center for Human Athleticism and Musculoskeletal Performance and Prevention at Marketplace.Adolescents/ young adults	Email Lab
	EDITH WILLIAMS, PhD Professor, Director Center for Community Health and Prevention University of Rochester Research Behavioral interventions to improve the quality of life and associated disease outcomes in primarily African American women with lupus.BIPOC/ People of color	Email Lab
	ELAINE HILL, PhD Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research health economics and health policy; reproductive justice; environmental justice; COVID, substance abuse, mental health; climate change; causal inference and data science	Email Lab
	ELLEN-GE DENTON, PhD Associate Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research My work focuses on suicide risk detection and prevention for resource-limited youth My work focuses on identifying treatment and prevention approaches for high risk individuals with a prior suicide attempt	Email
	ELLEN POLESHUCK, PhD Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Poleshuck's research focuses on efforts to improve equity among women with unmet mental health and social needs. She is particularly interested in interventions and services research to prevent and treat mental health conditions in perinatal people.	Email
	ERICA BOSTICK, MD Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research As a clinician and junior researcher with expertise in mental health, gender/sexual/reproductive health and eating disorders, I'd like to bridge the gap between clinical and research areas. Seeking opportunities to translate the health disparities from clinical experience and data into meaningful change for the community is my main interest.
	ERIN VERNETTI, MS, RN Graduate Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My goal for an overall area of research is the effect stigma has on survivors of rape and sexual assault. My dissertation that I am proposing to the explore stigma experience of rape survivors and the impact those experiences are attributed for having on survivors' health, healthcare access and quality.
	EVA PRESSMAN, MD Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Rochester Research Decreasing disparities in pregnancy outcomesMaternal - child
	FAHAD SAEED, MD, MSc Associate Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research In my research within the kidney-palliative care domain, my Health Equity Research (HER) interests focus on examining and remedying disparities in kidney disease education, kidney therapy decision-making, and end-of-life care. I am dedicated to comprehending and alleviating health inequities associated with kidney palliative care to improve the overall well-being and outcomes of diverse patient populations. Additionally, my work delves into the challenges associated with receiving optimal kidney care in developing countries.Older adults Bioethics	Email
	FRANCISCO CARTUJANO-BARRERA, MD Assistant Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Cartujano works on the development and implementation of culturally accommodated interventions for cancer prevention and control (e.g., tobacco control) among underserved and underrepresented populations (e.g., Black and Latino individuals).	Email Lab
	GLORIA ZHANG, BS Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research I am interested in improving chronic disease prevention and management, particularly with a lens of social determinants of health and working to address disparities in health that exist for underserved populations.	Email
	GRETCHEN ROMAN, PT, DPT, PhD Assistant Professor, Family Medicine University of Rochester Research My primary area of research investigates how the occupational health of interpreters is critical for reducing communication barriers that have resulted in inequities for deaf communities.	Email
	HENNESSEY LUSTICA, PhD Assistant Professor, Counseling & Human Development University of Rochester Research Access to school-based mental health supports for children and families in rural areas. Access to high quality professional development for clinicians in rural school districts.Mental health Children Rural Students
	ISABEL FERNANDEZ, MPH, MD, PhD Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research I am currently focused on a subset of the rural population, Mexican Immigrant Farmworkers. Reasons for health inequities: poor access to language and culturally competent health services, lack or incomplete health insurance, discrimination, lack of documentation, weak labor laws, etc.	Email
	JAHAIRA CAPELLAN, RN, PhD, FNP-BC Departmental Fellow, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research I'm interested in reducing obesity and associated chronic health conditions in Latinx children
	JAMIA WILLIAMS, MLS Staff, Public Health Services SUNY Upstate Medical University Research My health equity research interests are ensuring people have the information they need to make informed health decisions and supporting marginalized people.
	JAMIE WOOLDRIDGE, MD, MS-PopH Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research I'm working to population health initiatives to insure all children with asthma in Monroe county receive appropriate care to prevent exacerbations.	Email
	JANICE CHEONG, MD Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research Increasing colorectal cancer screening in Monroe County, in specifically the Rochester Focus AreaHealth services
	JAN SCHRIEFER, MBA, DrPH Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Linking Quality Improvement to Health Equity. Supporting Medical Students, Residents and Fellows in their Health Equity Quality Improvement work.	Email
	JEFFREY YAEGER, MPH, MD Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research I use population data, community-based participatory research principles, and mixed methods approaches to identify and understand child health disparities. By doing so, my team and I seek to develop, test, refine, and implement targeted interventions to reduce these disparities.	Email
	JENNIFER WEST, PhD Associate Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research I am interested in community-based participatory research that identifies best messages for health care providers and community members to use to prevent gun violence, how to translate those messages and best practices, as well as how to identify which community members are the most effective credible messengers for which audiences.
	JESSICA STERN, MD Associate Professor, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research I am interested in the use of implementation science, community engaged research and an environmental justice lens to improve outcomes for marginalized populations with allergic disease.	Email
	JIN XIAO, DMD, PhD Associate Professor, Dentistry University of Rochester Research Promoting oral health of pregnant women and their young children from the minorities and low-income families.	Email
	JOHN CULLEN, PhD Professor of Clinical, Clinical and Translational Science Institute University of Rochester Research Broad interest in health equity research in relation to the systemic inequities that lead to health disparities. Currently working on vaccine hesitancy in rural areas and better documenting bruising on darker skin tones.	Email
	JONATHAN HERINGTON, PhD Assistant Professor, Health Humanities and Bioethics University of Rochester Research I work mostly in the ethics of machine learning and healthcare, including work in algorithmic fairness and community preferences. I have additional minor research interests in the research ethics of healthy housing research (especially report back of research results), and end of life care for incarcerated persons.AI Bioethics Health-related policy	Email Lab
	JOSE PEREZ-RAMOS, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Increasing health access and improve health outcomes using technology and community driven approaches.	Email Lab
	KAREN ALLISON, MBA, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Ophthalmology University of Rochester Research I am actively researching health equity and SDH in chronic ocular diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and cataract as well as systemic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, increase cholesterol and working with primary care to increase access to care. I am doing health screening, health literacy and health education to the local population about common treatable diseases, preventable behaviors such as diet, exercise and education. I have a minority mentorship program for under represented high school students to increase awareness of STEM education - with exposure and mentorship. I collaborate with others in looking at the intersection of access to care/ glaucoma screening in underrepresented and low socioeconomic/ rural areas. Also looking at general vision care	Email
	Karina Hiroshige, BS, MBA Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My health equity research focuses on developing sustainable, community-based interventions (e.g., Stop the Bleed) and improving access to care.	Email
	KATHERINE RIZZONE, MPH, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Orthopaedic Surgery University of Rochester Research transgender access to sport and physical activity disparities in osteoarthritis care and management inequity in access to sports bra	Email
	KATRINA KORFMACHER, PhD Professor, Environmental Medicine University of Rochester Research It would be nice to be able to choose more than one in the list above; my interests are really broad, spanning the ways the physical environment (toxic exposures, infrastructure, built environment, access to resources... affects health and well being. This touches on all 5 areas, but housing is the most direct. My primary role is to promote engagement; sometimes that leads to DOING research myself, but more often facilitating research and action by others. Also I am most interested in policy and systems change, so focus my limited time/resources on initiatives that have promise in that regard. In the list below (5 keywords) a better characterization of my work would be "policy" and "community engagement" and "collaboration" rather than topical/regional/disease descriptors	Lab
	KIMBERLY FLUET, PhD Assistant Professor, Center for Professional Development and Education Reform University of Rochester Research I lead a research team that interrogates the impacts of structural racism/bias in medical education high-stakes assessments, which have long affected trainees from groups historically excluded from medicine. Our research/interventions address these disparities and foster an inclusive trainee learning environment, advancing health equity in the communities these doctors will serve.	Email
	KIM VAN ORDEN, PhD Associate Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research Social determinants of health in later life, including social connection and suicide prevention. My work addresses ageism. I also mentor researchers in suicide prevention in minority and marginalized populations, including Hispanic adults and the Deaf community.	Email Lab
	KWASI BOAITEY, LCSW, PhDc Assistant Professor, Ophtalmology University of Rochester Research Overall Health Equity Research Interests - lie at the intersection of the carceral system, behavioral health, traumatic brain injury, intimate partner violence, re-entry systems, post-traumatic growth
	LAINIE ROSS, MD, PhD Professor, Health Humanities and Bioethics University of Rochester Research I am interested in rare diseases (doesn't really fit in the boxes above) and solid organ transplantation and equitable access.	Email
	LAURA STAMM, PhD Assistant Professor, General Medicine University of Rochester Research I am interested in LGBTQ+ health (with a particular interest in care for transgender and gender-diverse patients) and community-based participatory research that amplifies the voices of marginalized communities. I primarily use qualitative methods.	Email
	LAUREN GHAZAL, MS, RH, PhD Assistant Professor, School of Nursing University of Rochester Research Adolescent and young adult cancer survivorship, financial hardship, employment, LGBTQ+ health equity, CBPR.	Email
	LEVON STURGIS Community Partner Reentry Association of Western NY (RAWNY) Research Barriers to appropriate health during incarceration during before and after.Health services Criminal legal involved
	MARIA QUIÑONES-CORDERO, PhD Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing University of Rochester Research Integrating community-engaged approaches to cultural adaptation and development of behavioral interventions for Latino dementia caregivers	Email
	MARILYN AUGUSTINE, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research As an endocrinologist, I am interested in improving management for chronic endocrine disease states such as diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis, in particular by addressing health disparities for patients who may be more vulnerable due to factors such as their race, ethnicity, access to care, or housing, food or financial insecurity.
	MARSHA WITTINK, MD Associate Professor, Family Medicine University of Rochester Research combination of promoting well-being and improving chronic disease management for underserved vulnerable patients with severe mental illness and structural barriers to health	Email Lab
	MECHELLE SANDERS, PhD Assistant Professor, Family Medicine University of Rochester Research Improving communication and patient activation and strategies to reduce CVD
	MEGAN LYTLE, PhD Associate Professor, Psychiatry University of Rochester Research I am currently developing a clinical service to make services more accessible to trans and gender diverse individuals
	MICHAEL MATTIUCCI, MPH, MD Assistant Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research I am interested in how families and young people in particular can actively participate in improving our health system. I'm especially interested in community health worker interventions and how youth peer support can improve mental health access and outcomes.	Email
	MICHAEL MENDOZA, MPH, MS, MD Professor of Clinical, Family Medicine University of Rochester Research Dr. Mendoza’s research focuses on practice-, system-, and community-based innovations that improve access to primary care, including oral health, and reduce the impact of social barriers to health. He has a special interest in fostering collaboration with community-based organizations with the goal of improving primary and secondary chronic disease prevention, improving health equity, and reducing overall health system cost.	Email
	MIKEL XIE, BA Medical Student, Office of Equity and Inclusion
	MOLLY MCNULTY, JD Associate Professor University of Rochester Research My research interests focus on women's and children's health policy. Most recently, my research is assessing state laws, and policies to improve the access of incarcerated women going through reentry.	Email
	NATALIE LEBLANC, PhD, MPH, BSN, RN Associate Professor Harriet J. Kitzman Endowed Fellow in Health Disparities Research Leblanc approaches research through multiple lenses, including holistic, womanism/humanism, post-positivist/modernist, asset-based, decolonizing and Pan-Africanism. Her research focuses primarily on sexual health promotion, including HIV prevention, care, and treatment across non-heteronormative, couples, and Black populations. She also investigates health provider and system-level sexual health promotion including couple-centered and increasingly family-based approaches.	Email
	NATHANIEL BAYER, MD Assistant Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research My long-term goal is to develop and implement effective caregiver-focused interventions to improve health and wellbeing for children with complex medical needs and their caregivers. In a community-engaged approach, we are currently proof-of-concept testing Parent Cafes, which are evidence-based caregiver-led structured conversations where caregivers discuss caregiving topics, reflect on their lived experience, and connect with peers to enhance their mental health and caregiving strengths.	Email
	NIKESHA GILMORE, MS, PhD Assistant Professor, Surgery University of Rochester Research Gilmore's lab research revolves around health equity and removing barriers to increase diversity.
	OLIVER BOXELL, PhD Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development University of Rochester Research The development of psychotherapy interventions and psychometric tools that are adaptable across populations to optimize their clinical use equitably; advocating for systems changes informed by neuropsychological findingsMental health	Email
	OLGA ASTAPOVA, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research I study polycystic ovary syndrome, which is the most common endocrinopathy in women and leads to increased cardiovascular risk, among other problems. As a basic scientist, I focus on the mechanisms of ovarian and metabolic hormone disruptions in this condition using mouse and in-vitro research models.Womens health Reproductive health	Lab
	OWEN TOLBERT, BA Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research I am interested in the health care of incarcerated populations with a specific interest in their psychiatric care.Criminal legal involved Mental health	Email
	M PATRICIA RIVERA, MD Professor, Internal Medicine University of Rochester Research My work focuses on improving implementation and dissemination of lung cancer screening among underrepresented groups, such as black and Latino individuals.
	PAUL TREMBLAY, RN, AE-C, BSN, BSME Nurse Lead, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Addressing gaps in care and the correcting of disparities in well-being/health outcomes. Development and testing of interventions for pediatric asthma, with broader application to chronic illness. Intention to participate in real-world, actionable implementation of research evaluated evidence shown to improve population health. Foster engagement and inform meaningful systems change using human-centered design thinking and community-engaged participatory methods.	Lab
	PRATTAMA UTOMO, MD, MHPEd Graduate Student, PhD Student in Higher Education (with focus in Health Professions Education) University of Rochester Research My research interest is socially accountable medical education (SAME). Some of the pillars of SAME is community-based education and interprofessional education-practice to ensure health equity, particularly in relation to health issues prevention and management in disadvantaged population and areas.	Email
	RACHEL MISSELL-GRAY, MS Staff, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research Rachel Missell-Gray (she/her), MS is the Sheftall Lab Manager. She has a Master's Degree in Human Development from the University of Rochester Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Development from the Warner School. Her research interests include promoting mental health across the lifespan and how social determinants of health affect healthy development.	Email
	RAJEEV RAMCHANDRAN, MBA, MD Associate Professor, Ophthalmology University of Rochester Research Ramchandran researches how best to develop and deploy interventions and strategies to create an equitable population health system for eye care that reaches people before they become eye care patients. His methodologies include dissemination and implementation science, health outcomes research, and systems-based and community-based participatory research.
	RASHMI JASRASARIA, MD Associate Professor of Medicine, General Medicine University of Rochester Research I aim to improve health and reduce trauma among historically marginalized populations, especially immigrants, by studying linguistically- and culturally-concordant models of care that employ community health workers and address structural/ social determinants of health by being embedded in the community and/or integrating food, legal, housing, and social services with healthcare.	Email
	REZA YOUSEFI NOORAIE, MD, MSc, PhD Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research I am interested in the role of social networks and connections, among individuals and organizations, to better understand individual embeddedness in social contexts, and also develop network interventions to improve access, engagement, and community action.	Email
	ROBERT BLOCK, MPH, MD Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research My primary focus is the prevention of cardiovascular disease by controlling risk factors	Email
	RUTH AGWAZE, BA, BS Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research I currently have two main interests in health equity. One of my interests is understanding and improving the health literacy of individuals who have been incarcerated so that we can improve our communication and interactions with them as physicians. Another is understanding the impact of food deserts and proximity to farmer's markets on basic health outcomes (ex. hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity, cardiovascular disease incidence, annual ED visits, etc.) in Rochester.	Email
	SANDHYA SESHADRI, PhD Assistant Professor, Neurology University of Rochester Research My work focuses on understanding (a) the needs and what matters most to care partners of those with neurodegenerative diseases from underserved and under-resourced communities and (b) designing and adapting programs and interventions to address them.
	SIMONE SEWARD, MPH, DrPH Assistant Professor, Public Health and Preventive Medicine Upstate Medical University Research My health equity research interests are centered on Black maternal and child health using community based participatory approaches (CBPR) to elevate the voices of those most affected. My goal is to translate research findings into actions that promote social justice and health equity.	Email
	SHIRLEY GREEN, Ed.D. Community Leader, City City Research Green is interested in building a coalition of support and services for youth dealing with trauma and mental health, the prevention of gun violence, and a consistent approach to trauma informed care, restorative practice, and mediation.	Email
	SHIVANI SOCKANATHAN, MD Assistant Professor, Family Medicine University of Rochester Research
	SHUBING CAI, PhD Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences University of Rochester Research Racial, ethnic and socioeconomic status related disparities in access to and quality of careOlder adults	Email
	SIEUN PARK, MS, PhD PhD student, Teaching and Curriculum University of Rochester Research Health Literacy for International Students (How to Help International Students Navigate Different Healthcare Systems in the U.S.); Developing Empathy for Health Professionals and Educators; The Importance of Empathy in Professional Ethics and the Role of a Need-Supportive Environment; A Self-Determination Theory-Based Approach to Professional Ethics Training; Psychoeducation in higher education	Email
	SRAVYA DHANWADA, BA Medical Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My interests include health of people who have been and are incarcerated, increasing accessible healthcare for minority and marginalized populations, education initiatives and training opportunities to improve health outcomes.	Email
	SILVIA SÖRENSEN, PhD Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development University of Rochester Research My research with older Latinos who have vision impairment aligns with "Improving chronic disease prevention and management" because I am trying to assist individuals in managing both the limitations that come with later life vision loss and the emotional consequences of that loss. Thus, my research ALSO aligns "Promoting well-being to prevent mental health". My engagement with Latino caregivers aligns more closely with "Promoting well-being to prevent mental health and substance use disorders." My larger community health education and engagement activities align with both of those priorities.	Email Lab
	STEFANIE HOLLENBACH, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Rochester Research I strive to leverage my unique perspective as both a Biomedical Engineer and a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician towards application of novel analytic techniques to obstetric and community data. My overarching goal is to contribute an improved understanding of the interrelation between socioeconomic structures and disparate obstetric outcomes.
	SUPRIYA MOHILE, MD Professor, Oncology University of Rochester Research Health equity in geriatric oncology
	SUZANNAH IADAROLA, PhD Associate Professor, Pediatrics University of Rochester Research Supporting inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.Other specific specialties/conditions
	TALI ZIV, MPH, PhD Assistant Professor, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My research examines how urban inequality shapes treatment systems for low-income people struggling with substance use disorder. I am committed not only to examining how inequality is produced at the structural level, but also to understanding how it affects health outcomes at the individual level. This data then informs my commitment to research and evaluation that can improve treatment systems and reduce health inequities for low-income communities struggling with substance use disorder.	Email
	TIMOTHY DYE, MS, JD, PhD, MPA Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Rochester Research My research program deliberately attempts to decolonize science by increasing the equitable engagement of researchers and communities and by addressing distributional justice - or the ethical and meaningful participation of populations in research that could benefit them. My team and I have contributed substantially to better understanding the human and social dimensions of participation in tissue-based research, for example, particularly among minoritized communities that are under-represented in research, in addition to elucidating social and cultural determinants of health.	Email Lab
	WENDY GONAVER, PhD Associate, Health Humanities and Bioethics University of Rochester Research I research the history of racism and inequities in health care systems, medical specialties, and institutional policies in part to understand how the past might offer useful guidelines for building more equitable systems, specialties, and institutions.	Email
	WILJAR OJURO, BS, MS Graduate Student, Undergraduate or Graduate Program University of Rochester Research My research focuses on understanding the impact of intergenerational trauma on mental health and resilience in BIPOC families. I aim to develop culturally responsive interventions to promote equity and improve behavioral outcomes for marginalized communities.
	ZAHIRA QUINONES-TAVAREZ, MPH, MS, MD, PhD Departmental Fellow/Resident, Public Health Services University of Rochester Research My work advances Latino health equity by integrating toxicology, epidemiology, and community-engaged research to address disparities in vaping, tobacco use, and related chronic diseases. I develop culturally grounded, AI-enhanced interventions and partnerships that empower underserved communities, improve prevention, and translate scientific evidence into meaningful public health action.	Email