If we really want to fix health care and make it fair for everyone, we have to actually understand who we are treating, who we are neglecting, and how to keep a close eye on how they’re doing. And … do everything possible to avoid blind spots. That’s my calling with the California Health Interview Survey – supporting long-term health in communities.”

My research is about building a more efficient system for Medicaid delivery. Right now, there are so many channels whereby money is siphoned off rather than achieving the ultimate aim of getting people to the doctor. We can sustain an efficient system of public health care for many more generations than we can an inefficient one.”

For over 20 years, I have been conducting research on federal, California, or local programs that would improve the health of individuals with complex health status and socioeconomic disadvantage. This work has been particularly rewarding because it has led to implementation of new health benefits or has sustained funding for existing programs. These benefits and programs have contributed to improving the health and quality of life of people facing the highest level of adversity. I feel grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a more equitable society.”

My work about SNAP access for college students has helped shine a light on people from low-resourced backgrounds who are trying to improve their lives through higher education but face a stark decision on paying tuition or paying for basic needs, like food. The research has policymakers and program leaders finding ways to support students to get their degrees and enter the workforce. My work on health care policies that can address disparities in breast cancer and maternal health issues such as breastfeeding hopefully influences health care leaders to address both care as well as social drivers of health that disproportionately impact women – such as maternity leave and support for family caregiving.”

My role as design and digital media specialist blends art and information in a way that I hope inspires the public to take committed and sustained action toward issues they personally care about, in both big and small ways. In my design, I include diverse voices and images to help folks feel seen and empowered to be the change they wish to see in their communities.”

One of the things that I do is to respond to disasters both natural and human-made disasters. During the civil disturbance in Los Angeles, I along with my colleagues in Social Welfare used the phone banks of KCET to reach out to communities and deal with their anxieties, their anger and need for contact to help them make sense of what happened. Since then, I worked in New Orleans, Louisiana, rebuilding mental health services after Hurricane Katrina and recently have taken UCLA students from my mindfulness and climate change course to volunteer in Altadena. Showing up for others is what being a part of a community is really about!”

If you asked me this question six years ago, I might have skipped it since I’m not a researcher. Working at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has really helped me to understand how important communication is in public health research. Communication is more than just visibility and messaging; it’s access and equity. If we want to create long-term impact, we need to make sure people have access to data and research, but that they also understand it, trust it, and know how to use it. That’s central to who we are and what we do at the CHPR: ensure that our data never sits on a shelf and our research doesn’t stay siloed in academic language, but that we make it truly usable for the people it’s meant to serve — and that’s everyone."