Join us in welcoming Culture of Health Leaders’ newest cohort.
Like the cohorts before them, this is a group of powerful bridge builders open to learning as much as they lead. They come from diverse walks of life, bringing vision and drive to build thriving communities where everyone has a fair shot at living the healthiest life possible. As individuals and as a group, these visionary leaders embody the core principles of a Culture of Health—one where every community values the dignity and worth of all people. We can’t wait to learn with them and from them over the next three years.
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Take a look at some of the incredible people joining our third cohort:
M Barclay, MDiv
Rev. M Barclay, the first openly non-binary, transgender deacon in the United Methodist Church, is helping communities explore how faith can work for or against our well-being, how systemic injustices keep us from flourishing, and how deeply we need healthy relationships.
Stanley Andrisse, MBA, PhD
Committed to changing lives and inspiring others to excel, Stanley Andrisse is a professor and endocrinologist who was incarcerated for drug trafficking in his youth. Today, he serves as a mentor and educational counselor to people facing similar challenges, helping them build career skills to push them toward their full potential.
Culture of Health Leaders is just one of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s leadership programs. Meet the newest leaders from Health Policy Research Scholars, Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, and Clinical Scholars who will be joining minds and efforts with our leaders to expand their thinking and impacts.
Health Policy Research Scholars
Deniss Martinez, PhD student
(Photo credit: Laura Galvez)
Deniss Martinez, a doctoral student in ecology, is conducting research with indigenous communities to elevate their perspectives and include their expertise in difficult conversations about environmental injustice, climate change, resource depletion, and habitat destruction.
Benjamin Carter, PhD student
Benjamin Carter, a doctoral student in political science, is bridging the gap between academia and government, using economic experiments and public opinion research to find real-world policy solutions, challenging society to deliver more equitable health care and minimize fiscal waste.
To stay in touch with Health Policy Research Scholars, sign up for email updates.
Interdisciplinary Research Leaders
Amanda Kiger pictured; team also includes Erin Haynes, DrPH, and Lydia Rose, PhD
Community organizer Amanda Kiger has teamed up with researchers Erin Haynes and Lydia Rose to understand the impacts of pollution on rural communities and develop an innovative citizen science protocol that will give residents tools to measure toxic metals in yards and play areas.
Left to Right: Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, MSW, MOA, Theodore Radovich, PhD, and Jane Chung-Do, DrPH
Public health professor Jane Chung-Do, organic farming specialist Theodore Radovich, and Native Hawaiian cultural and health practitioner Ilima Ho-Lastimosa are merging modern agricultural techniques with traditional Hawaiian food practices by bringing together Native Hawaiian families to build and maintain backyard aquaponic systems, which allow plants and fish to grow symbiotically and sustainably.
To stay in touch with Interdisciplinary Research Leaders, sign up for email updates.
Clinical Scholars
Left to Right: Joe Currier, PhD, Erin McAdams, PA-C, MHS (Captain, US Army Reserve), Jeremy Fletcher, PT, DPT, OCS (Major, US Army Reserve), and Marjorie Scaffa, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, ALC
(Photo credit: Shane Rice (Veteran), Shane Rice Photography)
Combining the expertise of a physical therapist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapist, and physician assistant, this Alabama-based team led by Jeremy Fletcher is removing barriers and designing new ways to infuse peer support and vibrant community engagement into high-quality, compassionate, affordable mental health care for Veterans.
Left to Right: Ursula Aragunde-Kohl, PsyD, Fernando Janer, ND, MSW, and Lydael Vega-Otero, MSW
Ursula Aragunde-Kohl and her team are integrating psychology, social work, and naturopathic medicine to improve health for Puerto Rico’s Universidad del Turabo community by providing access to healthy and affordable food, growing crops on campus, and developing a graduate course and training program.
To stay in touch with Clinical Scholars, sign up for email updates.
Now that you’ve met some of our newest leaders, tell us: Who else needs to know about these programs? Please tell people about this opportunity, especially those who might not otherwise hear about a program like this.