Research Scientist

• Jun 2023 - Present

Graduate Research Assistant

• Sep 2018 - Jun 2023

Led the development, implementation, and analyses of a qualitative study to assess the clinical utility and interest in a rapid, point-of-care test that would measure levels of tenofovir in patients on antiretroviral therapy or oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; coordinated development and implementation of a randomized-controlled trial to assess clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of point-of-care viral load monitoring in combination with point-of-care urine tenofovir adherence monitoring in comparison with standard of care viral load monitoring for people living with HIV in South Africa; led data management and conducted statistical analyses for the primary outcomes of the JiPime-JiPrEP study in KenyaKey studies:• Point-of-care tenofovir assay development study (PI: Paul Drain)• STREAM-HIV Study: Simplifying HIV TREAtment and Monitoring for HIV Outcomes (PIs: Paul Drain and Nigel Garrett)• JiPime-JiPrEP Study (PIs: Jared Baeten, Kenneth Ngure, and Nelly Mugo)• Pediatric ART Study (PI: Monisha Sharma)• HIV self-testing performance study (PI: Katrina Ortblad) Show less

Research Coordinator, Infectious Diseases

• Aug 2016 - Sep 2018

Managed development and implementation of research studies for HIV prevention and treatment strategies in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia; developed research study protocols, data collection tools, informed consent materials, and staff training materials; managed study approval process for ethics committees, institutional review boards, and regulatory authorities; wrote and edited manuscripts for research findings; wrote grant applications; develop standard operating procedures for multi-month scripting/dispensing of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in EQUIP-supported countries; coordinated materials, reports, and developments of the Multi-Month Scripting/Dispensing Technical Working Group for EQUIP, a USAID/PEPFAR-funded program Key studies: • The INTERVAL Study: Varying Intervals of ART to Improve Outcomes in HIV (PI: Risa Hoffman) • Use of HIV Self-Test Kits to Increase Identification of HIV-Infected Individuals and Their Partners (PIs: Kathryn Dovel and Risa Hoffman) • Evaluation of Ultrasound as a Tool in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis HIV-Positive Patients (PI: Risa Hoffman) • Cost, Barriers, and Experiences of Hypertension Care for Patients with HIV (PIs: Risa Hoffman and Corrina Moucheraud) • FluxErgy Point-of-Care HIV Viral Load: A Validation Study (PIs: Judith Currier and Risa Hoffman) Show less

Program Manager

• Mar 2015 - Aug 2016

Managed the Center’s communications, including social media and weekly email newsletter; managed and implemented large-scale events and conferences with eminent leaders in global health, including President Bill Clinton, Melinda Gates, President John Mahama, President Paul Kagame, Ambassador Deborah Birx, Christopher Elias, Sir Richard Horton, Sir Andy Haines, Rajiv Shah, and many others; managed and maintained the Center’s website; conducted background analyses for various research projects; managed the Global Health Selective course for first- and second-year medical students; wrote articles on faculty members’ and students’ global health initiatives and research projects for the Center’s website and email newsletter; compiled campus-wide information on global operations policies and resources to provide a cohesive resource database for faculty members and administrators in order to effectively implement global health programs; managed the Center’s global health database, a compendium of all international projects within UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine; provided mentorship for medical students on global health projects; worked closely with the Center’s director of external relations to strategize communications, development, and public relations Show less

Administrative Assistant

• Mar 2013 - Feb 2015

Coordinated the Global Health Selective course for first- and second-year medical students; assisted the Center’s Director, Deputy Director, and Business Manager with managing funds and purchases; facilitated discussions on global health research, education, and service projects among faculty members throughout various disciplines; coordinated special events, educational lectures, documentary screenings, and panel discussions; built, managed, and maintained the Center’s website; managed the Center’s email communications; coordinated the African American HIV University Science and Treatment College in collaboration with the Black AIDS Institute; managed and maintained the Center’s global health database, a compendium of all international projects within UCLA Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine; coordinated special visits from high-profile international guests; coordinated meetings, goals, and objectives for the Center’s advisory committees and special interest working groups; provided executive-level assistance for the Center’s director, Dr. Thomas Coates Show less

Project Manager

• Mar 2011 - Mar 2013

Managed and coordinated the development and implementation of a technical platform for the company, including a Content Management System, a Customer Relationship Management system, a Payment Gateway System, and a middle-tier API layer supporting more than 10 systems built on .Net; managed two teams of software developers, architects, and quality assurance engineers to successfully develop and release technology projects for the business on tight deadlines; implemented the Scrum framework, an agile software development project management process, in order to carry out technical projects for the organization Show less

Project Assistant

• Sep 2008 - Aug 2010

Compiled qualitative and survey data into a report, conducted an environmental scan of grantee communities, and assisted the project director in the National Program Evaluation Office for the Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities program (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation); assisted in the creation of a web-based training program on social determinants of health for the Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Action Institute (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation); conducted a systematic literature review of environmental and policy interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity for the Review of Environmental and Policy Interventions for Childhood Obesity Prevention project (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation); assisted in managing and evaluating a physical activity intervention program for the prevention of obesity in older adults, the Ten Toe Express program (funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) Show less

Health Policy Intern and Consultant

• Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

Updated content and wrote news articles for the Leadership for Healthy Communities program website; compiled monthly program newsletters; constructed a report for policy makers on strategies and policies for preventing childhood obesity in American Indian-Alaska Native communities; analyzed local, state, and federal childhood obesity prevention policies across the country; organized meetings and conferences for policy makers, grantees, and community policy influencers; established social media networks for the program; acted as a judge for the 2010 Mississippi Healthy Hometown Competition Show less