Team Leader, Nurse Family Partnership + Mechanisms of Intergenerational Transmission (she/her/hers)

I am a recent graduate of Soka University of America, where I studied Liberal Arts with a concentration in Life Sciences. Working in the Perinatal RISE Lab has strengthened my interest in maternal and child health and deepened my understanding of how social inequities shape health across generations.

As the daughter of a single mother in a low-income household, I bring a personal understanding of the challenges many families face. My experiences continue to shape how I approach research and care, with a focus on equity and community-centered solutions. I plan to pursue an MD-PhD and apply what I have learned through my work with the lab to a future career in healthcare.

Fun Fact! I studied abroad in Seville, Spain!

Team Leader, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

From a young age, I have been my mother's health advocate, helping out as her Spanish translator during her medical appointments. It is this desire for a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to healthcare that led me to the lab. The lab's emphasis on maternal ACES and addressing social inequities that has far-reaching effects that span across generations deeply resonates with my family's medical experiences. In the future, my plan is to attend medical school and serve underrepresented communities by lessening the language barrier for Spanish-speaking patients.

Fun Fact! In my spare time, I love to blog about my fun and educational experiences as a first-generation college student and beginner dance on “DaeCamino!”

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in medical humanities and minoring in biology at Columbia University. Working as a research assistant in the Perinatal RISE lab has developed my passion for women’s health as well as the importance of developing and executing empathetic care methods that can meet the needs of different populations. As a first-generation Mexican-American woman, I appreciate how the lab has taught me how to advocate for underserved communities in the clinical space with trauma-informed care. I look forward to applying the things I have learned under Dr. Scorza and the team into my future career in healthcare. 

Fun Fact! I love to go on long-distance runs, especially in my hometown, because I get to see many different farm animals.

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am really interested in doing research that correlates very closely to my experiences growing up. I grew up in a predominately low-income neighborhood and witnessed and experienced a lot of barriers with accessing quality healthcare. I was interested in working alongside a lab that focuses on a community like my own. I was also drawn in by the mother and child component as I am interested in overall family wellbeing and breaking cycles for the future generations. I would also like to primarily work with children as a pediatrician or child psychiatrist.

Fun Fact! I have never eaten hot cheetos.

Research Assistant, Trauma-Informed Care (she/her/hers)

I am passionate about maternal and child health, along with advocacy for underserved populations and communities of color. I hope to become a physician's associate in the future and the knowledge that I am gaining from this lab will help me become a trauma-informed healthcare professional who empowers patients and encourages health literacy and autonomy when it comes to health. 

Fun Fact! I love to play guitar and sing in my free time.