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NIH Working Group

Co-Chairs:

Co-Chairs are Institute or Center (IC) directors or IC senior staff who lead the Working Group and have the authority to approve major activities and funding actions.

  • Janine Austin Clayton, M.D., FARVO 
    Associate Director for Research on Women’s Health 
    Director 
    Office of Research on Women’s Health 
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D.
    Director
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Shannon N. Zenk, Ph.D., M.P.H., RN, FAAN
    Director
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Shelli Avenevoli, Ph.D.
    Acting Director
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Leadership Team & Points of Contact:

Coordinators, Program Leaders, and Project Team Leaders serve as the day to day leadership for the program and the Working Group. Also included here are points of contact for areas of program management.

Working Group Coordinators:

  • Crystal L. Barksdale, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Program Chief
    Minority Mental Health Research Program
    Office for Disparities Research and Workforce Diversity
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Alison Brown, MS, Ph.D., RDN 
    Program Director
    Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch
    National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Shalanda A. Bynum, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Program Director
    Wellness, Technology, and Training Branch 
    Division of Extramural Science Programs 
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Vanessa Marshall, Ph.D., CCRP
    Program Officer
    Division of Community Health and Population Science
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Nathan Stinson Jr., Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H.
    Director
    Division of Scientific Programs
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Common Fund Program Leader:

  • Maurice Davis, DHA, MPA, MHSA
    Program Leader
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Common Fund Program Staff:

  • Sara Amolegbe, M.S.P.H.
    Strategic Planning, Evaluation, and Communications Contact
    Health Science Policy Analyst
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Alicia Cavanaugh, Ph.D., M.Sc. 
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Kristina Faulk
    Other Transactions Advisor
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Michelle R.J. Hamlet, Ph.D.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Willie Jackson, M.S., R.N.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Salsawi Kebede, M.P.H.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • LaRoz' Leggett, M.S.
    Clinical Trial Specialist
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Nikeya Macioce, Ph.D.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Toy Lisa Mitchell, Ph.D.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Julia Nummelin, M.P.H.
    Clinical Trial Specialist
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Margaret Ochocinska, Ph.D.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Susan Shero, M.S., R.N.
    Re-engineering the Research Enterprise
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Jason Shockey, Ph.D.
    Business Operations and Analysis Contact
    Management/Program Analyst
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director
    National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

Members:

The Working Group Members are staff from multiple NIH Institutes and Centers who provide input from their Institute or Center’s perspective.

  • Amanda M. Acevedo, Ph.D.  
    Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator/ Program Director 
    Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
    Behavior Research Program
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Brenda A. Adjei, M.P.A, Ed.D
    Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator/Program Director
    Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences 
    Healthcare Delivery Research Program
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Jennifer Alvidrez, Ph.D.
    Senior Advisor for Health Disparities
    Program Director, ADVANCE
    Office of Disease Prevention
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH)
  • Jessica Bellinger, Ph.D.
    Scientific Review Officer
    Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
  • Richard T. Benson, M.D., Ph.D.
    Director
    Office of Global Health and Health Disparities
    Division of Clinical Research
    National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • Dara R. Blachman-Demner, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Division of Extramural Science Programs
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Miranda Broadney, M.D., M.P.H.
    Program Director
    Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Metabolic Diseases
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • Juanita J. Chinn, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Population Dynamics Branch
    Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
  • Sara Dodson Ph.D.
    Senior Health Science Policy Analyst
    Office of Science Policy & Planning
    National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
  • Regine Douthard, M.D.
    Senior Program Officer
    Office of Research on Women’s Health
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH)
  • Minnjuan W. Flournoy Floyd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
    Health Scientist Administrator
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • Paul Gaist, Ph.D.
    Health Scientist Administrator
    NIH Office of AIDS Research
  • Stephanie George, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A.
    Deputy Director
    Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
  • Rebecca Goodwin, J.D.
    Policy Analyst and Open Science Specialist
    Office of Strategic Initiatives
    National Library of Medicine (NLM)
  • Christopher Gordon, Ph.D.
    Branch Chief
    Division of AIDS Research
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Raquel Greer, M.D., M.H.S. 
    Program Director
    Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • Hiroko Iida, D.D.S., M.P.H.
    Program Director
    Oral Health Disparities and Inequities
    National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
  • Kriti Jain, Ph.D.
    Health Scientist Administrator
    Division of Behavioral and Social Research 
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  • Patricia Jones, Dr.P.H, M.P.H, M.S
    Director
    Office of Special Populations
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  • Collene Lawhorn, Ph.D.
    Lead, COVID and Mental Health Impact 
    Co-Lead, Global Mental Health Team
    Division of Translational Research
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Jimmy Le, Sc.D., M.A.
    Program Director for Collaborative Clinical Research
    National Eye Institute (NEI)
  • Jacqueline Lloyd, Ph.D., M.S.W.
    Senior Advisor for Disease Prevention
    Office of Disease Prevention
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH)
  • Ebony B. Madden, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Division of Genomic Medicine
    National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
  • Cathy Maulsby, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Health Scientist Administrator
    Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH)
  • David M. Murray, Ph.D.
    Associate Director for Prevention
    Director, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP)  
  • Joan D. Nagel, M.D., M.P.H.
    Medical Officer 
    Division of Clinical Innovation
    National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
  • Kristy Nicks, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Bone Biology, Metabolic Bone Disorders, and Osteoporosis Program
    National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
  • April Oh, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Senior Advisor for Implementation Science and Health Equity
    Division of Cancer Control and Population Studies
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Balkissa Ouattara, M.D., Ph.D., MPH
    Research Medical Officer
    Office of Research on Women's Health
    Office of the Director
  • Karen L. Parker, Ph.D., M.S.W.
    Director 
    Sexual & Gender Minority Research Office
    Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH) 
  • Grace C.Y. Peng, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Division of Discovery Science and Technology
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
  • Lillian G. Perez, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Implementation Scientist Program Officer
    Implementation Science Branch (ISB) 
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Jonathan Pollock, Ph.D.
    Branch Chief
    Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Elise L. Rice, Ph.D.
    Program Director, Community and Behavioral Intervention Development
    Division of Behavioral and Social Research
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  • Deidra Roach, M.D.       
    Program Director
    Division of Treatment and Recovery         
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • Cendrine Robinson, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Chief Diversity Officer
    National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
  • Janeth Sanchez, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Program Director for Health Equity
    Division of Medical and Scientific Research
    All of Us Research Program
    Office of the Director (OD/NIH)
  • Melissa M. Smarr, Ph.D. 
    Program Director
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Frederick (Fred) L. Tyson, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Genes, Environment, and Health Branch
    Division of Extramural Research and Training
    National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 
  • Tiffany Wallace, Ph.D.
    Program Director
    Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Miya Whitaker, Psy.D., M.A.
    Health Scientist Administrator 
    Division of Treatment and Recovery
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • Julia Zur, Ph.D.
    Health Scientist Administrator
    Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Community-led Health Equity Structural Intervention (CHESI): Program Officials/Project Scientists

  • Alison Brown, Ph.D., M.S., R.D.N.
    Working Group Coordinator
    National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Minnjuan W. Flournoy Floyd, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • Carlos Garrido, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Raquel Greer, M.D., M.H.S.
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
  • Michelle R.J. Hamlet, Ph.D.
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    NIH Office of the Director
  • Angela Holmes, Ph.D.
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Jarrett A. Johnson, Dr.P.H., M.S.
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Shanaz Khan, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
  • Tiffani Lash, Ph.D.
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
  • Sean Lynch, Ph.D., LCSW
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Lindsey Martin, Ph.D.
    National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
  • Margaret Ochocinska, Ph.D.
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    NIH Office of the Director
  • April Oh, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Susan Shero, M.S., R.N.
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    NIH Office of the Director
  • Jennifer Villatte, Ph.D.
    National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  • Miya Whitaker, Psy.D., M.A.
    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

ComPASS Coordination Center (CCC): Program Officials/Project Scientists

  • Shalanda A. Bynum, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Working Group Coordinator
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Dara R. Blachman-Demner, Ph.D.
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Libbey Bowen, Ph.D.
    National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
  • Gniesha Dinwiddie, Ph.D.
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Grace C.Y. Peng, Ph.D.
    National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
  • Haluk Reset, Ph.D.
    Office of Strategic Coordination
    NIH Office of the Director

Health Equity Research Hubs (Hubs): Program Officials/Project Scientists

  • Amanda M. Acevedo, Ph.D.  
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Crystal L. Barksdale, Ph.D., M.P.H.
    Working Group Coordinator
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Patricia Jones, Dr.P.H, M.P.H, M.S
    National Institute on Aging (NIA)
  • Ebony B. Madden, Ph.D.
    National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
  • Vanessa Marshall, Ph.D., CCRP
    Working Group Coordinator
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Behnoosh Momin, Dr.P.H., M.S., M.P.H.
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Melissa M. Smarr, Ph.D.  
    National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Nathan Stinson Jr., Ph.D., M.D., M.P.H.
    Working Group Coordinator
    National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

This page last reviewed on November 6, 2024