Meet Our Program Scholars
Selection for the program is competitive and is a prestigious recognition of outstanding accomplishments in promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. (Bios are as of March 2024)
Scholars
Amanda Acevedo, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Basic Biobehavioral and Psychological Sciences Branch, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dr. Amanda Acevedo earned her Ph.D. in psychology and social behavior (with a minor in quantitative methods) from the University of California, Irvine. She first joined NCI as a Cancer Research Training Award post-doctoral fellow where she participated in the Diversity Career Development Program. As a Program Officer, Dr. Acevedo cultivates a portfolio of grants related to social and psychophysiological influences on cancer control. Dr. Acevedo is an active member of the American Psychosomatic Society (APS), serving on the program planning committee for the 2023 and 2024 annual meetings. Dr. Acevedo was involved in co-creating a travel award aimed at embedding underrepresented talent into APS which she named the Inclusivity for Impact, Equity, and Engagement award. Additionally, she serves the NIH Common Fund’s Community Partnerships to Advance Science for Society initiative as a Program Officer for the Health Equity Research Hubs.
Leigh Allen, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Contraception Research Branch (CRB), Division of Extramural Research (DER), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Dr. Leigh Allen oversees and manages both grants and contracts in CRB including the Preclinical Contraceptive Development Program and Biological Testing Facility. Prior to joining NICHD, Dr. Allen spent six years at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Institute for Therapeutics Discovery & Development, managing a portfolio of nonhormonal contraception-related projects and the administrative core of a Contraception Development Research Center (P50) grant. She was also on the executive committee of university staff senate governance, chairing the Professional Development and Recognition efforts. Dr. Allen earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from Duke University, where she was a trainee in their T32 pharmacological sciences training program. She performed postdoctoral studies in structural biology at both Hauptman-Woodward Institute and North Carolina State University. Her primary focus was the mechanisms underpinning antibiotic resistance and bacterial biofilms, solving the structure of enzymes involved in various key bacterial pathways, synthesizing substrates, and developing novel assays.
Jennifer (Jenny) Baumgartner, Ph.D.
Program Director, Clinical Research in Complementary and Integrative Health Branch, Division of Extramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
Dr. Jenny Baumgartner is a Program Director in the Clinical Research Branch in the Division of Extramural Research at NCCIH. Her portfolio includes dissemination and implementation studies, training grants, and clinical studies involving meditative practices for pain, well-being, and resilience. Prior to joining NCCIH, Dr. Baumgartner was an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow in the Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) at NIH. She supported the ODP-led Prevention Scientific Interests Groups in their efforts to develop NIH-wide initiatives to address unmet prevention research needs. She also assisted with projects to translate NIH-funded prevention research into practice to address health equity. Dr. Baumgartner completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California San Diego where she investigated the psychological, physiological, and neural mechanisms supporting the modulation of pain by mindfulness meditation and pleasant touch.
Jason Chan, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Officer, Centers, Resources, and Research Support Section of the Scientific Review Branch, Division of Extramural Activities, National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Dr. Jason Chan joined NIGMS SRB in 2022 as a member of the Centers, Resources, and Research Support (CRRS) section. He coordinates the review of applications for the Support for Research Excellence and Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence programs, which focus on research capacity building and faculty development at under-resourced institutions. Prior to joining NIGMS, he was a faculty member at Juniata College and Marian University, where he taught and performed research in cell and molecular biology, physiology, and neurobiology and performed research studying the roles of lipids in aging. He also led initiatives to promote inclusive excellence in classroom pedagogy, faculty support, and higher education. Dr. Chan received his B.A. from Wesleyan University, his Ph.D. from Tufts University School of Biomedical Sciences, and completed his postdoctoral research at the University of Southern California.
Jessica Falcone, Ph.D.
Program Director, Division of Discovery Science and Technology, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
Dr. Jessica Falcone serves as a Program Director for NIBIB’s Bioengineering division. She oversees the medical device portfolio, which broadly covers biomedical technology from bioelectronics to drug delivery devices. Dr. Falcone has a background in neural engineering and neuroscience. She received her Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she studied brain electrodes and how to modulate the immune response and blood-brain barrier to extend chronic recordings. She then joined the Bioelectronic Medicine group at the Feinstein Institute of Medical Research and worked on chronic vagus nerve electrodes for murine models. Most recently, Dr. Falcone was a Technical Sales Engineer at Tucker-Davis Technologies (TDT), a company that builds research systems for neuroscientists. Her technical expertise at TDT included electrophysiology, fiber photometry, auditory, and behavioral control.
Chantel Fuqua, Ph.D.
Program Director, Diversity Training Branch, Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Dr. Chantel Fuqua has been a Program Director in the Diversity Training Branch of NCI’s Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities since March 2023. In this role, Dr. Fuqua manages the Diversity Supplements portfolio, Comprehensive Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (CPACHE U54) programs, and the NIH Common Fund's Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) program. Before joining NCI, Dr. Fuqua worked as a Director of Faculty and Educational Initiatives at the Association of American Medical Colleges, where she managed the Minority Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, the Mid-Career Faculty Leadership Development Seminar, and the Grant Writers Coaching Workshop for National Institutes of Health Awards. She also led a pilot program at seven academic medical centers focused on holistic review for faculty recruitment and retention to increase faculty diversity. Dr. Fuqua received her B.S. in chemistry from Saint Louis University and her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from Meharry Medical College.
Shareen Iqbal, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Dr. Shareen Iqbal is a Scientific Review Officer with the Scientific Review Branch of NIDA. Before joining NIDA, she worked at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As part of her research, she analyzed trends in infectious diseases based on data compiled from commercial and Medicare insurance claims and national notifiable disease surveillance systems. She also facilitated the strategic direction of scientific efforts, provided oversight and guidance for science conduct, and developed science capacity through ongoing training and resources. During the COVID-19 Emergency Response, she served as the Deputy Associate Director for Science for the Chief Health Equity Officer in one of her deployments. She oversaw the development of fundamental principles and resources for collecting, analyzing, reporting, and disseminating health equity-related data to inform response activities. She received her M.P.H. in epidemiology and Ph.D. in neuroscience at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Lataisia C. Jones, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS)
Dr. Lataisia Jones is a Scientific Review Officer at NINDS, where she oversees review of NIH grant applications. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology at Virginia State University, followed by becoming the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Florida State University's Department of Biomedical Sciences. Before her tenure at NINDS, Dr. Jones served as Senior Ethics Specialist at the American Society for Microbiology, ensuring publication integrity, and advocating for diversity. Outside NIH, she has been involved in S.T.E.M. career advocacy outreach, education, and mentoring. She founded S.T.E.M.ING WHILE BLACK and Hey Dr. Tay, LLC, and cofounded Changing Faces, Inc. With her decade-long experience in S.T.E.M. outreach and diversity advocacy, Dr. Jones became an AAAS IF/THEN ambassador, where she has been inspiring girls for S.T.E.M. careers with media appearances and was awarded an IF/THEN Traveling Statue for her dedication to mentoring and educating underrepresented groups.
Eunyoung Kim, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Division of Data Science and Technology (DST), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Dr. Eunyoung Kim is a Program Officer at NIMH, overseeing trans-NIH research grants, including the BRAIN Initiative program, focusing on the development of novel tools and technologies that enable the advancement of brain research. Prior to joining NIMH, Dr. Kim served as a Scientific Research Analyst for the BRAIN Initiative Team TIE (Training, Inclusion, and Equity), where she played a pivotal role in managing and organizing the various diversity-targeting training programs and events. Dr. Kim's academic journey began at the Marshall University School of Medicine, where she earned her Ph.D. in biomedical science, delving into the synaptic and molecular basis of learning and memory in the hippocampus. She then continued her research as an intramural research fellow at NICHD and as a postdoctoral researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, exploring the circuit dynamics in the prefrontal cortex via employing multidisciplinary approaches.
Vandana Kumari, Ph.D.
Scientific Review Officer, Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
Dr. Vandana Kumari earned her Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, specializing in structure-based drug discovery, at the College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University. She pursued her postdoctoral training at the Center for Structural Biology (formerly Macromolecular Crystallography Laboratory) within NCI. Before coming to CSR, Dr. Kumari was a scientist at Leidos Biomedical Research Inc. (Frederick National Laboratory), where she worked with the NCI Ras initiative. Her research centered on discovery and design of small molecule inhibitors targeting oncogenic Ras, Ras related proteins, and other GTPases, and led to multiple U.S. patents. Her area of expertise includes computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, x-ray crystallography, biochemistry, biophysical methods, and molecular biology. As a Scientific Review Officer at CSR, Dr. Kumari manages the MRAE study section for review of MIRA (R35) grant applications. Outside of her current duties, she volunteers her efforts for the observances subcommittee of the Inclusion Diversity Equity Accessibility Council at CSR.
Sylvia Elisabeth Long, Ph.D., CPH
Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator, National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
Dr. Sylvia E. Long earned her Ph.D. in communication studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where her research explored associations between perceived credibility, health belief, and willingness to comply with nonpharmaceutical interventions. Dr. Long joined NINR’s Division of Extramural Science Programs in August 2023, where she manages a portfolio of grants focused on nutrition and physical activity. Previously, Dr. Long was a Program Director in the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities at the National Cancer Institute, Communications Director in the Office of Clinical Research Training and Medical Education at the Clinical Center, and an analyst at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Long is a faculty member at the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences at NIH, where she teaches communication in biomedical science and leading with emotional intelligence. She is certified in public health by the National Board of Public Health Examiners.
Mary Masterson, Ph.D., M.S.
Program Director/Health Science Administrator, Scientific Program Lead, Alliance for Community Engagement Climate and Health, Implementation Science Branch, Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dr. Mary Masterson received her Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Within CTRIS, she oversees, manages, and administers a research portfolio of late-stage implementation science studies, cooperative agreements, training grants, and research grants focused on heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders affecting vulnerable populations. Her research portfolio includes awards related to health equity research (global and domestic), HIV-associated comorbidities, climate and health (CH), as well as health system optimization. In addition, Dr. Masterson serves as the Scientific Program Lead for the Alliance for Community Engagement Climate and Health. By way of an Other Transaction Authority mechanism, she provides scientific oversight to four research hubs. Through active collaboration with community partners, hubs are identifying shared CH priorities and collaboratively designing strategies to promote health equity, inclusive excellence, environmental justice, and sustainable change.
Christopher M. Miller, M.D.
Scientific Advisor for Data Science Strategy, Immediate Office of the Director (IOD), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Dr. Christopher M. Miller, in his role as Scientific Advisor, acts as IOD liaison to several NHLBI and trans-NIH initiatives and programs, including TOPMed, BioData Catalyst, the NHLBI Data Access Committee, the Clinical Data Science IRB, and the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research. Dr. Miller received his Sc.B. in biology from Brown University and his M.D. from the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine. He received postgraduate training in internal medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. He was a postdoctoral research fellow in sleep medicine, neurobiology, and epidemiology at Case Western Reserve University and completed an additional postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Medical Informatics at the National Library of Medicine. Dr. Miller is an alumnus of the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Science and Technology Policy Fellowships program.
Maureen Monaghan Center, Ph.D., CDCES
Program Director, Diabetes Behavioral Science, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Dr. Maureen Monaghan Center provides scientific and administrative oversight for clinical studies addressing behavioral and psychological research in diabetes. At NIDDK, she serves on committees related to behavioral and social sciences, women’s health, and sexual and gender minority health research. Dr. Monaghan Center is a clinical psychologist and a certified diabetes care and education specialist. Prior to joining NIDDK in 2021, Dr. Monaghan Center was a pediatric psychologist and tenured Associate Professor at Children’s National Hospital and George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC, where she was actively involved in research, training, and clinical care with youth with diabetes and their families. Dr. Monaghan Center earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in clinical and translational research from The George Washington University.
Carolina Solis Sanabria, M.D., M.P.H., FACS
Physician (Research) and Program Official, Division of Clinical and Health Services Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
Dr. Carolina Solis Sanabria is a program official at NIMHD and a board-certified general surgeon. At NIMHD, some of her areas of focus include surgical disparities, health care worker burnout/well-being and spirituality/religiosity. She earned her B.S. in biology and French from Yale University, and her M.D. and M.P.H. from Harvard University in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Dr. Solis Sanabria trained in general surgery at Duke University and Inova Fairfax Hospital. In 2012–2013, she conducted surgical disparities research as a Fulbright Scholar in Nicaragua. She has practiced as a general surgeon in the Washington, DC area, as well as in rural settings. She currently practices as a community surgeon with the Holy Cross Health Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. During her time at NIMHD, Dr. Solis Sanabria has been involved in the Inclusion Diversity Committee and on the planning committee for the Health Disparities Research Institute, in addition to collaborating on a concept related to inclusive excellence.