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THE TEAM

Created for us, by us.

A few dedicated members of LGBTQ+ and ally communities make the study possible,
but it’s your contributions that will make The PRIDE Study a success!

Directors

Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS

CO-DIRECTOR

The PRIDE Study

CO-DIRECTOR

PRIDEnet

Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS

Co-Director The PRIDE Study
Co-Director PRIDEnet
Pronouns: he, him, his
Mitchell (Mitch) R. Lunn, MD, MAS is an Associate Professor in Division of Nephrology of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Mitch is a long-standing advocate for sexual and gender minority (SGM) inclusion in research and higher education who lectures around the country on SGM medical education, SGM health, and SGM community engagement. He serves on the Advisory Committee for the Medical School Campus Pride Index; is a member of the American Society of Nephrology’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee; and is a founding member of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Medical Education Research Group (LGBT MERG) at Stanford University School of Medicine. LGBT MERG’s study on SGM health-related content in medical school curricula has influenced individual institutions and national organizations to examine their policies, procedures, educational environments, and curricular content to improve the culture of academic medicine for SGM people. In recognition of his work, he received the 2015 University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Chancellor’s Award for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Leadership.

Mitch is delighted to be joining his passions of SGM health research, internal medicine, and medical education in The PRIDE Study and PRIDEnet. Other areas of active research and interest include use of emerging technologies in research, remote data collection in nephrology, SGM institutional climate, and methods of evaluation, particularly in undergraduate and graduate medical education.

Mitch earned his Bachelor of Science degree with highest thesis honors from Tufts University in 2004, his Doctor of Medicine degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2010, and his Masters in Advanced Studies degree in Clinical Research from UCSF in 2017. He completed internal medicine residency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA) in 2013 and nephrology fellowship at UCSF in 2016.

Stanford Medicine Profile
Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD, MPH, MAS

CO-DIRECTOR

The PRIDE Study

CO-DIRECTOR

PRIDEnet

Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD, MPH, MAS

Co-Director The PRIDE Study
Co-Director PRIDEnet
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD, MPH, MAS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

Juno graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2010. While at Stanford, Juno maintained a focus on promoting social justice in medicine. Juno was honored with The Kaiser Permanente eQuality Scholarship for service to the LGBTQ community as well as the Markowski Leach Memorial Scholarship for LGBT Activism & Leadership.

Combined with a strong focus on women’s health, Juno continued her dedication to advancing LGBT health initiatives while completing her clinical residency in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 2014 and a Fellowship in Women’s Health and Clinical Research at San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center in 2016.

While at UCSF, she has been honored with the San Francisco General Hospital Julius R. Krevans Award for Community Service and The UCSF Chancellor’s Award for GLBT Leadership. During her residency, Juno was active in health policy to expand reproductive possibilities in California and in efforts to remove national Medicare Non-Coverage Determination ruling on “transsexual surgery.” She is also on the Medical Advisory Board of the UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health.

Juno is enthusiastically combining her interests in research, advocacy, and medicine to design and conduct The PRIDE Study and expand community engagement with research through PRIDEnet. Additional clinical, research, and advocacy activities include the gynecological and obstetrical health of transgender men and women and the health of veterans.

Stanford Medicine Bio Page

Associate Directors

Annesa Flentje, PhD

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

The PRIDE Study

UCSF SITE DIRECTOR

The PRIDE Study

Annesa Flentje, PhD

Associate Director The PRIDE Study
UCSF Site Director The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Annesa Flentje, PhD is an Associate Professor in the UCSF School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems. Annesa completed her PhD at the University of Montana and pre- and post-doctoral fellowships at UCSF. Annesa is a clinical psychologist who focuses on reducing health disparities among sexual and gender minority individuals. Her research has targeted multiple ways to reduce these disparities including prevention, increasing visibility of sexual and gender minorities in research and electronic health records, and improving mental health services for sexual and gender minorities. She has developed an individually delivered psychotherapeutic intervention to reduce sexual minority stress and is investigating this as a means to improve both health and mental health outcomes for sexual minorities. Annesa is funded through a K23 Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse investigating the underlying physiological pathways whereby stress and discrimination are related to deleterious health outcomes.

Annesa is thrilled to be a part of The PRIDE Study as a means to give voice to the physical and mental health needs of the diverse sexual and gender minority community.

Staff

Cassie Armea-Warren, MSc

LGBTQIA+ REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR (MIDWEST)

PRIDEnet

Cassie Armea-Warren, MSc

LGBTQIA+ Regional Engagement Coordinator (Midwest) PRIDEnet
Pronouns: They, She & He, use them all, switch them up

Cassie Armea-Warren, MSc is a white, gender-non-conforming, pro-ho, highly organized, abolitionist and country queer with a harm reduction heart. One of Cassie’s superpowers is building relationships and connecting people to resources.Cassie has extensive experience in community engagement strategies, innovative program design, and leadership development.

In their previous role leading clinical operations to support LGBTQIA+ young people experiencing homelessness, she expanded the operations of the sexual health clinic to include same-day access to PrEP/PEP, contraception and hormone replacement therapies. Eventually they expanded to full primary care services and increased their retention in street-based youth to 87%. Cassie has a passion for redistributing resources and building the capacity, power and visions of trans people, people of color, sex workers and all people impacted by gender injustices and oppression. She deeply believes that if we center trans people, we all win. Cassie is excited to join the PRIDEnet team to utilize her skills and passions towards LGBTQIA+ representation, equity and justice in healthcare.

They completed their undergraduate degree at Western Kentucky University in Psychology, with minors in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Anthropology. They moved to Amsterdam for graduate school and completed their Master of Science in Sociology, concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies at Universiteit van Amsterdam through the Nuffic Scholarship Program. Cassie moved to Chicago where he’s been since 2012.

Cassie is the Mapa* of a joyous, independent and book-loving one-year-old. They thoroughly enjoy making lists, checking things off lists, curating spaces for people to gather and heal, game nights, and the art of letter writing. His love languages are snacks and coffee.

*Mapa is a mash up of mama and papa

Alex Armira

LGBTQIA+ COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Alex Armira

LGBTQIA+ Communications Coordinator The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: they/them/theirs, she/her/hers
Alex Armira grew up in Inglewood, CA and moved to the SF Peninsula during their undergrad. They worked to create safe communities for LGBTQIA+ youth in high school and young adults in college through clubs like Gay-Straight Alliance – later changed to Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). Alex advocated for changes at school to be more inclusive for LGBTQIA+ students and continues to bring that passion to PRIDEnet’s communications. In their free time they like reading webtoons and spending time with their cats Socks, Stinky, and Breadstick.
Mahri Bahati, MPH

SENIOR LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST

PRIDEnet

Mahri Bahati, MPH

Senior LGBTQIA+ Community Engagement Specialist PRIDEnet
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Mahri Bahati, MPH is a creative and passionate public health professional with extensive experience across the HIV/AIDS continuum of care, including anti-retroviral medication access, HIV prevention and surveillance, harm reduction, and community mobilization. Most recently she worked for the Global Forum on MSM and HIV as Public Health Advisor where she developed and managed a global capacity building project to facilitate organizational development and build self-sustainability for trans-led organizations throughout the global south. Her professional interests include sexual and gender minority health equity, HIV treatment adherence, PrEP access, and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Mahri earned her Master of Public Health degree at the University of Kentucky in 2013, with a focus in Epidemiology. As an undergrad she began volunteering with local HIV/AIDS non-profits which sparked a professional interest in public health along with a lifelong interest in volunteering and community organizing.

Mahri is excited to join the PRIDE team, where she will work to engage 'yet to be reached' sexual and gender minority sub-communities who are new to health research, who have experienced barriers in accessing healthcare, or who have had negative research experiences.

Sage Calderon

LGBTQIA+ CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Los Angeles LGBT Center/PRIDEnet

Sage Calderon

LGBTQIA+ Clinical Research Coordinator Los Angeles LGBT Center/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: they/them/theirs, he/him/his
Sage Calderon was born and raised in New Jersey and has been living in Los Angeles for the past 10 years. He recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics and is now on the Los Angeles LGBT Center research team. Their major areas of interest include nutrition research, public health, and Latinx/LGBTQIA+ health. In their time as a student, they realized the prevalence of health disparities among Black, Latinx, and other minority communities fueling an interest in public health and research. In the future, they would like to continue their education and obtain a master’s degree in public health. He is very passionate about expanding health-related research to achieve a more equitable environment for everyone, and beyond excited to be part of the PRIDEnet team!
Alexis Ceja

ASSISTANT CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR

The PRIDE Study

Alexis Ceja

Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: they, them, theirs

Alexis Ceja is currently the Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator of Dr. Annesa Flentje's Sexual and Gender Minority Health Equity Lab at the University of California, San Francisco. Alexis works on several projects investigating the impacts of intersectional minority stressors on the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities, with a particular focus on gender minority communities. Alexis is also interested in exploring how systemic and structural barriers impact healthcare accessibility among multiply marginalized communities such as Black and Hispanic/Latine SGM people. Outside of their research, they volunteer with Científico Latino, a program aimed at increasing the diversity of graduate school applicants and STEM professionals. Alexis is very excited to join The PRIDE Study and work towards reducing health disparities among our diverse SGM communities.

Chloe Eastburn

LGBTQIA+ CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR

Los Angeles LGBT Center/PRIDEnet

Chloe Eastburn

LGBTQIA+ Clinical Research Coordinator Los Angeles LGBT Center/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Chloe Eastburn was born and raised in Los Angeles, and recently moved back to LA after living in Chicago for seven years. While in the Midwest, she graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Sociology and Gender Studies and began working in trauma informed care, dedicated to sexual violence support services and crisis management.

Additionally, Chloe began to incorporate and value art as a tool of great protest and significance in her professional endeavors. Her love of visual art and media helped her develop a curiosity for understanding social media and outreach as a means to advance community awareness; allowing her to advocate for mental health resources and issues for LGBTQIA+ folks in the Log Angeles area.

Alongside her passion for uplifting survivors of sexual violence, mental health wellness, and the LGBTQIA+ community, she began to develop and refine her skills in marketing, outreach, and social media as she worked for various Nonprofits to further cultivate their community relationships, engagement tactics, and online media presence. She is so incredibly thrilled to be working for the LA LGBT Center now as a Clinical Research Coordinator for the All of Us Study! Chloe values centering queer voices in her work, and hopes to continue walking in love and respect for everyone she meets.

Orlando O. Harris, PhD, RN, FNP, MPH

SGM INTERSECTIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL LEAD

PRIDEnet

Orlando O. Harris, PhD, RN, FNP, MPH

SGM Intersectional Advisory Council Lead PRIDEnet
Pronouns: He/him/his

Orlando O. Harris, PhD, RN, FNP, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing in the Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Prevention Science in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. His research focuses on the exploration of risk and protective factors in sexual and gender diverse communities of color. He also focuses on understanding the relationships between intersectional stigma, violence, mental health, HIV, and other health-related behavior outcomes. Dr. Harris leverages multi-methods data, using community-based participatory research methods, to inform culturally relevant interventions that improves the lives of vulnerable sexual and gender diverse communities. His research aims to reduce disparities in health within these communities by developing programs that improve self-efficacy and promote resilience.

Astrid Herrera

LGBTQ+ CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Astrid Herrera

LGBTQ+ Clinical Research Coordinator Associate The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: she/her/hers, they/them/theirs

Astrid Herrera is ecstatic about the opportunity to leverage investment in achieving community representation to transform the ways underrepresented groups are cared for in treatment planning and execution. She is interested in patient advocacy through trauma specific and healing centered approaches to healthcare.

She was first introduced to sanctioning safety and delivering culturally relevant treatment through their experience working in gender-and power-based violence prevention and survivor advocacy initiatives. Since then, they have worked with system-involved youth and families to support and facilitate behavioral health access.

Astrid hopes to sustain capacity-building efforts for addressing the exacerbating disparities that profoundly impact marginalized communities to procure improved and desirable health outcomes.

Ell Hundertmark

LGBTQ+ CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Ell Hundertmark

LGBTQ+ Clinical Research Coordinator Associate The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: they/them/theirs, he/him/his

Ell Hundertmark values utilizing research to advocate for underserved populations, instill systemic social change, and subvert harmful, misinformed narratives surrounding stigmatized groups. They have learned, through their past experience working with and for underserved populations, the importance of integrity when conducting impactful, action-oriented research, and seek to implement this further as a member of PRIDEnet and in future applied work. 

While working toward their undergrad degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ell participated in community-based action research on psychosocial factors affecting LGBTQ+ mental health, access to quality mental health care and trans/nonbinary affirming therapy, and evidence-based methods to teaching about equity and diversity. They also assisted in conducting research on the intersections of race, gender, and social values in fields of computing and how the workplace environment can influence epistemic hierarchies in cultures of tech.

Ell aspires to be a resource for queer love and marginal experience. They are excited to join PRIDEnet as the LGBTQ+ Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator to further actualize this, build resilience within their community, and employ liberatory praxis in their day-to-day life.

David J. Kinitz, PhD, MSW

POST-DOCTORAL SCHOLAR

The PRIDE Study

David J. Kinitz, PhD, MSW

Post-Doctoral Scholar The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: he, him, his
David J. Kinitz, PhD, MSW is a social and behavioural health scientist and social worker with a passion for understanding the complex social, political, and economic systems that shape LGBTQIA+ mental health and wellbeing. David holds a PhD in Social and Behavioural Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, and graduate and undergraduate degrees in social work from York University and Lakehead University, respectively. His work primarily draws on critical qualitative and mixed-methods methodologies to deconstruct systems of oppression, such as racism, cissexism, heterosexism, and classism. He looks at how these systems reinforce social hierarchies that produce ill-health, particularly as they relate to labour market phenomena. David’s doctoral research employed narrative inquiry and Marxist political economy theories to study economic insecurity, precarious employment, and mental health among gay, bisexual, and queer men in Toronto, Canada. David continues this area of scholarship through leading and collaborating on various projects exploring access to social assistance, employment quality, employment skills and training, and economic insecurity among LGBTQIA+ people in Canada and the US.
Nadra E. Lisha, PhD, MA

BIOSTATISTICIAN

The PRIDE Study

Nadra E. Lisha, PhD, MA

Biostatistician The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Nadra Lisha, PhD, MA is a biostatistician at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of General Internal Medicine at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education (CTCRE). Her research focuses on the use of sophisticated statistical methods for addressing problems common in addiction-related research, including tobacco, missing data, comorbid conditions, and multiple drug use. She is an active collaborator, consultant, and co-author with numerous investigators, post-doctoral fellows, and other trainees primarily at UCSF and Stanford. As a methodologist and statistician, a great deal of my published work typically comes from a group science approach with all publications including multiple co-authors. Her role is typically as a quantitative methodologist, and helping the planning and design of studies, monitoring of data collection and assurance of the quality of the data. She also serves as a mentor to postdocs and others when performing data management and routine and non-routine analyses, and to directly perform novel or advanced statistical analyses. Since 2020, Nadra has worked on The PRIDE Study at Stanford.
Micah Lubensky, PhD

PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Micah Lubensky, PhD

Participant Engagement Director The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: he, him, his
Micah Lubensky, PhD has always held a deep passion for and dedication to social justice for sexual and gender minority, racial/ethnic minority, and low-income communities. These passions helped motivate his graduate education at the University of California at Santa Cruz, and manifest his career as an applied social psychologist.

After completing his doctorate, Micah spent almost 10 years at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF) as the Community Mobilization Manager, working predominantly with low-income African American SGM communities across the San Francisco Bay Area. His efforts focused on community education around HIV risk and holistic well-being, advocacy for increasing health resources specific to HIV and holistic health broadly, and building and sustaining African American SGM community.

After SFAF but before arriving at The PRIDE Study, Micah worked for the Global Forum on MSM & HIV (now called M-PACT) as the Community Development Manager. At M-PACT, Micah managed a global consortium of 10 regional and global networks of advocacy organizations that served SGM communities in resource-poor locations around the world (essentially everywhere except Western Europe and North America). There, Micah coordinated the consortium to harmonize efforts on HIV and human rights policy advocacy, HIV health resources, and political activism by SGM community members around the world.

Micah arrived on The PRIDE Study / PRIDEnet team in 2016 as the Program Manager. In his first two years, he was deeply involved in most aspects of our efforts, from development of the Annual Questionnaires and planning the PRIDEnet Summits, to responding to participant inquiries, to helping pay the invoices! Micah now focus his efforts more on tracking and improving the Participant Experience in The PRIDE Study, in order to maximize long-term participant retention. This position provides a unique opportunity for him to integrate his community engagement and research skills to contribute to this project of immense potential.
Daniel Moretti, MSc

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Daniel Moretti, MSc

Community Engagement Lead The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: he, him, his / all pronouns with positive intent

Daniel Moretti, MSc has more than fifteen years of experience working at the cross sections of community engagement, social justice, research, and non-profit arts in diverse locations including San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, London (UK), and Cebu (Philippines). He is excited to apply his passion for centering intersectional storytelling and lived experience to his role with PRIDEnet.

Prior to joining PRIDEnet, Daniel was Program Manager and Interim Manager at the County of Santa Clara Office of LGBTQ Affairs, the first ever county office of its kind established in the nation. In this position he focused on policy, programs, and research to support LGBTQ+ communities to thrive, including playing a lead role for one of the largest local studies with LGBTQ+ older adults. At Frameline, he was Director of Distribution and Educational Programming and oversaw a national education program that developed LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum and partnered with more than 1,400 middle and high schools. Through his tenure as National Community Engagement Manager at ITVS, Daniel spearheaded more than a dozen national film-based campaigns focused on social issues such as racial justice, LGBTQ+ equity, homelessness, and more.


Daniel holds a BA in Visual and Media Arts with a minor in Gender Studies from Emerson College, and an MSc in Gender, Media, and Culture from the London School of Economics where he conducted primary research within queer film festival audience studies. In his personal time, he likes to watch and chat about the latest in LGBTQ+ film and television, travel, and feed his passion for fashion.

Ari Pefley

LGBTQ+ OPERATIONS/ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Ari Pefley

LGBTQ+ Operations/Administrative Specialist The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: they, them, theirs

Ari Pefley is excited to support community-engaged research as a LGBTQ+ Operations/Administrative Specialist with PRIDEnet. As a student of Stanford University, Ari studied Sociology with a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality studies. They served as teaching assistant for the Sociology department and a research assistant to help study demographic survey measures for LGBTQ+ populations. Between classes, they interned for the San Francisco LGBT Center and the Djerassi Resident Artists’ Program. For their honors thesis research, they interviewed transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming folks to better understand how these groups applied gender and sexual identity labels to themselves. The resulting paper was awarded the Michelle Zimbalist Rosaldo Prize in the Social Sciences. 

Prior to working with PRIDEnet, Ari worked with the queer ensemble theater company Eye Zen Presents as an Associate Communications Manager. Ari’s other passions include theater, studying Yiddish, sculpture, painting, and campy films. Looking toward the future, their ultimate goal is to pursue a PhD in Sociology and become a social researcher and community-engaged scholar.

Ana Rescate, MBA

LGBTQ+ COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet

Ana Rescate, MBA

LGBTQ+ Communications Specialist The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Pronouns: she, her, hers

Ana Rescate, MBA brings deep expertise in multimedia and community affairs to The PRIDE Study, drawing from her experience in various communication roles throughout her career. 

In her free time, she volunteers on the leadership council team for Somos Familia, an organization founded by two moms from the East Bay, who wanted to create support and acceptance for Latina/o/x lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth and their families. She is also a graduate of Equality California’s 2019 Leadership Academy in Northern California. In 2020, she joined the California Board of Psychology as an appointee of Governor Gavin Newsom.

A resident of the Bay Area, Ms. Rescate believes that all people have a right to be themselves without fear, and this philosophy is a through- line in all her roles. The credence that people deserve to tell their own stories underpins Ms. Rescate’s work. She strongly believes that each of us deserves to tell our own stories. As a queer WOC, she recognizes that her voice is her power and does what she can to empower others to use theirs. She earned her Master of Business Administration in marketing from Baker College and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film and television from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. 

Gowri Sunder, MDes

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

The PRIDE Study

Gowri Sunder, MDes

Research Assistant The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Gowri Sunder, MDes is currently the clinical research coordinator on Dr. Annesa Flentje's team in UCSF's Community Health System and a candidate for a Master's of Design in Interaction Design at California College of the Arts. Gowri's research interests include the impact of chronic stressors on health and the design of health systems. She is also passionate about the intersection of technology and health, particularly how it can be leveraged to make healthcare more accessible and equitable. 
Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH

POST-DOCTORAL SCHOLAR

The PRIDE Study

Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH

Post-Doctoral Scholar The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH is an epidemiologist, methodology nerd, and queer and transgender health equity researcher. Diana holds a PhD and MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Washington and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Vassar College. Prior to joining The PRIDE Study, she was awarded an NIH Kirschstein National Research Service Fellowship for her doctoral dissertation, which examined the heterogeneity in HIV/STI prevalence, testing, and PrEP use among transgender and non-binary people and their partners in the US. Diana's interests include barriers and facilitators of healthcare access for LGBTQ+ communities, sexual and reproductive health, HIV/STI prevention, sexual orientation & gender identity (SOGI) measurement, phylogenetics and molecular epidemiology, and community-engaged research methods.
Nguyen Tran, PhD, MPH

BIOSTATISTICIAN

The PRIDE Study

Nguyen Tran, PhD, MPH

Biostatistician The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: he, him, his

Nguyen K. Tran, PhD, MPH is a social epidemiologist with The PRIDE Study at Stanford University School of Medicine. He holds a PhD and MPH in Epidemiology from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health and a BS in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining The PRIDE Study, he was a former graduate research fellow for the Health Equity Advancement Lab whose long-term goal is to enhance HIV PrEP access and prevent opioid-related overdoses among people who use drugs in Philadelphia. In his current role, he applies his training epidemiology, data science, and causal inference to conduct and support community-engaged research that addresses the health priorities of queer and transgender communities, with the goal of advancing health equity for these populations. This work includes examining the validity of gender identity and sexual orientation question sets in population-based surveys, evaluating social and structural influences on mental health, and understanding the spatial pattern of infectious diseases (e.g., HIV and mpox).

JT Williams

LGBTQ+ REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR (SOUTH)

PRIDEnet

JT Williams

LGBTQ+ Regional Engagement Coordinator (South) PRIDEnet
Pronouns: He, Him His

JT Williams, BA, also known as German Chocolate was born in Heidelberg, Germany, and then moved to American in the early 90s.  As he grew up in the church, he learned the importance of working to build lasting and impactful relationships. This resulted in the development of people and compassion skills for helping people from all walks of life.

As a graduate of East Carolina University, he has been working in the Health Education and Promotion field for over 15 years and in the Human Health and Service field for the past 20 years.  Resulting in the title of a Health Advocate for Improved Quality of Health for all.

JT’s goal is to enrich the quality of life for all communities and beyond through his creative and charismatic personality. With his wide array of networks, resources, and community relations. The impact he is leaving is on a global scale.

Live and in charge, German Chocolate is good for the heart. Stay tuned for all of the latest updates from this agent of change as he works to unite the communities and create change for generations to come.

PRIDEnet Participant Advisory Committee (PAC)

Oscar Anderson

Oscar Anderson

Pronouns: he, him, his

Oscar Anderson is currently a Senior Research Communications Advisor at AARP, where he has spent 15 years conducting research on older adults and aging. He is focused primarily on technology and media, mental health, and maintaining social connections throughout the lifespan. He is an advocate for research on LGBTQ older adults and has worked to ensure LGBTQ respondents are represented in the research of AARP and its partners. Oscar is an incoming MSN student at Yale School of Nursing. After graduation, he hopes to work in primary care specializing in transgender medicine in order to serve the gender diverse community. He hopes to help address the community's critical need for more compassionate, competent healthcare.

Jay Chiocca, MS

Jay Chiocca, MS

Pronouns: He, him, his
Jay Chiocca is a Disabled intersex man who works as a vocational rehabilitation counselor in Central Ohio. His advocacy work focuses on bodily autonomy for all people with special attention to ending nonconsensual medical interventions for intersex people. Jay also educates mental health professionals (and the general population) about intersex topics. He has an M.S. in Counseling from Thomas University, as well as a B.A. in Sociology and a B.A. in Psychology from University of North Florida. In his free time, he plays wheelchair rugby. 
Loree Cook-Daniels, MS

Loree Cook-Daniels, MS

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Loree Cook-Daniels, FORGE’s Policy and Program Director, has helped design and co-facilitate FORGE’s multiple in-person and virtual support groups, research studies, and programs since 2000. She has been involved in advocacy, research, training, and services for LGBT populations since 1975, and is nationally-known for her writing, training, and policy work on LGBT aging, trauma and trauma recovery, and transgender issues. She co-chairs the Policy Committee of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs and serves on the National LGBT Aging Roundtable. Cook-Daniels holds a B.A. in women’s studies and history, an M.S. in conflict management, and a post-graduate Certificate in trauma counseling.
Jewell Crye

Jewell Crye

Pronouns: She, her, hers / They, them, theirs
Jewell Crye is a public school teacher in Texas. After graduating with a degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso in 2016, she immediately began teaching music in her local community with a focus on creating a safe and inclusive space for all her students. She is the faculty sponsor of her high school campus GSA, and will begin work on a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice in the Classroom in summer ‘24.

Mx. Crye is also an active member of The Planetary Society, a member-funded nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing space science and exploration. She has travelled to Washington D.C. with the Society to meet with legislators face-to-face to advocate for NASA funding.

Additionally, Jewell is a huge Star Wars and D&D fan, combining those passions into an ongoing two-year-long table top game campaign with a group of other queer and neurodivergent nerds. She firmly believes that hobbies, art, and play are necessary to survival, and that the connections we make through these endeavors can be life-long and life-changing.
Jenn Fonseca, MPH

Jenn Fonseca, MPH

Pronouns: She, her, hers / They, them, theirs
Jenn Fonseca is a Health Education Specialist at a leading cancer hospital in Texas. They were born and raised in Hawaiʻi and earned a Masters in Public Health from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Jenn has previously worked in non-profits serving homeless youth and survivors of sexual violence. She is dedicated to the idea that education and prevention can improve the lives of people from all communities and backgrounds. 
Richard Greene, MD, MHPE

Richard Greene, MD, MHPE

Pronouns: he, him, his
Richard E. Greene is an Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Greene serves as the Faculty Director of Health Disparities Education at NYU School of Medicine through the Office of Diversity Affairs, and in this role oversees the inclusion of Bias, Diversity, Health Disparities, and LGBTQ topics into the culture and curriculum of NYU’s medical center and educational programs. An active and passionate medical educator, Dr. Greene is also an Associate Program Director of the Primary Care Residency Program and presents extensively on many Primary Care topics including the musculoskeletal physical exam, foundations of primary care medicine and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender healthcare disparities. He also serves as an Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine/Primary Care Residency Program where he teaches on general primary care topics, musculoskeletal medicine, bias, and health disparities. Dr. Greene is the Medical Director for the Pride Health Center at NYC H+H/Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Greene also lectures on a national scale on the topic of LGBTQ Health Care Disparities and Transgender Health. Dr. Greene serves as the Medical Director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies (CHIBPS) through NYU’s Global Institute of Public Health. He also serves on the Board of Directors of GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality.
Tari Hanneman, MPA

Tari Hanneman, MPA

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Tari Hanneman is the Director of the Health Equality Project at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. In this role she oversees the annual LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) and other projects related to LGBTQ health and aging.

Tari has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, primarily focused in the areas of health and women’s issues. Prior to joining HRC, she served as the initial Director of The Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem where she led all aspects of developing The Fund’s programs and brand in the community. Prior to her move to North Carolina, she served in a number of roles at The California Endowment, one of the nation's largest health foundations. She has also worked for elected officials and non-profits focused on the environment, reproductive rights and HIV. She has a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis on Nonprofit Management from the University of Southern California, where she also did her undergraduate work.
Devin Hursey

Devin Hursey

Pronouns: he, him, his

Devin Hursey is an advocate for people living with HIV and public health, from Kansas City Missouri, currently pursuing dual master’s degrees in Public Health and strategic communications at the University of Missouri Columbia.  In 2019, Hursey was honored as one of the 40 under 40 in public health by de Beaumont.  His local and state work includes: legislative advocacy with the Missouri HIV Justice Coalition, and board membership of Blaqout KC.  In addition, Hursey is a steering committee member of the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus, and a steering committee member of MPACT global action for gay men’s health and rights. Hursey was formerly an appointed member of the CDC/HRSA Advisory Committee on HIV and Viral Hepatitis.

Shalonda Ingram

Shalonda Ingram

Pronouns: s/he
Leveraging decades of experience, Shalonda Ingram is an innovator who embodies the mantra: Strategize. Design. Produce. 
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Shalonda is committed to cultivating collective consciousness and empowering communities to take actions that transform their circumstances. Shalonda has deployed worldwide to produce transformative experiences with artists, activists, and changemakers. Native to grassroots activism, Shalonda serves social justice, spiritual, and corporate organizations to explore network effect and elevate opportunities for resource sharing. Shalonda influences existing structures to create collaborative environments for communities to thrive. Shalonda is honored to serve Queer+ Communities in the areas of arts presenting, wellness research, placemaking and enterprise development.
Joelle Maslak, BA

Joelle Maslak, BA

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Joelle Maslak is employed as a network engineer for a streaming video company, where she is a leader for the Trans* employee resource group. She has over 20 years of neurodiversity advocacy experience, and is particularly interested in the intersection of gender and neurodiversity. She is also involved in AASPIRE (Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education) team. She co-founded and facilitates a peer support group for trans people on the spectrum. She is currently working towards a second degree in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Asa Radix, MD, PhD, MPH

Asa Radix, MD, PhD, MPH

Pronouns: he, him, his, they, them, their, theirs
Dr. Asa Radix is trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases at the University of Connecticut, and also holds postgraduate qualifications in tropical medicine and public health. Previously Dr. Radix held the position of Associate Medical Director at Callen-Lorde. In addition to having a clinical practice (HIV primary care and transgender health), Asa coordinates electives in LGBT health for medical and nursing students and is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU and Yale.

Dr. Radix is of West Indian origin and has a special interest in the needs of LGBT populations of immigrant status. For 7 years, Asa was the director of a public health department in the Netherlands Antilles and assisted in the development of insular strategic plans for HIV prevention as well as federal guidelines for communicable disease prevention. Other positions prior to Callen-Lorde have included being the medical director at the University of Hartford, serving a population of 5,000 undergraduates under 24 years of age and being an infectious disease specialist in private practice in West Hartford, Connecticut. A major focus of Dr. Radix’ work has been the development and dissemination of prevention, treatment and care guidelines for HIV+ and at-risk persons in the Caribbean including provision of LGBT cultural competency training to Caribbean healthcare providers.

Dr. Radix is an associate editor of Transgender Health and member of the editorial boards for the International Journal of Transgenderism and the PRN Notebook. Other contributions include being a consultant for the World Health Organization/PAHO on transgender health issues and the co-chair of the WHO/PAHO HIV/STI technical advisory committee. Dr. Radix is the site-PI/co-investigator for 3 NIH/NIMH studies, including a demonstration project on PrEP.
Ramón Ramirez

Ramón Ramirez

Pronouns:
Ramón Ramirez has been working with the community for over 25 years in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Ramón has worked with many communities such as: monolingual Spanish speaking, LGBTQI, African American, Transgender, homeless, drug user and other. With a long experience as an HIV testing and prevention counselor, clinical health educator, entertainer and activist in the community, Ramón has been able to experience firsthand the disparities these communities experience from both sides of the spectrum. Ramón works for a large medical provider company as a Clinical Health Educator helping patients by providing education on safer sex, PrEP, weight management, diabetes diagnosis and healthy habits among other topics. Ramón wants to bring to the table experience living as a gay Mexican American and active community member.
Dane Rivas-Koehl, MS

Dane Rivas-Koehl, MS

Pronouns: He, him, his
Dane is a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is passionate about supporting LGBTQ+ families' and individuals' mental health and doing research at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and SES. He approaches his research from a feminist and queer-informed framework, which allows him to center queer perspectives and challenge dominant narratives.

Dane has been married to his husband, Matthew, since 2018, and they have two dogs, Jayce and Louis. Outside work, Dane and his partner love traveling, exploring new food, and spending time with family and friends. Dane joined the PAC in January of 2024.
Karalin Sprague, MSW

Karalin Sprague, MSW

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Kara Sprague (she/her) is the Director of Strategy & Impact at SAGE, the nation’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT+ older adults, where she has worked since 2014. In this role, Kara is responsible for implementation and measurement of SAGE’s Strategic Plan, providing consultation on program evaluation and impact assessment across the organization, and promotion of a data-informed culture. Prior to SAGE, Kara worked in a variety of program evaluation and implementation roles across HIV services and international development. Kara has a B.A. in Sociology from American University and an M.S.W. from Fordham University.

David Utuone

David Utuone

Pronouns: he, him, his

David Utuone is a gay Sāmoan HIV advocate and community organizer residing in the traditional Tongva and Gabrieleno lands (presently known as San Bernardino, California). He is the current director of Mai Le Pogisā (Out of the Darkness) at a community based organization called The Young Serving All Mankind Our Alofa (SAMOA). He has dedicated his life to raising better awareness and cognizance of sexual health and queer identities both in his local Inland Empire and Pacific Islander communities.

PRIDEnet Ambassadors

Nikki Alexander-Tumblin

Nikki Alexander-Tumblin

Pronouns: She/Her

Nikki Alexander-Tumblin, Founder and Visionary of New Orleans Black Pride, is a dynamic force in the world of LGBTQ+ advocacy. With unwavering dedication, she has carved an inspiring path as a Black Queer woman in a male-dominated society, leading a movement that celebrates diversity, equality, and resilience.  

Nikki's journey is a testament to her boundless passion for social justice. Her leadership has not only birthed an inclusive haven for the LGBTQ+ community but also serves as a symbol of strength for those facing adversity. Her profound commitment to intersectionality ensures that no voice is left unheard.  

A visionary with an indomitable spirit, Nikki has propelled New Orleans Black Pride to greater heights year after year. Her ability to create safe spaces and foster connections has empowered countless individuals to stand proudly in their identities. With a heart full of empathy and a mind brimming with innovation, Nikki continues to break barriers and shatter stereotypes. 

Through her tireless efforts, Nikki Alexander-Tumblin has not only brought joy, acceptance, and empowerment to her community but also ignited a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ movement. Her legacy as a trailblazer, advocate, and change-maker inspires us all to strive for a more inclusive and accepting world. 

Donald M. Bell

Donald M. Bell

Pronouns: he, him, his

Donald M. Bell identifies as a 72 year old single, cisgender, pro feminist, gay or SGL (Same Gender Loving) man of African, Indigenous, and Scots-Irish roots. Don is a third-generation native-born Chicagoan, Southsider, and lifelong White Sox fan.

He is a retired professional in Higher Education Administration/Student Affairs; certified in HIV/AIDS counseling, health education, and outreach; and IDCFS Social Worker. Now at the end of a long hiatus he plans to re-enter the work field in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He has become a recognized resource in the area of aging, in general, and LGBT+ aging in particular. He often presents on those and related intersectional social justice issues.

Continuing his lifelong dedication to advocacy and activism, he assumes a leadership role in several social justice organizations. He is a founding member of the National Leadership Council of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS), the nation's oldest pro feminist men's organization. He is a member of the Board of Directors of The Village Chicago, the largest urban village in the national Village-to-Village Aging Network. He also sits on the Boards of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus and One Roof Chicago, the developers of a proposed intergenerational LGBT-riendly residence for the South Side of Chicago.  And finally, he is the nominee of AARP Illinois to Governor JB Pritzker to sit on the newly established Illinois State Commission on LGBTQ+ Aging.

Don is a resident of Town Hall Apartments, Chicago's first and the nation's fourth LGBT-friendly senior residence. And in his spare time, he continues to be the proud father of two adult sons, and seven grandchildren. Life is full!

Liat Feller

Liat Feller

Pronouns: she/they
Liat Feller (she/they) is a Jewish, disabled, queer, and intersex woman with experiences across early childhood, healthcare, and LGBTQIA+ settings. She was born and raised in southern Connecticut and is excited to bring loves of research, education, and queer community to her work at PRIDEnet. A special educator by trade, Liat advises schools, businesses, and religious organizations in the areas of accessibility and LGBTQIA+ inclusion. She is also a board member at large for a national intersex support group. Having experienced chronic illness, Liat is also passionate about achieving intersex inclusive, weight-neutral, gender-affirming care in medical settings. Liat envisions a future for LGBTQIA+ individuals which includes bodily autonomy, representation, and dignity in all areas of life and beyond denominational divides. In her spare time, she enjoys reading memoirs and going for a swim. The ways to her heart include rainbows, sparkles, a cute cat, or a good bowl of vegetarian pho.
Ederick E. Johnson

Ederick E. Johnson

Pronouns: He/Him/His
Ederick E. Johnson a noted HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ Activist, Minister, Psalmist, Musician, Workshop clinician, and speaker is a native of Bradenton, Fl. In 2011, he relocated to South Florida to attend the only HBCU in the area, Florida Memorial University. In his years of service, he has been bestowed many honors and awards including Ujima Advocate Award as well as a Proclamation from the County and City of Ft. Lauderdale, declaring May 16th as Ederick E. Johnson Day. Currently he is employed as an Research Associate with Yale University School of Nursing. Ederick has over 12 years of experience working in the field of HIV. Prior to going to Yale, he served as the MSM (Men who Sleep with Men) Coordinator for the Florida Department of Health of Broward County. There he implemented numerous outreach programs and events that targeted the MSM population as it relates to HIV Prevention and PrEP. He Served as Government Co Chair for the MSM and Transgender Advisory Council for the County. He also sat on the Board for the Broward County HIV Planning Council. In the community he serves as Worshipful Master of New Era Masonic Lodge No. 69 Prince Hall (National Compact) Grand Chaplin for the Most Worshipful Meridian Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Fl. Member of Abraham Chapter of the Royal Arch Masons, and Heroines of Jericho, member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, member of Liberty Elks Lodge, Minister of Music for Grays Temple CME, and proud store associate for WAWA store #5232.
Rosaia Shepard

Rosaia Shepard

Pronouns: she, her, hers

Rosaia Shepard grew up in Seattle’s Colored District, where, as a student activist in the 1960s, she fought racism, sexism, sexual abuse, as well as sexual orientation discrimination. Over the decades, ableism and ageism were added to the list. Rosaia has held many management, advising, and consulting positions for various enterprises including the Internal Revenue Service, the University of Washington, and Deloitte. Recently retired in Metro Atlanta, she writes nonfiction and volunteers her time supporting Georgia political candidates who advance LGBTQIAP rights. Rosaia holds a B.A. in African American Studies and Literature from the University of Washington and an MBA from the University of Arizona.

Paul Vila

Paul Vila

Pronouns: he, him, his, él

Paul Vila is a freelance web developer and writer. He attended New College of Florida, where he graduated with a BA in Political Science and Environmental Studies. His academic work has focused on marrying scientific literacy and in-depth understandings of sociopolitical structures with the goal of disassembling systemic injustices. With that in mind, much of his current activist work centers on outreach for LGBTQ+ health issues, with an emphasis on Latinx communities. 

SaVanna Wanzer

SaVanna Wanzer

Pronouns: she, her, hers
SaVanna Wanzer has been a DC Trans advocate, HIV educator, and community volunteer for more than 25 years.  As the founder of Capital Trans Pride in 2007, she later started May Is?  All About Trans in 2018, a series of events celebrating, featuring, and loving transgender people. Designed to educate and build bridges across all communities, SaVanna has grown her vision to include organizations and individuals from across the country. During her many years of service, SaVanna was the first transgender woman to serve on the boards of Whitman-Walker Health and the Capital Pride Alliance. She has also served on the DC Mayor’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee, and started and maintained multiple peer mentoring programs. An active CAP member for NMAC & DCCFAR.  Among her many awards, 2019 she was one of Leon Harris’ NBC 4 Heroes and TAGG Magazine, she was recognized with DC’s Black Pride Unsung Hero Award in 2017, Whitman-Walker Legal’s Robert Fenner Urquhart Memorial Award in 2015, and Capital Pride’s Hero Award in 2008.  Retired from the federal government, SaVanna remains very active in her community and at Westminster Presbyterian Church in DC.  Her future goal to take May Is? “All About Trans” National level.
Jeffery Worthington

Jeffery Worthington

Pronouns:

Jeffrey Worthington, known under his moniker "Jaycee Dubyuh", is the founder of the Gaymer Allied People of Color.  This movement has one simple mission: to build, house, and protect black and brown queer bodies as they intersect with normative spaces in technology and fandom.  Coupled with his decade of experience as a tournament and esports organizer, Jaycee continues to spread awareness of his brand and consult with those in need of guidance through the esports community.  As PRIDEnet becomes the latest addition, Jaycee extends a resume of being featured in interviews and panel discussions from several organizations and educational institutions. He looks forward to creating new avenues that will conjoin PRIDEnet with a unique gaming perspective that minorities will be certain to enjoy and learn from. 

Lilli Xiang

Lilli Xiang

Pronouns: she/they

Lilli Xiang is a 21 year old, biracial, queer, neurodivergent undergraduate student from Texas. Currently, they are pursuing a BS in Psychology and a BS in Integrative Studies with areas in Criminal Justice, LGBTQ+ Studies, and Women and Gender Studies at the University of North Texas.  An inaugural graduate of the first Early College High School in their home district, their experiences helped them realize a passion for integrating research and education with youth activism. Lilli focuses on fostering connection and belonging among residents and presents across the state and nation on topics affecting the well-being of diverse college student populations, having won awards in both fields. 

Lilli strives to advocate for student perspectives in the professional world. Serving in multiple leadership roles on and off campus, their activism centers student voices at the higher education level in departmental policy adjustments, equitable representation, and program creation designed to meet the needs of every student. Through a national mentoring program, Lilli has advised underrepresented high school seniors across the United States. As they finish undergraduate studies, they look forward to new experiences, furthering their education and community involvement as a lifelong learner.

Research Methods and Content Advisors

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS is the Lee Goldman, MD Endowed Chair in Medicine and Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She is the Director of the UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations at San Francisco General Hospital, a Board Member of UCSF’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Director of the CTSI Clinical and Translational Science Training (CTST) Program and a faculty member for its K Scholar Program. She is the PI of two collaborative center grants from the NIH/NIMHD - the Center for Health And Risk in Minority youth and adults (CHARM) addressing disparities in chronic disease in youth and young adults, and BUILD an infrastructure and training grant with San Francisco State University. She is also the joint PI of Bring It Down - an NIH/NINDS U54 research center addressing stroke prevention and stroke disparities in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente Northern California. A general internist at San Francisco General Hospital and faculty member in the Division of General Internal Medicine, Dr. Bibbins-Domingo has expertise in cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes risk in young adults. Her work focuses on racial, ethnic and income differences in manifestations of chronic disease; the intersection of biological, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence risk; and effective clinical, public health, and policy interventions aimed at prevention. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo has interest in local, national, and global prevention efforts and has collaborated with investigators in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and China. She has been a member of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) since 2010 and is currently the Chairperson of the USPSTF. She is an inducted member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation.
Matthew Capriotti, PhD

MENTAL HEALTH CONTENT EXPERT

The PRIDE Study

Matthew Capriotti, PhD

Mental Health Content Expert The PRIDE Study
Pronouns: he, him, his
Matthew (Matt) Capriotti, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department at San Jose State University and a Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Matt earned his doctoral degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and he completed pre-doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships at UCSF. Matt studies factors that promote resilience and wellbeing among sexual and gender minority people, with an emphasis on youth and young adults. He has a particular research interest in engaging young adults in evidence-based approaches to HIV prevention and treatment, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Matt also maintains an active line of research on the development, testing, and implementation of evidence-based behavioral interventions for young people with tic disorders (e.g., Tourette syndrome), other obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Matt is thrilled to be a part of The PRIDE Study's efforts to identify and end health disparities faced by sexual and gender minority communities.
David Glidden, PhD

David Glidden, PhD

Pronouns: he, him, his
Dave Glidden, PhD is a Professor of Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco with over 20 years of collaborations with investigators in HIV Treatment, HIV Prevention, Pediatrics and Neurology.
Mark Pletcher, MD, MPH

Mark Pletcher, MD, MPH

Pronouns: he, him, his
Mark Pletcher, MD, MPH is a Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics and of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). As an epidemiologist and a general internal medicine physician, his research is designed to inform clinical decision-making and policy. This work focuses on prevention of cardiovascular disease with particular interests in early life causes of atherosclerosis, primordial and primary coronary heart disease and stroke prevention, clinical decision-making regarding use of preventive medications (statins and anti-hypertensives), and screening for subclinical cardiovascular disease. He serves as a principal investigator for the Health eHeart Study, an online technology-enabled cardiovascular cohort study. Dr. Pletcher has specific expertise in study design, decision and cost-effectiveness analysis, risk prediction, and evaluating the clinical utility of biomarkers. He utilizes this expertise in his leading role with UCSF’s nationally recognized clinical research training programs by teaching clinical research methods as well mentoring students, fellows, and junior faculty members.
Jae Sevelius, PhD

Jae Sevelius, PhD

Pronouns: she, her, hers
Jae Sevelius, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor with the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS) in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Sevelius leads several research projects at the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health to promote increased access to culturally competent health care for transgender people. With funding from the National Institutes of Health and the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, Dr. Sevelius’ research is focused on leveraging data to develop culturally relevant, transgender–specific programs and interventions to promote holistic health and wellness among transgender people, with an emphasis on serving transgender women of color and those affected by HIV. Dr. Sevelius is currently conducting a randomized controlled trial of ’Healthy Divas’, a peer-delivered intervention to increase engagement in care and medication adherence among transgender women living with HIV (R01MH106373) with funding from NIMH. Their team is also developing an intervention for transgender women incarcerated in the San Francisco County Jail (R34DA038541) with funding from NIDA to increase engagement in health care upon reentry into the community. Dr. Sevelius recently completed a pilot randomized controlled trial of ’Sheroes’, a sexual risk reduction and empowerment intervention developed in collaboration with and for transgender women of color (R34MH102109), and recently launched the TRIUMPH project as part of the first trans-specific PrEP demonstration initiative in California (CHRP, PR-15-SF007). Additionally, Dr. Sevelius is Co-Investigator on several transgender-focused projects, including a national 9 site demonstration project testing interventions to engage and retain HIV+ transgender women of color in care (PI: G. Rebchook), and formative research with transgender women in Brazil (PI: S. Lippman).

Affiliated Research Team

Oscar Beltran, Ph.D

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Health Sciences Department / Butler University

Oscar Beltran, Ph.D

Assistant Professor Health Sciences Department / Butler University
Pronouns: he/him/his/él

Oscar Beltran is an Assistant Professor in the Health Science Department at Butler University. He completed his Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso and post-doctoral training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). His work experience and research focus on community-based participatory research and interventions in the areas of HIV/STI prevention, substance use/abuse, Hispanic/LatinX health disparities, cross-border health, and LGBTQI health.

Kinsey Blue Bryant-Lees, Ph.D.

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Northern Kentucky University

Kinsey Blue Bryant-Lees, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Psychological Science Northern Kentucky University
Pronouns: She/They
Dr. Kinsey Blue Bryant-Lees is an Industrial-Organizational and Human Factors Psychologist, who focuses on investigating novel and innovative psychometric and organizational measurement approaches, so that we can more accurately capture peoples’ lived experiences in our data. Their specific areas of interest include establishing the equivalence of minority stress measures across sexual and gender minority subgroups, understanding the relationships between invisible identity salience, disclosure, and experiences of discrimination among sexual and gender minority people, and improving our understanding of SGM people in occupational health and organizational decision-making research (e.g., personnel selection).
Kristen Clark

PHD CANDIDATE

University of California San Francisco School of Nursing

Kristen Clark

PhD Candidate University of California San Francisco School of Nursing
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Kristen Drew Clark is a PhD Candidate in Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. Her doctoral research is centered on the structural barriers to health care access, health care experiences, and symptom experiences of transgender and gender expansive people in the United States. Her doctoral work is funded through a National Institute for Nursing Research pre-doctoral fellowship (F31).  
Prior to pursuing her PhD, Kristen worked clinically as a nurse in inpatient mental health, specializing in crisis stabilization care. In this capacity she worked to advocate for more inclusive and knowledgeable mental health care for transgender people through improved hospital policies and increasing education in Florida nursing schools.
Shane Lamba

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Shane Lamba

Research Assistant
Pronouns: he/him/his

Shane Lamba is a Health Science Specialist in the Spinal Cord Injuries and Disorders (SCI/D) Center at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. He works on a multidisciplinary team, where he serves as one of the exoskeleton trainers collecting data on how its usage with Veterans can help improve quality of life for those living with a SCI. Additionally, he has brought to his team at the SCI center, a rejuvenated need for LGBT centered health research, he is diligently working alongside collaborators in applying for funding to initiate qualitative research on topics related to health equity and disability.

He also serves as a member on the Cultural Competency committee for the VA SCI/D Center, working alongside clinicians to bring diversity and inclusion trainings regarding LGBT Veterans. Shane will be enrolled in the Fall as a Master's of Public Health graduate student at the University of New England, where he intends to focus on community health promotion and education. He is a Bay Area native, and enjoys being active outdoors and relaxing at the beach. Shane is super excited to be a part of The PRIDE Study, as he believes it will help broaden his skill sets working with community engaged research methodology and health equity.

Briana S. Last, Ph.D.

FACULTY

Stony Brook University

Briana S. Last, Ph.D.

Faculty Stony Brook University
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Briana S. Last is a faculty member in the clinical psychology department at Stony Brook University. Their research examines the social determinants of mental health and mental health services, with a focus on the impact of policies on service provision and patient outcomes.
Paavani Lella

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

University of San Francisco

Paavani Lella

Undergraduate Research Assistant University of San Francisco
Pronouns: she/they
Paavani is an undergraduate student at the University of San Francisco majoring in Biology and Theology & Religious Studies with minors in Chemistry and Public Service & Community Engagement. She is interested in the intersections between spirituality, health, and identity, and is passionate about making affirming and culturally sensitive care accessible to underserved communities. Paavani is especially passionate about addressing health disparities among racial, gender, and sexual minorities. She hopes to continue advocating for and learning from those around her.
Briana McGeough, PhD, MSW

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

University of Kansas School of Social Welfare

Briana McGeough, PhD, MSW

Assistant Professor University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
Pronouns: She/They

Dr. Briana McGeough is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas and Director of the Center for LGBTQ Research and Advocacy. She earned her PhD and MSW from the University of California, Berkeley School of Social Welfare and her B.A. in Sociology and Gender/Sexuality Studies from Brown University. Her research focuses on understanding and addressing mental health and substance use challenges among LGBTQ+ people. She recently pilot tested a substance use intervention and a general mental wellness intervention for LGBTQ adults.

Nick Metheny, PhD, MPH, RN

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies

Nick Metheny, PhD, MPH, RN

Assistant Professor University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies
Pronouns: He/him/his
Nicholas (Nick) Metheny, PhD, MPH, RN (he/his) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. His research takes an intersectional approach to preventing and mitigating the harms of intimate partner violence (IPV) in marginalized women and sexual and gender minority (SGM) communities. Much of his work with PRIDENet explores the impact of IPV on substance use and HIV-related outcomes. Through this evidence, he aims to build multilevel interventions that reduce violence-related health inequities in marginalized women and SGM communities globally.
Nicholas Panyanouvong

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Stanford University

Nicholas Panyanouvong

Undergraduate Research Assistant Stanford University
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Nicholas Panyanouvong is an undergraduate student at Stanford University who, although undeclared, is considering a major in mathematical and computational science or biomedical computation. As an aspiring MD/MPH, he is interested in investigating the relationship between genetic and environmental factors in determining health outcomes, particularly with respect to groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in medicine. Here at the PRIDE lab, I’m studying the epigenetic basis of minority stress in sexual and gender minorities, as well as the various ways that stress manifests itself in the body.

Outside of population health, my research interests include cognitive and behavioral science; at Stanford, Nicholas works with the O’Connell lab to study spatial navigation in amphibians. He also a patient health navigator at Pacific Free Clinic, and an advocate for disabled/neurodiverse individuals with the Stanford Neurodiversity Project. 

Ben Liad Schwartz

MEDICAL STUDENT

Stanford University School of Medicine

Ben Liad Schwartz

Medical Student Stanford University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His

Ben Schwartz is a medical student at Stanford Medicine who is passionate about using research to support tangible, impactful reform for LGBTQ+ communities. As an undergraduate, he attended Stanford University, where he earned a BS in Biology and a BA in Religious Studies, graduated with honors, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. His previous research focused on using advances in health sciences to eradicate LGBTQ+ discrimination in religious communities. Mental health and its requisite destigmatization played pivotal roles in his work. Ben also served as the president of Jewish Queers, a Stanford student organization focused on creating space for those identifying as Jewish and queer. As a medical student, he was elected by his class to serve as one of two Recruitment Chairs, a position designed to facilitate student involvement in the admissions process, welcome prospective students to Stanford for their interviews, and recruit a diverse group of students to comprise the incoming class. Moreover, Ben currently serves as co-chair of LGBTQ+ Meds, the primary LGBTQ+ medical student organization at Stanford. He hopes to work closely with faculty to more explicitly integrate the care of LGBTQ+ patients into clinical training.

Ben is eager to bring his personal experiences and academic/professional interests to the PRIDE Study team. He hopes to explore the healthcare dynamics of queer identity, the medical implications of sociocultural repression, and the dermatological care of LGBTQ+ patients.

Shalmali Bane, MS

PHD STUDENT IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND POPULATION HEALTH

Stanford School of Medicine

Shalmali Bane, MS

PHD STUDENT IN Epidemiology and Population Health Stanford School of Medicine
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Shalmali Bane is doctoral candidate in the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University. Her work examines the role of social determinants of health on the experiences of birthing persons, particularly for perinatal outcomes such as severe maternal morbidity; she is especially interested in reproductive/obstetric health services (e.g., cesarean section and abortion). Shalmali grew up in India and received an undergraduate biology degree from Stanford, with a focus in Neurobiology. Her PhD dissertation applies rigorous epidemiological methods to study how factors like socially determined race/ethnicity and socio-economic position impact the prevalence of low-risk cesarean section. She is also a RAISE fellow at Stanford, aiming to conduct a community-engaged research project exploring abortion access and experiences in California.
Ava Snow

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT

Stanford University

Ava Snow

Undergraduate Student Stanford University
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Ava Snow is an undergraduate student at Stanford studying Human Biology. She is from Bozeman, Montana, and began exploring her interest in LGBTQ+ health as a peer educator for a local sexual and reproductive healthcare clinic when she was in high school. On campus, she volunteers as a counselor at the Sexual Health Peer Resource Center, and as a Patient Health Navigator at Pacific Free Clinic. She is so excited to work with and learn from all of the incredible people who are involved with the Pride Study!
Shamsi Soltani, MPH

PHD STUDENT, EPIDEMIOLOGY AND POPULATION HEALTH

Stanford University School of Medicine

Shamsi Soltani, MPH

PhD Student, Epidemiology and Population Health Stanford University School of Medicine
Pronouns: she/her
Shamsi grew up in the Bay Area and has been involved in public health since 2010. Her work has spanned from needle exchange, to coordinating international clinical trials, to successfully advocating to the CDC for improved crash injury tracking. She is a longtime Community Advisory Group member for BridgeHIV, the San Francisco Department of Public Health's HIV research arm. Now earning a PhD, she studies how we can better respond to health disparities across LGBTQIA+ groups. Her dissertation focuses on longitudinal risk factors for suicidal behaviors using responses from The PRIDE Study.
Brett Aaron Stark, MD, MPH

OBGYN RESIDENT

University of California, San Francisco

Brett Aaron Stark, MD, MPH

OBGYN Resident University of California, San Francisco
Pronouns: he/him/his
Brett Stark, is a resident physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California, San Francisco. His prior research has explored family building desire for LGBTQ+ youth, mostly working at the intersection of family building and fertility preservation for transgender and non-binary adolescents.  Currently, Brett is working with The PRIDE Study to develop clinical tools to better describe the sexual health and well-being of LGBTQ+ populations.
Elliot Tebbe, PhD

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF NURSING

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Elliot Tebbe, PhD

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing University of Wisconsin-Madison
Pronouns: he/him

Elliot Tebbe is a Licensed Psychologist and holds an appointment in the School of Nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Tebbe's research centers on investigating and addressing factors driving mental health inequities among queer and trans/nonbinary people and communities. Dr. Tebbe centers community-based approaches in the development and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies to alleviate distress and promote health and well-being and to improve access to competent and affirming health care.

Michael Trujillo, PhD

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW

University of California San Francisco Department of Psychiatry

Michael Trujillo, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of California San Francisco Department of Psychiatry
Pronouns: Any
Michael Trujillo, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry. Michael completed their PhD in Health Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University and is currently completing a T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Psychology and Medicine investigating the physiological underpinnings of sexual prejudice and its impact on health. Their research is driven by models that view stigma as a fundamental cause of health disparities and examines the social-cognitive, affective, biological, and behavioral factors that underlie the association between stigma and health. As a Graduate Research Fellow of the National Science Foundation, they examined how anti-gay harassment impacted risk-taking and the role of internalized stigma. Michael is also interested in identifying collective and personal strengths that promote resilience that allow individuals to thrive in the face of stigma. They are thrilled to be a part of The PRIDE Study as a means to end health disparities faced by sexual and gender minorities.
Adary Zhang

MEDICAL STUDENT

Stanford Medical School

Adary Zhang

Medical Student Stanford Medical School
Pronouns: They/them/she/hers
Ada is a medical student, writer, and community organizer who is interested in how community-based work incorporating the thoughtful and compassionate practice of medicine has the potential to address the systemic and structural inequities that affect communities decentered by white supremacy and cisheteropatriarchy in the US and abroad. In the past, they have worked extensively to elevate the voices of queer and trans A/API communities, decrease health inequities in the US and in Hong Kong, and research the role of implicit bias in racism. In the coming years, they hope to delve more deeply into research, policy, and organizing work focused on amplifying the experiences of queer and trans people of color around the world.

The PRIDE Study thanks its former team members for their contributions:

A Message from the Directors

My interest in LGBTQ+ health began in medical school when I became frustrated about how little we knew about the healthcare inequities LGBTQ+ people face. As an out gay man, I feel connected to LGBTQ+ populations with a sense of responsibility to improve the quality of the data available with the overarching goal to improve health. Our research showed that medical students are taught little about LGBTQ+-related health, but a new question arose: what are the LGBTQ+-related health topics that must be taught to the physician workforce? That question requires notable evidence about the disparities, and these data are unavailable.

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine composed a report on LGBT health, which stated: “The relative lack of population-based data presents the greatest challenge to describing the health status and health-related needs of LGBT people.” That quote is particularly powerful to me and serves as a call to action! Unfortunately, sexual and gender minorities remain largely excluded from national demographic assessments, health studies, and clinical trials. Without long-term longitudinal studies, detailing the factors that influence health and disease in the LGBTQ+ populations will be challenging. But I believe that current scientific and sociopolitical environments are ripe for change!

The time is now for all LGBTQ+ people to come out for PRIDE! By doing so, we can get the data we need to improve health for everyone!

Stanford Medicine Profile

- Mitchell R. Lunn

I never intended to focus my time on LGBTQ+ health. But as an out lesbian, I knew that, regardless of what I did professionally, I needed to know how to take care of my friends and the members of my communities that I care so much about. I had lesbian friends who developed cervical cancer even though they “weren’t supposed to.” I had trans friends who were having kids even though medical science said they “couldn’t,” and I had gay friends who were more worried about their risk of heart disease than HIV but couldn’t get the information they needed. So, when the topic of LGBTQ+ health issues never came up in my medical training, I got fired up to start researching and advocating for LGBTQ+ health beyond my circle of friends.

But the more I looked, the more I found a lot of dangerous misinformation and unanswered questions. I found that LGBTQ+ people were categorized and stigmatized, but our experiences were never understood. Medical science seemed blind to the uniquely beautiful and challenging ways that LGBTQ+ people have navigated and created their lives.

It is time for us to be counted. It is time for medical science to understand our health so we get the care and services we need.

This is what The PRIDE Study is all about, a chance to put LGBTQ+ lives front and center so we can ask and answer the questions that matter to us.

Stanford Medicine Lab Page

- Juno Obedin-Maliver

What mark will you leave?

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