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
Annesa Flentje, PhD
CO-DIRECTOR
The PRIDE Study & PRIDEnet
Annesa Flentje, PhD
Annesa Flentje, PhD is Professor in the UCSF School of Nursing, Department of Community Health Systems and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF. 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 LGBTQIA+ individuals. Her research has targeted multiple ways to reduce these disparities including prevention, increasing visibility of LGBTQIA+ people in research and electronic health records, developing and testing interventions to improve the health of LGBTQIA+ people, and improving mental health services for LGBTQIA+ people. She is interested in better understanding how stigma and everyday experiences change the physical health of our communities, and understanding how we can interrupt those impacts.
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 our diverse LGBTQIA+ communities.
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 our diverse LGBTQIA+ communities.
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Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS
CO-DIRECTOR
The PRIDE Study & PRIDEnet
CO-FOUNDER
The PRIDE Study & PRIDEnet
Mitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS
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
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 & PRIDEnet
CO-FOUNDER
The PRIDE Study & PRIDEnet
Juno Obedin-Maliver, MD, MPH, MAS
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
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
Staff
Ell Hundertmark
LGBTQIA+ CLINICAL RESEARCH COORDINATOR ASSOCIATE
The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Ell Hundertmark
Ell Hundertmark is a SF Bay Area, California native. While working toward their undergrad degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Ell helped conduct community-based action research on psychosocial factors affecting LGBTQIA+ mental health and access to gender-affirming care. They have learned, through their experience working with and for underserved populations, the importance of integrity when conducting action-oriented research and seek to implement this further as a member of PRIDEnet and in future applied work. They are grateful to be part of project that participates in collective world making—to sustain and catalogue LGBTQIA+ existence in ways defined by those who are LGBTQIA+. They also love to read epic fantasy, write poetry, and photograph their loved ones on film.
David J. Kinitz, PhD, MSW
POST-DOCTORAL SCHOLAR
The PRIDE Study
David J. Kinitz, PhD, MSW
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 the relationship of mental health with 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
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.
Daniel Moretti, MSc
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR
The PRIDE Study/PRIDEnet
Daniel Moretti, MSc
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 LGBTQIA+ communities to thrive, including playing a lead role for one of the largest local studies with LGBTQIA+ older adults. At Frameline, he was Director of Distribution and Educational Programming and oversaw a national education program that developed LGBTQIA+ 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, LGBTQIA+ 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.
Maddie Price
RESEARCH ANALYST
The PRIDE Study
Maddie Price
Maddie is currently a research analyst with Dr.Annesa Flentje’s Sexual and Gender Minority Health Equity Lab. Originally from the Sacramento area, Maddie has been living in San Francisco since moving there for college a few years ago. At University of San Francisco, they studied psychology and Spanish literature and had the opportunity to work in developmental research focused on prejudice and bias in children. Their interests include LGBTQIA+ mental health, translation, and accessibility of healthcare. In their free time they like to read horror novels, bake cookies, and explore nature.
Gowri Sunder, MDes
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
The PRIDE Study
Gowri Sunder, MDes
Gowri Sunder, MDes is a research associate with The PRIDE Study and in Dr. Annesa Flentje's lab. She holds a Master's in Interaction Design and graduated with an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in psychology and art. Gowri's research interests include the impact of structural stressors on health, substance use, LGBTQIA+ health equity, and the design of mental health services. She has also coordinated mentorship programs with The PRIDE Study.
Nguyen Tran, PhD, MPH
BIOSTATISTICIAN
The PRIDE Study
Nguyen Tran, PhD, MPH
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).
PRIDEnet Participant Advisory Committee (PAC)
Oscar Anderson, RN
Oscar Anderson, RN
Oscar Anderson is a registered nurse and MSN student at Yale School of Nursing, where he is training to be a family nurse practitioner specializing in queer and trans patient care. Prior to going into healthcare, he spent 15 years as a researcher at AARP. His research there focused on older adults and aging, especially technology and media, mental health, and maintaining social connections throughout the lifespan. He also advocated for research on LGBTQIA+ older adults and worked to ensure LGBTQIA+ respondents were represented in the research of AARP and its partners. He holds at BA from Arizona State University in psychology.
Jay Chiocca, MS
Jay Chiocca, MS
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
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. 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
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.
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
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.
Tari Hanneman, MPA
Tari Hanneman, MPA
Tari Hanneman (she/her) is the Director of the Health and Aging Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, where she oversees the Healthcare Equality Index, the Long-Term Care Equality Index, and other projects related to LGBTQ+ health and aging. Tari has over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sector, primarily focused on the areas of health and women’s issues. Before 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. Before her move to North Carolina, she served in several 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.
Devin Hursey
Devin Hursey
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
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 produced transformative experiences around the globe 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.
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 produced transformative experiences around the globe 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
Joelle Maslak is employed as a network engineer for a streaming video company, where she is a leader of an 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). She co-founded and facilitates a peer support group for trans people on the spectrum. She holds bachelor's degrees in both Gender, Women, and Sexualities Studies as well as Computer Science.
Asa Radix, MD, PhD, MPH
Asa Radix, MD, PhD, MPH
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.
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
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
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.
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.
PRIDEnet Ambassadors
Nikki Alexander-Tumblin
Nikki Alexander-Tumblin
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.
Rio Antone
Rio Antone
DelRio ‘Rio Antone’ Perkins is a Non-Binary Entertainer and Gender diverse specialist with over a decade plus of professional expertise. Acting as both an LGBTQ+ activist and Human rights advocate, Rio has made history after being crowned the first ever MX Las Vegas Trans Pride title holder and first recipient of the MGM Enterprise ‘Spirit of the Lion Award’. Rio is the founder of the media entertainment brand Ladyboy Diaries, Inc. which place focus on dismantling bias societal norms and uplifting disenfranchised voices utilizing various artistic outlets.
Donald M. Bell
Donald M. Bell
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
Mark Pletcher, MD, MPH
Mark Pletcher, MD, MPH
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
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
Shalmali Bane, MS
PHD STUDENT IN EPIDEMIOLOGY AND POPULATION HEALTH
Stanford School of Medicine
Shalmali Bane, MS
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.
Oscar Beltran, Ph.D
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Health Sciences Department / Butler University
Oscar Beltran, Ph.D
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.
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).
Gary Chen, MD
NEPHROLOGY FELLOW
Stanford University
Gary Chen, MD
He is currently a nephrology fellow at Stanford after completing internal medicine training at the same site. He was born in southern China, grew up in Texas (with undergraduate studies at Texas A&M University and medical school training at McGovern Medical School), and now resides on the west coast as a nephrology fellow with interests in LGBTQIA+ health and kidney disease. He hopes to understand more about chronic kidney disease risk factors in sexual and gender minority populations as well as understand differences in overall and kidney specific health literacy within these groups.
Kristen Clark
PHD CANDIDATE
University of California San Francisco School of Nursing
Kristen Clark
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.
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
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.
Paavani Lella
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of San Francisco
Paavani Lella
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
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
Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing
Nick Metheny, PhD, MPH, RN
Nicholas (Nick) Metheny, PhD, MPH, RN (he/his) is an Assistant Professor at the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. 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.
Trish Nova
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Stanford University
Trish Nova
Trish is an undergraduate at Stanford University, majoring in Microbial Biology with a minor in Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Originally from Toronto, she has been engaged in LGBTQ+ advocacy since high school, working with various community organizations. Now focused on advancing queer health, she aims to become a physician and has dedicated her college years to making health information more accessible through outreach projects and webinars. Trish also conducts research in transplant immunology, exploring immune mechanisms to deepen her understanding of health and disease.
Nicholas Panyanouvong
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Stanford University
Nicholas Panyanouvong
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.
Meg Quint
MEDICAL STUDENT
Stanford University School of Medicine
Meg Quint
Meg (they/them) is a medical student at Stanford School of Medicine hoping to enter plastic surgery or otolaryngology for gender-affirming surgery purposes. Meg’s past research has spanned multiple areas including gender-affirming surgery and outcomes, HIV prevention in transgender communities, intersex health justice, and sexual pleasure. Beyond research, Meg has been heavily involved in LGBTQ+ pre-medical mentorship, care access for homeless individuals in the Bay Area, and fundraising for transgender health organizations. Outside of work, Meg loves to climb, do puzzles, and spend time outside.
Saumya Sao
MEDICAL STUDENT
Stanford Medical School
Saumya Sao
Saumya studied global health and gender studies in undergrad, developing a passion for improving access to and quality of maternal and reproductive healthcare through research, advocacy, and patient care. Saumya is interested in studying health behavior and stigma at individual and population levels and hopes to create programming and infrastructure to remove barriers to care and education for women and gender-diverse people in the US and globally.
Ben Liad Schwartz, MBA
MEDICAL STUDENT
Stanford University School of Medicine
Ben Liad Schwartz, MBA
Ben Schwartz, MBA is a medical student at Stanford Medicine who is passionate about using research to support tangible, impactful reform for the LGBTQ+ community. 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. Ben formerly served as co-chair of LGBTQ+ Meds, the primary LGBTQ+ medical student organization at Stanford. In 2024, he graduated from Stanford's Graduate School of Business with an MBA; he hopes to lead quality improvement initiatives and foster optimal communication within clinical and non-clinical teams.". Finally, he has also published and presented on topics in dermatology, including eczema, the adverse side effects associated with oncologic treatment, and the intersection of the medical humanities with dermatology. As an aspiring dermatologist, he has a particular interest in investigating and addressing the specific dermatologic needs of the LGBTQ+ community.
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.
Ava Snow
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
Stanford University
Ava Snow
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
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
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
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.
Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH
INSTRUCTOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Stanford School of Medicine
Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH
Diana M. Tordoff, PhD, MPH is an Instructor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford School of Medicine, and recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship with The PRIDE Study. She is an epidemiologist who research focuses on queer and transgender health equity. Dr. Tordoff has been PI on several NIH funded studies focused on the sexual health of transgender populations, and currently is PI on a study exploring the impact of testosterone gender affirming hormones on the vaginal microenvironment and gynecological health of transmasculine adults. Her research interests include sexual and reproductive health, the vaginal microbiome, molecular epidemiology, sexual orientation & gender identity (SOGI) measurement, intersectionality, and community-engaged research methods.
Mikey Trujillo, PhD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Carnegie Mellon University
Mikey Trujillo, PhD
Dr. Mikey Trujillo is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Carnegie Mellon University and the Director of the Stigma, Health Equity, and Resilience (SHER) Lab. They earned their BA in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach, their PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University, and they completed a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology and medicine from UC San Francisco. Their research examines the social and health consequences of stigma, the pathways that link stigma and health, and the strengths exhibited by stigmatized populations that mitigate these experiences. They apply an intersectional framework to their research questions to move towards greater health equity for all.
Adary Zhang, MPH
MEDICAL STUDENT
Stanford Medical School
Adary Zhang, MPH
Ada Zhang is a researcher, healer, writer, and culture worker. They are an MD candidate at Stanford University School of Medicine with a focus on global health policy and health equity for minoritized communities. Adary holds an MPH degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong as a Chi-Li Pao Foundation Fellow. Their experience spans service, advocacy, and research in the United States and the Asia-Pacific region, working in community and collaboration to undo structures and systems that limit access to health and healing for LGBTQIA+, racial/ethnic minority, low-income, and other minoritized communities.
The PRIDE Study thanks its former team members for their contributions:
- Jose Aguilar, Cassie Armea-Warren, Alex Armira, Darren Arquero, Mahri Bahati, Branden Barger, Mathew Beld, Daniel Beltre, Seema Bhaka, Hannah Bosley, Bria Brown-King, Janessa Broussard, Victoria Bruno, Sage Calderón, Ward Carpenter, Alexis Ceja, Ethan Cicero, Zubin Dastur, Laura Duncan, Laura Durso, Chloe Eastburn, O. Winslow Edwards, Jeffrey Ferrell, Sacha Finn, Louie Franceso, Richard Greene, Oliver Guevarra, Santosh Gummidipundi, Porsha Hall, Orlando O. Harris, Haley Hedlin, Astrid Herrera, Carolyn Hunt, Ash Hunter, Wulf James-Roby, Evie Kalmar, Katie Katuzny, Eliot Lev, Pip Lipkin, Scott Lumry, Sophie Lieberman, Naeemah Logan, Rowan Lowden, Micah Lubensky, Sean Luong, Sal Mancuso, Daryl Mangosing, Ariane Marcus, Jonathan Mayo, Ruth McFarlane, Gabe Murchison, Ari Pefley, Anthony Pho, Tonia Poteat, Sajani Raja, Sawye Raygani, Ana Rescate, Javier Ríos, Satyanand Satyanarayana, Nick Slater, Karalin Sprague, Krista Stephens, Miranda J. Stinson, Leslie Suen, Lowellyn Sunga, David Utone, Nancy VanReece, Ellora Vilkin, Kate Vitale, JT Williams, Rose Wong, Jaden Yang, Xia Xiang, Dennis Xiong, and Matta Zheng.
In memory of: Rose Wong