Education and Research Center Staff
Director
Julie Friedman, MPH
[email protected]
Julie Friedman has an eclectic background in health education, worksite wellness, early childhood development, and community participatory research. She has written and published articles on health promotion and public health issues, as well as on twins. She has been an invited presenter at local and national conferences to discuss the diverse community engagement projects she has managed.
From her roots as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood, to launching the lactation program for employees of the Los Angeles Times, Julie has continued addressing women’s health in her current position. Julie was instrumental in founding Worksite Wellness LA, a nonprofit organization providing onsite health education to low wage workers, and served as the board chair from 2015-2017. In December 2017, Julie was appointed to the LA County Commission for Women by Supervisor Sheila Kuehl and chairs the Health Committee.
Social justice issues are central to Julie’s work and she remains committed to advancing health equity and narrowing women’s health-wealth gap. She is married and has twin sons.
Program Coordinator
Gabrielle Pascua, BS
Gabrielle Pascua graduated from UCLA in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology & Society and a minor in Theater. She previously was an intern at the UCLA-Iris Cantor Women’s Health Education & Research Center from August 2022-April 2023 before becoming the center’s Program Coordinator and Associate for the UCLA-Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center. Throughout her undergraduate education, she volunteered with UCLA’s Mobile Clinic Project as a Caseworker and Health Education Committee, bringing street-side clinic access to those in West Hollywood. She now volunteers with UCLA’s Companion Care, which seeks to build sustainable bridges between people experiencing homelessness and the existing health and social services network in Los Angeles. Gabrielle is particularly interested in maternal and child heath, genetics, and reproductive health, rights, and activism. When not working, Gabrielle enjoys being at the theater, painting, crocheting, or working on a puzzle.
Current Interns
Madeline Reyes
June 2023- Present
Madeline Reyes is a second year Master of Public Health student specializing in Health Policy & Services at the University Southern California and is expected to graduate this upcoming May 2024. She completed her undergraduate education at California State University, Northridge in 2022 where she obtained her Bachelor's of Science in Public Health. She is highly motivated and has a strong passion for improving health care accessibility. Madeline started interning at Iris Cantor UCLA Women's Health Center in June 2024 with the intention of encouraging women's self-advocacy regarding their own health and wellbeing. She also works as a research assistant for the All of Us Research Program at USC where she enrolls participants and inputs relevant data. A fun fact about her is that she is a dancer with the Grupo Folklórico de USC and has been dancing folklórico since 2016.
Matthew Fisher
April 2023- Present
Matthew was born and raised in New Jersey but moved to California after graduating from Georgetown University in 2022 with a major in Healthcare Management and Policy. He is now in his first year of medical school at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, pursuing a career in women’s health. In addition to interning at the Iris Cantor-UCLA Women's Health Education & Research Center, Matthew is conducting research on the clinical applications of endometrial biopsies in fertility clinics and on the impact of financial navigation on patient-centered healthcare. Outside of work and research, he is part of a recreational basketball league and a co-ed softball league in Pasadena. Matthew hopes to become an Obstetrician/Gynecologist after medical school and obtain further training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
Grace Vasquez
January 2023-
Grace Vasquez graduated from UC Merced with a B.A. in Public Health. While at Merced, she worked as a Student Health Educator, promoting workshops and educational materials to fellow students on their physical, mental, and sexual health. Her first post-grad job at a local non-profit initiated her interest in how policy-level work directly affects health disparities in housing, mental health services, and food security. Through her combined experiences and passion for addressing health disparities affecting Latinx communities and Women's health, she is now pursuing her MPH at USC, with an emphasis on Health Services and Policy. She enjoys volunteering for local LA City Campaigns in hopes of electing more progressive candidates to the City Council and in her free time she enjoys reading, journaling, and thrifting.
Anahit Aschyan
January 2023-
Anahit Aschyan is a second year Master of Public Health student at California State University, Northridge with an emphasis in Community Health Education. Currently, she works as a full-time medical assistant in a private practice where she translates medical information for patients, scribes for the doctor, and performs diagnostic imaging. She graduated from UCLA in 2016 where she majored in Molecular, Cell, and Development Biology. She is interested in reproductive health and her career goal is to pursue a career in medicine. She is interested in learning about various issues that pertain to women’s health and advocate for her patients as a future physician. She hopes to educate her patients and the public about various health issues that can affect different populations. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and maintaining her fitness goals.
Past Interns
Jocelyn Sandoval
January 2023- August 2023
Jocelyn Sandoval graduated from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) with a B.S. in Health Administration. She is currently working towards her Master of Public Health with a focus in Community Health Education at CSUN. Jocelyn is working for a homelessness service provider in Los Angeles as a Shared Housing Coordinator. She helps to support participants and provide them with different housing opportunities across the Los Angeles county. Jocelyn plans on become a health educator for women's health and maternal health. She believes it is necessary for people to know about the resources that are available and accessible to them. During her free time, she loves to travel to new states and countries, visit new coffee shops, go to Disney, go on walks and hikes, and spend time with her loved ones.
Stephanie Brito
August 2022- April 2023
Stephanie Brito is a first-generation college and medical student, born and raised in Los Angeles California. She completed her undergraduate studies at University of Southern California (USC) with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in Environmental Health. She is currently pursuing a dual degree MD/MPH at the USC Keck School of Medicine with an emphasis in Community Health Promotion and Health Services and Policy. Because of her passion for women’s health, Stephanie plans to specialize her medical training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is committed to her service to her Los Angeles community and aims to become a physician who will empower her OBGYN patients to voice and challenge barriers to equitable care.
Vaibhavi Patankar
July 2022 - March 2023
Vaibhavi Patankar graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology in Summer 2022. She is a clinical research coordinator for Emergency Medicine Research Associates, heading the Marketing/Health Literacy Committee and the Emergency Medicine Palliative Care Access clinical study. Vaibhavi is a supervisor for the Research Enhancement Office, an illustrator for the Daily Bruin, and a staff research associate in the Kitchen lab. She is passionate about the democratization of health education, particularly focusing on healthcare access disparities in the South Asian community. Vaibhavi's passion for educational equity and health literacy led her to work as an IGNITE teaching fellow for Teach for America. Vaibhavi hopes to pursue a career as a physician and to continue to be an advocate for reproductive justice in the Asian American community. Vaibhavi enjoys painting and visiting art museums with friends.
Sarah Tabatabaei
September 2022- February 2023
Sarah is a fourth-year undergraduate at UCLA majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. After graduating, she hopes to continue her education to become both a physician and health educator to continue her passion for reproductive rights advocacy and protection through public health initiatives. She is also passionate about combatting health inequalities by closing gaps between health information and its access to vulnerable population like immigrant communities. Sarah is also a member of the Afshar Lab at UCLA currently working on the placenta accreta project to characterize gene expression at sites of placenta invasion versus non-invasive sites with RNAscope and immunofluorescence. In addition to exploring her interest in maternal-fetal medicine and women’s health, Sarah is a member of UCLA’s Student Stroke Team, Persian Medical Association, and tutor for Pandemic Professors. In her free time she enjoys creative writing, reading, and exercising!
Samantha Verganza
July 2022 - December 2022
Samantha Verganza graduated from UC Merced with a B.A. in Sociology and Public Health. She is now pursuing her Master in Public Health with an emphasis in community health promotion at USC. Samantha is passionate about addressing health disparities and analyzing how systems/institutions disadvantage those who are from minorities or lower socioeconomic statuses. She is currently working at a non-profit in the San Fernando Valley coordinating and promoting accessible COVID-19 vaccine clinics in medically underserved communities. She hopes to continue being a liaison and advocate for health resources in Latinx communities. In her free time, she loves to go hiking and running, enjoys painting, trying new foods, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Kathya Rodriguez
February 2022 - September 2022
Kathya Rodriguez graduated from UCLA with a degree in Chicanx Studies and Cognitive Science. She is now pursuing an MPH with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention at CSUF. Kathya is passionate about health justice and addressing inequities that lead to adverse health outcomes. She hopes to become a health educator and a data analyst. In the future, she is interested in exploring routes to bring together technology, data analysis, and health education.
Christine Tran
February 2022 - August 2022
Christine received her Bachelor of Science in Health Science with emphasis on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from California State University, Fullerton. Being passionate about health and wellness, especially in nutrition, motivated her to continue on to pursue a Master’s in Public Health with emphasis on Community Health Education at California State University, Northridge. She is also currently working towards becoming a Registered Dietician. She has past experience with volunteering at a non-profit organization that offers educational programs and home visitation for low-income mothers to have improved prenatal care and have a healthy baby. With her interest and knowledge in public health and nutrition, she hopes to help diverse low-income communities and help them achieve a healthier lifestyle and improve their overall wellbeing. In her free time, she loves to stay active by either playing tennis, going to the gym, or walking outdoors, traveling abroad, cooking, and spending time with her friends and family.
Alma Ricongallardo
February 2022 - June 2022
Alma is a 4th-year undergraduate studying Human Biology and Society with a minor in Global Health at UCLA. She is passionate about addressing health and educational inequities among vulnerable populations, especially among immigrant communities and those affected by social, environmental, and economic factors. Throughout her undergraduate trajectory, she has volunteered with Refugee Health Alliance, UCLA's Mobile Clinic Project, Companion Care, Together Educating and Advocating for Community Health, and works with the First to Go Office and Semel Healthy Campus Initiative. Although she is currently exploring potential professional fields, she hopes to pursue a career deeply rooted in public health. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, watching musicals, and visiting UCLA’s botanical gardens.
Marta Rivas
February 2022- June 2022
Marta Rivas graduated from CSUDH with an emphasis in Community Health and is now pursuing her Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Education at CSUN. Her decision to pursue a career in public health has been driven mainly by values instilled in her as a child, the idea of being part of a profession focused on helping others regardless of circumstances. She currently works for the Riverside University Health System – Public Health as a Communicable Disease Specialist. Her academic goals evolved into developing ideas that would help improve the health of disproportionate communities to ensure health equity. She enjoys nature walks and spending time with her friends and family in her spare time.
Diana Dudar
September 2021 - February 2022
Diana Dudar is pursuing her Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Community Health Education at California State University, Northridge. As a graduate student, Diana is an involved member of CSUN’s MPH Student Association. Currently, she works in social services as a Program Services Coordinator for adults with disabilities. Diana has experience as a peer health educator, developmental therapist for youth, and health scholar in a clinical setting. She is most passionate about maternal and child health and the major determinants of maternal morbidity and mortality. She is a certified lactation educator and plans on earning her IBCLC soon. Additionally, Diana is working on her outreach to support and serve the homeless population. In her free time, Diana loves exploring nature, painting, and planting.
Yoari Higuera
September 2021 - December 2021
Yoari is a senior at California State University, Dominguez Hills majoring in Community Health. She plans on becoming a health educator in her interests of women’s health and sexual/reproductive health. She enjoys volunteering for her church and advocating for a better quality of life, making sure communities have accurate information and knowledge of the accessible resources. In her free time, she loves to sing, spend time with loved ones, and travel to new places.