A multidisciplinary team of University of Washington scientists oversees the Indigenous HIV/AIDS Research Training program. The members of the administrative core have expertise in public health and community-based research, and a commitment to addressing health disparities among communities of color, especially American Indians and Alaska Natives. The dedication that each scientist has shown to mentoring junior scholars has earned them national and local recognition.
Dr. Walters founded and directs the Indigenous Wellness Research Institute in the University of Washington School of Social Work. Her research focuses on historical, social, and cultural determinants of physical and mental health among AIAN. Dr. Walters is a faculty mentor on several research training awards for American Indian/Alaska Natives and underrepresented minority scholars across the country, and has been nominated twice for the UW Graduate Mentor of the Year award.
Dr. Duran has worked in public health research, evaluation and education among AIAN and other communities of color for over 30 years. For the past 15 years, she has conducted studies of mental disorder prevalence, victimization risk factors and treatment seeking among Native Americans. She has also worked in partnership with AIAN rural communities in HIV/AIDS and STD treatment and prevention. Dr. Duran has been a co-investigator on two very successful NIH-funded R25 research training programs.
Dr. Pearson is a research scientist with expertise in quantitative analytic methods, particularly network analysis, randomized control trials (RCT) and survey methodologies, and intervention development using a community based participatory research (CBPR) approach. Her research focuses on the contributions of social and ecological factors to racial and socioeconomic disparities in HIV/AIDS and reproductive health and culturally appropriate interventions. Dr. Pearson is a co-investigator on several health and wellness projects in collaboration with indigenous scholars and local Native American communities.
Dr. Simoni is a professor, clinical health psychologist and core faculty at the Center for AIDS Research’s Sociobehavioral and Prevention Research Core. She is an expert in behavioral research with a focus on HIV medication adherence and an interest in health disparities and health promotion among UREM, women, and gay and lesbian populations. Dr. Simoni recently won a graduate mentoring award from the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Buchwald has developed a program of culturally appropriate research that ranges from physical and mental health, and career development and training. She has been nominated almost every year for the UW Medicine Center of Excellence in Women's Health Award for Outstanding Mentorship and in 2005 for the lifetime Distinguished Teacher Award. Dr. Buchwald directs the NIA-funded Native Investigator Development Program, a two-year career training program for AIAN post-doctoral fellows.
Dr. Takeuchi’s research focuses on investigating the social, structural, and cultural contexts associated with different health outcomes and use of health services among racial and ethnic minorities. He has an extensive background in mentoring junior scholars, especially researchers from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups. Dr. Takeuchi received the Family Research Consortium (FRC) Legacy Award in June 2009 to recognize his contributions to research on family life in contemporary society and commitment to training the next generation of scholars.
Dr. MacDonald has worked to support academic success for students of color at the University of Washington since 2002. She has eighteen years of experience as an academic writer and editor, a background in American history and American studies including several years teaching at the college level, and has published on graduate education and teacher training.