Initiative for California American Indian Health Research and Evaluation (I-CAIHRE) 

Mission

The mission of the Initiative for California American Indian Health Research and Evaluation (I-CAIHRE) is to improve the lives of individuals in California’s American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities by conducting high-quality research that is informed by and responsive to the community’s needs and perspectives. We understand that effective change requires a deep understanding of both the challenges faced by and strengths inherent within our Native communities, which can only be achieved through gathering relevant, community-informed data. Therefore, we are committed to providing research that incorporates community perspectives and supports meaningful, sustainable improvements in health and well-being for AIAN communities in California.

Faculty and Staff

USC Tommy Trojan

Claradina Soto, PhD, MPH (she/her)

Tribal affiliations:
Navajo/Jemez Pueblo

Associate Professor of Clinical Population and Public Health Sciences

toya@usc.edu

323-4420-8219

USC Tommy Trojan

Amy E. West PhD, ABPP

Tribal affiliations: Southern Cheyenne

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Psychology, and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Director, Psychology Internship

Associate Director of Psychology Training

amwest@chla.usc.edu

USC Tommy Trojan

Jennifer Unger, PhD

Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences

unger@usc.edu

323-442-8234

Ellen Rippberger, MPH

Ellen Rippberger, MPH (she/her)
Project Manager

rippberg@usc.edu  

213-764-4252 

Guadalupe Ramos, PhD

Guadalupe Ramos, PhD  (she/her/ella)

Project Manager

ramosgua@usc.edu 

USC Tommy Trojan

Angelica Al Janabi, MPH (she/her)

Project Specialist

aaljanab@usc.edu

213-764-4260

VyVy Nguyen, MPH

Sarah Keller, MPH, CHES (she/her)

Project Specialist 

kellersa@usc.edu

USC Tommy Trojan

Cameryn Kelly Woods, MPH (she/her)

Project Specialist

ckwoods@usc.edu

323-442-0804

Ellen Rippberger, MPH

Jessica Goldberg (she/her)

Project Assistant

jg16617@usc.edu

323-442-0806

USC Tommy Trojan

Rohan Pattani, MPH (he/him)

Project Specialist

tpattani@usc.edu

USC Tommy Trojan

Prescilla Cobian (they/them)

Project Assistant

pcobian@usc.edu

Community Partners

Grace Katie Bell MSN RN-BC CARN PHN

MOUD/SUD Nurse Consultant for Center for Care Innovations Addiction Treatment Starts Here, DHCS SOR and Tribal MAT projects

Daniel Dickerson, DO, MPH (Inupiaq)

Associate Research Psychiatrist

UCLA, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP)

Andrea N. Garcia, MD, MS (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara)

Physician Specialist

American Indian Counseling Center

Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Carrie Johnson, PhD (Wahpeton Dakota)

Clinical Psychologist and Vice President of Behavioral Health at United American Indian Involvement, Inc. (UAII)

CEO of Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center (SPIWC)

Lou Moerner (ani-yv-wiya)

Lou Moerner Consulting, Inc.

American Indian/Alaska Native Advocacy, Research, Training, Policy

Kurt Schweigman, MPH (Oglala/Sicangu Lakota)

Public Health Consultant

Albert Titman Sr. CADCII (Nisenan, Miwok, Pit River)

Deputy Director of Native Dad’s Nerwork Inc.

Cultural Integration Specialist

Darren Urada, PhD

Research Psychologist

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs

Contact

To receive general information about our work or specific information on one of the projects, please submit your information.