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Nell Griffith Forge, MPH, PhD   Director  Location: 1748 E. 118th St., Room N155, Los Angeles, CA 90059  Phone: (323) 568-3369  Fax:   Email: nellforge@cdrewu.edu

Dr. Forge is the Director of the Division of Community Engagement and is an Assistant Professor at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. She received her PhD in Public Health from UCLA with a major concentration in Behavioral Sciences and a minor in Sociology. Dr. Forge also received a Masters of Public Health in Health Policy and Administration from the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. As Director of the CDU Division of Community Engagement, Dr. Forge is responsible for working with a broach range of students, faculty and community constituents to establish inclusive community partnerships that foster an open, enlightened, and robust learning environment to better address community health priorities.

Dr. Forge is a health disparities researcher with expertise in comparing racial subgroup differences in access to services and exposure to neighborhood stressors. She has both survey research and community-based participatory research experience in areas such as examining psychosocial factors associated with health risks for African Americans, HIV-related sexual decision making in men and women, understanding racial disparities in pathways to mental health and substance abuse services for HIV-infected adults, investigating health care satisfaction as a factor in racial disparities in care, and examining consequences of drug policies on the health and well-being of minority communities, and community and academic partnerships in areas of diabetes and kidney disease.

Her prior grant awards include a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Diversity Supplement, a National Institutes of Drug Abuse Health Disparities Administrative Supplement, and National Cancer Institute Cancer Disparities Grant. She has published manuscripts, a book review and project reports on such topics as HIV risk taking, onset of sex, substance abuse, race and ethnicity, inequities in care, and community-based participatory strategies; and has several manuscripts underway. She has been the recipient of number scholastic and academic awards, was inducted into the Public Health Honor Society (Delta Omega), and serves on several community taskforces and councils.

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Homero del Pino, Ph.D.  Co-Director  Location: Building N, Room 11  Phone: (323) 357-3434  Fax:   Email: homerodelpino@cdrewu.edu

Dr. Homero E. del Pino received his BA from Cornell University, and MA and PHD from UCLA, all in Philosophy. Dr. del Pino's work in Philosophy focused on the connection between practical knowledge and action. In particular, it looked to ancient theories of action (Socratic, Platonic, and Aristotelian) to develop a new account of how knowledge leads, or fails to lead, to action. This work has been especially relevant in Dr. del Pino's work in HIV prevention and research. He is currently co-PI on the study, “Perceptions of HIV Chemoprophylaxis in High Risk Men,” with Nnenna Ohalte, PhD (PI) and Nina Harawa, PhD (co-PI).

Dr. del Pino has experience developing partnerships with community-based organizations, colleges and universities across the country, and working with state and local health departments in the western region of the United States. In addition, he has worked as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the conceptualization for a national summit, behavioral intervention trainings, and program evaluation coaching guide.

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Loretta Jones, MA    Location: 4305 Degnan Blvd, Ste. 105, Los Angeles, CA 90008  Phone: (323) 292-2002  Fax:   Email: lorettajones@cdrewu.edu

Ms. Jones is the community liaison between CDU research studies and the community and brings her experience as the Founder and Executive Director of Healthy African American Families to provide community expertise and guidance to the Community Engagement function. She provides a link to the lay community, performing public relations activities, campaigning in the community to stimulate involvement in clinical and translational research projects, advocating for human subjects policies, nurturing a healthy relationship with the community, and facilitating meetings between academia and the community. Ms. Jones also ensures that community needs and concerns are introduced to CDU academia and addressed in a culturally sensitive and timely manner.

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Melanie Rodriguez  Program Coordinator  Location: 1748 E. 118th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059  Phone: (323) 249-5704  Fax:   Email: melanierodriguez@cdrewu.edu

Ms. Rodriguez provides programmatic and operational support to the Community Engagement function and is responsible for identifying resources and administrative steps needed for project completion. She assists the function directors and project coordinators in developing community project plans and related activities in consultation with appropriate participants. Ms. Rodriguez initiates projects and coordinates steps to ensure the participation of appropriate interested individuals and groups within the community. She also contacts appropriate participants such as various CDU internal units, state agencies, other public jurisdictions, private businesses and organizations within service planning area 6, special interest groups, local community representatives, and key community stakeholders regarding news, notices and reminders.

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Andrea Jones  Project Specialist  Location: 4305 Degnan Blvd, Ste. 105, Los Angeles, CA 90008  Phone: (323) 292-2002  Fax: (323)-292-6121  Email: andreajones@cdrewu.edu

Ms. Jones is responsible for working in and with the community. She assists in the dissemination of key information and materials and recruitment of participants for potential and future community research studies through the use of flyers placed in partner agencies. She also contacts local movie theatres on a quarterly basis to request screen time between movies for public service announcements on upcoming Community Engagement events and activities. She represents local community agencies in meetings, administrative hearings and other situations that deal with affected and interested individuals and groups concerning human policy and advocacy.

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Nadia Aibani  Community Worker  Location: 1748 E. 118th Street Rm N159, Los Angeles,CA 90059  Phone: (323) 568-3395  Fax:   Email: nadiaaibanie@cdrewu.edu

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David Martins, M.D.  Core Advisor  Location: 1748 E. 118th Street Rm N165, Los Angeles,CA 90059  Phone: (323) 568-3353  Fax:   Email: davidmartins@cdrewu.edu