About Me 

Throughout my 28 years as an applied anthropologist, I have worked in diverse settings including academic centers, medical schools, government agencies (both local and international).  I have taught medical, nursing, and other health professional students, as well as conducted community-based research and educational research. 

I am currently the Archstone Foundation Endowed Chair in Gerontology, Professor, and Director of the Center for Successful Aging at California State University, Long Beach.  As director of the Center I work with community partners to address the emergent needs of aging populations, as well as run an internship program to give health professions students hands on experiences in direct services for older adults and aging research. 

I also  serve on the Innovation Committee and the Outcomes & Evaluation Committee for the Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health and Aging as well as Co-founder & Co-chair, Society for Medical Anthropology Health Professions Education Special Interest Group (2022-present). 

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I hold a joint PhD in Anthropology and Public Health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland (USA) and completed post-doctoral training on community-based participatory research at the same institution.