Voces en Salud Pública
Voces en Salud Pública is an initiative of the Kalpulli Research Group created to recognize, amplify, and celebrate the voices of Latino/a/x/e scholars, practitioners, community leaders, and changemakers shaping the future of public health within and beyond Virginia Commonwealth University. Inspired by this year’s Latino/a/x/e Heritage Month theme, “Unidos, Somos Más” (Together, We Are More), we affirm that our collective voices hold power, our presence matters, and our communities have an important place in shaping the future of public health.
Public health is shaped not only by data and evidence, but also by whose experiences are heard, whose knowledge is valued, and who has the opportunity to influence the questions we ask and the decisions that affect our communities. Voces en Salud Pública is an expression of our continued commitment to this work and our belief in the power of creating spaces where people can see themselves, connect with one another, share knowledge, and support one another in working toward social change. We are here. Our communities are here. Our knowledge, experiences, leadership, and collective voice are part of public health and deserve to be seen, heard, and valued.
Throughout Latino/a/x/e Heritage Month, Voces en Salud Pública will feature new profiles every Tuesday and Thursday, highlighting the journeys, perspectives, and contributions of Latino/a/x/e scholars, practitioners, community leaders, and changemakers. The profiles below offer a glimpse into the many ways Latino/a/x/e people are contributing to and shaping public health through their work, knowledge, leadership, and lived experiences. Through this initiative, we honor those who came before us, uplift those doing this work today, and create connections that support those who are building what comes next. Together, we are making space for connection, recognition, and collective possibility as we continue shaping the future of public health.
Meet the Voices
Stories of journeys, community, and public health
Team
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Dra. Dina Tamar García
PhD, MPH, MEd
She currently serves as an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in Social and Behavioral Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health. She was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México and resides in Richmond, Virginia.
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Dr. Nixon R. Araúz
PhD, MA
He is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the NCI-funded T32 Cancer Prevention and Control Training Program within the Department of Family Medicine and Population Health at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He was born in Santa Rosa de Aguán, Colón, Honduras and resides in Richmond, Virginia.
Jocelyn Espinoza
MPH
She is a graduate of the Master of Public Health program at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Public Health. Proud of her Mexican heritage and rooted in Virginia, she is passionate about serving communities through culturally responsive public health, prevention, and community-centered approaches to improving health and well-being.
Brittany Cazares Luna
She is an undergraduate scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University whose Mexican heritage and research experiences have shaped her interest in dentistry, oral health, and serving Latin* communities. Her work with the Kalpulli Research Group explores the experiences and barriers that shape oral health and access to care.
Victoria Ximena Rojas
She is an undergraduate scholar at Virginia Commonwealth University exploring the relationship between substance use and cognitive health. Grounded in her Colombian heritage and commitment to community, she is passionate about research that recognizes the lived experiences behind the data.