Women Leading Prevention Science

NIH HEAL Initiative

Each episode features a conversation with two women researchers from the HEAL Prevention Cooperative who discuss the public health problems they're trying to solve through their work and tell the stories of their journeys into the prevention science field. They discuss their academic backgrounds, mentoring, career choices, work-life balance, advice they would give young women interested in the prevention field, and much more. This podcast was developed as part of the HEAL Prevention Cooperative funded through the NIH, helping to end addiction long term initiative, an aggressive effort to speed scientific solutions to curb the national opioid public health crisis. The HEAL Prevention Cooperative includes ten research projects throughout the country and one coordinating center based at RTI International in the Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. For more information on the HEAL Prevention Initiative, please visit Heal.NIH.gov. The opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewers and do not reflect the opinions of the NIH. read less
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Episodes

Recognizing the Unique Needs and Strengths of Immigrant Youth
Mar 8 2023
Recognizing the Unique Needs and Strengths of Immigrant Youth
In this episode of Women Leading Prevention Science, Jasmine Ramirez talks with Dr. Lissette Saavedra from RTI International, and Dr. Claudia-Santi Fernandes, from Yale University School of Medicine. Lissette is a bilingual Colombian and indigenous woman. Claudia is the multilingual child of parents who immigrated to the US from Portugal and Italy. They discuss how these identities have shaped their work in prevention science, specifically their efforts to strengthen inclusivity and equity among multilingual immigrant youth. Lissette and Claudia discuss the importance of building trust, recognizing varied experiences and understanding cultural differences when working with immigrant populations. They also share how failures taught them critical lessons. Lissette and Claudia also have great advice for young women who are interested in pursuing a career in prevention science, including the importance of learning about prevention science careers early, recognizing that their unique qualities and experiences are strengths, and understanding that sometimes it is necessary to pivot from one path to another. Finally, they want young prevention scientists to take care of their own health early and long term because prevention science needs them.  The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and not the official views of the NIH, the NIH HEAL Initiative, NIDA or the participating institutions and organizations.