Investigator Development Core

Tanjala S. Purnell, PhD, MPH, FASN
Core Leader
Along with Dr. Saha, leads the Investigator Development Core (IDC) including overall execution of the “MACCHE Scholars” Pilot Project Program, mentoring scholars, providing health equity training resources, organizing and working with national experts who are part of the Scholar Advisory Panel, and evaluating IDC programs. Represents MACCHE at Investigator Development Workgroup meetings facilitated by the Research Coordinating Center for the Health Equity Action Network.

Somnath “Som” Saha, MD, MPH
Core Leader
Along with Dr. Purnell, leads the IDC including overall execution of the Pilot Project Program, mentoring scholars, organizing and working with external Scholar Advisory Panel, and evaluating IDC programs. Provides guidance on core operations and approaches to communication between core staff and MACCHE scholars.

Simeon I. Taylor, MD, PhD
Site Leader at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore
Provides feedback on all aspects of the Pilot Project Program, with a special focus on representation across institutions and career development for both awardees and rejected applicants. Provides mentorship, application review, and document review services to the IDC.

Deidra Crews, MD, ScM
MACCHE Co-Principal Investigator
Provides feedback on all aspects of the Pilot Project Program and ensures the core is well-supported across MACCHE. Helps identify reviewers and mentors within MACCHE and the Center for Health Equity while also reviewing applications, mentoring scholars, and connecting scholars to MACCHE resources.

Katherine “Katie” Dietz, MPH
Co-Manager
Supports grant administration, drafts contract paperwork, and oversees core deliverables. Ensures IRB compliance and data collection processes for program evaluation.

Alison Trainor, MS, CHES
Co-Manager
Drafts meeting agendas, facilitates communication with pilot grant awardees, and creates documents and other materials for the pilot program. Manages various needs as they arise including IRB submission, fidelity to procedures, and cross-communication among scholars, staff, and faculty.

Abby Rauso, BA
MACCHE Research Assistant
Assists managers with organizing administrative materials, managing the grant submissions platform, collating training materials, and supporting website content development.