SDSU HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Disparities Research
SDSU HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Disparities Research
The Community Engagement Team strives to foster long-term meaningful relationships with community partner organizations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. Our team collaborates with various types of organizations such as Federally Qualified Health Centers, health and human services agencies, and other education, social services, community, and media organizations.
Conrado E. Bárzaga, MD, serves as the Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Innercare, a Federally Qualified Health Center. In this role, he oversees clinical research and Graduate Medical Education initiatives in Imperial and Riverside counties. Dr. Bárzaga is an internationally recognized public health leader with over 25 years of experience addressing public health challenges and improving healthcare access.
Before joining Innercare, Dr. Bárzaga was the CEO of the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation. During his tenure, he spearheaded the creation of the Coachella Valley Equity Collaborative, a nationally acclaimed initiative that prioritized health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is also an IEHP Foundation board member. He served as a board member of the Association of California Healthcare Districts from 2020 to 2023 and a Community Advisor to the University of California Riverside School of Medicine from 2019 to 2024.
Previously, Dr. Bárzaga led the Center for Oral Health as its President and CEO for over seven years, securing over $21 million to enhance healthcare access for underserved communities. His leadership portfolio includes senior positions with the Los Angeles County Commission on Children and Families, Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and Sacred Heart University. Dr. Bárzaga has directed numerous public health programs domestically and internationally, earning recognition for his work advancing healthcare equity.
Dr. Bárzaga is a fellow of the Global Child Dental Fund at King’s College London and a health leadership fellow with Coro, a prominent nonpartisan public policy institution. A native of Cuba, he brings extensive philanthropy and international public health systems expertise, including his work developing Community Health Infrastructure with the Bolivian Ministry of Health and Doctors Without Borders. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from the University of Havana in 1994.
Ms. Trujillo is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Innercare in Imperial County CA. Ms. Trujillo has a combined 4 years of clinical research experience as a Study Data Associate collecting data and performing data management and as a Clinical Research Coordinator responsible for the coordination and management of clinical trials. Ms. Trujillo also has an affiliation with the SDSU Research Foundation. Ms. Trujillo is bilingual in English and Spanish and has the Spanish-language expertise and proficiency to conduct participant recruitment, consent, and survey administration in either Spanish or English.
Dr. Godino is the scientific director of the Laura Rodriguez Research Institute and the director of quality improvement and innovation at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD). His research, largely funded by the National Institutes of Health, focuses on developing and evaluating interventions using mobile and wearable technology to promote healthy changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet and sleep. In addition, Dr. Godino leads pragmatic quality improvement research efforts within the primary care setting. These efforts are designed to enhance patient care and population health outcomes by integrating evidence-based practices and innovative technologies into everyday clinical workflows. His projects often involve close collaboration with operational leaders, health care providers and patients to ensure that the interventions are effective and sustainable in real-world settings. By focusing on pragmatic research, Dr. Godino aims to bridge the gap between research findings and actual clinical practice, ultimately improving the quality of care delivered to patients.
Dr. Godino holds a B.A. in anthropology and an M.S. in epidemiology from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in epidemiology from the University of Cambridge. He completed his postdoctoral training in the epidemiology and biostatistics of aging at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Godino is also an associate research scientist at UC San Diego’s Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science. He directs the Exercise and Physical Activity Resource Center (EPARC), a university recharge unit specializing in deep phenotyping. Dr. Godino will serve as the Principal Investigator in this collaboration with the SDSU HealthLINK Center.
Jane Samaniego is the associate director of the Laura Rodriguez Research Institute (LRRI) at Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD). She initially joined LRRI as a program manager leading research studies that are integrated within FHCSD clinics. Jane’s current role has her focusing on streamlining operations and implementing strategic plans to maintain organizational effectiveness across LRRI. In addition, she will be serving as the administrative coordinator from FHCSD to support the Scientist in Residency program in collaboration with SDSU HealthLINK Center.
Jane earned her B.S. in information systems from SDSU and her M.S. in health care informatics from the University of San Diego. As a certified project management professional, she holds over 10 years of experience managing projects, providing operational support, and working collaboratively across organizations on research projects. Jane is not only an alumna of SDSU but also a native South Bay San Diegan, who is committed to supporting and operationalizing meaningful research that improves the health and well-being of her community.
Christopher O’Malley, MPH, CPH, is the Chief of the Community Health Statistics Unit (CHSU) for the County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA), Public Health Services (PHS) Department. Chris was previously an Epidemiologist with the County of San Diego for 6 years. Prior to joining the County, Chris worked as a researcher at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), first at the Millennium Cohort Family Study, and later at the Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), US Military HIV Research Program. Chris is also a United States Navy veteran, serving honorably for over 8 years.
Nicole Magnuson is the director of the Live Well Center for Innovation & Leadership (LWCIL), an innovative partnership between San Diego State University and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Nicole is responsible for leading the strategic direction of LWCIL in pursuit of its mission of strengthening the partnership between academia and health and human services practice through the integration of education, research, workforce development, and service that advances equity in San Diego. Nicole’s professional path has involved working as an executive and consultant to a variety of nonprofits, foundations, school districts, and community collaborations to improve lives, change social conditions, and elevate issues related to educational, economic, and racial equity. She has several decades of executive leadership experience in social change strategy, strategic/business planning, coalition building, and communications. Nicole holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Masters in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Marking from Arizona State University.
Peter Azatyan is a Management Fellow and CAHD Resident working with the Live Well Center for Innovation & Leadership (LWCIL) and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency’s (HHSA) Public Health Services. In his role, he fosters collaboration and alignment between SDSU and HHSA by providing lead support to LWCIL’s Research & Data Excellence Subcommittee. His experience includes various internships with local governments, non-profits, and hospital systems. He also served as a Graduate Student Researcher, studying the intricacy of Medicaid vision and dental policy on population health outcomes. Peter graduated with his B.S in Public Health from the University of California, San Diego and went on to receive his MPH in Epidemiology at the University of California, Irvine. Peter has a strong interest in public health-related research and policy and collaborates closely with the HealthLINK Center to align the research goals of SDSU and HHSA in order to co-produce impactful research and publications.