Community Engagement – Our Team
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.
Community Engagement Team
Dr. Sara Gombatto is a Professor of Physical Therapy in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences at SDSU. Her research is focused on investigating the mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal pain with the goal of developing more targeted interventions for treatment and prevention. As a licensed physical therapist, she has 20 years of experience treating patients with musculoskeletal pain. At the SDSU HealthLINK Center, she co-leads the Research Project: Goal Oriented Activity for Latinos with Spine Pain (GOALS/Metas) to study the efficacy of a culturally adapted tele-rehabilitation program for Latinos with chronic low back and neck pain. She also is a Co-Investigator with the Community Engagement Team. See Dr. Gombatto’s profile for details on publications and projects.
Sara Gombatto, PT, PhD
Co-Leader, Community Engagement Team
Co-Leader, Research Project: GOAL/Metas
Tracy Finlayson, PhD
Co-Leader, Community Engagement Team
Dr. Tracy Finlayson is a Professor in Health Management and Policy in the SDSU’s School of Public Health and a Co-Investigator at the Institute for Behavioral and Community Health. She is an interdisciplinary health services researcher with training in sociology and social psychology, and mixed methods expertise. Her main research areas are oral health, social determinants of health, access to care for vulnerable populations, health policy, and community-based participatory research (CBPR). Current research projects include collaborations with Innercare, formerly Clínicas de Salud del Pueblo, Inc., and the County of San Diego. She also is the Co-Leader of the Community Engagement Team at the SDSU HealthLINK Center.
See Dr. Finlayson’s profile for details on publications and projects.
Karla Armenta, MPH
Coordinator, Community Engagement Team
Ms. Karla Armenta is the Coordinator of the Community Engagement Team at the SDSU HealthLINK Center. She earned a bachelor’s degree in public health promotion from Purdue University and a Master of Public Health from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She facilitates new project development for academic-community partnerships, manages community-engaged research and practice activities, and assists in the development, translation, and adaptation of evidence-based health interventions.
See Ms. Armenta’s profile for details on publications and projects.
Michelle Santos Garcia
Administrate Support Assistant
Innercare Team
Sara Sanders
Chief Development Officer, Innercare Administration for Innercare
Ms. Sara Sanders joined Innercare in January 2016 and is currently the Chief Development Officer for the organization. Prior to that, Ms. Sanders served as the Executive Director for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Imperial Valley for nine years. She graduated from the University of Virginia in 1999 with a degree in history and has 16 years of experience working in public administration/non-profit management and 12 years of experience working in fund development. Ms. Sanders provides administrative support on the activities occurring between Innercare and the SDSU HealthLINK Center. See Ms. Sanders’ profile for details on publications and projects.
Conrado Barzaga
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.
Caroline Trujillo
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.
Family Health Centers of San Diego
Job Godino
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
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.
Live Well Center for Innovation & Leadership
Christopher O’Malley, MPH, CPH
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
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.
Petros (Peter) Azatyan
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.
Casa Familiar
Nicole Barber, M.A. ENV SP
Environmental Justice Director
Nicole Barber is the Environmental Justice Director at Casa Familiar, where she combines her scientific expertise and passion for environmental justice to address the unique needs of underserved communities in San Diego. With a Master’s in Environmental Science and a strong foundation in sustainability and conservation, Nicole brings a science-driven approach to her work in creating sustainable solutions for the community.
Previously, Nicole worked on diverse ecological projects, including wetland restoration, natural resource conservation, and biodiversity research, where she gained hands-on experience in environmental science. Today, she channels that expertise into advancing environmental programs that empower local communities, protect natural resources, and ensure equitable access to sustainability.
Through her leadership, Nicole advocates for policies that prioritize environmental equity and works directly with community members to drive change from the ground up. Her commitment to integrating science with social impact continues to guide her efforts to create a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
Alejandro Amador, BS
Environmental Programs Manager, Casa Familiar
Mr. Amador is currently the Environmental Programs Manager at Casa Familiar. As the Environmental Programs Manager, Amador oversees Casa Familiar’s efforts to address social and environmental inequities within San Diego, and the unique and specific needs of the San Ysidro community. Being a life-long resident of the San Diego-Tijuana region and after joining Casa Familiar as a Community Air Monitoring Technician, Amador grew a deep understanding of the dynamic of binational air pollution. Through the key data collected by Casa Familiar’s air monitoring efforts, Amador has led and participated in different air mitigation intervention projects in the community of San Ysidro such as advocacy for accessible transportation system, educational greening workshops, advocating for the creation of a community emission reduction plan, tree planting campaigns in schools, and enhancement of public parks design.
Amador has also been involved in policy advocacy efforts such as San Diego’s Parks Master Plan and the Climate Action Plan. Through this work, Amador has worked directly with the community to elevate San Ysidro’s voice and collaborated with city staff in projects and policy feedback.