2023-2024 Oversight Board Members

Susanne Nicholas, M.D.
Chair
Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, CA 90095
SuNicholas@mednet.ucla.edu

Rudy Ortiz, Ph.D.
Past Chair
Professor, University of California, Merced, School of Natural Sciences
Merced, CA 95343
rortiz@ucmerced.edu

Larry D. Alexander, Ph.D.
Chair Elect
Associate Dean of Curriculum and Innovation, Associate Professor of Physiology Department of Professional and Medical Education, Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN 37208
ldalexander@mmc.edu

Jorge Gamboa, M.D., Ph.D.
Member
Assistant Professor Division of Clinical Pharmacology Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN
jorge.gamboa@vanderbilt.edu

Marja Hurley, M.D.
Member
Professor of Medicine and Orthopedics, UConn Health
Farmington, CT 06030-1850
hurley@uchc.edu

Heather Tarleton, Ph.D.
Member
Professor Department of Health and Human Sciences Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
heather.tarleton@lmu.edu

Mariya Sweetwyne, Ph.D.
Member
Acting Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195
sandu@uw.edu

Diana Obanda, Ph.D.
Member
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Maryland
College Park, MD
dobanda@umd.edu

Mariela Mendez , Ph.D.
Member
Assistant Professor, Department of Hypertension and Vascular Research, Henry Ford Hospital
Detroit, MI
mmendez1@hfhs.org

Fern Webb, Ph.D.
Member
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery,
Co-Director, Center for Health Equity & Engagement Research (CHEER) University of Florida College of Medicine
Jacksonville, FL
Fern.webb@jax.ufl.edu

Shirley Blanchard, Ph.D.
Ad Hoc Member
Professor, School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Creighton University
Omaha, NE 68178
sblancha@creighton.edu

Virginia Sarapura, M.D.
Ad Hoc Member
Professor, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, CO 80045
virginia.sarapura@ucdenver.edu

Robert Rivers, Ph.D.
NIDDK Representative
Acting Director, Office of Minority Health Research Coordination, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH
Bethesda, MD 20893-5454
robert.rivers@nih.gov

Winnie Martinez
NIDDK Representative
Program Director, Network of Minority Health Research Investigators, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, NIH
Bethesda, MD 20893-5454
Winnie.Martinez@NIH.gov