Alex Solano-Umana, the Director of Community Outreach at the Lourie Center, has been recognized with the 2024 Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Exceptional Community Partner in Research Award for her contributions to the Mid-Atlantic Center for Cardiometabolic Health Equity (MACCHE) Healthy for Two (H42) study. Solano-Umana serves as the liaison between the H42 study and the center’s home visiting program, recruiting participants, engaging in community-based research, co-chairing the H42 coordinating council, and will be listed as a co-author on the H42 protocol paper.
Kelly Bower PHD, MSN/MPH, BS, RN, a co-Principle Investigator for H42, nominated Solano-Umana for the award. Bower emphasized Solano-Umana’s critical role in shaping the intervention design and recruitment strategies of the H42 study. The collaboration between The Lourie Center and H42 has grown significantly under Solano-Umana’s leadership, with her involvement in the coordinating council, research staff visits to the center and participation in CHE Community Advisory Board highlighting this partnership.
In March 2023, Solano-Umana participated as a panelist on the community partnerships panel at MACCHE launch event. During her discussion on sustainability and success in community-based research; she emphasized collaboration and continuous feedback as important factors for success. She encouraged researchers to allow room for mistakes questions feedback follow up when introducing new programs.
Solano-Umana’s leadership has strengthened relationships between Lourie Center and H42; fostering a culture of dedication and collaboration towards shared health equity goals. Her contributions have been instrumental in advancing H42 study promoting community engagement in research initiatives. Congratulations to Alex Solano-Umana on this well-deserved recognition for outstanding work.