Who We Are
Meet the study team behind The California MEPS Hub
The California Hub for HIV/STI/SUD Prevention and Reentry Populations is a partnership spearheaded by UCLA, UC Berkeley, and the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP). LARRP is a locally rooted movement composed of Los Angeles-based reentry service organizations, advocates, people impacted by the criminal justice system, as well as researchers and governmental partners.
Scroll down to learn more about the individuals who make up this collaboration. Click here to learn about the CBOs that the CA MEPS Hub is partnering with to refine, implement, and study the MEPS intervention.
Nina T. Harawa, PhD, MPH she/her
Principal Investigator
Dr. Nina Harawa (Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at UCLA) specializes in public health, health services, and health policy research on HIV, STIs, substance use, and access to related health services. Dr. Harawa’s research includes developing and testing creative community-based interventions for populations that are traditionally marginalized within society, including people minoritized related to their sexual orientation, gender, or race/ethnicity; people who have experienced incarceration; and people who use drugs. Her passion comes from working closely with these populations and the organizations that serve them to design, implement, and disseminate research that has the potential to shape interventions, inform policies, and direct resources in a manner that both improves health outcomes and increases health equity. She directs the Policy Impact Core for the UCLA Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (CHIPTS). She co-leads the UCLA CTSI’s TL1 pre- and post-doctoral fellowship program and is an Associate Program Director for the National Clinician Scholar’s Program at UCLA.
Sandi McCoy, PhD MPH she/her
Co-Principal Investigator
Sandra McCoy, PhD MPH is a Professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) School of Public Health. Together with collaborators around the world, Dr. McCoy designs, implements, and evaluates new programs and policies to overcome persistent health challenges, focusing on sexual and reproductive health. She is especially interested in innovative, scalable interventions and implementation models that can positively change health behavior, such as increasing engagement with PrEP for HIV prevention, adherence to treatment, bolstering the adoption of modern contraception, or encouraging people to engage in beneficial health screenings. To achieve these goals, Dr. McCoy uses a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods from epidemiology, impact evaluation, implementation science, behavioral science, and human-centered design. Behavioral interventions developed and/or evaluated by Dr. McCoy’s team are featured in various compendiums of evidence-based best practices, including the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project and the Behavioral Evidence Hub (B-Hub).
Julyanna Mendez she/her
Site Lead, LARRP
Julyanna Mendez is the Director of Programs and Operations at the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP), where she oversees staff, manages LARRP's seven committees, and coordinates membership. A dedicated advocate for social equality, Julyanna has extensive experience in community engagement, data management, and program development. She is committed to serving at-risk populations, particularly individuals reentering society after incarceration, with a focus on housing, mental health services, and workforce development. Her expertise includes evidence-based program design, systems advocacy, multidisciplinary collaboration, and strategic planning. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Julyanna is passionate about ensuring that intervention and prevention resources are accessible to all. Julyanna holds a BA in Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change and Nonprofit Management, as well as a Master of Public Administration with a certification in City and County Management from the University of Southern California (USC).
Gabriel G. Edwards, MD, MPH he/him
Study Director
Gabriel Edwards (Associate Project Scientist, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) directs research that focuses on how people at risk of HIV and related harms such as substance use, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and criminal justice-involvement access (or don’t access) services meant to prevent various harms. His work focuses on the way that multi-component evidence-based interventions are implemented in the settings where they can have the greatest impact, and how the success or barriers to success are influenced by the larger environment surrounding individual providers and clients, including community, technology, and public policy. He is the Associate Director of the Policy Impact Core within the Center for HIV Identification, Prevention, and Treatment Services (CHIPTS).
Vasthy Amilibia she/her/hers
Research Associate
Vasthy Amilibia is a 51-year old Latina woman who takes pride in being the mother of two remarkable young adults who inspire her every day. Balancing motherhood and my professional aspirations has been a rewarding challenge. She began her journey at UCLA, a decision that opened numerous doors and led her to participate in many research studies over the years. When she joined the MEPS Study in 2021, she already had experience working with sexual and gender minoritized individuals inside the Los Angeles County jail system, and it was with MEPS where she discovered her passion for community engagement. Through this work, she strives to provide valuable knowledge and resources to those who may otherwise lack access, in hopes of inspiring meaningful change in their lives. She believe that through collaboration and share knowledge, we can foster healthier lifestyles and promote long-term well-being.
Darlene Castro, CPT1, CCMA she/her/hers
Research Associate
Darlene Castro is a native Angelino, born and raised in the Pico-Union area of LA County. She’s a Research Associate at UCLA with over 10 years of experience. She brings her life experiences with a broad perspective in hopes of making small changes that make a great impact for those that need it most. She’s also a Certified Phlebotomist Technician with over 24 years of experience. She’s managed many roles within the research studies that she’s been a part of. Her experience mainly lies in assisting people living with HIV and incarceration history.
Charles L. Hilliard, PhD he/him
Senior Clinical Supervisor
Charles L. Hilliard, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (California) and Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and a technical advisor/global health consultant with projects currently in Rwanda, Zambia and Malawi. Throughout his career, he has focused on developing innovative interventions and providing mental health and comprehensive psychosocial support services to people living with HIV and their families/significant others in South Los Angeles and Sub-Saharan Africa. He also has a long history with research projects involving the re-entry and justice involved communities. Dr. Hilliard has also collaborated a several studies with Dr. Laura Bogart, including most recently for a Still Climbin’: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Intervention to Improve Coping with Discrimination, Address Medical Mistrust, and Reduce Health Disparities among Black Sexual Minority Men.
Katie Kramer, DSW, MPH, MSW she/her
Co-Investigator
Katie Kramer, DSW, MSW, MPH is the Co-Founder and CEO for Communities and Families for The Bridging Group (TBG). For the past 25 years, she has focused on the development, implementation, and evaluation of social services and health programs that support people, families, and communities affected by the carceral system. She is a specialized behavioral health & social service researcher with over 25 years’ experience in designing and implementing evaluation and research studies. Dr. Kramer is also an experienced community agency manager and clinical social worker providing direct service with clients and clinical supervision for direct-line staff. Presently in her work at The Bridging Group, Dr. Kramer has worked with a variety of governmental, non-governmental organizations, and research/academic institutions throughout the United States and globally with projects in Haiti, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Trinidad, and Uganda.
William D. King, MD, JD, AAHIVS he/him/his
Clinical Medicine Advisor
Dr. William D. King, a native of Los Angeles, earned his undergraduate degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from California State University, Northridge, followed by a dual MD/JD degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. King completed his internal medicine residency at Harvard Medical School’s Cambridge Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. He later pursued fellowships at UCLA in the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and in HIV clinical research. As a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and a certified HIV specialist, Dr. King holds an academic appointment as a Clinical Associate Professor at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. He is a recognized leader in HIV/AIDS care, and his expertise is reflected in his roles on the Los Angeles Commission on HIV and the American Academy of HIV Medicine's Council for Racial Equity.
Michael Murrley he/him/his
Peer Specialist Advisor
Michael Murrley has been a community servant for the past 25 years, working in the HIV health education field with Minority AIDS Project, the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and First to Serve. He also has worked on various research projects, including with The RAND Corporation, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and UCLA. Mr. Murrley served as a peer mentor in the original MEPS study and will support the peer mentor portion of the intervention as it is further tested in the California MEPS Hub.
Laura Packel, MPH, PhD she/her
Co-Investigator
Laura Packel is a Research Director at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco, where she applies her expertise in health policy through designing and implementing policy-relevant research. Dr. Packel’s work integrates novel implementation science approaches with rigorous impact evaluation to improve the sexual and reproductive health of vulnerable populations. Her research focuses on applying implementation science design and methods to robust evaluations of sexual and reproductive health interventions, including optimizing PrEP and PrEP delivery systems for uptake and retention. She was introduced to the MEPS team through the California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Centers, and is working with Dr. McCoy to lead the implementation science components of the MEPS intervention evaluation.
Melissa Rios, M.A. she/her
Study Coordinator, UCLA
Melissa Rios holds a master’s degree in psychology with a focus on research and currently serves as the study coordinator for MEPS. She is passionate about research aimed at enhancing conditions for marginalized communities. This commitment inspired her to collaborate on two initial studies with faculty members, focusing on improving communication between family caregivers, patients, and medical staff, which further fueled her interest in joining the MEPS team. Her research interests encompass the LGBTQIA+ community, the Hispanic community, intersectionality, and mental health among marginalized groups. With her experience with research and passion for the field, she is eager to contribute to the project and witness the outcomes of MEPS's expansion.
Katrina Schrode, PhD she/her
Data Manager
Katrina Schrode is an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. As a longtime researcher, she enjoys collaborating with others on research projects that address health disparities, with a particular interest in behavioral and mental health and substance use. Katrina has collaborated on several interventions for those living with or at risk for HIV in Los Angeles. She was a member of the original MEPS team that tested the MEPS intervention in Los Angeles County and is excited to see the impact of its expansion. Katrina is also currently leading research using secondary data sources to investigate substance-related deaths following release from Los Angeles County jails. She enjoys being a research mentor to students at Charles R. Drew University, whose passion for fighting health disparities inspires her.
Charles Vignola, M.P.A. he/him
Study Coordinator, LARRP
Charles Vignola is the Public Policy and Community Engagement Manager for the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership, LARRP, where he helps drive policy priorities and track key legislation that impacts the reentry community. His work has helped get dozens of bills passed on California which have helped the reentry and justice-impacted communities.
Charles was born in Burbank and raised in Santa Clarita, and has been active in policy for over a decade. He began working on congressional campaigns in junior high school, and later turned that passion into multiple internships and positions interfacing with the public on policy issues, including working as a legislative intern on Capitol Hill and working in Materials Management at Metrolink. Charles graduated Cum Laude with a BS in Public Policy and Law, and with Honors with a Master’s in Public Administration, both from USC’s Price School of Public Policy.
Clara Voong she/her
Graduate Student Researcher
Clara Voong is a graduate student researcher focusing on the implementation science aspect of the MEPS study. She is completing her final year of her MPH program at UC Berkeley, specializing in epidemiology and biostatistics. Clara is particularly interested in community-engaged research and implementation science to increase generalizable knowledge of treatments, especially in the context of HIV prevention among vulnerable populations. Her passion lies in addressing health disparities and improving outcomes for marginalized communities.
Patrick A. Wilson, PhD he/him
Co-Investigator, Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Wilson is a Professor of Psychology at UCLA. He received his PhD and MA, both in psychology, from New York University. His work focuses on (a) understanding social and psychological factors contributing to poor health outcomes and (b) developing and testing interventions to address these issues. Much of his work has focused on the sexual and HIV-related health of youth and adults who are racial/ethnic, sexual, and/or gender minorities. His lab, the Society, Psychology, and Health Research (SPHERE) Lab, makes efforts to work with people from vulnerable and/or marginalized populations, many of whom are adversely affected by health disparities.
He works on studies conducted in global, national, and local contexts and involve a diverse set of collaborators and community members in his research. His work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.