The DISCERN Collaborative is driven by inter-institutional and multi-sectoral efforts.

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  • Founder

    Dr. Kristi Gamarel (she/her) is a leading behavioral health researcher whose work advances science at the intersection of public health, health policy, social science, and community engagement.

    At the Collaborative, she brings leadership in advancing work that identifies key intervention drivers and bridges scientific design rigor with meaningful public engagement and impact.

    University of Michigan

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  • Founder

    Dr. Don Operario (he/him) is a leading behavioral-social scientist whose work drives innovation in areas of digital health, data synthesis, and theory-based intervention.

    At the Collaborative, he leads efforts to translate evidence into practice, strengthen scientific communication, and address disinformation through interdisciplinary approaches.

    Emory University

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  • Founder

    Dr. Arjee Restar (she/her) is a social and legal epidemiologist dedicated to advancing public interest in areas of behavioral, economic, health services, and policy research.

    At the Collaborative, she leads efforts to assess disinformation through research synthesis and public engagement.

    Yale University

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  • Founder

    Dr. Trace Kershaw (he/him) is a leading social and behavioral scientist whose work integrates theory-driven interventions, technology, and multisectoral partnerships to address health inequities.

    At the Collaborative, he brings a systems-oriented lens to understanding and disrupting how structural forces shape behavioral health outcomes and misinformation ecosystems.

    Yale University

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  • Research Fellow

    Dr. William Lodge (he/him) is a behavioral and social science researcher whose work focuses on health equity at the intersections of public policy, global health, and community-engaged research. His scholarship integrates theory and practice to examine psychosocial and structural drivers of health disparities among sexual and gender minorities across diverse international contexts.

    At the Collaborative, he brings a global perspective to intervention development, emphasizing community partnerships and cross-sector strategies to improve HIV care and health outcomes among marginalized populations. His work spans India and the United States, bridging implementation science with policy-informed solutions. 

    Cornell University

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  • Research Fellow

    Dr. DeAtley (she/her) is a rising leader in behavioral and social sciences. Her work spans the translational research spectrum - from lab-based behavioral research studies to the use of large observational datasets to inform policy change.

    At the Collaborative, she supports efforts to translate evidence into practice and combat disinformation on topics that have been historically targeted by policy or industry interests that harm psychosocial aspects of health.

    University of Utah

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  • Policy Fellow

    Alexander Adia (he/they) is a quantitative health policy researcher, with expertise in how changes in law and policy can impact health.

    At the Collaborative, he contributes to efforts to proactively consider how shifts in regulations may impact behaviors and outcomes.

    University of California - Berkeley

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  • Multimedia Fellow

    Daphne Suen (she/her) is a rising social epidemiologist dedicated to intersectionality, antiracism, and healthcare accessibility.

    At the Collaborative, she is responsible in creating visual media that is informative and digestible.

    University of Washington