The Future of Violence Prevention: Doing the Work in Challenging Times
I am a public health leader and violence prevention strategist with more than 25 years of experience advancing solutions to some of our most urgent challenges — including firearm injury, youth violence, suicide, and child abuse.
Throughout my career at the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, I helped build and scale-up national life-saving data systems (NVDRS, NISVS), directed major federal investments in research to understand what works, and helped communities turn evidence into action. I’ve worked across federal agencies, hospitals, foundations, and frontline organizations to shape policy, guide investment, and amplify the science behind violence prevention.
What drives me is simple: the belief that violence is preventable — and that public health has a critical role to play in stopping it before it starts. Whether developing CDC’s Vital Signs reports, helping launch the first national injury mortality dashboard, mentoring emerging leaders, or shaping prevention resources, I’ve sought to make science relevant, actionable, and equity focused.