Rupa S. Valdez

About

My research focuses on understanding and designing solutions to support the ways in which people manage health at home and in the community, drawing on methods from multiple disciplines including human factors engineering, cultural anthropology, and health informatics, among others. My work encompasses participatory and co-design approaches and attends to the ways in which social networks, physical environment, community resources, and information technology shape patient experiences. I am particularly interested in how health is managed among health disparity populations, including racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and people living in under-resourced settings. A complementary research interest is in methodological development for research and teaching in this space. I have testified before Congress on the topic of bridging health equity gaps for people with disabilities and chronic conditions. I serve as Associate Editor for Ergonomics and the Journal of American Medical Informatics Association Open. I serve on the Board of Directors for the American Association of People with Disabilities. I also serve in advisory capacities for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the National Committee for Quality Assurance, and the National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. I previously served on PCORI's Patient Engagement Advisory Panel. I am also the Founder and President of the Blue Trunk Foundation.