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. As a liaison between the H42 study and the center’s home visiting program, Solano-Umana has played a critical role in shaping the intervention design and recruitment strategies of the H42 study.
Solano-Umana’s leadership has strengthened the relationship between The Lourie Center and H42, fostering a culture of dedication and collaboration towards shared health equity goals. Her contributions have been instrumental in advancing the H42 study and promoting community engagement in research initiatives. 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.
In March 2023, Solano-Umana participated as a panelist on the community partnerships panel at the launch of MACCHE. During her discussion on sustainability and success in community-based research, she stressed the importance of collaboration and continuous feedback. She encouraged researchers to allow room for mistakes, questions, feedback, and follow-up when introducing new programs.
Solano-Umana’s leadership has resulted in significant growth in collaboration between The Lourie Center and H42 under her guidance as coordinating council member, research staff visits to her center, and participation on CHE Community Advisory Board highlighting this partnership’s success.
Congratulations to Alex Solano-Umana on this well-deserved recognition for her outstanding work!