Pronounsshe, her, her, hers, herself

Department/College/UnitSocial Sciences Division
Physical & Biological Sciences Division

TitleManaging Director, Global and Community Health Program

AffiliationStaff

Staff TypeAdministrator

Web SiteLinkedIn

Primary Office LocationSocial Sciences 1
Suite 117

Additional Location(s)Thimann Labs

Office HoursMonday - Friday (full time, in-person)

Mail StopSocial Sciences 1 Faculty Services

Biography, Education and Training

I believe in the power of communities to grow and thrive. Whether in downtown San Francisco or rural India, my passion is collaborating with students, families and communities in order to promote health & healing, well-being and empowerment.

I am a multi-talented, dynamic and dedicated public health professional with nearly 20 years’ experience in providing technical assistance, applied research and capacity building to domestic and global programs.

My public health work is strengthened by 15 years' cross-training in contemplative practice, Buddhist chaplaincy as well as interpersonal skills. I am lay-ordained in the Zen Buddhist tradition and bring values of direct experience, curiosity, meditation, presence and engaged community life.

I'm grateful to have refined my skills at domestic and international organizations like Save the Children US and the University of California as well as contemplative institutions like San Francisco Zen Center and the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.

My sweet spot? Accompanying communities in examining evidence-based, relationally-oriented and culturally informed interventions to promote health and empowerment.

I am excited about rethinking public health & social healing to encompass the whole person in a system that extends beyond clinic walls to our homes, schools and communities.

Research Interests

Implementation research - specifically, monitoring, evaluation, research and learning of domestic and international health programs.  

Awards, Honors and Grants

Supported grants from USAID, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Health Resources & Services Administration, Comic Relief, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.  

Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Nicaragua

Service and Humanitarian Award, UCSC 

Service Above Self Award, Rotary International 

Academic Honors, UCSC

Selected Publications

W. Story, et. al. (2021) "Changes in attitudes and behaviors supportive of maternal and newborn health in Ethiopia: An evaluative case study" BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (under review).

H. Gardner, et al. (2019) National Community Health Information Systems in Four African Countries: Descriptions and Lessons Learned from the Field.  Maternal and Child Survival Program.  Available at: https://www.mcsprogram.org/resource/national-community-health-information-systems-in-four-african-countries/

M. Yahner, et al. (2019) “Because My Husband and I Have Never Had a Baby Before . . .” : Results and Lessons from Interventions with First-time Parents in Madagascar, Mozambique and Nigeria. Maternal and Child Survival Program.  Available at: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/16132/pdf/mcspbrieffirsttimeparentsinmadagascarmozambiqueandnigeria_1.pdf

M. Palacios, et al. (2019) MCSP Mozambique Program Brief: Community Health. Maternal and Child Survival Program.  Available at: https://www.mcsprogram.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2018/12/MCSP-MZ-CommunityHealth-Brief.pdf

A. Mangieri, et al. (2019) Building Community Health Worker Capacity in Egypt. Maternal and Child Survival Program. Available at: https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/16607/pdf/mcsp_egypt_imchn_ldhf_adaptation_brief_2019-10-09.pdf 

C. Johnson et al. (2018) What do health coaches do? Direct observation of health coach activities during medical and patient-health coach visits at 3 federally qualified health centers. Patient Educ Couns. 2018 May;101(5):900-907. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2017.11.017. Epub 2017 Nov 26. PMID: 29195719.

D. Thom, et al. (2016) A Qualitative Study of How Health Coaches Support Patients in Making Health-Related Decisions and Behavioral Changes. Ann Fam Med. 2016 Nov; 14(6):509-516. doi: 10.1370/afm.1988. PMID: 28376437; PMCID: PMC5389392.

H. Gardner. (2015) Tobacco-Use and Harm Reduction Program: Evaluative Review of the School-based Education and Dental Camp Programs – Report. Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health (Gadchiroli, India).  

H. Gardner, et, al. (2010) Breaking Down the Barriers: A National Needs Assessment on Farmworker Health Outreach. Health Outreach Partners. Available at: https://outreach-partners.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/FAN-REPORT-FINAL_pdf.compressed.pdf