1. What is your current role at the CMRI?

As a Research Associate on the Formative Research Team (FRT), I work to collaborate and provide technical assistance rooted in social and behavioral theory for formative and qualitative research throughout our institution and beyond. My current work includes providing technical support on health interventions, including community health workers (CHWs), lifestyle and nutrition in pediatric populations, children with medical complexities, shared decision-making between patients/families/providers, type 1 diabetes, maternal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health in global communities.

2. What drew you to a career in research at the CMRI? 

Growing up as a second-generation Ghanaian, my parents regularly promoted the importance of preventive healthcare and chronic disease management. I saw them encouraging relatives and friends to go to their doctor’s appointments and teaching them the right questions to ask. Over the years, their advocacy led friends and family to seek out Children’s Mercy for specialty care. Considering that, as I was looking for a new research opportunity after my last research position’s grant ended, I was drawn to looking for opportunities in the CMRI! I’m so grateful I did because working on the FRT has provided many new opportunities for personal growth as an independent researcher! 

3. What are your research/career goals? 

I’m incredibly passionate about health education and enhancing health communication in clinical and community settings through community-based participatory research. So, I see my current/long-term goals as finding ways to enhance health communication in the maternal and child health sphere via CHWs, doulas, or other birth support workers. I’ve got a lot of ideas/projects in the pipeline, so stay tuned! 😊

4. What is your favorite thing about working at the CMRI?

My role has provided opportunities for me to collaborate with other researchers/providers throughout Children’s Mercy and beyond to investigate formative research questions to enhance interventions that can expand the reach of care to individuals who may not be able to access the traditional healthcare system due to various inequities and personal experiences! These collaborations have inspired me to pursue volunteer opportunities with the Children’s Mercy Community Garden and serve at other one-time events for our patient population to play an active role in learning about the different patient populations we serve or are involved in our research studies. Further, I’m forever grateful for the sage advice Beth Canipe, Health Services and Outcomes Research, shared with me when I first started at the CMRI. My new role did not give me the same amount of direct contact with participants and patients, so she encouraged me to see the new opportunity of seeing patients in passing and to be mindful of our proximity to Hematology/Oncology (Hem/Onc) patients since our division is on the same floor as the outpatient Hem/Onc clinic. This led me to pursue a volunteering position on 4 Henson, which is the primary floor for Hem/Onc and BMT patients, and it became one of the most impactful experiences I’ve had in healthcare. I’m forever grateful for opportunities to engage in the happenings around the hospital and be a part of other ways to impact patients and families positively!

5. What is on your bucket list? 

1. Go to the Tour de France

2. Go to the Olympics

3. Complete a Triathlon

4. Volunteer at the World Cup 2026

5. Complete a century (100-mile) bike ride