Brisa Hernandez serves as Research Program Manager and Community Medicine Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine, Carolinas HealthCare System. She has managed all of the community based research projects and coordinated the activities of The Mecklenburg Area Partnership for Primary-care Research (MAPPR) a practice based research network housed in the department specializing in translational research within primary care, since 2008. She has participated in the development and implementation of research studies funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, National Institute of Health and National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities during her time in the department. One of the most recent projects has been focused on understanding impact of social determinants of health. It has received national recognition for its engagement of youth through the photovoice process from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. See also Carolinas HealthCare System CEO Report May 2015.
Brisa has participated in the development and implementation of research studies funded by the Centers for Disease Control, National Institute of Health, National Institute of Minority and Health Disparities and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Although the primary focus of the research has been engaging the new immigrant Latino population in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, she also works with many community partners to address issues of health disparities and equity for all residents. Brisa serves on multiple community boards, including Care Ring Nurse Family Partnership and Harris YMCA Community Development.
Her research interest includes health disparities, utilizing participatory research methods, community development, interdisciplinary collaborations, program evaluation and the impact of urban restructuring on access and utilization of health and social services.
Brisa is also a PhD Candidate in the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences at the UNC-Charlotte.
