152: Community Engaged Research for Innovative Solutions with Jessica Otero Machuca, MPH, CHES

Interview with Jessica Otero Machuca, MPH, CHES

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Highlights from this episode:

1. Human centered design and social innovation in Public Health
2. Importance of community, building community, and leaning on community
3. Why setbacks are just opportunities for growth

Episode 152 of Public Health Careers podcast

Jessica Otero Machuca, MPH, CHES is an incoming doctoral student at The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and works as an Associate Clinical Research Coordinator at the Mayo Clinic. She is interested in community-based innovative research solutions that center community voices and experiences in addressing barriers to experiencing optimal quality of life.

She conferred a Bachelor in Health Education and Behavior at University of Florida. While here she worked as a Community Health Educator and Research Coordinator at the University of Florida.

After graduating, she worked as a Biological Scientist (contract) at Florida Department of Health in Lee County, a Social Media Content Creator at Greenhouse Church, and an Associate Clinical Research Coordinator at Mayo Clinic which is a role she still works in.

Jessica then got her Master of Public Health in equity, social justice, and human rights at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. During her time here she worked as a Design Thinking Fellow at Innovate Carolina and on the NIH CEAL Alliance project. She recently graduated and will be pursuing a PhD.