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Carolina Gabaldon, MPH, is a highly skilled public health professional with a strong background in program management and community engagement. With experience as a Program Manager at the Institute for Public Strategies and a Health Science Lecturer at California State University, San Bernardino, Carolina has demonstrated expertise in strategic prevention activities, coalition building, and capacity building. She is committed to advancing public health, safety, and social justice, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. Carolina's qualifications include a Ph.D. in Public Health with a focus on epidemiology, currently in progress at Walden University. She is also a recipient of the Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship, which provided valuable experience in community health and wellness initiatives. Carolina's skills in software applications, public health education, and data analysis make her a valuable asset in any public health program. She is dedicated to promoting equity and inclusivity in her work and research, and has a strong understanding of social determinants of health.

Education

Fall 2021Current

Ph.D. Public Health - Epidemiology Track (In Progress)

Walden University

I am currently pursuing a terminal degree in public health with a focus in epidemiology.  Current GPA 3.58

20172018

Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship

Partners for Better Health

Internship providing experience in community health and wellness initiatives at Healthy Communities with St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, CA.  

June2018

Master in Public Health

California State University, San Bernardino

CSU Trustee Award recipient 4.0 GPA, independent research, Health Science intern preceptor, and service on many university panels and committees.  

June2016

Bachelor of Science - Nutrition & Food Science

California State University, San Bernardino

Phi Kappa Phi, 3.8 GPA, Regular dean's list recipient, scholarship awards, delivery of nutrition education to diverse populations. 

Scholarships and Awards

  • Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Award - Innovative Solutions Poster
  • Randall Lewis Health Policy Fellowship
  • CSU Trustee Award Scholar CSUSB
  • CSUSB Graduate Equity Fellowship
  • Virginia M Gladney Memorial Scholarship
  • Phi Kappa Phi 
  • Rose Brown Scholarship
  • Dorothy and David Chen-Maynard Scholarship
  • CSUSB Dean’s List - Multiple Quarters 

Work Experience

2023 - Current

Program Manager

Institute for Public Strategies, High Desert Region

Supervise a team, including a full-time Community Organizer and a full-time Prevention Specialist engaged in strategically integrated prevention activities, including research, data collection and analysis,  coalition building, community organizing, and capacity building. Collaborate with county agencies, service providers, community leaders, elected officials, law enforcement partners, and other key stakeholders to empower residents in developing and implementing equitable policies that prevent substance use/misuse by advancing public health, safety, and social justice, especially in underserved neighborhoods. Advance policy, coordinate media events with local reporters, and supervise the use of social media to support youth and community engagement. Track, document, and evaluate all program activities. 

2018Current

Health Science Lecturer - Adjunct Faculty

California State University, San Bernardino

Instruct students of the fundamental concepts of health science and disease, theory of health behavior, health science-related software applications, and practical application of learned skills while conveying knowledge of the subject area for successful student learning outcomes. Skills demonstrated include communication, presentation, educational service, and interpersonal skills with sensitivity to diverse university student populations. Development of course material for undergraduates. 

20192022

Prevention Specialist

Institute for Public Strategies

Development and implementation of strategic environmental prevention plans to reduce community substance abuse. Collaboration, creation, and cultivation of community partnerships to help implement AOD prevention campaigns. Data gathering activities including risk assessments, focus groups and community perception surveys. Establish partnerships between leaders and residents to facilitate change. Comprehensive understanding of social determinants of health and alcohol and other drug environmental prevention strategies that target community policies and norms. Strong knowledge of public policy and public affairs. Presentations to community leaders of current data and research in substance abuse prevention. Writing of op-eds. Policy analysis to identify potential amendments leading to systems change with a diversity, equity and inclusion focused lens. Specific skills include coalition facilitation, collaboration with city leaders, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and social service/public assistance providers for all age groups. Skills also include capacity building through public health initiatives, policy panels, and youth engagement while advancing equity. San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health Workgroups - Data Workgroup Co-Chair

20172018

Graduate Teaching Associate

California State University, San Bernardino

Instruct students on the fundamental concepts of health and disease, health-related science-based research methodology, and theory of health behavior while monitoring and assisting  students during practical application of learned skills. Instruction includes software applications used in health science-related fields such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Prezi, GIS, and SPSS  to prepare students with hands-on experience for future careers. 

20172018

Diabetes Camp Education Coordinator/Intern Preceptor

Lions Club International (LCI) - Diabetes Camp Committee

Program Development of District 4L5 Diabetes Camp, surveys, supervised CSUSB students in survey development, data collection, data cleaning, program implementation and evaluation. Tracking of LCI activities for area clubs.  Serve as preceptor for CSUSB public health interns  and volunteers to provide field experience in various public health capacities. 

Skills

QUALIFICATIONS
  • County Data & Research Co-Chair
  • County Level MH and SUD Integration
  • Policy Analysis & Development
  • Public Health Education
  • Nutrition and Food Science  
  • University Level Instruction 
  • Small  and Large Group Instruction
  • Group Facilitation
  • Epidemiology
  • Research Methods
  • Statistical Analysis
  • GIS Mapping & Spatial Analysis
  • Data Cleaning and Management
  • Program Planning & Implementation
  • Survey Development & Analysis
  • Program Evaluation
  • Substance Use Prevention
SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
  • Public Service Announcements
  • Presentation Development
  • Database Development
  • Data Collection/Entry/Cleaning
  • Data Integrity/Analysis
  • Data Interpretation
  • Data Visualization 
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Apps
  • Google Suite
  • Animation Programs
  • Canva
  • ArcGIS Pro 3
  • SPSS
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
  • Coalitions
  • Capacity Building
  • Health & Wellness
  • Community Education
  • Youth Rallies
  • Resource Referrals
  • Community Events
  • Community Assessments
  • Trauma-Informed Approaches
Public Health Educator
  • QLT Training
  • Advanced QLT Training
  • Certified QLT Reviewer
  • Presentation Development
  • Curriculum Development
  • Assignment Creation
  • Online Instruction Asynchronous/Synchronous
  • Qualified to teach many HSCI courses

Field Experience

Relative field experience includes working with city leaders, community residents, and creating partnerships to identify social determinants of health through community organizing, applied data and research, media advocacy, policy & systems change, and sustainability while adhering to DEI principles. Public health goals include community transformation through resident input, earned media, identifying root causes for public health concerns, sustainable systems change. while addressing the social determinants of health. 

Volunteer Work

High Desert Community Coalition, Community Advocacy, 2018 - Current

Lions Club International, Vision Services, 2016 - 2019

Lions Club Diabetes Camp, Dietary Services Coordinator, 2018 - 2019

Camp Conrad Chinnock, Dietary Services Intern, 2016 - 2019

San Berndardino County Department of Public Health, 2016 - WIC Department

San Berndardino County Department of Public Health, 2016 - Nutrition Services

Presentations

National Prevention Network Conference - Young Advocates Program, Co-Presenter - 8/2023

NICC Conference - Environmental Prevention 101, Co-Presenter - 6/2023

Breaking the Cycle of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Co-Presenter - 3/2022

Using GIS Maps to Advocate for Healthier Communities, Co-Presenter - 3/2022

Virtual Creativity: Engaging Youth with Technology, Co-Presenter - 9/2021

Community Anti-Vaping/ AOD Prevention Presentations, Presenter - 2020 - Current

High Desert Intervention Action Coalition - Presenter - Mental Health and Substance Abuse Stigma - 2/2020

Pacific Coast College Health Association Conference - Presenter - College Cannabis Awareness and Action Plan   10/2019

courses taught

HSCI 1200L - Health and Society: An Ecological and Societal Approach Lab

HSCI 2200 - Introduction to Public Health

HSCI 2202 - Software Applications in the Health Sciences

HSCI 2203 - Introduction to Statistics in Health Sciences

HSCI 3080 - Operations Management in Health Sciences

HSCI 3200 - Foundations of Public Health Education

HSCI 3205 - Biostatistics for Health Science

HSCI 3206 - Public Health Law and Ethics

HCSI 3602 - Lifecycle Nutrition and Assessment

HSCI 4037 - Information Systems and Financial Management in Healthcare

HSCI 4068 - Research Methods in the Health Sciences

HSCI 4202 - Epidemiology

HSCI 4203 - Public Health Program Planning and Implementation

HSCI 4208 - Drug and Alcohol Issues

HSCI 4209 - Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Professional associations

American Public Health Association (APHA) 

Southern California Public Health Association (SCPHA)

certifications

Nationally Certified Phlebotomy Technician - #469384