Holly Wood is a doctoral student on the VISTA team and the Senior Director for the Center for Community Health Enhancement and Learning (HEAL) at Purdue University, where she plays a pivotal role in advancing health equity agendas. Reporting to the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering and working closely with Executive Director Dr. Jerome Adams, Holly focuses on bringing community voices to the forefront and advocating for health equity both on and off campus. Her responsibilities include fostering interest among faculty in health equity projects, managing the Purdue Health Equity Council, securing funding, and facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations aimed at addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Holly also oversees the implementation of Indiana Healthy Opportunities for Everyone (I-HOPE), a $34 million initiative in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Health. This initiative targets health disparities across Indiana, reflecting Holly’s commitment to addressing systemic issues and promoting equitable access to healthcare services.
Holly’s journey in public health began with her work in rural Indiana, focusing on disaster preparedness and response, including pandemics. Her transition to the state level saw her leading efforts to prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUID) and advocating for health equity, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by preventable infant deaths. Holly continues to engage with state and local partners to develop resilience-focused approaches in Indiana communities while pursuing her doctoral studies in Public Health at Purdue University.
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