We sat down (virtually!) with Regina Greer-Smith, a Community Advisory Board Member for the SC CTSI. We hear about her work with the CTSI, her passion for public health in her community, and her “why” for getting vaccinated. 

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself—who you are, what you do, etc. 

I’m a retired health systems administrator from Chicago. My husband and I moved to SoCal at the end of 2016. For the last 10+ years, I have been active in comparative effectiveness research (CER) and patient-centered research (PCOR). I started my involvement in 2012 with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) by serving on its Inaugural Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement from 2013 to 2017. Since that time, I have been involved with numerous PCORI-funded programs and initiatives, as well as served as co-author on PCOR publications with academic partners.

2. How did you get involved in working with the CTSI? 

I met members of the CTSI in 2018 while attending a conference at Children’s Hospital Orange County, then I was invited to the join the SC CTSI Community Advisory Board.

3. What do you enjoy most about working with the CTSI? 

I enjoy the meaningful partnership and bi-directional learning and engagement among the academic, community, and stakeholder partners.

4. Why are you passionate about clinical research and public health? 

It’s very important that clinical research and public health continue to recognize and implement diversity, inclusion, and equitable programs, practices and relationships to ensure that all communities are equally recognized and served.

5. What are you looking forward to the most in your continued work with CTSI? 

I look forward to meaningful and trusted relationships with the CTSI to be instrumental in providing the voice for the community and as a non-academic stakeholder.