Two New Leaders Joining Miami CTSI’s Programs in Workforce Development and Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Published: December 15, 2023

The Miami CTSI is happy to announce that Hillary Snapp, Au.D, Ph.D., and Denise C. Vidot, Ph.D., will join its team of esteemed faculty leaders to co-direct the Workforce Development Program and the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Program, respectively.

Hillary Snapp, Au.D, Ph.D.

Dr. Snapp, Chief of Audiology and Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Miller School of Medicine, will work alongside the CTSI’s Workforce Development Program Director Suhrud Rajguru, Ph.D., with a goal of supporting the educational and training needs of investigators, trainees, research professionals as well as community partners who are committed to advancing clinical translational science and health equity.

“As a clinician-scientist, I understand the unique barriers that slow progress and limit success of clinical and translational research. Some of our goals are to establish career development pathways that extend beyond clinicians and scientists to include those working at all levels of the research infrastructure. By developing the training and skills necessary at every level, we can enhance team performance and effectiveness,” said Dr. Snapp.

In addition to training and education, Dr. Snapp and Dr. Rajguru recognize that professional engagement and networking are critical aspects to building strong and diverse teams. Their goals include identifying ways foster cross-disciplinary collaboration to promote peer support, professional growth, and research advancement.

Dr. Snapp says the CTSI has been instrumental in her career development as a clinician-scientist. “The CTSI afforded me many unique opportunities to engage in and learn the concepts of clinical translational research in a way that has been truly transformative for my scientific career. I look forward to contributing back to its mission by serving to expand and diversify these opportunities to support the broader research workforce at the institution,” she said.

Denise Vidot, Ph.D.

Dr. Denise Vidot is an Epidemiologist and Associate Professor at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, and as Co-Director of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement (CASE) Program, she will play a key role in shaping and innovating its engagement strategies with the goal of improving the health of the community, addressing health disparities, and promoting health equity.

This includes facilitating bidirectional community engagement between the CTSI and diverse stakeholders from across South Florida, particularly from systemically marginalized backgrounds and disinvested communities.

“Joining the CTSI as Co-Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement program is an honor and full circle moment as it was through the CTSI’s resources and mentorship that I learned how to conduct community-engaged research and become an NIH-funded independent investigator,” said Dr. Vidot.

Dr. Vidot was part of the first cohort to participate in the CTSI’s inaugural Research Mentorship Program and now pays these opportunities forward by serving as a mentor to outstanding junior faculty members from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in science. “I am especially excited to bring my collaborative spirit and equity-centered approaches to the Community and Stakeholder Engagement program,” she said.