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Headshot of Kira Rodriguez

Kira Rodriguez, M.H.S.

She/Her

Senior Research Associate

Adjunct Faculty

Location

Off Campus

As a member of UNE's Center for Excellence in Health Innovation’s professional research and consulting staff, Ms. Rodriguez has worked on program evaluation projects and population health needs assessments for regional and state governments as well as health workforce programs, health care providers and health systems.  This includes responsibility for the design, implementation and analysis of evaluation research; responding to internal and external reporting needs and evaluation project management.  During her tenure at UNE, major projects have included managing a statewide population health needs assessment for the Maine’s 3 major health systems, conducting a health disparity focused assessment for United Way of Greater Portland and serving as project lead for a statewide evaluation of Maine’s Healthy Maine Partnerships program. 

Ms. Rodriguez is currently the evaluator for 4 health workforce/education programs at the University of New England:

  1. Maine Area Health Education Center (ME AHEC) Network – Lead Evaluator for all programs including Health Careers Pipeline, UNECOM Rural Community Health Rotations, and Continuing Education for Medical Professionals Programs
  2. Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (ME SNAP-ED) – Member of Internal Evaluation Team providing process and outcome measurement of direct education, social marketing campaigns, and policy, systems and environmental change work. 
  3. University of New England Center to Advance Interprofessional Education and Practice (UNE-CAIEP) – Lead Evaluator for didactic, simulation and case-based interprofessional offerings on-campus. 
  4. University of New England Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND) Training Grant - Lead Evaluator and Data Coordinator

Prior to her position at UNE, she worked as the Planning Director for a community health center in rural Alaska, developing programs and services, ensuring compliance with federal reporting requirements, and working with community partners to evaluate and respond to health needs.  Ms. Rodriguez evaluation experience also includes a five-year position as the Senior Research Program Manager for a comprehensive evaluation of a community based home visiting program for at-risk families conducted by the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Medicine.

                                          

Credentials

Education

MHS, Maternal and Child Health
Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health
1999
BA, Psychology
Brown University
1995

Research

Current research

Maine Area Health Education Center (ME AHEC) Network – Evaluator of Health Careers Pipeline, Community Health Rotation, and Continuing Education for Medical Professionals Programs.  Recently presented on Pipeline Evaluation work at National AHEC Organization Annual Meeting in June 2016

Maine Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (ME SNAP-ED) – Member of Internal Evaluation Team providing process and outcome measurement of direct education, social marketing campaigns, and policy, systems and environmental change work.  Recently contributed to review of national SNAP-Ed evaluation framework and interpretive guide, released May 2016. 

University of New England Interprofessional Education Center (UNE-IPEC) – Evaluator of didactic, simulation and case-based interprofessional offerings on-campus.   Recently survey of all graduate health professions students re: interest and experience with IPE.  Also, presenting Interprofessional Team Immersion (IPTI) evaluation results at All Together Better Health Conference in September, 2016

Selected publications

Caldera D., Burrell L., Rodriguez K. et al  (2007)  Impact of a statewide home visiting program on parenting and on child health and development. Child Abuse & Neglect 31: 829-852

Duggan A., Caldera D., Rodriguez K. et al  (2007)  Impact of a statewide home visiting program to prevent child abuse. Child Abuse & Neglect 31: 801-827

Treiman R. Tincoff R. Rodriguez K. Mouzaki A. and Francis D.J. (1998) The foundations of literacy: Learning the sounds of letters.  Child Development, 69(6): 1524-40.

Treiman R. Broderick V. Tincoff R. and Rodriguez K. (1998) Children's Phonological awareness: Confusions between phonemes that differ only in voicing.  Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 68(1): 3-21

 

Cohen Konrad S, Cavanaugh JT, Rodriguez K, Hall K, and Pardue K (2017) A five-session interprofessional team immersion program for health professions students, 6:49-54

Invited plenary presentation

Invited to present with colleagues on Interprofessional Team Immersion at ATBH Conference in Oxford, England (Sept. 2016)

Research interests

Health Workforce Training & Evaluation, Interprofessional Practice and Education, Social Determinants of Health Approach Needs Assessments, Policy, Systems and Environmental Change Evaluation

Research topics

Competency-based Learning