About Us

Thomas A. Chavez, PhD

Research Assistant Professor
SOM, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

 Bridging community and academic knowledge is critical to adequately address the health and mental health concerns of various underserved communities. I have extensive training and practice in clinical psychology, counselor education, and counseling psychology with over 15 years of providing counseling and psychology services in a variety of settings (school, juvenile justice, psychiatric hospitals, community clinics and agencies), populations, and age groups (ages 4 to 74 in New Mexico, New York, and Wisconsin. I have also conducted clinical evaluations for an NIH funded research project on interpersonal psychotherapy for depression diagnosed among Latinx adolescents at two Bronx, NY high schools. As a co-Investigator on a research team at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, I was closely involved in the conceptualization, development, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination/publication process of a community-engaged, strength-based, culturally tailored, multifamily intervention for immigrant Latinx families coping with a depressed parent (Fortalezas Familiares [Family Strengths]). My post-doctoral work at the UNM Center on Alcoholism Substance Abuse and Additions further bolstered my counseling practice, research skills, and understanding of NIH/NINR funding grants aimed at addressing mental health disparities among diverse adolescents of New Mexico needing access to quality psychotherapy to decrease substance use and risky sexual behavior. My research has primarily been qualitative, using community-engaged approaches with Latinx citizens and undocumented communities I have published in peer-reviewed journals on topics of adolescent psychotherapy, family stress, cultural adaptation process for Latinx populations, social justice, and traditional healing integration. I have 6 years of program evaluation experience which includes development and maintenance of databases. I have advised, mentored, and supervised McNair students in the development of research projects as well as master’s and doctoral students to complete their programs of study in counselor education. Highly valuing community service, I have served on the Collaborative on Hispano/Latinx Health Equity (CHLHE) board for the past two years to address inequities in the health field as well as have served as the departmental co-director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Finally, I have been the co-director of RAICES: Community Education of Traditional Medicine as well as a practitioner/teacher of traditional healing for over 10 years. Overall, I have the education and experience to conceptualize, develop, implement, facilitate, and evaluate culturally centered interventions.

Daisy Rosero, MPH

Research Scientist COPH, Transdisciplinary Research Equity and Engagement (TREE) Center

I am a first gen Ecuadorian American with over 15 years experience working in public health. My research and interests center around improving health outcomes of New Mexicans including our LGBTQ+ community with a focus on equity and inclusion. Currently I am a Research Scientist at the University of New Mexico Transdisciplinary Research, Equity and Engagement Center for Advancing Behavioral Health (TREE) center. Building on concepts developed to connect LGBTQ communities across New Mexico, I am leading the Queerencia NM effort to promote the sharing of LGBTQ+ strength and resilience experiences through storytelling. 

 I am a Public Health professional with a broad knowledge base and background in program implementation, evaluation and research and I have worked with minority populations, youth and adult alcohol prevention and agricultural occupational health. As Program Manager, I lead the implementation of the NM, School-Based Health Center, Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), a statewide training project for medical and behavioral health providers, aimed at identifying youth substance use and risky behavior and improving youth healthcare experiences. Through the Center for Development and Disability, NM Indian Children’s Program and the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders I formed part of a team that conducted clinical assessment and advocacy for Native American families impacted by substance use related disabilities and other disabilities. I served as evaluator for the McKinley County Strategic Network of Advocates for Prevention of Substance Abuse program and performed in a Research Scientist capacity for the Organic Farmers Safety, Health and Life survey, a study funded by NIOSH through the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education (SW Ag Center). I also received new investigator research funding to conduct a National COVID-19 Survey of organic producers. This project, funded by the Southwest Center for Agricultural Health Injury Prevention and Education (SWAg Center), has generated new data on organic producers’ health and healthcare experiences not previously collected.

Lisa M. Cacari Stone, PhD, MA, MS

Professor, UNM College of Population Health | Health and Social Policy: Executive Director/PI, Transdisciplinary Research, Equity & Engagement Center (NIMHD U54)

Dr. Cacari Stone has dedicated over 30 years of public health leadership in advancing health policy and racial equity for diverse communities. She has government, non-profit and policy experience as a former licensed behavioral health provider (LMFT# 2031), director for a home visiting child welfare program (Viva Family Services/Children’s Home & Aide Society, IL), director of senior services (Hinsdale, IL), executive director of a rural federally qualified mental health clinic (Vistas del Sol/Presbyterian Medical Services), state health officer (NM Department of Health), federal women’s health liaison (USDHHS), policy analyst (NM State Legislature, U.S. Senate H.E.L.P. Committee) assistant director of health policy (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded Center at UNM).

Dr. Cacari Stone is trusted for convening diverse stakeholders for strategic planning, engaged policy making, evaluation and research and grants management. Currently she is the Executive Director of a National Research Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. In this role, she oversees the daily operations of the center including: budgeting, reporting, contracts and purchasing, human resource management, social media, human subjects protections, strategic planning, facilitation of co-leadership across faculty, project management and resource development and project implementation. 

Her collaborative grants portfolio of $26 million spans across the macro-level determinants of health (e.g. health reform), to the community level (e.g. impact of neighborhood context and migration on substance use), to the interpersonal level (e.g. role of family and provider communication on chronic disease management among Latinos).  Dr. Cacari Stone has written multiple articles (i.e. Health Affairs, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of Rural Health) and policy reports and delivered speeches nationwide on health equity, insurance coverage gaps and solutions and effective community and public engagement approaches.