Stephanie Santiago: Bridging the Gap in Healthcare as a Community Scientist

Community Scientists are trained community members who collaborate with medical researchers to improve the health of those in their communities. Community Scientists participate in activities such as providing input on study designs, reviewing study recruitment materials for cultural appropriateness and giving community presentations to advocate for research. 

Stephanie Santiago is a Community Scientist in Arizona whose career is a testament to her dedication to community health and advocacy. With a medical specialties associate degree and a background as a medical assistant, Stephanie has spent years serving vulnerable populations. She worked as a medical coordinator for refugee children entering resettlement, spent nearly a decade at a community health center, and later took on the role of a community partnership specialist. Currently, she is the program coordinator for the Path to Wellness Program at the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona. Beyond her professional work, Stephanie is deeply involved in her community—coaching flag football and mentoring at-risk youth in Phoenix.

Can you share a little about your background and what motivated you to get involved as a community scientist?

I am a product of underserved communities and my passion for community has led me to a career in healthcare. I grew up in the Bronx in New York and moved to Phoenix, AZ when I was 15. I always wanted to be a doctor, but life pushed me toward community healthcare, where my true passion lies.

I am currently a program coordinator, which allows me to bring free health screenings to the most underserved communities in Arizona. The motivation behind my wanting to be involved as a Community Scientist came from seeing the lack of insight our communities have to healthcare in general. I am a true advocate and enjoy educating my community about their healthcare. I feel like this gives me an opportunity to shine a light on the inclusion of those who have not been involved in research that would result in treatments/medications specifically created with them in mind.

What drew you to Mayo Clinic’s community outreach and engagement efforts? How do you define the role of a community scientist?

What drew me to Mayo Clinic’s community outreach and engagement efforts was the interest they have in including folks who have historically been excluded from research that would create things to help them and actually benefit them. I have also known how trauma has been involved in our underserved communities when it comes to medical research. I want to be a part of bringing facts and education to those specific communities. I see this role as an integral relationship between community engagement, education, and connection to our medical scientists who want to bring the change we all need–specifically for future medical advancements and medications that involve data specific to those who need it most.

Can you describe some projects or research initiatives you've worked on and the impact it has had on your community?

I was a medical assistant in a community health center when they partnered with Mayo Clinic for the BioBank. This research provided underserved patients with free lab testing that was otherwise extremely expensive. This was related to diabetes and making changes to future treatments of diabetes. The impact was amazing! I saw folks who had never been able to afford labs getting actual diagnoses for diabetes or other life-impacting diseases that would have otherwise gone untreated.  I saw people almost in tears because they were able to get on a plan with their medical provider to make changes that changed their lives and those of their families when it came to treatment and prevention.

What skills or knowledge have you gained from your experience that you would like to share with others who may be interested in becoming a citizen scientist?

I consider myself a learner and a connector. These have led me to be considered an educator of resources and health in general amongst different underserved communities. This passion has led me to want to learn more and bring much-needed change/diversity to healthcare, by involving those who had never been a part of it.

How has your participation in Mayo Clinic’s community research and engagement efforts changed how you view health and research in your community?

I now see that those working in the science of change and research want to be more inclusive of those who have been left out. They want to be a part of inclusion that would benefit all humans, as opposed to just one specific race of humans. I have also learned a lot about the history involving trauma and the change that is wanting to come from the health and research part of these efforts.

What excites you about the future of community outreach and engagement in healthcare and research?