The Patient Factor (PDF)

Rupa S. Valdez: Dr. Valdez is Associate Professor at the University of Virginia jointly appointed in the Schools of Medicine and Engineering and Applied Sciences. She is also affiliated with Global Studies and the Disability Studies Initiative. Dr. Valdez merges human factors engineering, health informatics, and cultural anthropology to understand and support the ways in which people manage health at home and in the community. Her research and teaching focus on underserved populations, including populations that are racial/ethnic minorities, of low socioeconomic status, and/or living with disabilities. Her work draws heavily on community engagement and has been supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), among others. She serves as Division Chair of Internal Affairs for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) and as Associate Editor for Journal of American Medical Informatics Association (JAMIA) Open. She is the founder and president of Blue Trunk Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to making it easier for people with chronic health conditions, disabilities, and age-related conditions to travel. Dr. Valdez lives with multiple chronic health conditions and disabilities, which have and continue to influence her work and advocacy.