Welcome CHERISH Advisory Board Member Dr. Victoria Behar-Zusman

The Center for Health Economics of Treatment Interventions for Substance Use Disorder, HCV, and HIV (CHERISH) is thrilled to have Dr. Victoria Behar-Zusman joining as a member of the Center Advisory Board.

Dr. Behar-Zusman is a principal investigator of the Center for Latino Health Research Opportunities (CLaRO) and leads the Investigator Development Core at the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM). She is also a professor and the associate dean for research at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS).

At CLaRO and CHARM, which are NIH-funded Centers of Excellence as is CHERISH, Dr. Behar-Zusman develops culturally competent interventions for minority populations and leads health disparities research focused on Latino communities. She is also committed to amplifying minority women in academia, serving as a mentor in CHARM’s Culturally focused HIV Advancements through the Next Generation for Equity (CHANGE) Training Program.

“I find that minority students and young faculty can suffer in silence if they don’t know that they can ask for help. Academic life is increasingly complex, and I feel this is an area where I can contribute at this stage in my career,” says Dr. Behar-Zusman. “I enjoy connecting with early-career scholars and helping young researchers—especially those who had limited opportunities—know that they have what it takes to succeed and that they belong in academia.”

CHERISH Director Dr. Bruce R. Schackman comments, “As CHERISH is striving to improve research methodologies and create inclusive mentorship opportunities, I look forward to working with Dr. Behar-Zusman to bridge health economics and health disparities research, grow our mentorship network, and support trainees and researchers who have been historically underrepresented.”