Ashley Underwood, MPH

Experience

• 

  Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative

  Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  Community Organizer Intern

  In this role I canvassed neighborhoods to organize block meetings and assisted in the coordination a city-wide religious leaders workshop.

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  Howard University Hospital

  Jun 2011 - Aug 2011

  Summer Research Intern

  In this role I was an intern in the Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences summer research program. Under the direction of the hospital's chief endocrinologist, I assisted in research aimed at empowering diabetic patients to self-manage hemoglobin A1C levels through the use of a mobile app. I extracted patient data from electronic health records, created a participant database, and organized data. I presented my experience at a poster session.

• 

  Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates, PLLC

  Feb 2012 - Oct 2012

  Research Assistant

  In this role I extracted patient data from multiple electronic health record systems, created a database organized by medical diagnosis codes, and assisted in trend identification.

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  Fisk University

  Sept 2012 - Aug 2013

  Student Producer

  In this role I helped to develop show themes for a live radio talk show (HealthWatch: A 60 Minute Pathway to Better Health on WFSKJ 88.1 FM) that covered public health topics that were relevant to adult listeners. I researched guest backgrounds, coordinated interviews, participated in on-air discussion, screened audience calls, provided cues to host, and utilized music scheduling software for commercial breaks.

• 

  Meharry Medical College

  Jan 2013 - Aug 2013

  In this role I assisted in the preparation of regulatory documents for a clinical trial on uterine fibroids. Additionally, I recruited study participants, administered informed consent forms, and processed biological samples for delivery to laboratories. In this role I recruited and enrolled pregnant women in a research study that explored the relationship of breastfeeding promotion and childhood obesity prevention.

  • Visiting Scholar

    Mar 2013 - Aug 2013

  • Community Navigator

    Jan 2013 - Jul 2013
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  Case Western Reserve University

  Oct 2013 - May 2014

  Graduate Assistant

  In this role I conducted research for applicable literature reviews and annotated bibliographies. I edited and reviewed grant proposals, took meeting minutes, and created promotional materials. I communicated with study participants and organizational affiliates through regular correspondence and interviews.

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  May Dugan Center

  Nov 2014 - Feb 2016

  Community Health Worker

  In this role I provided health education to pregnant and parenting adolescents, linked program participants to community resources, and conducted reproductive health and pregnancy prevention sessions at local high schools. Per grant requirements, I documented all activities, service plans, and additional mandated reports in a timely manner.

• 

  Abortion Forward

  Feb 2016 - Aug 2020

  Since taking on this role I have authored a consolidated analysis of Ohio's reproductive health outcomes in relation to policy trends, socioeconomic disparities, and demographics. I facilitated the creation of an instructional guidebook for a healthcare advocacy program and wrote the majority of the curriculum. I have presented at state and national conferences. I have conducted public education on several panels, and interviewed with local news stations in response to proposed legislation. I have also ran a focus group to test a mobile app for safe abortion access. Show less In this role I cultivated and directed the implementation of a health advocacy program, sponsored by a collaborative of organizational partners, which developed previous abortion patients into reproductive health, rights, and justice advocates. I built partnerships with various community organizations and stakeholders to enrich programming and broaden participant's experiences. I developed, distributed, and analyzed surveys to capture impact of program. I created and supervised a capstone experience for program alumni to further develop their skills in community programming. I hired and managed two teams of paid canvassers for an issue-based, door-to-door canvass. I obtained a small grant for a voter registration drive. I served as the liaison for the program's organizational sponsors and handled external communications as the collaborative's representative. Show less

  • Research and Program Manager

    Mar 2019 - Aug 2020

  • Project Coordinator

    Feb 2016 - Aug 2020
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  Beech Brook

  Jun 2017 - May 2018

  Family Life Educator

  In this role I delivered comprehensive, inclusive sex education curriculum to middle and high school health classes enrolled in districts with high unintended pregnancy and STI rates.

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  Equity Forward

  Aug 2020 - now

  • Project Director

    May 2022 - now

  • Research Associate

    Aug 2020 - May 2022