Rebekah C.
Director, Office of Science Policy, Planning, Evaluation and Reporting (Ospper) @National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities Nimhd
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WORK HISTORY
Director, Office of Science Policy, Planning, Evaluation and Reporting (Ospper) @National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities Nimhd
Bethesda, MD, US
As Director of OSPPER, I lead a high-performing team of 11 federal staff and contractors—including policy analysts, evaluators, statisticians, and data scientists—to drive the strategic alignment of minority health and health disparities (MHHD) research across NIH.I oversee all functions related to science policy, strategic planning, evaluation, analytics, scientific reporting, and legislative affairs. My role ensures that NIMHD’s programs and research investments are evidence-based, strategically prioritized, and effectively communicated to NIH leadership, Congress, and the public.Key Contributions:• Optimized and streamlined reporting procedures for clearance of NIH and Congressional reports to decrease both effort and response time by 50% while increasing accuracy through automation. • Coordinated team members in the development of an automated approach to epidemiologic and economic modeling, portfolio analysis, and data systems to identify scientific gaps and measure research impact.• Co-chaired NIH-wide working group, Clinical Research Engagement and Activities Team (CREATe), charged with advising NIH leadership to improve public engagement in clinical research by sharing best practices, identifying policy priorities, and advising on infrastructure and community needs.• Supervised NIH-wide implementation and evaluation of the MHHD Strategic Plan, ensuring agency accountability and progress toward national health goals.Through this work, I advance NIMHD and NIH\'s mission to reduce health disparities, improve policy impact, and strengthen NIH’s capacity to make data-driven, equity-informed decisions.
EDUCATION
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), neurobiology
Duke University
Postdoc, Neurobiology
Marine Biological Laboratory
Summer Course, Neurobiology
University of Washington
Bachelor of Science (BS), neurobiology
University of Washington
Bachelor of Science - BS, Psychology
ABOUT REBEKAH C.
I am a collaborative leader with over 15 years of experience uniting diverse stakeholders—including patients, advocacy organizations, researchers, and policymakers—to co-create solutions that drive meaningful, inclusive innovation in science and health. My work bridges sectors and perspectives, with a core focus on building trust, identifying areas of opportunity, and translating lived experience into measurable impact.From designing national engagement strategies to leading community-informed research initiatives, I specialize in bringing the right voices to the table—and keeping them there. I’ve coordinated multi-sector partnerships across government, nonprofit, industry, and academic settings, ensuring that community priorities shape scientific progress and policy outcomes.Throughout my career, I’ve launched and scaled programs that elevate voices, build capacity in advocacy communities, and foster cross-disciplinary alignment—from biomedical research to implementation science. My leadership style is grounded in listening, co-creation, and strategic clarity.Let’s connect if you’re working at the intersection of science, health, and systems change—or if you believe, as I do, that sustainable innovation happens with communities, not just for them.
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