Meet the Team

Audrey Harkness, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)

aharkness@miami.edu

Principal Investigator

Dr. Harkness was previously faculty in the Department of Public Health Sciences, and a postdoctoral fellow in the Psychology Department at University of Miami. Dr. Harkness is currently Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies, PI of the REACH Equity Team, and Director of the Equitable Implementation Science Core of the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health (CHARM). As the PI of the REACH Equity Team, Dr. Harkness’ program of research is focused on developing, adapting, and evaluating interventions and implementation strategies to achieve health equity among key populations affected by HIV and mental health disparities. She has been awarded several NIH and other research grants to develop and evaluate culturally grounded interventions and implementation strategies to improve the reach of HIV-prevention (e.g., PrEP) and mental health/substance use treatments populations experiencing health disparities, including Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Dr. Harkness works closely with REACH Equity team members, including undergraduate and graduate students as well as research staff, a community advisory board, community partners throughout South Florida, and collaborators within and beyond the University of Miami. Dr. Harkness is also co-author of companion books on LGBTQ-Affirmative Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and involved in implementation research to evaluate strategies for implementing this treatment in community and clinical settings accessible to LGBTQ communities. As Director of the CHARM Equitable Implementation Science Core, Dr. Harkness leads efforts to build local knowledge and expertise in implementation science to advance the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic plan in our region. Dr. Harkness enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog.

Mae Tidd, PhD
(She/They)

mxt1526@miami.edu

 Assistant Scientist

Dr. Tidd joined the REACH Equity Team in 2024 after earning her PhD in Health Services Research in Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. As Assistant Scientist, she leads the SOMOS Alianza R01 project and contributes to ongoing and new lab initiatives. She also serves as an Investigator for the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health’s Equitable Implementation Science Core and the Miami Center for AIDS Research Population Engagement Core. A current Fellow in the NIH/NIAID-funded HIV Implementation Science Training Program, Dr. Tidd’s research focuses on implementing HIV
prevention services (testing, PrEP, and PEP) in community pharmacies. Her work includes developing pharmacist-focused educational tools, evaluating statewide PrEP programs, and identifying implementation determinants and strategies to expand HIV prevention service delivery. Outside the lab, she enjoys time at the park with her dog, Sado, reading, listening to podcasts, attending concerts, and exploring the new city.

Jorge Limia, MS
(He/Him)

jml843@miami.edu

Lab manager

After graduating with his BA in Psychology in 2018, Jorge became a research assistant for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. A few years later while pursuing his MS in Psychology, he became the
project manager for the RECOVER Study, a sub study focused on better understanding the effects of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2("Long COVID") on teen's health and why some teens remain sick many months after getting COVID. He would then go onto join the REACH Equity Team in 2024. His academic interests include the intersectionality of psychology and the workplace, including talent development, organizational development, and the quality of work-life. When he's not in the lab, Jorge can be found kayaking, reading fantasy/sci-fi novels, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.

Jahn Jaramillo, MPH
(He/Him)

jxj2046@miami.edu

PhD Student and Graduate Research Assistant

Jahn Jaramillo, MPH, is a Ph.D. student in the Division of Prevention Science and Community Health. He has over 10 years of public health experience in the areas of HIV prevention, infectious disease surveillance, and communications and has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
in Guatemala City and Atlanta, the World Health Organization in Thailand and the Philippines, RTI International in Seattle, and at an HIV/AIDS community-based organization in New York City. Jahn was also a Fulbright scholar in Thailand, where he taught English to Thai youth. Jahn's research interests include the health of sexual and gender minorities, the application of identity and cultural considerations to health promotion and HIV prevention strategies, and the development and testing of
HIV interventions to deliver medically appropriate and culturally competent care to diverse populations including Latino sexual minority men. He is also interested in initiatives that support the HIV peer workforce. Outside the lab, Jahn is at the gym, enjoying horror movies, or exploring South Florida.

Nikki Reyes, MPH
(She/Her)

nxr780@miami.edu

PhD Student and Graduate Research Assistant

After graduating with her Master’s in Public Health from Boston University’s School of Public Health, Nikki went on to work as Biostatistician/Epidemiologist at the Center for Community Health Improvement at Mass General Hospital (MGH CCHI) where she assisted with primary and secondary quantitative data analyses for community coalitions and community health needs assessments. She worked at MGH CCHI for 2.5 years before starting her doctoral degree at the University of Miami. Nikki’s
research interests include: Latinx sexual and gender minorities, HIV prevention, mixed methods, and Dissemination and Implementation science. Outside of the lab, you can find Nikki immersing herself in pop culture, spending time with her family and friends, and going for walks around her neighborhood
and favorite parks of Miami/South Florida.

Michelle Aleman, MPH
(She/Her)

msa210@miami.edu

SOMOS Alianza Research Coordinator


After earning her Bachelor of Public Health degree from the University of Florida (UF), Michelle began working at the National Youth Advocate Program, which partners with the Office of Refugee Resettlement to provide transitional and long-term foster care for unaccompanied refugee children. She continued in this role while completing her Master of Public Health at UF, eventually serving as Senior Medical Coordinator, where she helped lead the organization’s medical department and oversaw a
nationwide team of medical coordinators responsible for managing all aspects of the children’s medical care. In 2025, she joined the REACH Equity Team as the research coordinator for the SOMOS Alianza project. Michelle’s research interests include health disparities affecting Latino communities and equitable implementation science, with a particular emphasis on creating and scaling interventions that reflect the needs and priorities of the communities they serve and the implementers who carry them out. Outside of the lab, she can be found at the movie theater, cooking for friends and family, or spending time with her dog, Duffy.

Alexandra Porras, BA
(She/Her)

axp2629@miami.edu

Senior Research Analyst


Alexandra (Alex) graduated from Florida International University in 2023 with her B.A. in Psychology. She began working at the University of Miami in 2023 with the Health Promotion and Care (HPAC) lab as a Research Associate. HPAC is a clinical research lab, led by PI Dr. Steven Safren, dedicated to the development and study of interventions related to behavioral aspects of physical health and HIV prevention and treatment. In 2025, Alex joined the Center of HIV and Mental Health Research (CHARM)
as Coordinator for the Equitable Implementation Science core. Alex’s research interests focus on sexual and gender minority mental health, specifically addressing health disparities among queer subgroups, the impact of minority stress on intimate relationships, and the effectiveness and implementation of
LGBTQ+ affirmative therapies and interventions. She is committed to advancing her education by pursuing a PhD in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. Outside of the lab, Alex enjoys arts & crafts, karaoke, and movie nights with friends and family.

Jason Vega, BS
(He/Him)

jxs8360@miami.edu

Research Assistant


Jason joined the REACH Equity Lab after graduating from DePauw University with a major in Neuroscience. His primary work centers on the Dime Mas project which aims to develop an outreach program that connects Latino/x gay, bisexual, and other MSM to HIV testing, PrEP, and behavioral health services. He’s passionate about exploring barriers to PrEP use among Latino sexual minority men and understanding the neurological conditions associated with HIV. During his undergraduate, Jason
served as a mental health peer educator, admissions liaison, and math tutor. He also contributed to research on post–intensive care syndrome in cardiac arrest survivors, as well as stigma and identity among sexual and gender minority communities. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, baking, and tracking down new matcha spots to try.

Leonardo Montenegro, BS
(He/Him)

lxm1992@miami.edu

Research Assistant


Leo was born and raised in Washington D.C. and joined the lab after graduating from St. Mary’s College of Maryland with a double major in psychology and Spanish. He primarily works on the JUNTOS referral network and CHARM bridge pilot study. His primary research interests include exploring mental health
outcomes among immigrant and refugee populations, and he is also interested in exploring novel methods to teach data science skills in psychology. As an undergraduate, he served as the president of his college’s Latino student union and conducted research on health outcomes among migrant and refugee populations on the US-Mexican border in El Paso through an NSF-funded research grant. He also served as a leader for his department by serving as a statistics teaching assistant and developing educational resources to assist first-time undergrad researchers working with big data files. In his free time, he likes hitting the gym, listening to electronic music, and playing pickup soccer around Miami!

Milana Camilleri
(She/Her)

mlc394@bio.miami.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistant


Milana is pursuing a B.S. in microbiology and immunology on the pre-medical track with minors in Spanish and psychology. Her research interests focus on infectious diseases, HIV prevention, and translating gaps in population health into clinical solutions. Since starting her time at the University of Miami, Milana has been developing her clinical skills in patient communication and clinical diagnosis through UM’s Health Professions Mentoring Program and extends her care to community health centers
and UHealth’s harm reduction syringe exchange program as a volunteer. With the lab, Milana continues to work directly with participants and assists in JUNTOS clinic recruitment to help enforce PrEP/PEP education and tracking patients’ continuity of treatment. Outside of the lab, you will find Milana playing with UMiami’s Club Soccer team, going for late-night runs, and exploring new coffee shops.

Shreya Kumar
(She/Her)

sxk2001@miami.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistant


Shreya is an undergraduate student at the University of Miami majoring in microbiology and immunology, with minors in chemistry and English. Her research interests center on health equity, particularly at the intersection of HIV, substance use, and access to care among LGBTQ+ communities. On the REACH Equity Team, her work focuses on improving access to HIV prevention and treatment services by evaluating the adoption and implementation of these services across community pharmacies in Florida. Beyond her role in the lab, Shreya volunteers with the IDEA Exchange in Miami, a harm reduction–based syringe services program focused on reducing HIV transmission and other blood-borne infections in South Florida. In her free time, Shreya enjoys painting, staying active, and traveling to new countries.

Alessandra Martinez
(She/Her)

axm8588@miami.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistant


Alessandra is a current undergraduate student and PRISM scholar pursuing a BS in biology and a minor in chemistry on the pre-medical track. Some specialties she’s interested in are dermatology and radiology, and she hopes to conduct research in one of these fields once she becomes a physician. As an
undergraduate research assistant on the REACH Equity team, she assists primarily in the CHARM Bridge and JUNTOS Referral Network studies. In her free time, she enjoys baking and playing video games!

Daniel HA Maya, BA
(He/Him)

dxh724@miami.edu

Lead Research Analyst


Daniel is a lead research analyst for the REACH team assisting in REDCap programming for all of our studies. His research focuses on HIV prevention and treatment. He earned a B.S. in psychology from the University of Colorado Denver. After graduation, Daniel worked for the Health Promotion and Care (HPAC) lab on HIV prevention and treatment research.

 

Alumni

Elliott R. Weinstein MPH, MS
(He/Him)

Outside Collaborator

After graduating from the Kilachand Honors College at Boston University with a BA in Psychology and Art History and an MPH in Epidemiology, Elliott moved to NYC where he was an office manager and executive functioning coach for the Hallowell Center. He then joined the Health Promotion and Care Lab
at the University of Miami as a PhD student in clinical-health psychology in 2019. Elliott has three broad research interests; Intersection of HIV and aging, HIV prevention and treatment among marginalized populations, Innovating community engaged research practices for behavioral medicine. In his free time, Elliott enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, attending art openings, perusing museums, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, playing with his two kitties – Marty and Tessie – and traveling with his friends and family.

Alyssa Lozano, PhD
(She/Her)

 Dr. Lozano worked with the REACH Equity Team as a doctoral student in the Prevention Science and Community Health program at University of Miami, and continues to be a faculty collaborator with the REACH Equity Team. She is now Research Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Studies.

Renae Patterson, PhD, MBA, RN, PMP, BCPA
(She/Her)

 Patterson completed her PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Miami and was a member of the REACH Equity Team during her time in the program. Dr. Patterson’s dissertation examined determinants of patient portal use among Black men who have sex with men living with HIV, and potential
implementation strategies for increasing use of patient portals.

Roberto L. Roman Laporte, PhD, DNP, RN, CMSRN, EBP-C
(He/Him)

 Roman Laporte completed his PhD in Nursing Science at the University of Miami. As a research assistant with the REACH Equity Team, Dr. Roman Laporte supported the Hombre a Hombre study, which is further described on the “participate” tab. Dr. Roman Laporte ’s dissertation examined LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare practices in South Florida.

Nonie Kalra, MS
(She/They)

 Nonie Kalra served as a volunteer graduate research assistant on the REACH Equity Team while completing their master’s degree in Prevention Science at the University of Miami. Nonie’s thesis study examined cultural factors, mental health, and work experiences among South Asian sex workers. Nonie is now a senior research associate with the IDEA Exchange program at the University of Miami.

Vanessa Morales, PhD
(She/Her)

 Vanessa Morales served as a research assistant for the Referral Through Testing project (described further on the “participate” tab) while completing her Master’s of Science in Public Health at the University of Miami. As a doctoral student in the Prevention Science and Community Health program at the University of Miami, Vanessa has continued to collaborate with the REACH Equity Team on a variety of studies.

Alex Moro, BA
(He/Him)

 Alex Moro worked as a full-time recruitment specialist with the Health Promotion and Care Team at the University of Miami, and also supported recruitment efforts for the REACH Equity Team.

Araceli Garcia, BA
(She/Her)

 Araceli graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a BA before joining the Center of HIV and Mental Health Research (CHARM) and AIDS Research Center at the University of Miami, having served as the Core Coordinator for the new Equitable Implementation Science core. She is currently pursuing a PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Tennessee.

Nicole Altenberg, BS
(She/Her)

 Nicole graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a BS before joining the REACH Equity Lab, where she worked as a research assistant for the JUNTOS Referral Network and SOMOS Alianza studies. She is currently pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology at the University of Cincinnati.

Yareli Sosa Antunez, BA
(She/Her)

 Yareli graduated from Hollins University in Hollins, Virginia with a BA before joining the REACH Equity Lab, where she worked as a research assistant for the Dime Más study in the REACH Equity Lab. She is currently pursuing a PhD in counseling psychology at the University of Florida.

Xema Quirino, BS
(She/Her)

 Xema graduated from the University of Miami with a BS in health studies on the pre-medical track with a minor in public health. She worked in the REACH Equity Lab as an undergraduate research assistant and is currently working as a HIV test counselor at the Division of Adolescent Medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Camila Sanchez-Perez, BA
(She/Her)

 Camila graduated from the University of Miami with a BA in sociology and global health studies, with minors in public health and geography. She worked in the REACH Equity Lab as an undergraduate research assistant.

Brandon Quiroz, BS
(He/Him)

 Brandon graduated from the University of Miami with a BS in Health Sciences & French. He worked in the REACH Equity Lab as an undergraduate research assistant and currently attends the University of Southern California Pharmacy School.

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