Grantee: Paula Aristizabal, MD, MAS

Paula Aristizabal, MD, MAS

Organization:

• University of California - San Diego

Current Title
Associate Professor of Pediatrics

Describe your scientific identity.
I am a pediatric oncologist specializing in hematological malignancies who serves a large Hispanic population in Southern California. I am currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego. My expertise includes implementation and improvement sciences, mixed methods, bioethics, and behavioral interventions. I serve as the liaison between Rady Children's Hospital San Diego and the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center Population Sciences, Disparities and Community Engagement Program.

What are your research interests?
With the ultimate goal of reducing health disparities in Hispanic children and adolescents with cancer, I have laid the groundwork for evaluating and intervening on disparities in clinical trial enrollment. My research has focused on the barriers to participation in cancer clinical trials and how social determinants of health, particularly ethnicity, health literacy, language, and culture, affect outcomes. I have also worked on the implementation of health services for children with cancer in Latin America.

What is the significance of your current research project?
Hispanic children with cancer are significantly underrepresented in cancer clinical trials; we need effective interventions to overcome low clinical trial participation. This R01 aims to increase clinical trial accrual in Hispanic children with cancer by improving research literacy in their parents in a randomized peer navigation trial called COMPRENDO (ChildhOod Malignancy Peer REsearch NavigatiOn).

What motivated you to work in health communication research?
As a Hispanic physician-scientist, I have witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to cancer care, particularly among our minority populations. It is extremely important for me to improve access to care and provide the same opportunities to all children with cancer, regardless of their background. This is my passion and my mission for my academic career. I have observed that for many Hispanic parents, the concept of a clinical trial is difficult for them. The informed consents are long, full of jargon, and difficult to digest, particularly when parents are overwhelmed with the devastating diagnosis. I hope to mitigate these challenges.

Describe something that had a profound influence on your program of research or scientific interests (an "ah-ha!" moment).
Parents of children with cancer shared how extremely hard it was to grasp what a clinical trial entails. They needed a layperson to sit down with them and explain everything in plain language. It was my "ah- ha" moment and the inspiration to design the COMPRENDO intervention, which was co-created with parents. It was a wonderful opportunity for me to work with our parents to understand their perspective and create something that was truly helpful for them.

Selected training, awards, and honors:

• UCSD Department of Pediatrics Award of Excellence in Clinical Program Development and Innovation (2023)
• UCSD Department of Pediatrics Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Program Award of Excellence for Compassionate Mentorship (2023)
• The Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross-Border Region Building Visionary Awards LEAD San Diego, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (2023)

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