New investigator: Regina Idoate, PhD

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony for UNMC’s 2020 Scientist Laureate, Distinguished Scientist and New Investigator Award recipients.

• Name: Regina Idoate, PhD
• Title: Assistant professor, UNMC Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health
• Joined UNMC: 2010
• Hometown: Fallbrook, California

Research focus:

• Health disparities

The goal of my research is: to better understand community systems in relation to cultural context, to support population health and reduce health disparities through good culturally responsive work. I study how community partnerships, workforce development programs and the medical humanities impact health disparities, particularly in relationship to American Indian populations.

My research will make a difference because: the innovative community-based and Indigenous research methods I employ bring new ways of looking at things that can support culturally-relevant interventions that promote mental, physical and spiritual health and wellness. My work demonstrates the relevance of context in mobilizing underserved communities in health promotion and prevention efforts.

The best advice I’ve ever been given is:

“Be good.”

This is what my grandmother told me. There’s a lot packed into those two words. As I was taught, our ways of knowing influence our ways of being and our ways of being influence our ways of doing. So, I need to know good and do good to “be good.”

Three things you may not know about me are:

• I’m a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.
• I am not only a researcher and teacher but also a wife, mom, sister, daughter, auntie and friend.
• Orange is my favorite color!