Fostering a supportive and positive environment at the bench, bedside and in the community

Our dedication to openness and responsibility

The Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) is committed to breaking down structural obstacles that hinder scientific progress and limit opportunities for researchers. Our focus is on creating a supportive environment, ensuring equal access and opportunities for all. This commitment is reflected in our clinical research goals, participant recruitment strategies, research collaborations, and within our team culture. Together with our partners, we are dedicated to advancing these objectives and fostering a collaborative work environment.

Theresa Hill
Director, Education Programming | Employee Experience

Theresa Hill brings over 25 years of professional experience across education, scientific research, community health and investment banking. Her expertise spans program development, strategic marketing, training and development, policy implementation, and spearheading awareness and engagement initiatives.

With a proven track record of engaging with C-suite executives and senior leadership, Hill drives impactful strategies that foster organizational growth and openness. She holds an MBA in Business Management and Leadership from Western Governors University and a Master of Education from Southern Arkansas University.

At Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI), Hill leads the institute’s education programming and employee experience efforts, ensuring equal access to opportunities and nurturing community support, and manages the competitive nationwide summer internship program for clinicians, graduate students, undergraduates and high school students.

Additionally, Hill serves as a Women in Leadership Advisory Member for the University of California Riverside Extension, a Career Education Advisory Board Member for San Diego City College, and an Advisor for Scripps Internal Medicine Residency. Her leadership in engagement is complemented by a unique background in formal vocal training and performance experience, further highlighting her versatile skill set.

The SRTI Professional Growth & Community Committee is a collaborative initiative dedicated to cultivating a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals of all backgrounds. The committee's focus is to promote engagement, identify opportunities for professional growth, and foster collaboration across groups through various initiatives, participation in recruiting and hiring practices, and offering relevant training. By integrating these practices into all areas of SRTI, the committee strives to ensure that all employees and stakeholders feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute to a positive workplace culture. The committee’s efforts extend to internal communication tools like newsletters and the Community Corner Q&A series, aimed at increasing awareness and engagement across the institute.

Romina Foster-Bonds
Project Director, Research Implementation, The Participant Center for the All of Us Research Program, Scripps Research Translational Institute

Romina Foster-Bonds has led decentralized bio sample and innovation efforts at Scripps Research for the All of Us Research Program the past two years. She is the Director of Research Implementation. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience and a Master of Health Science degree in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from Johns Hopkins University. She has over ten years of experience in translational research and health economics and outcomes research, starting with genome-wide association studies at Johns Hopkins University engaging and sequencing participants from African populations worldwide with the goal of diversifying sequencing data. Her past leadership experience overseeing patient advocacy, business development and programs efforts to build research programs for underserved populations with limited access to genetic testing and therapies. She is Colombian and Peruvian, fluent in Spanish and passionate about closing gaps in access to the latest in research and technology.

Jacob New
K12 Clinical Scholar, Scripps Research Translational Institute

Jacob New is a K12 Clinical Scholar and Medical Oncology Fellow at Scripps Research and Scripps Clinic, dedicated to advancing cancer research and improving therapeutic options for patients. Now in his second year of the program, he conducts translational research in cancer biology, with a focus on understanding and targeting the unique mechanisms of cancer cells to develop innovative treatments.

Jacob earned his MD-PhD from the University of Kansas Medical Center, where his PhD in cell biology focused on the tumor microenvironment in head and neck cancers. In addition to his scientific and clinical work, Jacob is dedicated to creating a mentoring environment that helps individuals from all backgrounds excel in their efforts to advance science and improve patient care.

Laura Nicholson
Director, Education, Scripps Research Translational Institute

Laura Nicholson spent much of her childhood in a town explicitly designed to promote ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic diversity among neighbors, later encountering college and medical school cities that were comparatively homogeneous and culturally divided. This inspired her to study American and global racism and to join student and professional groups committed to diversity and equity as a critical goal in all academic and professional pursuits. At Scripps Clinic, she was associate program director in Graduate Medical Education for 15 years, organizing curricula on social determinants of health, inclusive healthcare communication, and equitable medical decision making.

David Rodriguez
Senior Project Manager, The Participant Center for the All of Us Research Program, Scripps Research Translational Institute

David Rodriguez began his career working with the community over 20 years ago as a research assistant working with one of the most difficult populations to reach in research and in outreach at large. While working with San Ysidro Health Center he partnered with the San Diego Needle Exchange to test Injection Drug Use (IDU) participants for HIV and HCV as part of a CDC funded study. In 2008 he began work at the UCSD School of Medicine on the Primary Infection Research Consortium (PIRC) which sought to identify individuals living with HIV early via HIV RNA testing. The program gave him a deeper insight into the LGBTQ+ community of San Diego and allowed him to work more closely with the African American and Hispanic communities regionally. In his current role as a senior project manager for engagement his work mainly focuses on the All of Us Research Program. The program largely aims to have communities who have long been underrepresented in biomedical research be a part of a million or more-person database that represents the large diversity in the United States. Among the various facets of David’s current work is partnering with the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Denver Health and work with the Virtual Advisory Team (VAT) which takes community member input into all aspects of the program.

Emily Spencer
Associate Director, Scripps Research Translational Institute

Emily Spencer joined the Scripps Research Translational Institute (SRTI) in 2014. She has over 20 years of experience in human genetics research, overseeing recruitment and retention of participants in large-scale genomics studies for the past 10+ years. At SRTI she directs local implementation of Clinical Translational Science Awards network-wide initiatives including the Trial Innovation Network, with a commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusion across all activities.

Dr. Spencer received her undergraduate degree in psychology and Spanish from the University of California, Davis. She completed her graduate degree in genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where her dissertation research focused on expanding molecular diagnostic methods for Neurofibromatosis type 1 and related disorders.

The Perspectives in STEM Seminar Series aims to address important issues related to representation, access, and community engagement within the STEM fields. This series, a collaboration between the Scripps Research Translational Institute, the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences at Scripps Research, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, and Johnson & Johnson, seeks to educate, inspire and facilitate meaningful discussions among STEM students and professionals. It is open to all members of the partnering organizations and the broader community.