Larissa Teunis

I attribute my success to purpose, perseverance, and a long-standing commitment to advancing health equity for underserved communities. My career began in international development and public administration, where I focused on social justice initiatives, poverty alleviation, and workforce development through my work in New York City government under Mayor Bloomberg. After becoming a mother, I transitioned into health research, eventually serving in leadership roles at Emory University, where I co-founded the Health Services Research Center and completed my doctorate as a single mother. My work has since centered on culturally responsive health research, particularly with Native American and other marginalized communities, including developing one of the first multi-tribal health surveillance systems. I currently serve as a senior scientist at the University of New Mexico, where I focus on community-driven and Indigenous research methods, and my goal is to continue reshaping how scientific knowledge is defined by centering lived experience, equity, and multiple ways of knowing.

The best career advice I’ve received is to stay committed to education, remain persistent in the face of challenges, and continue building a path rooted in purpose and service to others. I’ve been fortunate to have strong mentors and supporters who have shaped my journey, including Andrea Feigl, who has consistently encouraged me to pursue my academic and professional goals; Dr. Juliana Reese (Diné/Navajo); Dr. Kimberly Freire, an associate professor at Georgia State University and one of my scientific mentors; and Dr. Harry Heiman, RWJF Policy Fellow and former director within my doctoral program. Each of them, along with many others, has modeled excellence in their own careers and provided guidance, inspiration, and belief in my potential, reinforcing the importance of perseverance, mentorship, and staying grounded in meaningful work.

My advice to young women entering this field is to not accept “no” as a final answer and to remember that your presence is needed in every space you aspire to enter. I have often found myself in environments—such as schools of medicine—where I was the only woman, and I recognize how limited representation can be, particularly among those with doctoral training. Because of this, I strongly believe that mentorship is essential, especially for women who are the first in their families to pursue advanced degrees. I encourage young women to actively seek mentors, build supportive networks, and stay committed to their goals, even when the path feels difficult. My own journey has shown me that with perseverance, purpose, and support, it is possible not only to succeed but also to create space for others to follow.

The biggest opportunity in my field is the ongoing epistemic shift toward expanding how we define and value knowledge in public health and research. This includes transforming peer review systems to elevate multiple ways of knowing and ensuring that community-based evidence is recognized as valid, rigorous, and essential to shaping effective interventions and policy. At the same time, a key challenge remains the persistent underrepresentation of women in certain academic and medical spaces, particularly in senior and decision-making roles. Addressing both requires intentional efforts to broaden inclusion, strengthen mentorship, and create systems that allow diverse voices and methodologies to meaningfully shape the future of the field.

The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, justice, and compassion. Integrity grounds my ethical approach to research and leadership, justice drives my commitment to health equity and addressing structural inequities, and compassion guides how I engage with others and stay connected to the human impact of my work.