Maritza Lara

Background

About Maritza Lara

Have you ever entered a room and forgotten why you were going there in the first place? That can be either a frustrating or a funny moment! At work, we create plans and strategic frameworks that guide our team's paths. We aim for things like equity, fairness, and fabulous customer experiences in all of our services and products. But how many times have you had one of those moments where you realize the vision that first sparked a project was forgotten? Or did things at implementation fall short of what was first envisioned? Making things happen according to plan can be challenging! But this is where I excel. I combine human-centered design, quality improvement, and lean six sigma methods to build and implement health programs that promote lasting population health outcomes and drive stakeholder engagement. I am based in California, where I work creating stronger health systems. I am also a Doctor of Public Health candidate at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). My research at LSHTM focuses on the integration of patients' voices within participatory spaces in the United States. I am particularly obsessed with creating structures that allow healthcare organizations to DO what patients say must happen!