Biography

Alek Sripipatana, PhD, MPH is Chief of The Data Branch at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Bureau of Primary Health Care’s Office of Quality and Data. Currently he is leading research projects that include assessing racial and ethnic health care access to prevention, treatment, and follow-up care for cancer, hypertension, and diabetes in federally supported community health centers. Prior to venturing east and joining HRSA, Dr. Sripipatana was the Project Director for the UCLA Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network and the UCLA-Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, conducting community-engaged research to address cancer-related health disparities. Alek received his indoctrination to community-engaged research while serving as the Policy Coordinator for "Weaving an Islander Network in Cancer Awareness, Research and Training" (WINCART#, a National Cancer Institute-funded collaborative effort of 5 universities & 8 community-based organizations directed at reducing cancer health disparities among Pacific Islanders living in Southern California. Dr. Sripipatana believes in community work and activism. In addition to his research experience, Alek has served as a facilitator for a Pacific Islander men's health group, Chair for the Council on Multicultural Health at the California Department of Public Health, and the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Alliance. Dr. Sripipatana completed his PhD from the UCLA School of Public Health and is a former W. K. Kellogg fellow in health policy research. Alek is committed to the study of health disparities, elderly health, and the health of underserved populations with a special focus on Asians and Pacific Islanders. In his free time, Alek enjoys reveling in watching his sons, Kaimana and Makoa at play.