Dr. Karina Lora's Behavioral Nutrition Group | Milken Institute School of Public Health

Welcome!

The Lora Behavioral Nutrition Group focuses on social determinants of health as they relate to nutrition behaviors and the development of overweight/obesity and associated comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer in underserved populations.

Our group is invested in understanding and facilitating behavior change through nutrition knowledge, education and intervention.

Principal Investigator

Karina Lora, PhD, RD

Undergraduate Students

Paul Gomez

Program:
BS in Public Health, Minor in Emergency Health Services

Research Interests:
I am particularly interested in preventive health measures and community-based education, especially those aimed at improving health outcomes for Hispanic and Latino populations. I’m also deeply interested in reducing preventable disease through early intervention, health literacy, and culturally responsive public health strategies.

Personal Interests:
Dancing salsa, trying new foods, working out, and traveling. I also enjoy staying active and exploring new places whenever I can!

Favorite Foods:
A ShackBurger with avocado, bacon, cheese, and fries, or honestly, any meal my mother makes.

Mritika Rahman

Program:
Bachelors of Science in Public Health, Minor in Nutrition

Research Interests:
Food insecurity, chronic disease, obesity, childhood nutrition, health disparities

Personal Interests:
Dance, cooking, scenic walks, trying new outdoor activities

Favorite Foods:
My mom's biryani, açai bowls, strawberry shortcake

Roya Sakhizada

Program:
BS in Exercise Science, Minor in Human Anatomy

Research Interests:
The investigation of complex, unsolved medical cases, the Development of medical interventions aimed at preventing the sudden onset of heart disease, and environmental health.

Personal Interests:
Watching documentaries, maintaining an active lifestyle, and exploring Washington, D.C.

Favorite Foods:
Mantu, Beryani, and Fruit Salad

Lisbeth Vargas Ramos

Program:
BS in Biology, Minor in Chemistry

Research Interests:
Women's health, specifically the role nutrition plays in cancer prevention to improve clinical practices and contribute to prevention care.

Personal Interests:
Reading, working out, and traveling.

Favorite Foods:

Chile Rellenos

Graduate Students

Sandra Asante

Program:
Masters in Global Health Epidemiology and Disease Control

Research Interests:
Cardiovascular Epidemiology (Preventive measures), Cancer Epidemiology, Gaps in Cancer Registries in LMIC

Personal Interests:
Traveling, exploring diverse cultural meals, weight lifting, cooking, and being around animals

Favorite Foods:

Lebanese food and anything with grilled lamb

Affiliated Students

Tim O'Neal

Program:
PhD in Exercise Physiology and Applied Nutrition

Advisor:
Loretta DiPietro, PhD

Research Interests:
Increasing preventative wellness by developing communities and partnerships that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors that start in the formative years and last across the lifespan.

Ada Yilmaz

Program:
PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Advisor:
Oksana Yakushko, PhD, ABPP

Research Interests:
Combining public health, nutrition, and psychology to advance community-based, preventative approaches that promote equitable opportunities for lasting healthy behaviors and improve population mental and physical health.

Lab Alumni

Anna Bautista
Karla Cordero
Anthony Derosa
Aishwarya Grandhe
Lindsey Hughes
Annie McFee
Maia Medley
Sarah Patton
Zach Williams

The Infant Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2: Understanding WIC Participation and Nutrition Outcomes for Toddlers and Children.

Hispanic Men Study 2: A Mapping Approach to Understand Unhealthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Behaviors

Hispanic Men Study 1: Development of a Weight-Loss Behavioral Intervention

Caregivers Gendered Preferences for Content and Delivery Methods of Nutrition Education

Parenting Practices and Adolescents Food Preferences during Independent Eating Occasions

2025 Photos

2025 NIH Workshop

Approaches to Reduce Cancer Risk and Outcome Differences and Inequalities in Clinical Care, September 2025, Bethesda, Maryland

Tim O'Neal, Doctoral Candidate at EPAN.

O’NEAL T, VISEK AJ, CHARTER-HARRIS J, LORA KR. Exploring Health-Promoting Physical Activity Behaviors in Immigrant Middle-Age Central American Men with Overweight or Obesity: A Concept Mapping Study

2025 GWSPH Research Days

sarah — Sarah Patton presents, *Female Partners' Influence on Adult Men's Engagement on Healthy Food and Physical Activity Behaviors to Maintain a Healthy Weight: A Scoping Review.*

GW American Medical Physiology Club

zach — Zachary Williams and Karla Cordero present, *Pilot Testing of the GW George Reads Food Evaluation Questionnaires with Preschool-aged Children from Low-Income Families.*

maya — Lisbeth Vargas Ramos and Maia Medley present, *Initial Review of the Literature on Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in the American Cancer Society Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Colorectal Cancer Prevention among Hispanics.*

everyone — Zachary Williams, Lisbeth Vargas Ramos, Karina Lora, Karla Cordero, and Maia Medley at the AMPC 5th Annual Research Symposium.

2025 Research Group Gatherings

george reads 3 — Spring 2025 Research Group Gathering

2024 Photos

2024 GW Research Showcase

jas — Jasmine Charter-Harris, MPH, presents Toward an Understanding of Healthy Physical Activity Behaviors Among Middle-aged Central American Immigrant Men: A Concept Mapping Application.

2024 GWSPH Research Days

Lora 1 — Amelia Morgan, Maria Hayes Navas, and Anthony Derosa present, *Development and Process Evaluation of GW Nutrition Tips: A Nutrition Message Program for Parents of Preschoolers.*

Lora 4 — Jasmine Charter-Harris, MPH, presents *Toward an Understanding of Healthy Physical Activity Behaviors Among Middle-aged Central American Immigrant Men: A Concept Mapping Application.*

Lora 2 — Sarah Patton presents, *Influence of Live-In Female Partners on Adult African American and Hispanic Men's Engagement on Healthy Food and Physical Activity Behaviors: A Scoping Review.*

Lora 3 — Aishwarya Grandhe presents, *A Qualitative Exploration of Control, Structure, and Autonomy Support Food Parenting Practices that Hispanic Caregivers Use to Feed Their Preschoolers Healthy Foods.*

EXNS 3120: Experiences In Community Nutrition ("George Reads"), is a food and nutrition literacy experiential learning class on nutrition education topics delivered at daycares using posters, age-appropriate games, and book readings. Class includes site visits to D.C. agencies that administer federal food assistance programs serving preschool aged children. Dr. Lora teaches the class to undergraduate students every spring.

Lessons: