Member Spotlight: DiLenny Roca, Managing Director, Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention (CCISP)

DiLenny Roca, Managing Director, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention (CCISP)

Tell us about your areas of interest within injury and violence prevention. Why did you decide to pursue a career in this field?

My areas of interest are unintentional injuries in children, community outreach, coalition building, program implementation and grants administration. I decided to pursue a career in the injury field after being introduced to Dr. Barbara Barlow and the Injury Free Coalition for kids in 2001. This led me to understand the statistics driving the epidemiology of childhood injuries which sparked my interest in being more involved in research, education and outreach. At that time, I was involved in the dissemination of the Injury Free program model from Central Harlem to forty sites across the country. I also worked as senior grants administrator, injury prevention coordinator at New York Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital and with the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention since its inception in 2012. I believe this combination of knowledge of the injury prevention field and grants management has been instrumental in the success of Injury Free and the Injury Control Research Center at Columbia University.

How long have you been a member of SAVIR? What has been your favorite part about being involved with SAVIR?

I have been a member of SAVIR since 2019. My favorite part of SAVIR is the ability to connect and network with like-minded individuals who are working hard to better understand the injury problem and how we can best tackle the issues using the data to inform our work. The conferences are outstanding and have created opportunities for collaborations with many organizations including the Injury Control Research Centers.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?

The most rewarding aspect of my career so far has been the opportunity to work alongside many incredible individuals and organizations who really care about the safety and wellbeing of children and families. People who are engaged in injury research for the purpose of preventing injuries through the thoughtful implementation of local programs with input from community coalitions. This experience has encouraged me to become more involved in injury prevention research, to further my education and get involved in advocacy work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love hanging out with my family (my husband Fabricio, my son Matthew and daughter Brianna). We usually enjoy nature walks, hiking, stargazing. Zumba, weight training and yoga are my fitness pass times which I can enjoy on my own, help give me clarity and provides me with much needed energy.