Biography

Dr. Rupa Valdez is a Professor at the University of Virginia, holding joint appointments in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the School of Medicine. Dr. Valdez also serves as a core faculty member of Global Studies and the Disability Studies Initiative. With a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has carved a niche at the intersection of human factors engineering, health informatics, and cultural anthropology.  

Commitment to Health Protection

Dr. Valdez is an advocate for health equity, particularly for communities of color, rural, and low-income communities, and the disability community. Her personal experiences living with multiple chronic health conditions and disabilities led her to approach her research, teaching, and advocacy with unique insight and empathy. The interdisciplinary nature of her research heavily focuses on community engagement and co-design, allowing her to examine how factors influence health management across home, community, and clinical settings.

Notably, Dr. Valdez founded and serves as president of the Blue Trunk Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to accessible travel regardless of age, disability, and health condition. Driven by their goal to challenge structural barriers to accessibility, Dr. Valdez and the Blue Trunk Foundation engage with community members, businesses, and education institutions in their efforts towards inclusive opportunities. The Blue Trunk Foundation has been supported by multiple community grants, including the Bama Works Fund of the Dave Matthews Band, and collaborates with other non-profit organizations to support initiatives such as Theater Access for People with Disabilities and Accessibility Education for Inclusive Communities. During early rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the Foundation worked closely with the local Center for Independent Living and other non-profit organizations such as The BridgeLine to create accessible and inclusive vaccination clinics for local communities.

Demonstrated by her 2022 congressional testimony on bridging of health equity gaps for individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities, Dr. Valdez plays an active role in advancing health protection and equity for all. Dr. Valdez’s accomplishments and involvements, some of which are listed below, are ever-growing and expansive, all serving as powerful reminders of the importance of integrating personal experience with professional expertise to drive meaningful change in our communities.

  • Garnered support from national, esteemed institutions, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
  • Recipient of Jack. A. Kraft Innovator Award from the Hyman Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) for her pioneering work in patient ergonomics
  • Serves on the Board of Directors for American Association of People with Disabilities and the American Health Information Management Association Foundation
  • Currently serves in advisory capacities for AHRQ, National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, and previously served on PCORI’s Patient Engagement Advisory Panel
  • Associate Editor: Ergonomics, the Journal of American Medical Informatic Association (JAMIA Open), Human Factors in Healthcare

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