Francine Vega is pursuing a doctoral degree in healthcare management and policy at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. She earned a master’s degree in speech-language pathology at State University of New York College at Fredonia. Her healthcare leadership experience includes over 15 years of healthcare leadership positions within the healthcare continuum. Vega’s expertise includes leadership development, coaching, staff training, organizational management, marketing, strategic planning, budgeting and finance, and consulting. She has successfully engaged in community outreach programs and collaborative strategies to develop several patient care initiatives, including many projects that have resulted in new development and growth within the healthcare organizations she has led. Vega’s background in healthcare management sparked her interest in healthcare delivery policy and research. Her research interests include equity within health systems science and the impact of healthcare policy.