HOMME Lab
Health. Opportunities. Mobile-Health. Mamas. Equity
What we do.
Our lab focuses on multi-level community partnered participatory approaches to support birthing persons and their families primarily through developing, implementing, and evaluating perceptions, experiences, and health outcomes in perinatal care. Further, we study the roles of communities, policies, and birth equity workers (doulas, childbirth educators) on the health of birthing persons and their families. Additionally, we examine ways to promote breastfeeding/chest feeding equity with an emphasis in Black families. Lastly, we assess how the structural and social determinants of health play an integral role on maternal and infant health
Video Courtesy of Ellen Branch
Our Team


Dr. Thomas Chan
Developmental Health Researcher

Wyconda Cotton-Curtis
Research Assistant

Destiny Varela
Research Assistant

Kate Gregg
BSPH Intern

Brenda Simonian
LAEP Research Assistant

Denise Jimenez
BSPH Intern

Mahi Morou
LAEP Research Assistant

Niralee Sandesh Bhanushali
Research Assistant
Our Alumni
Vanessa Barajas
Former Research Assistant
Brandi Sims
Former Research Assistant
Janelle Blackman
Former Research Assistant
Anais Ruiz
Former Research Assistant
Celest Garcia
Former Research Assistant
Jada Cantrell
Former Research Assistant
Maryam Abdul
Former Research Assistant
Jessica Brennan
Former Research Assistant
Melanie Mejia
Former Research Assistant
Karen Wong
Former Research Assistant
Jessica Dawodu
Former Research Assistant
Alejandro Arjona
Former Research Assistant
Aditya Sharma
Former Research Assistant
Zakariah Robinson
Former Research Assistant
Katherine Urrutia
Former Research Assistant
Siddha Patel
Former Research Assistant
Detrich Galloway
Former Research Assistant
Kalila Houston
Former Research Assistant
Summer Rose Slim
Former Research Assistant
Adinai Seiitbek
Former Research Assistant
Maya Habash
Former Research Assistant
Rachel Bradford
Former Research Assistant
Alishia Sandoval
Former Research Assistant
Duaa Mohammed Shameem
Former Research Assistant
Harmony Whiting
Former Research Assistant
Pauline de la Cruz
Former Research Assistant
Caitlynn Thomas
Former Research Assistant
Kira Faerstain
Former Research Assistant
Malak Elokur
Former Research Assistant
Monica Ahumada Heen
Former Research Assistant

Lab work in HERE Center in CSUN Lilac Hall

Lab work in HERE Center in CSUN Lilac Hall

Lab work in HERE Center in CSUN Lilac Hall

Detrich Galloway at SACNAS conference 2022

Lab work in HERE Center in CSUN Lilac Hall

Wyconda Cotton-Curtis at SACNAS conference 2022

Zakariah Robinson at SACNAS conference 2022

HOMME Lab

Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference Baltimore 2022

HOMME Lab alum who is also a full-spectrum doula

Birthing Justice Film Premiere

HOMME Lab Christmas potluck 2022

Dr. Blackman & Dr. Toledo-Corral

Lab Happy Hour

Field work with infant formula

Field work with infant formula

Lab work in HERE Center in CSUN Lilac Hall

Wyconda Cotton-Curtis and Anais Ruiz at ABRCMS 2019

Dr. Blackman as a panelist at March of Dimes event in Los Angeles, November 2019
Join our Team!
Please submit your resume/cv and a 1 page writing sample to Kacie.blackman@csun.edu
“And so, lifting as we climb, onward and upward we go, struggling and striving, and hoping that the buds and blossoms of our desires will burst into glorious fruition ‘ere long. “ Mary Church Terrell