Yolanda Cartwright, PhD, MS, RD, is a clinical dietitian and research professional with more than 28 years of varied experience in clinical practice, education, research, and medical writing. Her early research experience involved curriculum development and conduct of a community-based weight control intervention in 8 to 10 year old African American girls in public schools in Minneapolis, MN. This early research experience was followed by 18 years of experience in the food and pharmaceutical industry where she worked as a research scientist examining the impact of food components on health outcomes and as a medical writer creating peer-reviewed publications and pharmaceutical regulatory documents for Food and Drug Administration submissions.
Cartwright is currently a Research Manager in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine where she manages Research Operations for the Community Heath research portfolio. Studies in this portfolio are conducted in collaboration with the Alive Faith Network, a network of pastors working in partnership with RUSH University researchers and clinicians to develop and implement church-based health promotion to improve health equity, and include interventions aimed towards increasing Covid testing uptake, hypertension control, and managing physical function limitations in African American communities. Cartwright is also a Co-Director of the Administrative Core for the Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network (C3EN), a collaboration between RUSH University and University of Chicago researchers, looking for innovative solutions to reduce health disparities in populations with multiple chronic conditions.
