Laura Canelos
Technical Advisor
Laura.Canelos@uhc.com

Arely Navarrete 
Technical Advisor
Arely.Navarrete28@gmail.com

Mariana Ramírez
Technical Advisor 
mramirez3@kumc.edu

Mariana Ramírez serves as Director of the JUNTOS Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. With more than a decade of experience working with medically under-resourced communities in the United States and Mexico, Mariana leads a growing portfolio of local and national academic–community partnerships and research initiatives focused on improving community health. Using her expertise in the cultural and linguistic adaptation of behavioral and population health interventions and guided by community-engaged principles, Mariana partners closely with community members to co-create and disseminate knowledge that responds directly to community needs. Mariana is deeply engaged in civic and professional service. She serves in the Kansas Health Institute Board of Directors, the Children’s Mercy Adelante Advisory Board, the Wyandotte County Health Equity Taskforce, and the Kansas City Medical Society Foundation Charitable Care Committee. Mariana holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Israel Sanchez
Technical Advisor
israel.sanchez@topeka.partnership.com