THRO Team: Building Research Partnerships for Healthy Tribal Nations
Karina L. Walters, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Director
Karina L. Walters, Ph.D., M.S.W., an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is director of the NIH Tribal Health Research Office (THRO). In this role, she leads the THRO team and works to unify NIH representatives, research, and resources to improve the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives. She is deeply committed to engaging Tribal leadership in health research efforts. A social epidemiology and health prevention scholar, Dr. Walters has more than 28 years of Native health research experience, encompassing foundational science, disease prevention, health promotion, and intervention research. Prior to NIH, she was a tenured full professor and the Katherine Hall Chambers Scholar at the University of Washington (UW) School of Social Work. She is also the founding director of the UW Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, and served from 2012-2019 as Associate Dean for Research at the UW School of Social Work. Dr. Walters is the first American Indian fellow inducted into the American Academy of Social Welfare and Social Work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and an M.S.W. and a Ph.D. in social welfare, also from UCLA.
Learn more about Dr. Walters.
Sheila Caldwell, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor
Dr. Sheila Caldwell, Mi'kmaq descendant, is senior research advisor in THRO. She provides expert guidance and assistance on major Tribal health research policy issues affecting NIH, the biomedical research enterprise, and American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country. Dr. Caldwell joined THRO from NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences, where she directed the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program, as well as components of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program. She graduated from George Washington University with a Ph.D. and a M.Phil. in Molecular and Cellular Oncology.
Michael Hahn
Senior Health Science Policy Analyst
Michael joined the Tribal Health Research Office in 2025, bringing his experience working with Tribal Nations to the NIH’s efforts in policy development, building relationships and shared research priorities with American Indians and Alaska Natives. He previously led Tribal Engagement for the All of Us Research Program and worked with the Senior Advisor to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Director on Genomics and Health Disparities, examining the ways genomics research and technology can impact minority communities and those disproportionately affected by disease. Prior to joining NIH, Michael worked with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) on Tribal consultations, outreach and communications, and managed research operations in the Department of Physiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Selina Keryte, M.P.H
Health Science Policy Analyst
Ms. Selina Keryte, a member of Navajo Nation, is a health science policy analyst in THRO. She uses her extensive experience serving American Indians and Alaska Natives to coordinate work with the NIH Tribal Advisory Committee and develop cultural awareness trainings for NIH staff and extramural researchers. Prior to joining NIH in 2020, Ms. Keryte was the national lead for the Domestic Violence Prevention Program at the Indian Health Service and led efforts to strengthen capacity among the 12 nationally recognized Tribal Epidemiology Centers. She has a M.P.H. from the University of New Mexico.
Robert J. Rabelo Fernández, Ph.D., M.Sc.
AAAS Science Policy Fellow
Robert J. Rabelo Fernández, Ph.D., M.Sc., was born in Puerto Rico. He is an AAAS Science Policy Fellow at THOR. Before joining THOR, Robert was a postdoctoral trainee at the RNA Metabolism and Epitranscriptomic Unit at the National Cancer Institute, where he studied the relationship between kidney cancer cells and the immune system and how cancer could evade the immune system's action. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, working to determine the role of RNA-binding protein with multiple splicing in ovarian cancer. He obtained a master’s degree in biology at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. His master's thesis research focused on unraveling the resistome of the C. marginella snail gut microbiome using metagenomics. His interests include science policy, science communication and translational cancer research. As an AAAS Science Policy Fellow at THOR, he aims to create and promote policies that improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Additionally, he seeks to bring health science policy issues closer to these communities and address them in a culturally relevant way.
Jacqueline Reardon
Program Specialist
Ms. Jacquelyn (Jackie) Reardon joined THRO in 2020 as a program specialist. She provides administrative and organizational support to help THRO meet its NIH-wide goals for Tribal health research. Previously, Ms. Reardon worked in the NIH Office of AIDS Research, where she assisted with the development and implementation of the Paperless Administrative Support System (PASS), managed the summer intern program, and supervised the scanning team. She graduated from the Academy of Business with a Certification in Information Processing. A leader in her community, Ms. Reardon coaches young people in competitive kickball.
Jessie Roberts, M.S., LPC
Social Science Policy Analyst
Jessie Roberts, M.S., LPC is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and serves as a Social Science Policy Analyst, with more than 15 years of experience serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Born and raised on the Choctaw Nation Reservation, she has led clinical services, crisis response along with prevention and intervention research initiatives. At the NIH Tribal Health Research Office, Jessie applies her expertise in Indigenous health, policy analysis, research coordination, and Tribal Behavioral Health clinical experience to support program evaluation and strengthen NIH’s partnerships with Tribal Nations. She is committed to advancing culturally grounded, community-driven approaches that improve AI/AN health outcomes by elevating Tribal perspectives. Jessie has a Master of Science from East Central University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.