Meet Julie Erb-Alvarez, M.P.H., CPH
Julie Erb-Alvarez, M.P.H., CPH
Julie Erb-Alvarez, a Captain (CAPT) in the U.S. Public Health Service, joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2017 as a senior member of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of the Clinical Director where she supported cutting-edge medical research conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. In this role, she served to mitigate study closure due to inadequate participant accrual, improve diversity, and educate the public on NIH research. In September 2024, CAPT Erb-Alvarez joined the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a Program Official for the Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program. Prior to coming to NIH, CAPT Erb-Alvarez served as the Area Epidemiologist and IRB Co-chair for the Oklahoma City Area Indian Health Service, an Epidemiologist at the Oklahoma Tribal Epidemiology Center, the Epidemiologist for the Republic of Palau in Micronesia, and the Director of Cancer Programs for the Cherokee Nation. She earned a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) degree in Epidemiology from the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, a Bachelor of Science from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK, and is certified in public health (CPH). She’s an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation and was born and raised in Oklahoma. CAPT Erb-Alvarez maintains a passion for optimization of public health surveillance and data systems, infectious disease response, and improving health disparities for American Indian, Alaska Native and Pacific Island communities.
Let’s focus on Tribal Health:
What inspired you to want to be a researcher, and what did that path look like for you?
When I was working on my Master of Public Health degree at the University of Oklahoma (OU), I was able to work as a graduate student at the OU Prevention Research Center. That first experience with OU sparked my initial interest in research. I have been fortunate to work in some truly incredible positions throughout my career. While working at the Oklahoma City Area (OCA) Indian Health Service as Area Epidemiologist, I was able to lead impactful public health research and evaluation projects, as well co-chair the OCA IHS Institutional Review Board (IRB), which was highly rewarding. In 2017, I moved to Maryland to work at the NIH supporting NHLBI intramural cutting-edge heart, lung, and blood clinical research at the world-renowned NIH Clinical Center. My love for research has grown exponentially since coming to the NIH!
Tell us about your current work and projects.
I really missed working in Indian country even thought my work was so amazing at NHLBI. I was very excited to get the opportunity I now hold at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) with the new Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program where I serve to support Tribes and Native American Serving Organization to lead community prioritized research projects related to the opioid public health emergency, including research and data enhancements related to addiction and/or pain.
What sparked your interest in working with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous populations, and why is this work important to you?
Growing up in Oklahoma as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation this work is central to who I am as a person. As a public health professional and with family and home being high priority to me personally, it seems only natural to me to use my education, knowledge, and experiences to serve American Indian and Alaska Native peoples. It’s where my heart is.
What are the main challenges that remain to be addressed in your area of research, and how will your research tackle these challenges?
Indigenous people are historically underrepresented in health research—and consequently in clinical research findings. I will always make it a priority to educate people about the importance of diversity in research. I was able to gain a firsthand perspective by supporting cutting edge clinical research while working at the NIH Clinical Center and have a keen understanding of how people can participate in clinical research should they be interested. I enjoy sharing this knowledge when I can. In my current role at NIDA with the N CREW Program, I’m excited to support community prioritized research to help combat the opioid crisis in Indian country. Drug overdose death rates have been highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people in recent years. Research prioritized by Native communities is essential for enhancing effective, culturally grounded public health interventions and promoting positive health outcomes—and this is exactly what I am supporting as a Scientific Program Director at N CREW.
What are some of the challenges you have faced getting to this point, and how did you overcome them?
No person is an island. It takes a village. I have been fortunate to have many amazing mentors and colleagues along my journey. I lean on my professional support system when challenges arise. I prioritize maintaining contact with my professional connections, even when I begin a new role.
What has been the most impactful advice you received during your journey?
The best advice I ever received was to apply for the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) Commissioned Corps (CC), one of the eight uniformed services of the United States with the Mission to “Protect, Promote and Advance the Health and Safety of our Nation”. Getting my call to active duty as an Officer of the PHS was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have been able to serve my community and have some incredible adventures in public health service to others. In 2020, I was promoted to the senior rank of O-6, Captain, in the U.S. Public Health Service, an accomplishment for which I am very proud.
What words of advice would you give to the next generation of scientists?
Seriously consider the professional career options that come your way. My work life has been enriched and far more impactful that I could have ever imagined because I took chances when opportunities arose. Sometimes these opportunities came with huge sacrifices, but I have not been disappointed. Take the chances. You will only be disappointed if you don’t.