Erika Gaitán is the Director of Impact and Innovation at Health Resources in Action (HRiA), working at the intersection of public health, community accountability, and emerging technology.
Erika leads HRiA’s Community-Informed AI Services initiative and co-authored Developing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policies for Public Health Organizations: A Template and Guidance, a nationally referenced resource for public health organizations developing AI policies and governance frameworks. She advises health departments on AI governance and organizational readiness and develops workforce training on the responsible use of AI, including Thinking Critically, Acting Effectively for community health workers and the Public Health Communications Collaborative’s AI with Intention program for public health communicators.
Her work with emerging technology builds on more than a decade of experience in community engagement, evaluation, and health equity. She co-led Boston’s first citywide community health assessment, engaging more than 100 community organizations and 2,500 residents to shape the city’s health improvement priorities, and has led statewide efforts to direct federal recovery investments toward communities historically excluded from public investment.
Originally from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, Erika holds a master’s degree in social work from Boston University and is a Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Fellow. She also teaches graduate students as an adjunct professor at the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences.
